Ken Curtis
Biography
Ken Curtis was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the Western television series Gunsmoke. Born Curtis Wain Gates in Lamar, Colorado, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II before pursuing a musical career. He also starred in several films with director John Ford, including The Searchers and How the West Was Won. Curtis was a member of the veteran vocal group Sons of the Pioneers from 1949 to 1953.