Roger Ewing, Beloved 'Gunsmoke' Actor Who Played Deputy Marshal Thad Greenwood, Dies at 83

Roger Ewing, the acclaimed actor best known for his role as the earnest deputy marshal and handyman Clayton Thaddeus "Thad" Greenwood on the iconic CBS Western series *Gunsmoke*, has passed away. He was 83.

Ewing died on December 18, 2025, in Morro Bay, California, where he had been a longtime resident. No cause of death was disclosed by his family in the official obituary.

Here are some memorable images of Roger Ewing from his *Gunsmoke* era and beyond:

Born Roger Lawrence Ewing on January 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, California, Ewing was a lifelong fan of *Gunsmoke* long before he joined its cast. As a high school senior, he even portrayed Chester Goode in a class variety show satire of the series. He later reflected, “I watched it every Saturday night. Golly, I never thought that seven years later I’d be on the show. Why, I didn’t even have any ideas about being an actor.”

Ewing made his television debut in 1965 with a guest appearance on *Gunsmoke* as Ben Lukens in the episode "Song for Dying." His performance impressed producers, leading to his promotion to series regular as Thad Greenwood starting in Season 11. The character—a young, orphaned deputy who became a loyal handyman and adopted member of the Dodge City family—was introduced amid a contract dispute involving star James Arness, with Thad briefly positioned as a potential replacement figure. Ewing appeared in approximately 50 episodes from October 1965 through September 1967, bridging the gap between Burt Reynolds' Quint Asper and Buck Taylor's Newly O'Brien.

Beyond *Gunsmoke*, Ewing guest-starred on shows including *Bewitched*, *Rawhide*, *The Mothers-in-Law*, and *Death Valley Days*, and appeared in films such as *Ensign Pulver* (1964), *None But the Brave* (1965), *Smith!* (1969), and *Play It As It Lays* (1972). After stepping away from acting in the early 1970s, he pursued a career in photography, traveling extensively to places like Mexico, Russia, Europe, and the South Pacific. He remained active in local politics in Morro Bay.

Friends and admirers remembered Ewing as “a good and gentle man whose life touched so many people in different ways including through his acting career.” His portrayal of Thad Greenwood brought warmth, reliability, and quiet strength to one of television’s most enduring Westerns.