About
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...
Known for
Perry MasonSeries • 1957
AirwolfSeries • 1984
Wagon TrainSeries • 1957
Have Gun, Will TravelSeries • 1957
RawhideSeries • 1959
GunsmokeSeries • 1955
Vega$Series • 1978
Sea HuntSeries • 1958
PetrocelliSeries • 1974
How the West Was WonSeries • 1977
Grizzly AdamsSeries • 1977
Robin HoodMovie • 1973
The SearchersMovie • 1956
How the West Was WonMovie • 1962
The AlamoMovie • 1960
The Quiet ManMovie • 1952
Mister RobertsMovie • 1955
The Horse SoldiersMovie • 1959
Cheyenne AutumnMovie • 1964
The Wings of EaglesMovie • 1957
Rio GrandeMovie • 1950
Two Rode TogetherMovie • 1961
ConagherMovie • 1991
The Long Gray LineMovie • 1955