'Gunsmoke' Actor Dennis Weaver Dies

[Witchywoman]

'Gunsmoke' Actor Dennis Weaver Dies
Feb 27, 12:40 PM EST
Associated Press
"Dennis Weaver, the slow-witted deputy Chester Goode in the TV classic Western "Gunsmoke" and the New Mexico deputy solving New York crime in "McCloud," has died, his publicist said Monday. The actor was 81.
Weaver died of complications from cancer on Feb. 24 at his home in Ridgway, in southwestern Colorado, publicist Julian Myers said.
A struggling actor in Hollywood in 1955, Weaver was earning $60 a week delivering flowers when he was offered $300 a week for a role in a new CBS television series, "Gunsmoke." He learned that another actor had turned down the same role at $400 a week. Weaver summoned his courage and asked for and got $400. By the end of his nine years with "Gunsmoke," he was earning $9,000 a week.
When Weaver first auditioned for the series, he found the character of Chester "inane." He wrote in his 2001 autobiography, "All the World's a Stage," that he said to himself: "With all my Actors Studio training, I'll correct this character by using my own experiences and drawing from myself."
The result was a well-rounded character that appealed to audiences, especially with his drawling, "Mis-ter Dil-lon."
At the end of seven hit seasons, Weaver sought other horizons. He announced his departure, but the failures of pilots for his own series caused him to return to "Gunsmoke" on a limited basis for two more years. The role brought him an Emmy in the 1958-59 season.
In 1966, Weaver starred with a 600-pound black bear in "Gentle Ben," about a family that adopts a bear as a pet. The series was well-received, but after two seasons, CBS decided it needed more adult entertainment and cancelled it.
Next came the character Sam McCloud, which Weaver called "the most satisfying role of my career."
The "McCloud" series, 1970-1977, juxtaposed a no-nonsense lawman from Taos, N.M., onto the crime-ridden streets of New York City. His wild-west tactics, such as riding his horse through Manhattan traffic, drove local policemen crazy, but he always solved the case."



Hmmmm he died on the 24th and we're just now hearing about it??

[Elisa]

I'm sorry to hear this. Besides being a talented actor, he worked incredibly hard as an advocate to feed the hungry. Another good one gone.

[HWBL]

Aawww, loved him as McCloud "Theeeeeerrrrrrrrrre ya go!" His organization fed over 150.000 hungry people a year! R.I.P. Good man.

[hello]

another loss for us. Prayers for his family. A good man. A good life. Amen.