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Ken Curtis Biography (1916-1991)

Born Curtis Gates, July 2, 1916, in Lamar, CO; died April 28, 1991, in Fresno, CA; married wife, Torrie; children: two.

Nationality

American

Occupation

actor, director

Birth Details

July 2, 1916

Lamar, Colorado, United States

Death Details

April 28, 1991

Fresno, California, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Jim Buckley, Ripcord, syndicated, 1961.
• Deputy Festus Hagen, Gunsmoke (also known as Marshal Dillon), CBS, 1964-75.
• Hoyt Coryell, The Yellow Rose, NBC, 1983-84.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Howard Jakes, Black Beauty, NBC, 1978.
• Kentuck, California Gold Rush, NBC, 1981.
• Kelly Sutton, Once upon a Texas Train, CBS, 1988.
• Seaborn Tay, Conagher (also known as Louis L'Amour's Conagher), TNT, 1991.
• Also appeared in the serial Don Daredevil Rides Again, 1951.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion, ABC, 1979.
• Also appeared in The Whirlwind, 1974.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• Appeared as a guest on television series, including Gunsmoke (before becoming a regular cast member), Perry Mason, Rawhide, and HaveGun, Will Travel.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• Cowboy Blues, Columbia, 1946.
• Buck Clayton, Out of the Depths, Columbia, 1946.
• Curt Benson, Stallion Canyon, Astor, 1949.
• Regimental singer, Rio Grande, Republic, 1950.
• Dermot Fahy, The Quiet Man, Republic, 1952.
• Specialty Bit, The Long Gray Line, Columbia, 1955.
• Dolan, Mister Roberts, Warner Brothers, 1955.
• Charlie McCorry, The Searchers, Warner Brothers, 1956.
• Al, Spring Reunion, United Artists (UA), 1957.
• John Dale Price, The Wings of Eagles, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1957.
• Monsignor Killian, The Last Hurrah, Columbia, 1958.
• Fred Mueller, The Missouri Traveler, Buena Vista, 1958.
• Burch, Escort West, UA, 1959.
• Wilkie, The Horse Soldiers, UA, 1959.
• Jerry Lacer, The Killer Shrews (also see below), McLendon Radio Pictures, 1959.
• Lee Hearn, The Young Land, Columbia, 1959.
• Capt. Almeron Dickinson, The Alamo, UA, 1960.
• Wessner, Freckles, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1960.
• Dr. Lusk, My Dog, Buddy (also see below), Columbia, 1960.
• Greely Clegg, Two Rode Together, Columbia, 1961.
• Ben, Union Corporal, How the West Was Won, Cinerama, 1962.
• Homer, Cheyenne Autumn, Warner Brothers, 1964.
• Voice of Nutsy, Robin Hood (animated), Disney-Buena Vista, 1973.
• Jed, Pony Express Rider, Doty-Dayton, 1976.
• Also appeared in Rhythm Round-up, 1945, Song of the Prairie, 1945, Lone Star Moonlight, 1946, Singing on the Trail, 1946,That Texas Jamboree, 1946, Throw a Saddle on a Star, 1946, Over the Santa Fe Trail, 1947, Call of the Forest, 1949, Ridersof the Pony Express, 1949, Legend of the Wild, 1981, Lost,1983, and Texas Guns, 1990.
• Credits; Film Producer
• The Giant Gila Monster, McLendon Radio Pictures, 1959.
• The Killer Shrews, McLendon Radio Pictures, 1959.
• My Dog, Buddy, Columbia, 1960.

Further Reference

Obituaries and Other Sources: Periodicals

• Hollywood Reporter, April 30, 1991.