- Born
- Died
- Place
Ken Curtis
Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the Western television series Gunsmoke.
Early years
Born on July 2, 1916 as the youngest of three boys in Lamar in Prowers County in southeastern Colorado, Curtis lived his first 10 years on a ranch on Muddy Creek in eastern Bent County. In 1926, the family moved to Las Animas, the county seat of Bent County, so that his father, Dan Sullivan Gates, could run for sheriff. The campaign was successful, and Gates served from 1926 to 1931 as Bent County sheriff.
Curtis was the quarterback of his Bent County High School football team and played clarinet in the school band. He graduated in 1935. During World War II, Curtis served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945.
He attended Colorado College to study medicine, but left after a short time to pursue his musical career.
Film
As actor
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
Conagher
Once Upon a Texas Train
Lost
Legend of the Wild
California Gold Rush
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Once Upon a Starry Night
Pony Express Rider
Robin Hood
Cheyenne Autumn
How the West Was Won
Two Rode Together
The Alamo
Freckles
My Dog, Buddy
The Killer Shrews
The Horse Soldiers
The Young Land
Woman on the Run
Escort West
The Last Hurrah
The Missouri Traveler
The Wings of Eagles
Spring Reunion
The Growler Story
The Searchers
5 Steps to Danger
The Long Gray Line
Mister Roberts