Curtis was a singer before moving into acting, and combined both careers once he entered films.

Can Ken Curtis really sing?

Curtis' singing voice was actually a great success to his film career. Productions cast him in films as a singing cowboy early in his career. He appeared in one of his first leading roles in 1945's “Rhythm Round-Up.”

How was Festus written out of Gunsmoke?

Reportedly, Curtis based the character off a local drunk in his town, adapting that country twang to film. Festus ended up staying in Dodge City for the remainder of the show's run, until it was canceled in 1975.