Ken Curtis (Curtis Wain Gates) (July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991)
Curtis was an singer and actor best known as the iconic character
Festus Haggen on the long-running CBS television western series
Gunsmoke (1955-1975). He first appeared on the show in 1962
and was featured full-time from 1964 until 1975.
Curtis was born in Lamar, Prowers County Colorado and was a
singer before moving into acting and combined both careers once
he entered films, performing with the popular Sons of the Pioneers
from 1949 to 1953 as well as singing with the Tommy Dorsey band
replacing Frank Sinatra as vocalist.
