Why did Chester walk with a limp? In addition, eagle-eyed fans of the show will see that the show's producers had several slip-ups regarding Chester's limp. So I thought if I just cant bend my knee and do everything else as good as I can, that might work., The story behind Chesters limp on Gunsmoke Well have to keep an eye out for that next time we watch Gunsmoke. It was reported that the producers told him to do it to appear shorter than he actually was. Menu. However, the decision would come back to haunt him. There are many theories as to why Dennis Weaver decided to give his character Chester Goode a limp. Because you ever try and build a campfire with a stiff leg? nonviolent attitude. Weaver was too close to being a leading man himself (he became the leading man later on "McCloud") to be cast as the sidekick, so he "invented" the limp to get the part. According to IMDB, Weaver said that Chester didnt carry a gun on him was because they wanted him to be non-violent. If you remember, Chester was sidekick to Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness. Fans of the classic TV show Gunsmoke remember it for its beloved characters and plot. Weaver spent hours perfecting the limp, only to realize years later that it was tough to maintain. For the whole 20 years the series was on the air from 1955 until 1975, he appeared in an impressive 605 of 635 episodes, according to IMBD. In early episodes, up to season 9, Chester Goode, lives in Dodge City and works as Matt's high-strung assistant. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Dennis Weaver never anticipated that the series would be as successful and long running as it was and as he neared the end of his time on Gunsmoke, he was entirely out of creative directions in which to take his character, and he began to feel the physical repercussions of walking with a limp for so long. Though many refer to him as a deputy, he wears no badge or gun. It does not store any personal data. Others claim that actor Dennis Weaver used the limp and his twang to draw more attention to himself. How much did James Arness make per episode of Gunsmoke? For instance, Gunsmokes comic relief character, Chester, was a longtime character on the show. In the early days of Gunsmoke, Chester Goode won over audiences everywhere with his kind nature, sweet serenades, love of coffee, and comic relief. Moreso, he would even limp using the wrong leg. Gunsmokes last episode on March 31, 1975, ranks among the highest watched final television episodes of all time. All Rights Reserved. As one of the most adored characters on the show, the actor who brought him to life, Dennis Weaver, even won a Supporting Actor Emmy for the role. To create a more fitting character, Dennis Weaver began portraying Chester Goode with a limp and speaking in a Midwestern twanga decision that would ultimately help steer his decision to leave the series. Per reporting from True West Magazine, showrunners didnt enforce his limp all the time, resulting in a few hiccups. There are many theories as to why Dennis Weaver decided to give his character Chester Goode a limp. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. How did they make Chester limp on Gunsmoke? How did Chester Goode, Matt Dillons Assistant get his limp? Actor Dennis Weaver has shared the story of his casting, telling how he managed to make the casting directors laugh so hard he couldnt even finish his lines. May 26, 1923 Jun 3, 2011 (88 years old). To make it clear to viewers who was the leading actor, they had to go to the drawing board to make it evident that Chester was the sidekick. "I thought that is really a silly reason for someone developing a handicap. Others claim that actor Dennis Weaver used the limp and his twang to draw more attention to himself. Tulsa Kings Sylvester Stallone Based His Dwight Performance On Himself (Even Some After Tweaks), Watch Sam Elliotts Emotional Tribute To His 1883 Castmates, Clint Eastwood Choked Down Vile Cigars For The Sake Of A Fistful Of Dollars, How Clint Eastwood Really Spends His Enormous Fortune, Sam Elliott Is Right 1883s Shea & Thomas NEED A Prequel, Kevin Costners Yellowstone Tension: A Full Breakdown, 1923 Star Brandon Sklenar Saw A Ghost While Filming The Finale On The Queen Mary: Its Pretty Wild, Forrie J. Smith Says Lloyd Being Punished By Rip Made Some Fans Consider Quitting Yellowstone, Yellowstones Cole Hauser Inks New Deal To Become Face Of PBR. No other network has a better collection of classic television shows, including Gunsmoke, which held the record as the longest running scripted primetime series for more than 40 years until The Simpsons surpassed it in 2018. Arness, who played Dillon onthe Gunsmoke TV series, said that show executives dropped those references to make the show more family-friendly. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. What happened to Festus on Gunsmoke? did amanda blake wear a wig on gunsmoke. Why did Pale Rider take Clint Eastwood to the next level the archetypal mysterious stranger? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. answer the question why did chester limp on gunsmoke, which will help you get the most accurate answer. She was a madam who ran a house of prostitution. "We were swamped with letters asking for him," Arness said. His last episode, titled Bently, saw Chester leave Dodge City, Kan. to find a murderer following a suspicious deathbed confession. Is Chesters leg really stiff in Gunsmoke? Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. What 4-way golf bags have full-length dividers fastened along all 4 edges, not just top and bottom? What happened to Chester on Gunsmoke? If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Everyone knows Miss Kitty ran the saloon in Dodge City, where you either could get a stiff drink or cold sarsaparilla. What happened to Chester on 'Gunsmoke'? James Arness, who played the towering and taciturn Marshal Matt Dillon for all 20 seasons of Gunsmoke, died in 2011. Yet Chester was that sidekick to Dillon. Weaver sometimes forgot to limp, and he sometimes limped on the wrong leg. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Therefore, Miss Kitty simply became a lady saloon owner. Four different kinds of cryptocurrencies you should know. of Chester Goode, the producers of the show wanted him to develop a When Dennis Weaver landed the role of Chester Goode, it was apparent that he was leading man material. According to MeTV, the producers told Weaver that historically and traditionally, a sidekick has always been too old or too fat or too young or too something to get involved in the physical stuff. As a result, they asked Chester to have a limp. "If I knew I was going to be doing that for nine years, I mightve had a different thought about it," he said, according to the outlet. But Chester Goode didnt do so on Gunsmoke. Why? Distractify is a registered trademark. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. His last episode, titled Bently, saw Chester leave Dodge City, Kan. to find a murderer following a suspicious deathbed confession. Imagine that. If I knew I was going to be doing that for nine years, I mightve had a different thought about it, he said. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? Once the show was cast, the showrunners quickly realized that they had cast two men who appeared like leading men. There's currently no clear backstory to Chester's disability, though there's some speculation that his character was injured during the Civil War, resulting in his stiff leg. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or worst of all, you ever try to put your boot on without bending your knee? I had to take yoga lessons to do some of that stuff.. How did Chester Goode, Matt Dillons assistant on Gunsmoke, get his limp? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. He was 74 years old. So next time youre watching Gunsmoke, make sure you keep an eye out for Chesters limp. Another explanation could be that Weaver was about six foot two and producers wanted him to appear much shorter than the six-foot-seven James Arness, who played Matt Dillon. Copyright 2023 Distractify. He ended up regretting this decision because it cant be that easy limping week after week. However, putting the limp into practice was easier said than done. Gunsmoke: How Much Did James Arness Make for Playing Marshal Matt Dillon? The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". When Dennis Weaver landed the role of Chester Goode, it was apparent that he was leading man material. Distractify is a registered trademark. TV Land is proving to be the channel to watch during the COVID-19 quarantine. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. As it turns out, Weaver would sometimes forget about his characters limp while filming. Kevin Costners Lawyer Calls Yellowstone S5 Report Ridiculous, Kevin Costners Yellowstone Pay Revealed: $1.5 Million Per Episode As New Report Details Hes Demanding Even More To Promote Show, Gunsmoke Star Amanda Blake Said James Arness Was Protective Over Matt Dillons Image, Gunsmoke: James Arness Showcased His Hilarious Gun Dueling Skills On The Johnny Carson Show, Ken Curtis Revealed His Favorite Gunsmoke Episode That Made Him Closer Friends With Milburn Stone. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. As it turns out, Weaver would sometimes forget about his characters limp while filming. Fans wrote letters into the network, wanting Weaver's character to be a part of their favorite TV show. "I got into the business of playing a leading man and had more say-so about whether the shows a success or not," he shared. Apparently, this happened enough times that there are plenty of clips out there of Chester walking normally or on the wrong leg. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? The philosophical/dramatical reason. The character of Chester appeared on Gunsmoke from 1955 through . According to MeTV, Dennis spent hours in his backyard trying to perfect the limp, only to realize after years of playing the role that it was really hard to maintain. Gunsmoke fans, though, will always remember Chester for his contribution to the long-running CBS drama. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Actor Behind Chester on 'Gunsmoke' Grew Restless Playing the Sidekick, Milburn Stone Aka "Doc" Didn't Leave 'Gunsmoke' by Choice, A Look Back at the Heartbreaking Story Behind Hoss' Exit on 'Bonanza'. However, putting the limp into practice was easier said than done. I had to take yoga lessons to do some of that stuff. But things soon turned around for the actor. What makes the western unique is that it originally started as a radio series, and ran concurrently with the TV adaptation for six years. Why Gunsmoke Actor James Arness Was the John Wayne of Television, Dirty Harry: Clint Eastwood created one of the most seminal and iconic characters in American film history. What happened to Chester on Gunsmoke? No. Fans of the classic TV show Gunsmoke remember it for its beloved characters and plot. He ended up regretting this decision because it can't be that easy limping week after week. Played by Dennis Weaver, his character had a distinctive limp that was impossible to miss. He was 88. Dennis would apparently sometimes forget about his character's limp while filming or would even limp on the wrong leg! Chester Goode, a character from drama, western Gunsmoke (1955), was played by actor Dennis Weaver. While his decision was risky, it ended up paying off for the actor. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Why would he leave a successful TV show? 17. Your email address will not be published. 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