I'm going to miss the big galoot. As an official aging baby boomer, there will always be a big place in my heart for Matt Dillon, Miss Kitty, Doc and Festus (and Chester before him).

Arness was the real deal, a wounded WWII vet (Anzio) who didn't talk much about how bad it hurt to ride horses.

RIP sir, and thanks for your service, and for the memories.

I started out with radio Gunsmoke with William Conrad then to TV Gunsmoke with J Arness.Always interesting especially the way the program evolved over the years.

He had to be 'up there' in years. I watched gunsmoke when I was a kid --- and I'm not young now! He looked really old in the last made for tv movie I saw him in. RIP marshall Dillion.

The folks my age ,there about, are so lucky we had heros to watch on TV.
Arness was one, it not, the one of the biggest.

Jim

I met him at the Houston Rodeo in the 1960's. He was bigger than life back then and a nice guy.

I still watch the old Gunsmoke on cable! Matt Dillion was a hero to a lot of kids back in those days.

Those of you who never got to hear "Festus" sing have missed out on a wonderful voice. He sang with the Son's Of The Pioneers.