Ken Curtis was an American actor and singer. At the time of his death on April 28, 1991, his net worth was estimated at 5 million dollars. His main source of income was a successful career in the music and film industries. Curtis will be deeply remembered for his role as Festus Haggen in the CBS western television series Gunsmoke.
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ToggleWho is Ken Curtis?
Curtis Wain Gates, better known as Ken Curtis, was born on July 2, 191. He was an American actor and singer who died on April 28, 1991 in Fresno, California. He was the youngest of his parents’ three male children. From childhood until the age of ten, he lived on a ranch on Muddy Creek in eastern Bent County.
Curtis and his family moved to Las Animas in 1926 when his father, Dan Sullivan Gates, ran for sheriff. Sullivan Gates’ campaign was successful, and he served as sheriff of Bent County from 1926 to 1931.
Curtis attended Bent County High School, where he played quarterback for the school team. At the same time, he played the clarinet in the school orchestra. He then enrolled at Colorado College to study medicine, but did not graduate as he left college to pursue a career in music.
From 1943 to 1945, Curtis served in the U.S. Army’s infantry and anti-aircraft unit during World War II.
Ken Curtis began his career in the entertainment industry as a singer in 1941 and performed several times with the Tommy Dorsey Group, briefly succeeding Frank Sinatra as singer before Dick Haymes replaced him in 1942 He then went solo and released a number of songs which achieved modest success.
In 1948, Curtis made his acting debut in “The Dude Goes West.” He then made several appearances in films including The Se Archers, The Quiet Man, The Wings of Eagles, The Horse Soldiers, The Alamo, Rawhide and Mister Roberts.
Among all his performances, it was his role as Festus Haggen, a lovable cowboy in Gunsmoke, that made him an icon in the film industry. He joined the cast in 1959 and remained there until its dissolution in 1975.
Ken Curtis has had three marriages in his life. He first married Lorraine Page in 1943 and they shared two children; Jody and Kelly. He remarried Barbara Ford in 1952, which ended in divorce in 1964. He then married Torrie Ahern Connelly in 1966 and the couple lived together until his death in 1991.
How many houses and cars does Ken Curtis own?
No homes were registered in his name, but he was believed to own a beautiful home in California and several cars.
How much does Ken Curtis make per year?
Some online sources report that he earned around $500,000 per year at the peak of his career. This seems undeniable since he had a net worth of $5 million when he died at his home.
What investments does Ken Curtis own?
Ken Curtis appeared to have made no investment. However, he owned a ranch in Fresno County, California. He spent a lot of time there breeding Arabian horses.
How many endorsement deals has Ken Curtis done?
It is unclear whether he had any sponsorship deals in place before his death. However, he has a big dog in the entertainment industry and this could well have opened the door for brands to partner with him to promote their products and services.
How many philanthropies has Ken Curtis supported?
There are absolutely no reports of any philanthropic works he may have supported during his life. Should we then say that Curtis never gave anything back to society? There is a good chance that this is true, as older artists were not as interested in philanthropic works as the new generation of artists.
How many companies does Ken Curtis own?
According to media reports, Ken Curtis had no business of his own. No information was recorded in writing and no company or company was registered in his name during his lifetime.