Tribute to Ken Curtis

[@coptertim]

My aunt was a long time fan of Ken Curtis, enjoying his music as much as his acting and loved his roll as Festus Haggan. In late 1974, at 78, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer. My mother wrote Curtis a letter telling him how much her sister loved his performance as Festus and asked for a photo. Several days later she received an 8 page long, hand written letter from Curtis. He spoke of his childhood, his struggle as a young performer and his experience on Gunsmoke. Alone with the letter he included several photos of himself and other actors on movie sets and during the recording of his records. Curtis never met my aunt, she was just another fan but for him to take the time to write this amazing letter and write a little note on the back of each photo tells us a lot about who he was as a man. He made a dying woman very happy during the most difficult time of her life and we all always admire him for that.

[@normanleach5427]

Thank you .

[@lynngallegos2727]

My mother and aunt went to high school with him in Southeast Colorado. Love to hear him sing and watch him act.

[@davidleonard3887]

When TV was worth watching and actors were actors with talent

[@dwightharber4873]

A big Aman to that

[@ruthalbrant4537]

AMEN TO THAT!

[@rosegamrat5157]

That is so right now I am watching the old one and as many as I can

[@mjp7369]

Loved Festus!!

[@dlw2079]

My favorite character on Gunsmoke. I wish he had sung more.

[@dsdave07]

A multi-talented guy who delighted in sharing his gifts with everyone around him. Gone too soon.

[@bonnieharris8112]

I met Ken Curtis in Death Valley National Monument back in 1979. He was a super sweet guy who loved playing Backgammon in the Corkscrew Saloon. He lived in Clovis Ca, and they have a statue of him on Polasky Street.

[@joeray9628]

Gunsmoke came about via Ken Curtis when he joined the cast. Love Festus and his talent along with his singing! Was here and signed many autographs!

[@voicegirl555]

29 years gone, but always remembered! You were good! Damn good! You gave a lot of joy as Festus and still do, but when I think of you I think of the last performance you gave. The one in the TV movie Congaher! It was such a heartfelt and wonderful performance. I will always remember you Ken Curtis with a smile.

[@dwightharber4873]

I am amazed that some people like Ken are blessed with so much talent. His singing ability as well as his acting ability was at the top.

[@dalehall2067]

Loved watching counter as Festus. Great entertainer and we could definitely singl

[@leighleighdavid6839]

Beautiful voice. Takes u right to the prairie!!

[@Ron-bo6tb]

Gunsmoke was my every Saturday night watch. Ken Curtis was one of the best, I miss actors like that today!

[@keithfaulk1354]

There's no going back..but I wish things could be like they use to be..back in the 70s and 80s. Oh well...thank God for memories..

[@richardharms8748]

One of the best. Wish I could've met him. I love watching the reruns.

[@blueskye6372]

Excellent actor and singer. Rest in Paradise Ken. 👍🎶💜🎬🎞️📽️☀️🌄

[@marliesyanke4580]

Dont forget his trusty Ruth, this man should have had seversl Oscars, big talent and loved. Thank you.

[@connietessmer98]

Ken Curtis was a really great singer , I enjoyed it very much when he did sing on Gunsmoke . The songs that he would sing on Gunsmoke was most generally peppy songs , I really enjoyed it so much I would move to the beat of it .

[@ianthompson9942]

I remember him singing in a scene in a ballroom setting in Gunsmoke and everytime I tune into Gunsmoke, I am hoping to see that episode.

[@drakefallentine8351]

A Fine Tribute with Friends all around. We miss you, ya ol' Scudder

[@bobchristy3261]

Great actor and singer !!!¡!!!!!

[@heru-deshet359]

Gone too soon at 74 by today's longevity standards. I know that he would be impossibly old today if he were alive, but it would have been nice if he had lived longer gracing us with his talent and class.

[@connietessmer98]

Wow ! I didn't think he was that old . I have seen Ken Curtis on the rewards show but never thought he was an older man , he looked really good .

[@barrygioportmorien1]

I had never realized how versatile Ken was.

[@walterbrumfield6930]

Mr. Curtis is a legend and icon. Very very talented.

[@barbarathigpen5048]

So handsome and has a beautiful voice

[@jbolo5378]

He'll always be Festus to me

[@ThomaskellySr.]

He was known as Festis to me but ya know that man could sing almost anything

[@edwarddutton3111]

He was the most tlanted person I've ever seen. Wish I was around in his prime.

[@WILTALK]

Right, he replaced Frank Sinatra as lead singer for Tommy Dorsey and then was lead singer for the Sons of the Pioneers.

[@williamtarpley4025]

Truly loved Ken was a great vocalist and he is shurle missed god bless his journey

[@scottmiller6495]

One of the greatest co star entertainers of all time, and a superb human being as well!!!!!

[@juniorsatterfield405]

He was a great actor before gun smoke

[@jmm5510]

Under all that gruff Ken Curtis was one handsome man! I remember watching him recently playing a playboy on Gunsmoke before he became Festus ☺️ I watched Gunsmoke as a kid.. watching all of the episodes again this year.

[@ianthompson9942]

I remember that one. I think in that episode he inherited some money. 😆😆

[@marliesyanke4580]

JMM, yes Ken was very handsome under all his tattered clothe and make up.

[@oldcop18]

I’m 74 and that IS too soon!

[@johndeardorff3011]

A lot of actors back then served their country. before or after they became a star. unlike today you won't find any actors who have or would serve their country.

[@WILTALK]

Many today could have really served their country by just leaving it.

[@lougray4185]

First saw him in the Searchers with John Wayne. Loved festus!

[@muck6852]

Quite a role in " Mister Roberts" as Dolan, with Henry Fonda, Jack Lemmon, James Cagney, Ward Bond, William Powell..etc. Great stuff.

[@squrielholler_hills]

He was such an awesome actor and singer. Loved all of the episodes of Gunsmoke that he was in. However the one I enjoyed the most was where he thought his kin folks were there to cut off his 'hangy down thing', his ear lobe! 😂😂😂🥰🥰

[@urgdaddy]

I watched it tooo. That was so funny.

[@chantaltherogene391]

Great guy

[@ryderblu]

I remember watching him in the TV show Ripcord - wow that’s aging me

[@virginiawilliams8648]

Omg....when he played Festus you actually believed that he was that person! That takes Great Talent as an Actor. It blew my mind a couple of years ago when I found him on KZbin singing Tumbling Tumbleweed...check it out and compare him singing that to him playing Festus...you will see the talent. RIP Festus...❤

[@WILTALK]

He also sings in the pub scene in the Quiet Man.

[@juniorsatterfield405]

Sad there’s not more of the old John Wayne - Ben Johnson and sons of the pioneers pictures

[@gwendolyntaylor7636]

I never heard him sing, but he sure can act and was funny too. Gunsmoke was my favorite.

[@WILTALK]

He sings in a lot of is older movies. You can catch him as the lead singer of the Regimental singers in Rio Grande as the seranade Mareen OHera and John Wayne And as the singer in the pub in the Quiet Man. He was basically a singer who turned actor. You can also listen to him in the KZbin video Everybodys dancing- Room full of Roses.

[@virginiaschulte6964]

Ken Curtis was my favorite on Gunsmoke, I loved them all, but Festus just stood out for me!!! 🤗❤️

[@randallgreen6746]

Ken Curtis played the "festus role" to a tee, No one could have replaced his him in that role. And it was a time when actors weren't "political activists".

[@evantorch6122]

One of Rome’s Emperors was named Festus!!!

[@familiacineyamigos]

Their video is beautiful and I have included it in the "Album of the movie Stars, thank you to share it, it can look for it in Internet writing "Album de las Estrellas de Cine" or "Tribute Actress Famous" and look for in the alphabet of the ALBUM for the letter K KE here its videotape is and all very detailed one, thank you.

[@moffettcoates6455]

An American Treasure

[@mikekierstead2938]

I have one of these pictures

[@scottt1885]

My favorite

[@davef.2811]

Good man, good American. We could sure use more like him nowadays.

[@ianthompson9942]

Love Festus. He thinks he is smarter than Doc Adams 😁😁

[@robertbish8592]

I'll tell ya Matthew- it's men like him that give jails a bad name!!

[@virginiaknauss1539]

Best known to me with the Sons of the Pioneers -

[@randallhutchcraft4039]

My friend, who was a preacher bought old Ruth from the show Gunsmoke for 2 thousand dollars and road him coon hunting he lived to be 37 and he was buried on the last farm he lived on.

[@mikekeller2885]

Would have been informative if there was commentary along with just pictures.

[@davidhopkins1786]

That was mostly a tribute to Festus. How 'bout the time he was with Tommy Dorsey's band? He replaced Frank Sinatra when "Ole Blue Eyes" left for other ventures. He also spent several years as the lead singer for the Sons of the Pioneers.

[@WILTALK]

I was thinking the same thing. They have old videos of him with the Pioneers, but It might be hard to find some with him and Dorsey.