Glenn Strange never expected he’d find himself starring in a series as popular as Gunsmoke, but he was certainly well prepared for the role. Years before the actor played Sam Noonan in the Western series, he lived a childhood that most cowboys would envy.

“I grew up way back yonder in wild and woolly country,” said Strange during an interview with The Commercial Appeal. “I grew up dividing my time between New Mexico and West Texas, around the Big Bend. My dad was a real Old West bartender. Mixed drinks? I don’t imagine he knew what that was. They drank it straight.”

As an adult, Strange made the decision to pursue a career in acting. “I started out in movies as a sort of comic sidekick to Dick Foran, who was playing cowboy heroes in those days,” said Strange during an interview with The Times Recorder.

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Strange revealed that he was actually approached by series star James Arness to audition for the role of bartender, Sam Noonan, while he was visiting the set of the series. Strange accepted the role and never looked back. “I’ll tell you, it’s amazing,” said Strange. “I’ve never heard anyone around here poormouth anybody. Everybody loves each other.”

Not only was Strange happy with his life on set, but he was also thrilled at the warm reception that Sam Noonan received from audiences. “When people call me Sam, I never bother to correct them,” said Strange. “I just say ‘howdy’ right back to ‘em and they never know the difference.”