Ken Curtis
| Ken Curtis | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Curtis Wain Gates July 2, 1916 Lamar, Colorado, United States |
| Died | April 28, 1991 (aged 74) Fresno, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Heart Attack stroke |
| Occupation | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1941–1991 |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Spouse(s) | Lorraine Page (1943-?) Barbara Ford (1952–1964; div.) Torrie Ahern Connelly (1966–1991; his death) |
| Children | 2 |
Ken Curtis (July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the long-running CBS western television series Gunsmoke. Although he appeared on Gunsmoke in other earlier roles, he was first cast in his iconic role in season 8 episode 13, "Us Haggens". His next appearance was with his mule, Ruth, in "Prairie Wolfer" in season 9 episode 16, which also features Noah Beery Jr., as a villain.
Though born Curtis Wain Gates in Lamar in Prowers County in southeastern Colorado, he lived his first ten years on a ranch on Muddy Creek in eastern Bent County. The family moved in 1926 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 1927 to 1931 as Bent County sheriff. The family lived below the jail, since the jail was the whole second floor and his mother, Nellie Sneed Gates, cooked for the prisoners. The jail is located for historical preservation purposes on the grounds of the Bent County Courthouse in Las Animas.
Curtis was the quarterback of his Bent County High School football team and played in the school band. He graduated in 1935. During World War II, Curtis served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945.
He attended Colorado College to study medicine but left after a short time in order to pursue his musical career.
Curtis was a singer before moving into acting and combined both careers once he entered films. Curtis was with the Tommy Dorsey band in 1941, and succeeded Frank Sinatra as vocalist until Dick Haymes contractually replaced Sinatra in 1942. Curtis may have served simply as insurance against Sinatra's likely defection, and it was Dorsey who suggested that Gates change his name to Ken Curtis. Curtis then joined Shep Fields and His New Music, an all-reeds band that dispensed with a brass section.
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