TV Stars Who Walked Away From Their Shows: Dennis Weaver

[JamesG]

One of the most iconic Western shows of all time, "Gunsmoke" aired from 1955 to 1975 on CBS and starred James Arness as Marshal Matt Dillon, while his sidekick Chester Goode was played by Dennis Weaver.

Chester was a fan favorite for nearly a decade, but fans were disappointed when the actor moved on. Before the ninth season wrapped, Weaver made the decision to take his final bow on the show that won him an Emmy.



In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation in 2002, Weaver elaborated on his decision: “I’d done the show for nine years. I’d pretty much exhausted all creative possibilities with the character, and I just wanted to do something else.”

“I know it was risky doing that,” he admitted, “because a lot of actors did the same thing and really disappeared.” However, Weaver was immediately able to find work, and continued to thrive in the industry.

https://ew.com/tv-stars-who-walked-a...roles-12031077