Ken Curtis (born Curtis Wain Gates; July 2, 1916 – April 28, 1991) was an American actor and singer best known for his role as Festus Haggen on the Western television series Gunsmoke. He was also a member of the veteran vocal group Sons of the Pioneers, with whom he made live appearances and recordings from 1949 to 1953; from 1955 to 1957 he sang with the Pioneers on recordings only. (Via Wikipedia)