ACTOR
Dennis Weaver
- Known for
- Gunsmoke (1955), McCloud (1970), A Man Called Sledge (1970), Wildfire (2005)
28 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Dennis Weaver is an actor best known for Gunsmoke, McCloud and A Man Called Sledge.
All facts (28)
- #001
Dennis Weaver graduated in 1948 from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Fine Arts and Drama.
- #002
Dennis Weaver nearly lost the role of Chester Goode on Gunsmoke (1955) until he asked for a second chance to read his lines in a comical, exuberant accent and won the part.
- #003
Dennis Weaver served as an aviator in the United States Navy during World War II.
- #004
Dennis Weaver placed sixth in the decathlon at the 1948 Olympic Trials. Bob Mathias finished first, while Weaver won the final event, the 1500-meter run.
- #005
In 1955 Dennis Weaver was a struggling actor in Hollywood earning $60 a week delivering flowers when he was offered $300 a week for a role on the new CBS series Gunsmoke (1955). After nine years playing Chester with a stiff-legged walk, he was earning $9,000 a week.
- #006
Dennis Weaver lost his daughter-in-law Lynne Ann Weaver (married to his son Robert Weaver) in July 2003 in a car accident in Santa Monica, California, that killed more than eight people.
- #007
Dennis Weaver served as president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) from 1973 to 1975.
- #008
Dennis Weaver died on the same day and at the same age as Don Knotts.
- #009
Dennis Weaver was a track and field athlete at the University of Oklahoma.
- #010
Shelley Winters helped Dennis Weaver land a role in the stage production of "Come Back, Little Sheba," giving him one of his first real opportunities.
- #011
In 1981 Dennis Weaver was inducted into the Great Western Performers Hall of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum as a member of the Gunsmoke (1955) cast.
- #012
Dennis Weaver was of half American Indian descent, being an enrolled Cherokee as well as Osage.
- #013
In 1952 Dennis Weaver signed a contract with Universal.
- #014
On September 9, 1986, Dennis Weaver was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6822 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- #015
Contrary to popular belief, the character Chester Goode on Gunsmoke (1955) was never a deputy marshal, only a helper. However, when Ken Curtis joined the series as the regular character Festus Haggen, he was a deputy marshal.
- #016
Dennis Weaver is best known to the public for his role as Chester Goode on Gunsmoke (1955) and for the title role of Sam McCloud on McCloud (1970).
- #017
Dennis Weaver was the father of actor Robert Weaver and of actor/producer/director Rick Weaver and Rusty Weaver.
- #018
Fans were shocked when Dennis Weaver walked strongly and without a limp outside the Chester character. The famous limp was also part of the show for Western icon Walter Brennan, who had to remind himself which leg he limped on before drawing his gun.
- #019
Dennis Weaver was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch).
- #020
Dennis Weaver was a committed environmentalist; his home near Santa Fe, NM was built almost entirely from recycled materials.
- #021
Dennis Weaver filmed an appearance for the opening of Dolly Parton's 1987 variety show, intended to tie in with his series Buck James (1987), which directly followed it on ABC's schedule. Several photographs exist and the scene was mentioned in the press, but ultimately a sketch featuring Pee-Wee Herman took its place.
- #022
Dennis Weaver was a good friend of Guy Williams.
- #023
Dennis Weaver had three grandchildren: Jennifer Weaver, Travis Weaver and Jesse Weaver.
- #024
Dennis Weaver lived across the street from Julie London.
- #025
Dennis Weaver was a good friend of Robert Brubaker; their sons went to school together.
- #026
Dennis Weaver was cremated and his ashes were given to his surviving family members.
- #027
Dennis Weaver was a loyal supporter of the Democratic Party and a vocal opponent of the Iraq War.
- #028
Dennis Weaver was born at 8:00 a.m. CDT.
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