Many ‘Gunsmoke’ fans enjoyed the relationship between Miss Kitty and Matt Dillon. But what about the actors who played them?
“Gunsmoke” was a television institution that ran for 20 years, transitioning from a radio show in the early 1950s to a beloved TV series. James Arness starred as U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, and Amanda Blake played Kathleen “Kitty” Russell. Both actors remained with the show for nearly its entire run, with Blake departing a year before the series ended. Milburn Stone, who portrayed Galen “Doc” Adams, also had a long tenure, appearing from 1955 to 1975.
Despite their on-screen chemistry, there is no evidence to suggest that James Arness and Amanda Blake had a romantic relationship off-screen. They maintained a professional relationship throughout the show’s production.
The end of “Gunsmoke” came abruptly when CBS canceled it without warning, depriving fans of a proper series finale. However, the legacy of “Gunsmoke” continued through five reunion TV movies, the last of which aired in 1994, with James Arness reprising his role as Matt Dillon in each one.
Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty’s relationship on ‘Gunsmoke’
One of the enduring elements of “Gunsmoke” was the will-they-or-won’t-they relationship between U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon, played by James Arness, and Miss Kitty Russell, portrayed by Amanda Blake. While the two characters shared palpable on-screen chemistry, they never actually pursued a romantic relationship on the show. Arness believed that keeping their relationship platonic was a wise decision, as a romance would have fundamentally altered the nature of the series. In an interview with MeTV, Arness explained, “I think they felt that you could only go so far with it, and then you’d have to change the character and nature of the show. If you have Matt and Kitty have an onscreen love affair, then, you know, they’d have to get married, and then you’d have a different show there.”
Amanda Blake shared a similar sentiment, acknowledging that while a romance between Matt and Kitty wouldn’t work within the context of the show, her character’s loyalty to Dillon was a significant motivator. Blake stated, “[Kitty would] drift out of Dodge if it weren’t for Matt Dillon.” In reality, Blake and Arness also maintained a strictly professional relationship, believing that pursuing a romance off-screen might have negatively impacted their dynamic on the show.
This decision to keep their relationship professional and their characters’ romance unfulfilled helped “Gunsmoke” maintain its tension and intrigue,
contributing to its longevity and success. The unresolved tension between Matt and Kitty kept audiences engaged, providing a layer of emotional complexity that enriched the show’s narrative.
The show’s abrupt cancellation by CBS in 1975 left fans without a proper series finale, but “Gunsmoke” lived on through five reunion TV movies, with the last one airing in 1994. James Arness reprised his role as Matt Dillon in each of these films, ensuring that the legacy of the show continued. Despite the lack of an on-screen romance between Dillon and Kitty, their dynamic remains a memorable and significant part of television history.
What happened to James Arness and Amanda Blake
In the same interview, Amanda Blake revealed that she generally didn’t date much in real life, preferring a life without the distraction of men. Despite this, Blake was married five times before her death in 1989. Three of these marriages overlapped with her time on “Gunsmoke.” During the show’s production, Blake formed a close friendship with Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams, and he became her best friend on set.
James Arness, on the other hand, had a more stable personal life. He was married to Virginia Chapman from 1948 until their divorce in 1960. Later, he married Janet Surtees in 1978, and they remained together until his death in 2011 at the age of 88 from natural causes.
The professional and personal lives of the “Gunsmoke” cast members contributed to the show’s enduring legacy, with the relationships formed on set enhancing the chemistry and authenticity of their performances.
