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Do you remember this made-for-TV movie that helped Dennis Weaver shed his Gunsmoke image?
"Had his life really ended in Vietnam?"
Some actors would love consistent, years-long work. It seems like a promising proposition for anyone who's struggled to stay dependably employed. A supporting role on a TV show like Gunsmoke, in particular, could solve a lot of problems, with money and recognition sure to follow for whoever joined the cast.
Especially when the show is as long-running as Gunsmoke was, it might seem like a dream come true. Dennis Weaver, for instance, was able to appear as Chester Goode for nearly a decade, co-starring in 290 episodes of the hit Western. While he wasn't the show's most famous face, Weaver nonetheless found it difficult to move on from Dodge City when his time on the show ended.
While Gunsmoke was a ratings smash for CBS, it was an ABC made-for-TV movie that helped Weaver break out of his memorable role. He was on Gunsmoke from 1955 to 1964, so it would take something big to shake up the audience's understanding of him as an actor.
Luckily, the break came The Forgotten Man, originally broadcast in 1971. Finally, Weaver was handed a role that would demand the most from his skills. Anyone who watched would agree that he rose to the occasion.
Weaver starred in The Forgotten Man as Lt. Joe Hardy, a Vietnam vet, and a former POW. He returns home to find the life he left behind changed irreparably. His wife has remarried, his daughter has been adopted, and his business was shuttered and sold.
Not only was The Forgotten Man an important milestone in Weaver's career, but it was also a momentous piece of filmmaking for the issues it tackled. What could have been a sappy TV movie was instead one of the first productions to properly understand and tackle PTSD, giving many viewers their first glimpse into the life of a veteran of war.
By taking on such a dramatic role, Weaver was able to distance himself from his Gunsmoke past, creating a character far from his earlier work as Chester Goode.
Gone was the gentler, folksy side of Weaver we'd gotten to know in Dodge City. Instead, he'd follow up The Forgotten Man with movies like Duel before settling back in for another show as a fish-out-of-water New Mexico deputy Marshal in Manhattan in McCloud.
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