Ken Curtis

Biography: It was while attending Colorado College that American actor/singer Ken Curtis discovered his talent for writing music. After an artistic apprenticeship on the staff of the NBC radio network's music department in the early '30s, Curtis was hired as male vocalist for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, then went on to work for bandleader Shep Fields. Preferring country-western to swing, Curtis joined the Sons of the Pioneers singing group in the 1940s, and in this capacity appeared in several western films. Columbia Pictures felt that Curtis had star potential, and gave the singer his own series of westerns in 1945, but Ken seemed better suited to supporting roles. He worked a lot for director John Ford in the '40s and '50s, as both singer and actor, before earning starring status again on the 1961 TV adventure series Ripcord. That was the last we saw of the handsome, clean-shaven Ken Curtis; the Ken Curtis that most western fans are familiar with is the scraggly rustic deputy FestusIt was while attending Colorado College that American actor/singer Ken Curtis discovered his talent for writing music. After an artistic apprenticeship on the staff of the NBC radio network's music department in the early '30s, Curtis was hired as male vocalist for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, then went on to work for bandleader Shep Fields. Preferring country-western to swing, Curtis joined the Sons of the Pioneers singing group in the 1940s, and in this capacity appeared in several western films. Columbia Pictures felt that Curtis had star potential, and gave the singer his own series of westerns in 1945, but Ken seemed better suited to supporting roles. He worked a lot for director John Ford in the '40s and '50s, as both singer and actor, before earning starring status again on the 1961 TV adventure series Ripcord. That was the last we saw of the handsome, clean-shaven Ken Curtis; the Ken Curtis that most western fans are familiar with is the scraggly rustic deputy Festus Haggen on the long-running TV Western Gunsmoke. Ken was hired to replace Dennis Weaver (who'd played deputy Chester Good) in 1964, and remained with Gunsmoke until the series ended its 20-year run in 1975. After that, Ken Curtis retired to his spread in Fresno, California, stepping back into the spotlight on occasion for guest appearances at western-movie conventions. Expand

Ken Curtis' Scores

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Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd In the Heat of the Night: Season 3 Oct 24, 1989 Tom McCauley tbd
tbd Airwolf: Season 3 Sep 28, 1985 Ken Curtis tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 20 Sep 9, 1974 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 19 Sep 10, 1973 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Black Beauty: Season 1 Sep 23, 1972 Howard Jakes tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 18 Sep 11, 1972 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 17 Sep 13, 1971 Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen / Festus/Eaton tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 16 Sep 14, 1970 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 15 Sep 22, 1969 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 14 Sep 23, 1968 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 13 Sep 11, 1967 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 12 Sep 17, 1966 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 11 Sep 18, 1965 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 10 Sep 26, 1964 Festus / Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 9 Sep 28, 1963 Festus / Festus / Festus Haggen / Festus Haggen/Kelly tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 8 Sep 15, 1962 Festus / Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 7 Sep 30, 1961 Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Rawhide: Season 3 Sep 30, 1960 Slade tbd
tbd Perry Mason: Season 4 Sep 17, 1960 Durant tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 6 Sep 3, 1960 Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 5 Sep 5, 1959 Festus Haggen / Scout tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 4 Sep 6, 1958 Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 3 Sep 14, 1957 Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 2 Sep 8, 1956 Festus Haggen tbd
tbd Gunsmoke: Season 1 Sep 10, 1955 Festus Haggen tbd