Roger Ewing, best known for playing deputy marshal Thad Greenwood on Gunsmoke, passed away on December 18, 2025, at age 83. His career captured a specific moment in classic television history, and his life followed a creative path both on and off screen.
Here are 25 Things You Need to Know about the legenday actor.
- Roger Lawrence Ewing was born on January 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, California.
- He stood 6 feet 4 inches tall, giving him a distinctive screen presence.
- Ewing grew up watching Gunsmoke as a fan.
- In high school, he appeared in a parody of Gunsmoke, playing Chester.
- He worked briefly as a lifeguard after attending college.
- His first screen appearance came in the 1964 film Ensign Pulver.
- That role was uncredited and featured a brief comedic moment.
- In February 1965, he appeared on Gunsmoke as a character named Ben Lukens.
- Later that year, he returned as Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood, known as Thad.
- Thad Greenwood was introduced during season 11 of Gunsmoke.
- Thad was written as the son of an Oklahoma sheriff played by Paul Fix.
- The character arrived in Dodge City pursuing criminals tied to his father’s death.
- Marshal Matt Dillon asked Thad to remain in Dodge as a deputy.
- Ewing appeared in about 50 episodes of Gunsmoke as Thad.
- His character was positioned as a potential younger replacement for Matt Dillon.
- This occurred during a contract dispute between James Arness and CBS.
- Once the dispute was resolved, Thad Greenwood was written out of the series.
- Ewing left Gunsmoke in 1967.
- He appeared on television shows including Bewitched and Rawhide.
- He also appeared on The Bing Crosby Show and The Mothers-in-Law.
- His film roles included None But the Brave and Smith!.
- His final acting role was in the 1972 film Play It as It Lays.
- Ewing retired from acting shortly after that film.
- He became a professional photographer and traveled internationally.
- Roger Ewing died in Morro Bay, California, on December 18, 2025.