Roger Ewing, the towering actor who portrayed Deputy Marshal Thad Greenwood on the long-running television western “Gunsmoke,” died December 18, 2025, in Morro Bay, California. He was 83.
The 6-foot-4 Ewing became a familiar face to millions of viewers during his two-season run on the CBS series, appearing in 50 episodes as the lanky deputy and handyman who found a surrogate family in Dodge City. His character bridged a transitional period for the show, filling the void left by Burt Reynolds’ departure and preceding Buck Taylor’s arrival as Newly O’Brien.
Born January 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, Ewing’s path to “Gunsmoke” began with an unlikely performance during his senior year of high school, when he played a character in a satirical variety show spoof of the series. He watched the show faithfully, never imagining he would one day join the cast of the program he followed so closely.
After a year in college and a stint working as a lifeguard, Ewing turned his attention to acting. His screen debut came in 1964 with an uncredited role in “Ensign Pulver,” followed by guest appearances on popular television programs including “Bewitched,” “Rawhide,” and “The Bing Crosby Show.” He also appeared in Frank Sinatra’s “None But the Brave.”
Ewing first stepped onto the “Gunsmoke” set in February 1965, playing a character named Ben Lukens. The producers recognized something special in the young actor, and by October 1965, they introduced him as Thad Greenwood during Season 11. The character’s backstory established him as the son of a sheriff who pursued criminals to Dodge City, where Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, invited him to stay on as a deputy.
“With Thad’s family gone, Matt, Kitty, Doc and Festus sort of adopted him,” Ewing once explained. “Anything that needed to be done, you know, an extra hand here, an extra hand there, Thad was always around. He fit in whenever necessary.”
Ewing’s tenure on “Gunsmoke” coincided with behind-the-scenes drama that would ultimately determine his character’s fate. A contract dispute between Arness and CBS created uncertainty about the show’s future, and producers developed Ewing’s character as a potential replacement for the series’ star. When the dispute was resolved in September 1967, Thad Greenwood was quietly dropped from the show, with Taylor’s character of Newly O’Brien taking his place.
The series itself endured through this turbulent period, ultimately running for years and featuring an ensemble cast that included Amanda Blake, Ken Curtis, and Milburn Stone, who became household names during the show’s remarkable run as one of television’s most successful westerns.
Following his departure from “Gunsmoke,” Ewing continued to work in television and film, though his acting career wound down relatively quickly. He appeared in episodes of “The Mothers-in-Law” and “Death Valley Days,” and took roles in the films “Smith!” in 1969, starring Glenn Ford, and “Play It as It Lays” in 1972, featuring Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins.
An interesting footnote to Ewing’s career came in 1969 when he appeared as a bachelor contestant on “The Dating Game.” However, the woman making the selection—future “Bionic Woman” star Lindsay Wagner—chose someone else.
After 1972, Ewing made the decision to step away from acting entirely, pursuing a new passion for photography. This career change took him far from the Hollywood soundstages where he had spent his youth, allowing him to travel extensively throughout Europe, Russia, Mexico, and the South Pacific. The artistic pursuit offered him a different kind of creative fulfillment and the freedom to explore the world beyond the entertainment industry.
Ewing eventually settled in Morro Bay, California, where he became active in local civic affairs. In 2003, he ran for a city council seat, demonstrating his commitment to his adopted community. Friends and admirers remembered him as someone who never let his brief fame define him, remaining grounded and engaged with the world around him.
“Roger was a kind and decent man who never let his fame or station in life go to his head,” wrote Mark Ashworth, a close friend of the actor. “Surely he’s in Heaven, because if anyone was meant to be there, it’s him.”
Ewing’s decision to leave Hollywood at the height of his career opportunities remains somewhat unusual in an industry where actors often struggle to maintain relevance. While some might have viewed his departure as premature, Ewing appears to have found contentment in his choices, building a life centered on artistic expression through photography and community involvement rather than continued pursuit of fame.
The legacy of “Gunsmoke” continues to resonate with television historians and western genre enthusiasts. The show’s long run made it one of the longest-running primetime series in American television history, and actors like Ewing contributed to its enduring appeal during critical transition periods. While his time on the show proved relatively brief, his character represented an important chapter in the series’ evolution.
Ewing’s death marks another loss among the cast members of “Gunsmoke,” a series that helped define American television westerns and introduced audiences to memorable characters who became part of the cultural landscape. With Buck Taylor now among the few surviving recurring cast members from the show’s long run, Ewing’s passing serves as a reminder of a television era that captivated audiences for decades.
