Gunsmoke star dead at 83

Ewing’s tenure on *Gunsmoke* came during an interesting era of the show’s evolution.

*Gunsmoke* — which originally premiered in 1955 — mid-century America embraced this Western saga like few other series of its time. When *Gunsmoke* was already well-established, star **James Arness**, who played Marshal Matt Dillon, found himself in contract disputes with CBS. The network briefly considered *retooling* the show around Ewing’s character as a possible successor — an indication of how much faith they had in his presence. ([TheWrap][3])

Though that plan never fully materialized — and the character’s run ended after just a couple of seasons — Ewing’s contribution bridged classic and modern eras of television Westerns.

Fans fondly remember his Thad Greenwood as loyal, reliable, and quietly strong — a figure who worked beside Dillon, Kitty, Doc, and Festus as *Gunsmoke* continued its long journey. ([AOL][4])

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