Why does chester limp in gunsmoke

Or worst of all, you ever try to put your boot on without bending your knee? I had to take yoga lessons to do some of that stuff. So next time you see Chester struggling with his limp onscreen, think about the actual pains the actor took to make that character so authentic. Welcome to MeTV! Find your local MeTV station. Where to watch. See when your favorite shows are on. See schedule. Personalize MeTV. Free sign-up.

Shop your favorite shows in the MeTV Store. Shop Now. Can you pass the giant Gunsmoke quiz? Watch Gunsmoke on MeTV! Related did you know? Making the limp believable was the hard part. According to MeTV, Dennis spent hours in his backyard trying to perfect the limp, only to realize after years of playing the role that it was really hard to maintain.

Or worst of all, you ever try to put your boot on without bending your knee? I had to take yoga lessons to do some of that stuff. There's currently no clear backstory to Chester's disability, though there's some speculation that his character was injured during the Civil War, resulting in his stiff leg.

If you can get past the completely ableist reason behind Chester's on-screen limp, you'll realize the producers' indifference to it resulted in some inconsistencies.

Later, he served two terms as president of the Junior Rodeo Association of California. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Social studies.

Ben Davis February 12, Does Chester on Gunsmoke really have a limp? In the early days of Gunsmoke , Chester Goode won over audiences everywhere with his kind nature, sweet serenades, love of coffee, and comic relief.

As one of the most adored characters on the show, the actor who brought him to life, Dennis Weaver, even won a Supporting Actor Emmy for the role. So why did the lovable character step away from one of the most successful series in television history?

When Dennis Weaver landed the role of Chester Goode, it was apparent that he was leading man material. To create a more fitting character, Dennis Weaver began portraying Chester Goode with a limp and speaking in a Midwestern twang—a decision that would ultimately help steer his decision to leave the series.

Leaving a series as popular as Gunsmoke was not an easy decision, but for Dennis Weaver, he knew his time as Chester Goode had run its course.