Roger Ewing aka ‘deputy marshal Thad Greenwood’ dies at 83

Veteran American actor Roger Ewing, best known for his role as deputy marshal Thad Greenwood on the classic television western Gunsmoke, has passed away at the age of 83. He died on December 18, according to reports.

Ewing became a familiar face to television audiences in the mid-1960s when he joined Gunsmoke, one of the longest-running and most influential shows in US television history. He initially appeared in 1965 as a minor character before being cast the following season as Thad Greenwood, a handyman and lawman who remained on the series for two seasons.

At the time, industry insiders noted that Ewing’s character was being developed as a potential replacement amid a contract dispute between Gunsmoke star James Arness and the network. Once the dispute was resolved in 1967, Ewing’s character was written out of the show.

Born in Los Angeles on January 12, 1942, Roger Ewing began his acting career in film with a role in the 1964 movie Ensign Pulver. He went on to make guest appearances in several popular television series of the era, including Bewitched, Rawhide, The Bing Crosby Show, and The Baileys of Balboa.

After leaving Gunsmoke, Ewing continued working in television and film, appearing in shows such as The Mothers-in-Law and Death Valley Days. His film credits included Smith! (1969), starring Glenn Ford, and Play It as It Lays (1972), featuring Tuesday Weld and Anthony Perkins.

In 1972, Ewing stepped away from acting and began a second career as a professional photographer, focusing his creative energy behind the camera. Later in life, he also became involved in local politics, running for a city council seat in Morro Bay, California, in 2003.

Roger Ewing is remembered for his contributions to classic American television and for successfully reinventing himself beyond Hollywood, leaving behind a legacy that spanned entertainment, art, and public service.