Gunsmoke ran from 1955 to 1975 and was not only the longest running, and probably best loved, western TV show of all time, it also has the honor of being the longest running dramatic series in the history of TV. The series was set in Dodge City, a town in the wild west. Gunsmoke starred James Arness as U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, Dennis Weaver as Chester Goode (deputy) (1955-1964), Milburn Stone as Dr. Galen 'Doc' Adams, Amanda Blake as Kitty Russell (saloon owner) (1955-1974), Burt Reynolds as Quint Asper, the Blacksmith (1962-1965) and Ken Curtis as Festus Haggen (deputy) (1964-1975). James Arness and Milburn Stone were the only two regular cast members to stay with the show for its entire 20-year and 633 episode duration.