Gunsmoke star dead at 83
A Familiar Face in Dodge City
For many fans, Gunsmoke “wasn’t just a television program — it was a weekly ritual.”
Roger Ewing, remembered for his “quiet presence,” has died at 83.
His family confirmed he passed away on December 18 at his home in Morro Bay, California.
Becoming Thad Greenwood
Ewing first appeared on Gunsmoke in 1965 in “Song for Dying,”
then joined the cast as deputy marshal Thad Greenwood.
Just 23 at the time, he became a steady presence,
with Dodge City effectively becoming his character’s “new family.”
Time on the Show
Ewing appeared in 50 episodes through 1967.
As ratings rebounded, his role was reduced and eventually phased out,
replaced later by Buck Taylor’s Newly O’Brien.
Life Beyond Acting
After Gunsmoke, Ewing acted briefly, then reinvented himself as
a photographer and later entered local politics.
For fans, he remains “the dependable young deputy” who made Dodge City feel like home.
