During a brief decline in ratings, Ewing appeared in roughly 50 episodes through 1967. As the show rebounded, his role was gradually reduced and eventually phased out.
Born Roger Lawrence Ewing on January 12, 1942, in Los Angeles, he was already a fan of Gunsmoke long before joining the cast. As a high school senior, he once performed a parody sketch of the show, playing Chester — Dennis Weaver’s iconic character. In a 1966 interview, Ewing recalled watching the series every Saturday night, never imagining he’d one day be part of it.
After a short time in college and a job as a lifeguard, Ewing turned his focus to acting. His first screen appearance came in the 1964 film Ensign Pulver in an uncredited role. Television work soon followed, with guest spots on Bewitched, Rawhide, The Bing Crosby Show, and The Baileys of Balboa. He also appeared alongside Frank Sinatra in the war film None But the Brave.
Ewing often joked that his height led to typecasting, frequently landing roles as earnest but slightly awkward young men. When Burt Reynolds left Gunsmoke, producers sought a younger presence and cast Ewing as Clayton Thaddeus Greenwood. At the time, behind-the-scenes tensions led to brief uncertainty about the show’s direction, but once resolved, Thad was written out and replaced by Buck Taylor’s Newly O’Brien, who remained until the series ended in 1975.
Ewing came close to a major film breakthrough when director John Schlesinger reportedly considered him for the lead role in Midnight Cowboy (1969), though the part ultimately went to Jon Voight. Around the same time, Ewing appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game, where future Bionic Woman star Lindsay Wagner chose a different suitor.
After leaving Gunsmoke, Ewing continued acting with appearances on Death Valley Days, The Mothers-in-Law, and films such as Smith! (1969) with Glenn Ford and Play It as It Lays (1972). He later stepped away from Hollywood entirely, reinventing himself as a photographer and traveling extensively through Europe, Russia, Mexico, and the South Pacific.
In his later years, Ewing became involved in local civic life and even ran for city council in Morro Bay in 2003.
To Gunsmoke fans, Roger Ewing will always be remembered as Thad Greenwood — the steady young deputy who didn’t need bravado to earn respect. His quiet presence helped make Dodge City feel lived-in, familiar, and real.
And for millions who grew up returning to that dusty frontier every week, his legacy remains part of what made the show feel like home.