Can you name the many Western characters of Ken Curtis?

Curtis had several roles on Gunsmoke, and several Western roles not on the series. Can you name some of his characters?

Perhaps you know Ken Curtis best as Festus, the deputy marshal who joined Gunsmoke during its eighth season. 

Festus became the standout Western character for Curtis, and is the one he is likely best remembered professionally for, but Gunsmoke isn't the only Western he appeared on. 

Curtis played several characters in classic Westerns. Before he became a regular on Gunsmoke, he played several other characters on that series alone! 

Gunsmoke aside, it'll take a classic Western expert to correctly name all of these characters played by Ken Curtis. 

Take your best swing at this quiz!

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  1. Curtis appeared in two episodes of Wagon Train. What was his character's name in "The Horace Best Story?"
  2. In "The Colter Craven Story," what is his character's name?
  3. Curtis appeared in one episode of Rawhide titled "Incident of the Lost Idol." Can you remember the name of this character?
  4. His five appearances on Have Gun - Will Travel created just as many characters. What is the name of this one appearing in "The Posse?"
  5. In the episode "The Naked Gun," Curtis is dragged by a pair of horses in his first scene. What is his name in this episode?
  6. In the Have Gun - Will Travel episode "Soledad Crossing," a bearded Curtis plays the role of...
  7. In his last appearance of Have Gun - Will Travel, what is this character's name from the episode "Pandora's Box?"
  8. BONUS: In what series did Curtis play a character that was in the circus?

Can you name the many Western characters of Ken Curtis?

Your Result...

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24 Comments

jackbennyfan 27 days ago
Well I only got 2 right. I'd have to say that he is a very versatile actor.
iluvwesterns 29 days ago
i got 7 of 8. i missed the last one. loved Ken Curtis as Festus and his arguments with Doc.
Kimk21 29 days ago
He was also in: The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams: Once Upon a Starry Night.
Muleskinner 29 days ago
8/8. A couple of lucky guesses in this this one.
Wendy57 30 days ago
6/8
He was a big band singer too, right ?
Sally 1 month ago
8/8 Don't know how I did that well. I knew some of the Have Gun Will Travel ones as my hubby loves that show. I totally guessed the last one. Must be my lucky day!
KJExpress 1 month ago
5/8. Like nearly everyone else, I guessed my way through this. 🤷‍♀️
Big3Fan 1 month ago
No smoking gun. Five, seven and eight I knew. The rest I blew.
JamesDean59 1 month ago
My ability at guessing still amazes me! 6/8
daDoctah 1 month ago
Not a clue on any of these, and yet I got four out of eight. They should have included him on the series Ripcord; it wasn't a cowboys-and-horses Western but the skydiving rescue service he ran was set in Southern California, which is in the West.
Wendy57 daDoctah 30 days ago
I remember that show, but, not him in it.
daDoctah Wendy57 30 days ago
You a Dash Riprock fan, then? Or maybe Shorty Kellums. Both Larry Pennell and Shug Fisher of "Ripcord" later became recurring characters on "The Beverly Hillbillies".
Wendy57 daDoctah 29 days ago
I vaguely remember.
Remember “Sky King” ?
Sway 1 month ago
3/8, Not surprised, all guessing. No I can't name the characters.
texasluva 1 month ago
6 out of 8. Guessed on everyone of them.
72doug 1 month ago
1/8! missed numbers 1,2,3,4,6,7, and 8. I did miserable.
CaptainDunsel 1 month ago
4/8
and those only by sheer, dumb luck.
So the answer to the question posed is "No," with a resounding THUD!!
Maverick66 1 month ago
5/8. Not too shabby since most were guesses.
teire 1 month ago

4/8. All guesses except for the l last one.
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