Initial Gunsmoke scripts gave him no name at all; his lines were simply slugged [clarification needed] to be spoken by "Townsman". He simply 'went away' without mention of where he had gone. Cyril Vivian August 27, 2020 at 4:20 AM. Dennis Weaver, who portrayed Matt Dillon's sidekick Chester, actually left the series three times before his final departure after season nine. In 1986 he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was in his 20's when he made his Broadway debut in "Come Back, Little Sheba," which led to his signing a contract with Universal Studios and going to Hollywood. Mr. Weaver also had leading roles in 40 motion pictures, including Orson Welles's 1958 film "Touch of Evil," and the 1971 classic "Duel," directed by a young Steven Spielberg, made for television but released theatrically in Europe. There are also several episodes were Matt indicates when the mail is delivered by Chester if his paycheck is there, never Chester's. Most all of the regulars including Chester just … Blake's character was Miss Kathleen "Kitty" Russell, the proprietor of a saloon in Dodge City, the setting for "Gunsmoke." For the last nine years he had been the host of Starz Entertainment's "Westerns" channel. But he starred in nine television series. Chester Goode, and Matt replies, "He used to work for me")-Dukieboy . He released several country music albums and had a one-man show in which he played 19 different Shakespearean characters. With James Arness, Dennis Weaver, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake. So apparently, and was hinted several times, Matt payed Chester out of his pay. Is anyone from Gunsmoke still alive? The cause was complications of cancer, said Julian Myers, his publicist. from Canada. tex2 (R.I.P 2019) Dodge Family Member (Top Poster) R.I.P 2019. In 1993, he and his wife founded a nonprofit group called the Institute of Ecolonomics -- a word Mr. Weaver coined from combining ecology and economics -- to find solutions to environmental problems. The character of Chester appeared on Gunsmoke from 1955 through 1964. In 1982, with his wife and some friends, he founded an organization called Love Is Feeding Everyone, which fed more than 100,000 people in Los Angeles each week. In it he played the prey of a murderous truck, with an unseen driver. Over the next three years, he played in a series of movies, but still had to work odd jobs to support his family. In 2003 the institute created a "Drive to Survive" campaign in which Mr. Weaver led a fleet of alterative-fuel vehicles on a cross-country tour to Washington to raise awareness about reducing the country's dependence on oil. Hail Chester and Festus!! Prior to Gunsmoke, Weaver held a number of odd jobs, including a janitor and a door-to-door salesman for items such as vacuum cleaners, ladies' hosiery and tricycles. After playing a series of character actors, often in westerns, he landed the role of Chester Goode in "Gunsmoke.". Am here to testify of a great and powerful spell caster named Dr.Adoda I was so confused and devastated when my lover left me for another girl. Chester Goode was never 'officially' written out of the Gunsmoke series. Amanda Blake's last episode on "Gunsmoke" was "The Disciple," which originally aired on April 1, 1974. Weaver's two most famous roles were as Marshal Matt Dillon's trusty partner Chester Goode/Proudfoot on the CBS western Gunsmoke and as Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud on the NBC police drama McCloud. Chester's character had no surname until Baer ad libbed "Proudfoot" during an early rehearsal. He directed several episodes of various television shows, wrote poetry, and in 2001 his autobiography, "All the World's a Stage," was published. He … False. Chester was played by Parley Baer on radio, and by Dennis Weaver on television. He simply 'went away' without mention of where he had gone. The lanky Mr. Weaver became famous for his limping deputy with a drawl, the buddy of Marshal Matt Dillon, a portrayal for which he won an Emmy in 1959. Blake subsequently quit the popular television show, which was then in its 19th season. Mr. Weaver's long career ranged beyond acting. Chester Goode was never 'officially' written out of the Gunsmoke series. Chester was always indicated as his helper, friend. When he was called to be told he had won the part of Chester, he was out delivering flowers. How long was Chester on Gunsmoke? "McCloud," which was broadcast from 1970 to 1977, earned him two Emmy nominations. Replies. Long Live Gunsmoke. It was while delivering flowers that he heard he had landed the role of Chester Goode, the limping, loyal assistant of Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) on the new television series Gunsmoke. He did not hit it big in Hollywood, and during his struggle to make a living as an actor his jobs included selling pantyhose and delivering flowers. Dennis Weaver, 81, Sidekick on 'Gunsmoke,' Dies. At one time he had a comedy/variety stage show with his wife, Gerry, and son Rusty. Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987), Gunsmoke: The Last Apache (1990), Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992), Gunsmoke: The Long Ride (1993), and Gunsmoke: One … Over the next three years, he played in a series of movies, but still had to work odd jobs to support his family. Reply Delete. From 1973 to 1975, Mr. Weaver was president of the Screen Actors Guild. Matt many times asked Chester to take and lock-up a prisoner, yet never Deputized. It was while delivering flowers that he heard he had landed the role of Chester Goode, the limping, loyal assistant of Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) on the new television series Gunsmoke. Running from 1955 to 1975, this old-time western classic can still be watched on CBS's streaming service. He was portrayed by the actor Dennis Weaver. He went from nerd to sex symbol in "McCloud," playing Sam McCloud, a New Mexico deputy marshal on loan to the New York City police, who sometimes rode his horse through the city streets. Reply. After playing a series of character actors, often in westerns, he landed the role of Chester Goode in "Gunsmoke." Amanda Blake's last episode on "Gunsmoke" was "The Disciple," which originally aired on April 1, 1974. Besides his wife, Gerry, and son Rusty, Mr. Weaver is survived by his sons Rick and Rob and three grandchildren. Advertisement. A dying man confesses to a murder of which he was acquitted, but Chester suspects the man was lying. In 1948, he was a decathlon finalist in the United States Olympic trials. His last role was as Henry Ritter, a grandfather in "Wildfire," a dramatic series on the ABC Family Channel. Dennis Weaver first became familiar to television audiences as Matt Dillon's deputy Directed by Harry Harris. The show's comic-relief character, Chester, was actually one of the first to be cast in the show, coming even before Matt Dillon was cast. Long live Gunsmoke. William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild, best known for his work in television and films from the early 1950s until not long before his death in 2006. How long was Chester on Gunsmoke? After growing up on a Missouri farm, Mr. Weaver served as a Naval Air Corps pilot, and he graduated with a degree in fine arts in theater from the University of Oklahoma. My name is Amelia. Dennis Weaver, whose portrayal of Deputy Chester Goode in the classic television western "Gunsmoke" made him the favorite sidekick of the early television era, died on Friday at his home in Ridgway, Colo. He starred in the 1971 television film Duel, the first film of director Steve…