Gunsmoke star dead at 83

Though he wasn’t part of the cast from the show’s earliest seasons, his character still endeared him to fans — and his presence helped link the old guard to the next generation of Western heroes on screen.

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## **From Fan to Cast Member: A Full-Circle Journey**

What makes Ewing’s rise especially compelling is how it began: he was a *fan* of *Gunsmoke* long before he became part of it.

In multiple interviews later in life, Ewing shared that he used to watch *Gunsmoke* regularly in his youth. Ironically, it was this love for the show that would lead him to star in it years later. ([TheWrap][3])