Roger Ewing

American film and television actor

Roger Ewing
Born	Roger Lawrence Ewing^[1] (1942-01-12) January 12, 1942 (age 82) Los Angeles, California
Occupation(s)	Film and television actor
Years active	1964–1972

Roger Lawrence Ewing (born January 12, 1942)^[1] is an American film and television actor.^[2]^[3] He is perhaps best known for playing Thad Greenwood in the American western television series Gunsmoke.^[4]

Early life

Ewing was born in Los Angeles, California in 1942.^[1]

Career

Ewing's first screen appearance was in 1964, in the film Ensign Pulver.^[4]

In 1965, Ewing guest-starred in the western television series Gunsmoke, appearing in the episode "Song for Dying".^[4] Ewing's performance impressed the producers, who offered him the role of Clayton Thaddeus "Thad" Greenwood, and he joined the regular cast.^[1] At the time, there was a contract dispute between star James Arness and CBS, and Ewing's character was created by CBS with a view to replacing Arness should they deem it necessary. By 1967 the disagreement had been resolved, and Ewing's character was written out of the show.^[1] Ewing had been a Gunsmoke fan while in high school, where he had appeared in a parody of the show.^[5]^[6]

He also guest-starred in television programs including Rawhide, The Farmer's Daughter, Bewitched, The Eleventh Hour and Room 222.^[4]

Ewing retired from acting in 1972, last appearing in the film Play It as It Lays,^[4] and became a professional photographer.^[1]

Filmography

Film


Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	Ensign Pulver	Jackson	Uncredited
1965	None but the Brave	Pvt. Swensholm
1969	Smith!	Donald Maxwell
1972	Play It as It Lays	Nelson

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	Bewitched	Marvin Grogan (Monster)	Episode: "The Girl Reporter"
1964	The Baileys of Balboa	Norman	Episode: "Look Who's a Sailor"
1964	The Bing Crosby Show	Eddie Fox	2 episodes
1965	Rawhide	Billy Wallace	Episode: "The Calf Women"
1965–1967	Gunsmoke	Various roles	65 episodes
1967	The Mothers-in-Law	Carter Case	Episode: "Divorce: Mother-in-Law Style"
1970	Death Valley Days	Frank Harris	Episode: "Pioneer Pluck"

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Aaker, Everett (May 16, 2017). Television Western Players, 1960–1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 161. ISBN 9781476628561 – via Google Books.
^ "Roger Ewing Now Gunsmoke Regular, Fan Long Time". The North Adams Transcript. North Adams, Massachusetts. May 14, 1966. p. 18. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Roger Ewing Fills 'Gunsmoke' Roles". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. January 2, 1966. p. 134. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Greenland, David (August 2013). The Gunsmoke Chronicles: A New History of Television's Greatest Western. BearManor Media. pp. 40–41. ISBN 9781593937331 – via Google Books.
^ "Gunsmoke Fan Hits The Target". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. June 26, 1966. p. 88. Retrieved August 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Johnson, Erskine (July 9, 1966). "Ewing is Gunsmoke fan turned actor". Kenosha News. Kenosha, Wisconsin. p. 29. Retrieved November 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.