The Untold Story of Matt Dillon’s Horse on ‘Gunsmoke’

GUNSMOKE, James Arness, Amanda Blake, 1955-1975 — Everett Collection

There was nothing fancy about the opening credits of Gunsmoke when the Western first rode onto TV screens on September 10, 1955. However, audiences loved the striking 15-second sequence of U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon thundering across rugged terrain atop his powerful horse. That horse, a beautiful buckskin Thoroughbred named Buck, quickly became as much a part of the show’s identity as James Arness himself.

For two decades and 635 episodes, Arness was most often partnered with Buck, a horse chosen for practicality. “Buck was chosen not because of his intellect or his fidelity, but because he is very large and only a very large horse will fit me,” Arness once joked, according to INSP. “You’ll never catch Buck doing calculus on Gunsmoke. Confidentially, Old Buck is kind of stupid. Can’t even count to four.”

GUNSMOKE, James Arness, 1955-1975, main street of Dodge City

Everett Collection

Arness added, “This horse is never identified by name in the show, simply because in Gunsmoke, as in the real Old West, horses were cheap and a cowboy—or a U.S. marshal—seldom had a favorite. He didn’t keep a horse that long. He’d swap his off on a long trip for a fresh horse, or sell him between jobs, knowing he could buy another when he needed it and avoid stable bills.”

Yet off-screen, Buck’s story was very interesting. Arness rode him in the 1956 film Gun the Man Down as well as throughout much of Gunsmoke’s long run. Buck also found fame outside of Dodge City, carrying Ben Cartwright on Bonanza and the trail boss on Rawhide. When Bonanza ended, actor Lorne Greene adopted the cream-colored horse in 1975 and later donated him to a therapeutic riding center. There, Buck gave children with mental and physical challenges the chance to ride.

BONANZA, Dan Blocker, Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, 1959-1973

Everett Collection

Buck lived to the remarkable age of 45, passing in 1992. Fittingly, Buck’s legacy is being celebrated again this year as Gunsmoke turns 70. To honor the anniversary, MeTV is running a month-long marathon beginning August 30, 2025, through September 27. Each weekday at 1 pm ET, the network will showcase themed “Best Of” episodes, while Saturdays at 11 am feature the five made-for-TV movies that followed the original run.

This week celebrates ‘Best of Matt Dillon’ week – featuring memorable Matt Dillon episodes at 1 pm ET/PT, including “The Gallows” on 9/8; “Caleb” on 9/9; “Sam McTavish M.D.” on 9/10; “Seven Hours to Dawn” on 9/11; and “With a Smile” on 9/12.