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R.I.P. Roger Ewing, Thad Greenwood on ''Gunsmoke''
He filled in after Burt Reynolds left the show and retired from acting in 1972 to become a professional photographer. Ewing was 83 years old.
Roger Ewing, who portrayed Deputy Marshal Thad Greenwood on Gunsmoke in the 1960s, has passed away.
His Gunsmoke connections began early. In high school, he played Chester Goode, Dennis Weaver's character, in a variety show satire of the program.
His first role came in 1964, in an uncredited appearance in the film Ensign Pulver. Shortly after he guest starred in episodes of Bewitched, The Bing Crosby Show, and Rawhide.
In 1965, he guest starred in the Gunsmoke episode, "Song for Dying". The producers were impressed, and when Burt Reynolds stepped away from the show, they called back Ewing for a more permanent role. With Reynolds gone, they wanted a younger actor to fill out the cast. Additionally, at the time, star James Arness was having a contract dispute with CBS, and the studio wanted Ewing to be ready if Arness left.
Ewing played Clayton Thaddeus "Thad" Greenwood, who came into town hunting down four vandals who caused his father to have a heart attack. With the baddies either captured for stealing cattle or dead, Matt Dillon asks him to stay around as a Deputy Sheriff.
By 1967, Arness had settled his contract, and Ewing was written off the show.
Ewing's final role was in the 1972 film Play It as It Lays. Afterwards, he retired from the acting world, instead pivoting to professional photography.
The actor was 83 years old.
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