What was the real reason that Amanda Blake, the talented actress who played the iconic Miss Kitty on Gunsmoke, did not return for the show’s final season? Before we dig into the details, let’s provide a little context.

Gunsmoke was the show to watch from 1955 to 1975. Spanning an impressive 20-year run, it starred Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty Russell, James Arness as Matt Dillon, Dennis Weaver as his trusty sidekick Chester, and Milburn Stone as Doc Adams. Did you know that Amanda wasn’t the original actress cast to play Miss Kitty?