Latest News from. Ken Curtis Singing . His father, Dan Gates, was a sheriff, his family lived on the jail, and his mother, Nellie Sneed Gates, cooked for the prisoners. Festus was the character name of the 2nd official deputy on the CBS series called Gunsmoke. How did Ken Curtis die? He was the son of a sheriff and worked on a jail farm as a boy. Ken Curtis was a singer and an actor from the US who played in western series. TV Actor. He was graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the Maine Maritime Academy and rose to the rank of lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the post-punk band Joy Division and recorded two albums with the group: Unknown Pleasures (1979) and Closer (1980). Biographical NoteKenneth Merwin “Ken” Curtis was born on February 8, 1931, in Leeds (Curtis Corner), Maine. Find your ancestry info and recent death notices for relatives and friends. ZDNet. Though he mostly portrayed Festus Haggen, during the series' run, he also played a Texas cattleman who … two others not known for their singing. Die 2 (Originaltitel: The Persuaders!) Mr. Curtis played Festus Haggin, sidekick to Marshal Matt Dillon, from 1964 to 1975, when the series ended. Ken Curtis (July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the long-running CBS western television series Gunsmoke. Mr. Curtis, whose real name was Curtis Gates, was born in Lamar, Colo. Helpmate to her beloved Ken "Festus" Curtis for almost 30 years and soul of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy's Community for 20 years before that, she will be remembered by uncounted legions as "Mrs. Festus" or simply as the one-and-only Torrie, their best friend.Torrie was preceded in death by her husbands, Lex Connelly and Ken Curtis. His death was attributed to natural causes, said A. C. Lyle, a producer at Paramount Studios. Amanda Blake was a beautiful woman and seemed too young to die. He was 74 years old. 18. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. When Did Ken Curtis Die . He was a sheriff's son and worked on a jail farm as a boy. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) _ Ken Curtis, a singer and actor who starred as Marshal Matt Dillon’s sidekick on the long-running television western ″Gunsmoke,″ has died at age 74. CNET. he died of cancer. Physical Description 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 10 in. Finally, however, I checked through newspaper archives for late August-early September 1970 and found a small article announcing that due to a heart attack, Mr. Stone would be unable to make his scheduled fall State Fair appearances with Ken Curtis. Curtis is survived by his wife and two children. First Name Ken #33. His other films included "The Alamo," "How the West Was Won," "Mr. Roberts" and "Cheyenne Autumn." Curtis was known for his bass-baritone voice, dance style and songwriting typically filled with imagery of desolation, … His real name was Ken Curtis … I have never heard that Ken Curtis did a county fair, much less. He was 74. On his first appearance on Gunsmoke, was Ken Curtis billed in the credits as one of the regulars along with Doc and Kitty? No, Ken Curtis who played in the role of Festus Haggen passed awayApril 28, 1991 of natural causes. Texas obituaries and death notices, 1984 to 2021. Pop Singer. Ken Curtis, a singer and actor who played the scruffy deputy Festus on the television series "Gunsmoke," died in his sleep on Sunday at his home. Ken Curtis, Actor, 74, Festus on 'Gunsmoke'. He also appeared in the television series "Rawhide," "Perry Mason" and "Have Gun, Will Travel.". Who played festus on gunsmoke? They said the cause of death was unkown. First Name Ken. He made his Hollywood debut in 1938 as a singer with swing bands. Who was Festus Haggen? Amanda Blake as the other two. Governor Ken Curtis, wife Polly, and daughter Angel (from a Christmas card sent to friends while governor.) TV.com. He then joined the western singing group Sons of the Pioneers, which included Roy Rogers. Many know that Ken Curtis, who played Festus, was a singer. Ken Curtis, one of America’s most talented Christian movie makers who specialized in featuring the stories of early Christian pioneers through an amazing collection of feature films, passed away on Monday, January 3, 2011, at 1:55 PM in Brookside Hospice house in Palm Harbor, Florida, after a long battle with cancer. Although he appeared on Gunsmoke in other roles he first appeared in his iconic role along in season 8 and episode 13, "Us Haggens." He was 88 years old. Doctors have told reporters that Nelson died of complications from colon cancer, the result of a lifetime of … He served in the United States Army during World War II between 1943 and 1945 and then decided to study medicine, especially cardiology. Photograph of Ken Curtis holding two small children on either side of him. James Arness, the 6-foot-6 actor who towered over the television landscape for two decades as righteous Dodge City lawman Matt Dillon … Considering the kind of scruffy, backwoods, uneducated, Deep-South hillbilly types he played, many people would be surprised to hear that Ken Curtis wasn't actually born in the south but in the small town of Las Animas, Colorado, the son of the town sheriff. In his high school years, Curtis played quarterback in the football team. Ian Kevin Curtis (15 July 1956 – 18 May 1980) was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Nipsey Russell. He replaced Dennis Weaver, who played Chester Goode before leaving the show after nine years. Serienschöpfer Robert S. Baker hatte zuvor bereits die Serie Simon Templar produziert, in der Moore ebenfalls der Hauptdarsteller war. They did the soundtrack of John Ford's 1950 movie, "Wagonmaster." Feelings among the family have now reached an all-time low. According to The Ken Curtis Appreciation Site, Curtis got his start in Hollywood in 1938 as a singer and songwriter on the radio where he was heard by … But on “Gunsmoke,” his character was no sophisticate. Born in 1916 #29. the younger guys besides Ken. B. (1931- ) was governor of Maine from 1967 to 1975, and was Chair of the Democratic National Committee in 1977. He entered films in the late 1940s in a series of low-budget westerns for Columbia Pictures. Curtis became a stock player with Ward Bond, Ben Johnson and Harry Carey in the Ford Production Company. Curtis replaced Frank Sinatra on Tommy Dorsey’s band after Sinatra left to become a solo artist. In the first few Gunsmoke episodes, Festus did not have his later famous squint. Curtis, who played deputy Festus Haggin from 1963-75, died in his sleep Sunday at his home here, family members said Monday. After director John Ford hired the Pioneers for the western film, ″Wagon Master,″ Curtis began getting dozens of movie and TV roles. Born In 1916. False. Ken Curtis (I) (1916–1991) Ken Curtis. Frank Sinatra Jr. His real name was Curtis Wain Gates and he was born in Lamar (Colorado), growing up in Las Ánimas (Colorado). Actor Born in Colorado #39. Considering the kind of scruffy, backwoods, uneducated, Deep-South hillbilly types he played, many people would be surprised to hear that Ken Curtis wasn't actually born in the south but in the small town of Las Animas, Colorado, the son of the town sheriff. Ken Curtis's Brother Chester Curtis. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Ken Curtis, Actor Who Played Festus in Gunsmoke, Dies April 29, 1991 FRESNO, Calif. (AP) _ Ken Curtis, a singer and actor who starred as Marshal Matt Dillon’s sidekick on the long-running television western ″Gunsmoke,″ has died at age 74. Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates, July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series Gunsmoke. After he recorded "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," Columbia Pictures signed him as a singing cowboy. Burt Reynolds. Ken Curtis Is A Member Of . of who the other two are. He made his debut in show business in the 1930's as a singer with swing bands and joined the Tommy Dorsey band when Frank Sinatra left to begin a solo career. I'm going to make a guess at Dennis Weaver and maybe. Ken Curtis Fans Also Viewed . Mr. Curtis also played character roles in some classic films, including "The Searchers" and "The Quiet Man," both with John Wayne. FRESNO, Calif. -- Actor Ken Curtis, who as a youngster worked in his father's Colorado jail and went on to portray a scruffy deputy named Festus on 'Gunsmoke,' has died. Some of his songs included ″Love Sends a Little Gift of Roses,″ ″This Is Worth Fighting For″ and ″Breathless.″, After serving in the Army during World War II, Curtis resumed a singing career on Johnny Mercer’s radio show and recorded the popular ″Tumbling Tumbleweeds.″. CBS News. In the first few Gunsmoke episodes, Festus did not speak with his later famous drawl. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. TV Actor. Ken Curtis Wiki Biography Ken Wain Gates was born on 2 July 1916, in Lamar, Colorado USA, and was an actor and singer, probably best known for being a part of the long running western television series entitled “Gunsmoke” in which he played Festus Haggen. One of Curtis’s sons, Ben, 37, is said to feel so bitter that he even refused to attend his father’s funeral last October. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Curtis, whose real name was Curtis Gates, was born in Lamar, Colo. Ken Curtis played multiple characters . Columbia Pictures heard the song and signed Curtis as a singing cowboy. This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Ken Curtis was born in Lamar, Colorado in … Although he appeared on Gunsmoke earlier in other roles, he was first cast as Festus in season 8 episode 13, December 8, 1962 "Us Haggens". TVGuide.com. Most Popular #69198. Roberts″ and ″Cheyenne Autumn.″ He also had roles in TV’s ″Rawhide,″ ″Perry Mason″ and ″Have Gun, Will Travel.″. He was 74 years old. His next appearance was Season 9, episode 2, October 5, 1963 as Kyle Kelly, in "Lover Boy". Amanda Blake death was a tragedy for many people. Early life: He was born on July 2 in 1916 in a place called Lamar. He then joined the singing group "Sons of the Pioneers." Ken Curtis sings "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"Live From Germany 1986 Although he was born in Lamar under his real name Curtis Wain Gates, he … Both martyred in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Ken Curtis Gravesite . See the article in its original context from. It was located in Colorado. ist eine britische Krimiserie, die von Mai 1970 bis Juli 1971 mit Roger Moore und Tony Curtis in den Hauptrollen entstand. Cremation Ken Curtis. Ken Curtis (born … He then joined the group Sons of the Pioneers, of which celebrity Roy Rogers was a member. TV Actors. I hope you'll edit with maybe a clue to give us a better idea. Gunsmoke. Or maybe it was two of. In addition to his television roles, Curtis acted with John Wayne in some of Hollywood’s classic films, including ″The Searchers″ and ″The Quiet Man.″. In 1959, he earned a law degree from the Portland University School of Law (now the University of Maine School of … Other movies he appeared included ″The Alamo,″ ″How the West Was Won,″ ″Mr. Ken Curtis Popularity . Why did Amanda Blake die? Die Serie wurde 1971 und 1972 in Großbritannien ausgestrahlt und darüber hinaus in mehr als 80 Ländern gezeigt. Curtis, who died in 1991, had a wide ranging career in music, television and film. Movie Actor. Curtis joined the cast of Gunsmoke permanently … Ken Curtis net worth: Ken Curtis was an American singer and actor who had a net worth of $5 million. Desi Arnaz. So many people often ask “how old was Amanda Blake when she died?” It happened in 1989 when she was 60 years old. Ken Curtis, a singer and actor who played the scruffy deputy Festus on the television series "Gunsmoke," died in his sleep on Sunday at his home. No. Gunsmoke actor James Arness has died, leaving behind a letter he wanted released upon his death. He then went on to Shep Field’s Orchestra. CENTURY CITY, Calif.-- David Nelson, who essentially played himself as the eldest* child in the iconic American television series “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,” died today at the age of 74.He was the last surviving member of the Nelson TV family. He was active in the industry from 1941 up to his death in 1991. He is survived by his wife and two children. Actor Ken Curtis Obituary. Even Wikipedia, supposedly a …