What do the following people have in common?  Ed Asner, Jim Backus, Ralph Bellamy, Charles Bronson, John Carradine, Robert Culp, Bette Davis, Bruce Dern, Angie Dickinson, Sam Elliott, Harrison Ford, Jodie Foster, Anne Francis, Dennis Hopper, George Kennedy, Martin Landau, Strother Martin, Ricardo Montalbán, Harry Morgan, Leonard Nimoy, Nick Nolte, Kurt Russell, Burt Reynolds, William Shatner, Tom Skerritt, Loretta Swit, Lee Van Cleef, Jon Voight, Lesley Ann Warren,  and James Whitmore.

They were all were on the TV show Gunsmoke at one time or another along with at least a hundred other faces most people 35 and above will recognize.  Gunsmoke started in the mid-50’s in black and while and moved to color about half way through its twenty year run.  It became the longest running, prime time series of the twentieth century.

Growing up in the 60’s and early 70’s I remember well the cowboy shows on television:  Wagon Train, Rawhide, Maverick, Bonanza, The Rifleman, Have Gun Will Travel, The Virginian, Wild Wild West and many more.  But there was only one Gunsmoke.   Doc,  Festus, Chester and the unrequited love between Miss Kitty and Marshall Dillon.  Even today I watch reruns occasionally on cable’s Encore Westerns.  Seeing it is as comforting and American as “Mom and apple pie”.

I am grateful for the many hours of entertainment Gunsmoke gave me.  There is also gratitude within for the basic morals and standards the show portrayed.  Yes, people got shot fairly often, but it was the embellished “old west” and as a kid I knew it was all make believe.  Yet, I knew the “fiber” of the show was real.

The star of Gunsmoke and a childhood hero of mine, James Arness, died yesterday at the age of 88.  I feel like I have lost a family member like a distant great-uncle.  Mr. Arness wrote this letter to be released upon his death this past Friday, June 6, 2011:

Hi friends, 

I decided to write a letter to you for Janet to post on our website in the event I was no longer here. 

I had a wonderful life and was blessed with some many loving people and great friends. The best part of my life was my family, especially my wife Janet. Many of you met her at Dodge City so you understand what a special person she is. 

I wanted to take this time to thank all of you for the many years of being a fan of Gunsmoke, The Thing, How the West Was Won and all the other fun projects I was lucky enough to have been allowed to be a part of. I had the privilege of working with so many great actors over the years. 

I was honored to have served in the army for my country. I was at Anzio during WWII and it makes you realize how very precious life is. 

Thank you again for all the many letters, cards, emails and gifts we received from you over the years. You are and always have been truly appreciated. 

Sincerely,

Jim Arness 

The gratitude Mr. Arness expresses in his letter is touching.  I always thought he was that kind of guy and it does my heart good to know in reality he really was.

The very first episode of Gunsmoke was introduced by John Wayne:

Good evening. My name’s Wayne. Some of you may have seen me before; I hope so. I’ve been kicking around Hollywood a long time. I’ve made a lot of pictures out here, all kinds, and some of them have been Westerns. And that’s what I’m here to tell you about tonight: a Western—a new TV show called Gunsmoke. No, I’m not in it. I wish I were, though, because I think it’s the best thing of its kind that’s come along, and I hope you’ll agree with me; it’s honest, it’s adult, it’s realistic. 

When I first heard about the show Gunsmoke, I knew there was only one man to play in it: James Arness. He’s a young fellow, and maybe new to some of you, but I’ve worked with him and I predict he’ll be a big star. So you might as well get used to him, like you’ve had to get used to me! And now I’m proud to present my friend Jim Arness in Gunsmoke. 

So now Marshall Matt Dillon has ridden off into the sunset to join Marshall ”Rooster” Cogburn.  To both gentlemen:  thank you both for all the wonderful hours I wandered the old west in spirit with you.  And Marshall Dillon… I hope you and Miss Kitty finally can get together now!  Thank you Mr. Arness.  I will not forget you.

I know it’s hard but please don’t cry

Fer I’m now ridin’ God’s trails high up in the sky

(from “A Cowboy’s Last Request by Terry Ike Clanton)