Gunsmoke Fans Mourn the Loss of Roger Ewing, Beloved Deputy Thad Greenwood, at 83
For generations of viewers, Gunsmoke was more than a television show — it was a tradition. Week after week, audiences returned to Dodge City, drawn in by familiar faces who made the frontier feel steady and human. This week, fans are remembering one of those faces.
Roger Ewing, the actor best known for playing Deputy Marshal Thad Greenwood on the long-running CBS western, has died at the age of 83. His family confirmed that Ewing passed away on December 18 at his longtime home in Morro Bay, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Tall, calm, and quietly dependable, Ewing brought a grounded presence to Gunsmoke during the mid-1960s. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall, he first appeared on the series in February 1965 in the episode “Song for Dying,” portraying a character named Ben Lukens. Later that same year, he returned as Thad Greenwood, debuting in season 11 and quickly becoming a familiar figure in Dodge City.
Ewing was just 23 years old when he joined the cast. His character, the son of an aging Oklahoma sheriff played by Paul Fix, arrived seeking justice for his father’s death. Though his original mission ended quickly, Marshal Matt Dillon — portrayed by James Arness — invited Thad to stay on as a deputy, weaving him naturally into the show’s ensemble.
Thad wasn’t written as a show-stealer. Instead, he was reliable — the kind of character who filled in wherever he was needed. Ewing later reflected that with Thad’s family gone, the residents of Dodge City effectively became his new one. Kitty, Doc, Festus, and Dillon formed the center of his character’s world.
During a brief decline in ratings, Ewing appeared in roughly 50 episodes through 1967. As the show rebounded, his role was gradually reduced and eventually phased out.