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Ken Curtis had a ''tough love'' approach to actors who complained about being typecast
"Any actor who leaves a show that has a part that's made for him is foolish," said the actor.
Much like his character, Festus Hagen, Ken Curtis was a man of fairly simple pleasures. While plenty of actors allow wealth and power to go to their heads, Curtis remained humble throughout his career. A breakout star on the hit Western, Gunsmoke, Curtis was simply grateful to have a role on one of television's most popular shows.
"I figure to stay with Gunsmoke as long as I can," said Curtis during another interview with The Macon News. "Any actor who leaves a show that has a part that's made for him is foolish."
Curtis stayed on Gunsmoke for eleven years, a tenure that he had no qualms with. In fact, the actor's lengthy stay in Gunsmoke was merely a step in the journey of his career.
"My plans are to stay on Gunsmoke as long as they'll have me," said the actor. "Then I'd like to do a little film work. It's possible that by that time, I'll have enough money to retire - except that the way the economics are going today, money is something you can't be sure of."
Curtis was confident in his ability to transition from television to film. He had no fears that he might be seen as Festus Hagen for the rest of his life, and was even critical of those actors who complained about being typecast. "Most of them who complain never were anybody before," said Curtis during an interview with The Courier-Journal. "In this business, you have to make it while you can, while you can draw an audience."
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