Some of them had to find out about the cancellation from the Hollywood Reporter. Festus was a GREAT replacement and a good addition to the show. Gunsmoke certainly deserved a better end than it received. It was also considered grittier and more grounded than the average Western movie of that time. The actress had surgery for oral cancer in 1977, and later appeared throughout the country for two years on behalf of the American Cancer Society. Every day he watches the Westerns and especially Gunsmoke. Ken Curtis played Festus, Dillons sidekick, inGunsmoke. Blakes death certificate listed the immediate cause of death as cardiopulmonary arrest due to liver failure and CMV hepatitis. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Amanda Blake, who played Miss Kitty in the long-running Gunsmoke television series, died of AIDS-related complications, not I was so sad when I learned that Milburn Stone had passed away. I'd pretty much exhausted all creative possibilities with the character, and I just wanted to do something else," he said. In 1984, the Cancer Society named her as the recipient of its Courage Award, which was presented to Blake in the Oval Office by President Ronald Reagan. And, the characters storylines were left opened ended. I wished one of the tv stations would start gunsmoke from the first show and show all of them in a row till the last one. Gunsmoke did consistently well in ratings throughout its run, though its popularity dipped in 1967, which saw CBS planning to cancel it. The American Western series had 20 seasons, with 635 episodes aired in 20 years. Always thought Doc Adams would return. Amen. You would think that I wouldnt want to see anything having to do with the wild west or cowboys! The 18 wheeler show you wrote about was a Richard Matheson story and was directed by Steven Spielberg. There were times that I wanted to just smack him because of his silly remarks. She was once a two-pack-a-day smoker. We were the Native family there. They were perfect for their roles. The characters were endearing and rich, the plots were entertaining, and the acting was great. I continue to watch Gunsmoke. d. Polly Bond Turns Down Gunsmoke Role. My Uncle got me started watching gunsmoke , and I still think of him while watching the reruns! She didnt want to live in a goldfish bowl., Milburn Stone Aka "Doc" Didn't Leave 'Gunsmoke' by Choice, The Actor Behind Chester on 'Gunsmoke' Grew Restless Playing the Sidekick. It seemed that there was always something new for the show. She played the character of Miss Kitty for 19 years before leaving the show in 1974. If she took the role of Miss Kitty, she would have been earning far more than her new husband.