Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. “Matt Dillon/James Arness is comfort food for viewers,” he explains. “And not just for the older demographic who grew up on it.

He was a regular on the legendary CBS Western for two seasons, bridging the gap between characters played by Burt Reynolds and Buck Taylor.

Gunsmoke wasn’t just a TV show — it was a weekly ritual for millions of Americans. And now, fans are saying goodbye to one of ...