Norman Macdonnell an anthology series they had done. Their boss at CBS, Harry Ackerman, and other network executives dismissed that title, preferring "Gunsmoke", a program heading that Ackerman himself was credited with conceiving. Once given permission to proceed with "Gunsmoke", Macdonnell began developing a detailed production schedule for the new series' 30-minute episodes and arranging auditions to cast its recurring characters. His and Meston’s "Jeff Spain" soon became United States Marshal Matt Dillon, and veteran voice actor William Conrad was chosen by Macdonnell, Meston, and two other CBS screeners to portray that lead character. Other seasoned actors soon filled the needed regular
Gunsmoke: To the Last Man Morgan Woodward as Sheriff Abel Rose. Gunsmoke: To the Last Man Gunsmoke: To the Last Man is a 1992 American made-for-television western film starring James Arness as retired Marshal Matt Dillon and featuring Pat Hingle. Hapless rustlers make the fatal mistake of stealing Matt Dillon's cattle and Dillon blunders into the gory Pleasant Valley War during the process of hunting them down and killing two of them. The film, set in the 1880s, was directed by Jerry Jameson and based upon the long-running American television series "Gunsmoke" (1955 to 1975). The supporting cast features Matt Mulhern as Will McCall, Joseph