AKA: Curtis Gates
Nationality: American
Birthdate: 07/12/1916
Birthplace: Lamar, Colorado, USA
Death Date: 04/27/1991
Former big-band vocalist (he joined the Tommy Dorsey Band after Frank Sinatra left) and singing cowboy in low-budget westerns of the 1940s, Curtis is best known as the scuffy bewhiskered deputy sheriff Festus Haggen in the hit western TV series "Gunsmoke" (1964-75). He also appeared in several films by his then father-in-law John Ford including "Mister Roberts" (1955), "The Searchers" and "Wings of Eagles" (both 1956), "The Last Hurrah" (1958) and "The Horse Soldiers" (1959).
Captain Almeron Dickinson
Worked on jail farm as a boy
1938
Moved to Los Angeles and landed job as staff singer for NBC radio
Worked as vocalist with several bands including Tommy Dorsey's during the late 1930s; Dorsey had him change name to Curtis
Served in infantry and in anti-aircraft unit during WWII
1945
After record hit, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," signed by Columbia Pictures to star as singing cowboy in low-budget Columbia westerns (date approximate)
