The television show ran 1955-1975 on CBS, to this day
the longest run of any single series of any genre in prime-time
TV in the United States. Conrad was the first choice to
play Dillon, having established the role, but his increasing
obesity led to more photogenic actors. James Arness played
Marshall Matt Dillon throughout its run, the longest any
actor has played the same role in the same show in prime
time. (Kelsey Grammer has since tied the role-playing
record as Frasier Crane, but that role spanned two different
shows, Cheers and Frasier.) Actors asked to play Matt
Dillon on TV before Arness included John Wayne and Denver
Pyle. It was Wayne who recommended Arness, and "The
Duke" also introduced the first episode of the series.
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