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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Glenn Strange did not leave Gunsmoke in a contract dispute, a character dispute, or a planned replacement. He played Sam Noonan, the bartender at the Long Branch, and his regular work on the series ended because of lung cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 1972, and his death in 1973. Biographical accounts describe him working for as long as he was able before that.
Who Strange played on Gunsmoke
Strange’s role was Sam Noonan, the Long Branch bartender. He was not Chester Goode, the deputy played by Dennis Weaver, and he was not Festus Haggen, the role Ken Curtis took over. Those two names are the ones that usually cause confusion, because the deputy change is the best-documented cast transition in the series’ history.
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The deputy change is a separate story
The Television Academy Foundation’s series overview lists the regular deputy roles in sequence. Weaver played Chester Goode from 1955 to 1964, and Curtis played Festus Haggen from 1964 to 1975. The INSP program overview of Gunsmoke describes Chester’s departure and Festus’s subsequent role as a regular. Keeping these two changes apart is the simplest way to avoid mixing up Strange’s exit with the 1964 switch.
| Performer | Character | Reported years on the series | Reason for ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dennis Weaver | Chester Goode | 1955 to 1964 (Television Academy Foundation) | Departure in 1964; the sources do not describe a health issue |
| Ken Curtis | Festus Haggen | 1964 to 1975 (Television Academy Foundation) | Not applicable; regular through 1975 |
| Glenn Strange | Sam Noonan | 1961 to 1973, 222 episodes (INSP) | Illness and death; not a reported contract or character exit |
What the record says about Strange’s final years
Entertainment.ie’s biography of Strange reports that he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1972. INSP’s retrospective cast feature, published around 2024, says he kept working while he was able. He died on September 20, 1973, according to Entertainment.ie. Both accounts were written long after the events, so they are the best available reconstruction rather than contemporaneous reporting.
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- Genre: Westerns
- Number of Discs: 143
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Playback Duration: 440.5 hrs
- Rating: NR
The reported count of 222 episodes, spanning 1961 to 1973, is also INSP’s figure. It is the most specific number available for Strange’s run, and it reflects the episodes the broadcaster counted, not an independent production ledger.
Why Sam Noonan kept appearing after his death
INSP reports five episodes featuring Sam Noonan that aired after Strange died. That explains why viewers could still see the character after the actor’s death. The article does not list those five episodes by title or air date, so readers who need the exact broadcast sequence should check a dated episode guide.
Rank #2
- English closed captioning included.
What the sources do not establish
- Final filming date. No source found here fixes the last day Strange worked on set, so avoid any claim about a specific final production day.
- Full final broadcast order. The posthumous episodes are documented as a count, not as a complete schedule.
- A direct statement from Strange or the producers. No attributed quotation explaining a formal departure was located. The explanation above rests on biographical accounts, not on quotes from decision-makers.
Further reading
David R. Greenland’s The Gunsmoke Chronicles: A New History of Television’s Greatest Western is cited in the biographical reference as a history of the series. Check the edition and current retail availability before buying, since the source does not confirm either.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the premise needs a gentle correction
“Left” suggests a choice. The reported facts point instead to a performer whose work ended because of cancer and death, while the 1964 deputy change belonged to Chester and Festus. Read that way, the answer to the question is that Strange’s appearances ended because of his illness and death, not because he chose to leave or because the show replaced him.
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- Number of Discs: 3
- Number of Tracks: 0
- Rating: R
- Number of Movies: 3
- Movie Title: The Gunsmoke Movie Collection
Rank #3
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