Although Gunsmoke is often considered to be an ensemble series, the Western wouldn’t be as impressive as it was without actor James Arness at the helm of the ship.

For the duration of the show, Arness starred as Marshal Matt Dillon, presiding over Dodge City with a fair but tough hand.

But much like his character, Arness understood that one man can not accomplish everything on his own. During an interview with The Gazette, Arness commented on his character’s screen time, which diminished as the series went on.

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While many actors may have considered it a blow to the ego, Arness understood that Gunsmoke was at its strongest when every character had a moment to shine.

“Often we get letters that say, ‘Why can’t we see more of Matt? or ‘Give us more of Kitty,” said Arness. “That’s when the CBS fellows get uptight and suggest we appear more. But to me, that’s the best kind of fan mail. When you get letters saying ‘We get too much of Matt’— that’s when you should start worrying.”

Arness loved working on the Western, but also kept a realistic perspective when discussing the continuation of the show.

“You never can tell until you get the word,” said Arness. “Sure, the ratings have been good, but that isn’t the whole story anymore. They have this thing about the nature of the audience - demographics, it’s called. What are our demographics? I haven’t the slightest idea.”