Who was in more episodes of Gunsmoke?

Chester or Festus? Doc Adams or Kitty?

 CBS Television Distribution

James Arness played Marshal Matt Dillon in 635 episodes of Gunsmoke, the only cast member to appear in every single one. While fellow regulars Amanda Blake and Milburn Stone can't top that, they were both in more than 500 episodes — a significant achievement by any standard!

Whether it was regular cast members, recurring characters or famous guest stars, countless actors appeared in Dodge City dozens or even hundreds of times. Take a look at these actor pairings and try to guess who was in more episodes of Gunsmoke!

Watch Gunsmoke on MeTV!

Monday - Saturday at 1 PM & 1:30 PM

*available in most MeTV markets
  1. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  2. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  3. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  4. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  5. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  6. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  7. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  8. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  9. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  10. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  11. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution
  12. Who appeared in more Gunsmoke episodes?
     CBS Television Distribution

Who was in more episodes of Gunsmoke?

Your Result...

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Pellentesque nec ante ipsum. Mauris viverra, urna et porta sagittis, lorem diam dapibus diam, et lacinia libero quam id risus.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

76 Comments

deltadart 1 month ago
Trip up on number 3. I forgot that even though Festus was cast from 1964 to 1975 and Dennis Weaver was in Gunsmoke from 1955-1964, they made more episodes in the fifties and early sixties.
gort53 32 months ago
I've read here & other sites that James Arness appeared in all 635 episodes. I just watched year 20 episode 19 Brides & Grooms on my local MeTV station. If James Arness was in this episode, MeTV edited him out. And that's possible, maybe probable given the desire to cut scenes for more commercials. I've noticed credits at the end of episodes for people I never saw on screen. So how about it MeTV....Did Arness appear in this episode? And why would you edit out the 30 seconds he would have appeared? What's the truth?
TomLawrence gort53 29 months ago
James Arness was in every episode. In the last few seasons, he sometimes was only in a scene or two at the start or finish. Those are usually good ones to skip.
deltadart gort53 1 month ago
Cable tv is notorious for butchering with edits just to show more ugly commercials.
LynCarceo 43 months ago
6 out of 12. I didn't have a clue.
Ninnjette 43 months ago
This one destroyed me LOL.. 3 out of 12...
mslover 44 months ago
11/12 guessed correctly on a couple that were only an episode or two different.
MaryHelen 44 months ago
#3 is wrong-- d weaver was in 9 seasons, while ken curtis was in 11 seasons.
TobyTyler2 MaryHelen 43 months ago
Good catch. IMDB shows Ken Curtis 306 episodes to Dennis Weaver 290 episodes.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047736/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_17
MeTV needs to correct that answer.
LynCarceo TobyTyler2 43 months ago
Thank you! I thought Festus was in more than Chester.
fivecents 44 months ago
6/12 .... thought I'd have done better, I love the old B/W Gunsmoke, watch it daily.
RoberttheWallace 44 months ago
Awesome quiz--so many great actors to have appeared on Gunsmoke; just watched one of my favorite scify flicks on Svengoolie last night with the great James Arness: " The Thing From Another World ". . . Super movie. One of the few films where the Original movie is equal in entertainment, suspense, and superior quality with its remake { with Kurt Russell's 1980 " The Thing " by John Carpenter }! ;
Kaydee 44 months ago
8/12...I believe actor Victor French (Mr. Edwards "Little House on the Prairie") was in the most episodes on Gunsmoke, and he was a really great actor too.
Cowgirl 44 months ago
You got 12 out of 12
Hold yer taters, you were fine as frogs hair on this here quiz!
#3 is wrong. Ken Curtis was in 306 episodes while Dennis Weaver was in 290 episodes.
fivecents Cowgirl 44 months ago
I knew Ken Curtis was in alot of episodes, even some where he didn't play his trademark Festus charactor. However, I loved Dennis Weaver more as Matt's sidekick, always good for a laugh
Cowgirl fivecents 44 months ago
Yes, Ken Curtis was in quite a few episodes before he became Festus. The difference between his normal speaking voice & his Festus voice is amazing. I loved hearing him sing & like Pernell Roberts on Bonanza, he didn't get to do it enough on the show. I wonder what the show would have been like with if Dennis Weaver & Burt Reynolds had stayed on it along with Ken Curtis. I read somewhere that Dennis Weaver said he always regretted the decision for his character to have a stiff leg in the show. I don't know if you've ever heard Ken Curtis sing, but you can find videos of him on You Tube. He was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers & their lead singer for several years. They were in the movie Rio Grande with John Wayne. Ken had a beautiful voice.
flipdave 44 months ago
According to IMdb Ken Curtis appeared in more episodes than Dennis Weaver; Curtis had 306, Weaver 290!
TonyDStrong 44 months ago
You got 5 out of 12
I did a GOOD JOB on the quiz.
Where's my treat?
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?