The Two ‘Gunsmoke’ Stars Who Hated Each Other at First
Milburn Stone and James Arness are forever linked as stars of the iconic Western Gunsmoke. As Doc Adams and Marshal Matt Dillon, respectively, their partnership became one of TV’s most enduring friendships. Yet in the early days of the series, the two actors did not get along; in fact, Stone, a seasoned performer, found himself irritated by Arness’s behavior on set and often questioned whether his younger costar truly belonged in the business.
During rehearsals, Arness’s habit of whistling and making noise became a point of frustration. Stone admitted, according to MeTV, “He used to annoy me because at rehearsals he’d sit there and whistle or make all kinds of silly noises. So one time I started in on him really screaming and yelling. Jim’s got a frightening habit in such circumstances. When he gets really tense, he kinda winces and bites his front teeth together real fast.” Ultimately, Arness told his costar he was right and decided it was better to move on than fight back.
Everett Collection
From then on, the tension between them faded. Over time, Stone grew to respect Arness not just as the star of the series, but also as a colleague. Years later, Stone openly admitted that his opinion of Arness had changed completely. He came to view Arness’s talent as something remarkable and often praised him for both his work on the show and his leadership off camera.
Stone shared, according to Slash Film, “I spent the first two years on Gunsmoke despising Jim’s lack of professionalism. Now I say his acting has reached classical proportions.” What began as irritation and conflict eventually transformed into a bond built on mutual respect. By the time Gunsmoke had become a television institution, Stone and Arness had developed a friendship that mirrored the loyalty and trust of Doc and Dillon on the streets of Dodge City.
Gunsmoke can be streamed for free on Pluto TV.
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TV Westerns of the 50's & 60's
September 2021
’50s and ’60s TV Westerns roundup, celebrating the shows and stars of their golden age.
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