In the Heat of the Night
December Days
Tuesday 13 February 1990 on NBC

The Sparta police investigate a suspicious death in a nursing home.

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  external: KEN CURTIS APPRECIATION SITE Dec 2, 2006 (Score: 7)
  

Ken went to school to be a doctor, but gave that career up to pursue his singing career. (edit) This is the farewell letter that Ken wrote before he died:

If there are to be prayers said for me, let them be said in the hearts of my friends and those whose lives I may have touched during my lifetime - by all means let there be no sadness or grief - I want my family and friends to remember only the happy times we were together, my attributes (if any) and try to overlook all of my faults - (That should keep you busy until the time we all meet up again!!)

Ken Curtis

(edit) Ken joined father-in-law John Ford in at least 7 films. (edit) Ken joined fellow actor John Wayne in at least 6 films. (edit) Ken produced the movies: The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster. (edit)

Ken Curtis: I wouldn't care if they tattoo 'Festus' all over. He's been good to me. (edit) Ken (On acting): We’re just doing a job, like a bookkeeper in a bank, except people watch us. (edit) Ken: I’d stop in the middle of a gunfight and sing a song. (edit) Gunsmoke producer Norman MacDonnell: The mail on Festus is either absolutely white or absolutely black. Some people say they can’t stand him. Others say they like him better than Chester. They either love him or they hate him – but 90 percent say they love him.

(edit) Ken: In my opinion it’s an actors duty to walk into the first rehearsal with a well defined character – then it’s up to the director to shade or change the character to fit into the overall picture or play.
(edit)

Star
Gunsmoke Festus	Ripcord Jim Buckley
The Yellow Rose Hoyt Coryell

Recurring Role
Gunsmoke Briscoe Cass	Have Gun, Will Travel Monk

Guest Star
Airwolf Wildfire Cecil Carnes Sr.	Code Red Wildfire Dusty
Death Valley Days Greydon's Charge	Have Gun, Will Travel Soledad Crossing Tom Strickland
Have Gun, Will Travel The Posse Curley	How the West Was Won Hillary Sheriff Orville Gant