Dennis Weaver: Why Did He Leave Gunsmoke After 9 Years at the Top?
For nearly a decade, Dennis Weaver was a staple of American television as Chester Goode, the limping, loyal sidekick to James Arness's Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke.
From the show's debut in 1955 through Season 9, Weaver appeared in over 290 episodes, won an Emmy in 1959, and helped turn the adult-oriented Western into a TV landmark. So why did he walk away while the show was still a ratings juggernaut?
The short answer: he was done limping.
In a 1964 interview with The Hartford Courant, Weaver explained:
"After almost 10 years, I want to walk without a limp. In Gunsmoke, I've exhausted all the dimensions of Chester. There's nothing I can do with that character anymore. I knew it some time ago, and I tried to quit the program twice before."
His decision wasn't sudden. Weaver had already filmed two unsold pilots — a variety show called TV Tonight and a dramedy titled Giant Step. Both flopped, and he returned to Gunsmoke each time. But by Season 9, he was ready to take the leap. This time, he had something lined up: NBC's Kentucky Jones.
Weaver owned 25% of the new show and had a guaranteed paycheck of about $5,000 a week, a solid deal in 1964. He told the Courant:
"I want to grow as an actor, to create, to expand. I know I'll never be lucky enough to find another show like Gunsmoke, but in all fairness to myself, I can't afford to make it my whole life's work."
Despite his departure, Gunsmoke didn't write Chester out with a farewell arc. His final appearance came late in Season 9 in the episode "Bently." His role was soon filled by Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen — who, unlike Chester, actually held the title of Deputy Marshal and remained with the show until its finale in 1975.
Weaver, for his part, never looked back with bitterness. "I don't think I'll ever completely leave Chester, you know," he said years later. And while Kentucky Jones only lasted 26 episodes, Weaver's post-Gunsmoke career was anything but short-lived.
He went on to:
- Star in the NBC series Gentle Ben (1967–1969)
- Headline Steven Spielberg's breakout 1971 TV movie Duel, now considered a classic
- Lead McCloud (1970–1977), a successful police drama where he finally played a proper Deputy Marshal
- Serve as President of the Screen Actors Guild from 1973 to 1975
Weaver's last major TV role came in the 2000s with a recurring part on the ABC Family series Wildfire. He passed away in 2006.