On the American TV show "Gunsmoke", who played the character Festus?

Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American singer and actor best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the CBS western television series "Gunsmoke". Although he appeared in "Gunsmoke" earlier in other roles, he was first cast as Festus in season 8 episode 13, December 8, 1962 "Us Haggens." Curtis joined the cast of "Gunsmoke" permanently as Festus in "Prairie Wolfer," season 9 episode 16, January 18, 1964.

Festus Haggen was the scruffy, cantankerous, and illiterate deputy in "Gunsmoke". He joined the "Gunsmoke" cast in 1967, superseding the previous deputy, Thaddeus "Thad" Greenwood, played by Roger Ewing. While Marshal Matt Dillon had a total of five deputies over two decades, Festus held the role the longest (11 years), in 304 episodes. Festus was patterned after "Cedar Jack" (Frederick Munden), a man from Curtis' Las Animas childhood.

Cedar Jack, who lived 15 miles south of town, made a living cutting cedar fence posts. Curtis observed many times that Jack came to Las Animas, where he would often end up drunk and in Curtis' father's jail. Festus' character was known, in part, for the nasally, twangy, rural accent which Curtis developed for the role, but which did not reflect Curtis' actual voice.

Curtis died on April 28, 1991, in his sleep of a heart attack in Fresno, California. He was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the Colorado flatlands.