Burt Reynolds’ Gunsmoke Character Explained (and Why He Left the Show)

There is something to be said about the lasting legacy of Gun smokethe Western that became an institution on both radio and television, and a big part of that includes the late actor Burt Reynolds. Created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston, the radio series ran from 1952 to 1961 and the Gun smoke the show ran for 20 years on CBS, from 1955 to 1975. It was an unprecedented feat for primetime live-action television, until the record was finally broken by NBC. Law and Order: Special Victims Unitwhich debuted in 1999 and is still active 25 years later.

The big success Gun smoke follows U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon as he fights for justice in Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s. Dillon was played by actor James Arness, who was joined by an ensemble of previously established stars, completing the Gun smoke cast including Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Glenn Strange, Buck Taylor and Ted Jordan. When Burt Reynolds joined the cast in Season 8, he was essentially an unknown, but he quickly stole the show.

Burt Reynolds played Quint Asper in Gunsmoke

Quint was a blacksmith and part-time deputy marshal

Burt Reynolds first appears as Quint Asper in Gun smoke Season 8, Episode 3, “Quint Asper Comes Home.” A blacksmith by trade, Quinn is half white, half Comanche. Quint is introduced as a member of his mother Topsanah’s (Angela Clarke) tribe, which kills white people. However, upon meeting Matt Dillon, Quint eventually befriends him after it is revealed that the blacksmith is trying to avenge his father’s death. Matt helps Quint integrate into white society, and eventually Quint becomes a part-time deputy marshal.

Cast of Reynolds and all Gun smoke the plot would probably never happen today. Although Reynolds claimed he had Cherokee roots, nothing has been verified, with many suspecting he was bluffing (via The Independent). Whitewashing was certainly common in Hollywood during Gun smokeis performed and is still practiced today, although series such as Reserve dogs are helping to cast real Indigenous actors in Indigenous roles. And despite rehab, Reynolds still shined in the role of Quint Asper, appearing in 50 episodes before leaving in Gun smoke season 10.

Reynolds’ co-star James Arness had nothing but good things to say about him, saying he was “great to work“and that they became”wonderful friends” following Reynolds’ departure. However, actor Matt Dillon realized that Reynolds was not able to reach his full acting potential in Gun smokecounting The Television Academy,

“When [Burt] came in and took on this character, they had some problems. We had [a few departures and] I added some characters in the meantime, it was difficult. You can tell very quickly that Burt was a guy who had a great presence… One of the things we’ve learned over the last few years is his great comedic abilities and he wasn’t able to bring that to [Quint] in any way. He had to be very serious.”

Reynolds left Gunsmoke because his film career was taking off

His co-star Milburn Stone encouraged Reynolds to leave the show

James Harness wasn’t the only one Gun smoke actor who felt the show was holding Reynolds back. During a Gun smoke Over the summer hiatus, Reynolds filmed a movie, and upon returning to the show, he was confronted by his co-star, Milburn Stone, who played Doc Adams. Bluntly, Stone told Reynolds: “Your films are taking off – get out of here” (through Cowboys and Indians) Reynolds asked with “You don’t like me?”, and shared Stone’s response:

He said, total gentleman that he was, “I love your work. But it’s time to think about your film career.” I knew he was the smartest guy on set – I always thought that. He was so wonderful. So I gave up.

Before pursuing a career in cinema, Reynolds still acted on TV with appearances in Flipper and the FBI and a leading role in Falcon. He scored memorable film roles in Joe Navajo (1966), and a series of releases in 1969, including 100 Rifles, Sam Whiskey, Deadlockand Shark. But Reynolds’ light shone even brighter in the following decade with Release (1972), The longest yard (1974), Silent film (1976) and, of course, Smokey and the Bandit (1977). Reynolds also had success in the 1980s, especially with the iconic The cannonball race (1981).

The rest, as they say, is history with Reynolds’ 1991 Emmy win for his CBS sitcom, Night shadow and 1998 Oscar nomination for Paul Thomas Anderson’s controversial film Dance nights as ambitious pornographer Jack Horner, who discovers Mark Wahlberg’s Dirk Diggler and turns him into an adult film star. Reynolds passed away in 2018 at the age of 82 and, as anyone can see from his filmography, he left behind an iconic cinematic legacy.