Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke) no uncertain terms that he had no interest whatsoever. (Wayne was arguably the cinema's foremost box office attraction at the time.) Warren stated that the inquiry had not been serious inasmuch as Wayne could not realistically have been expected to abandon a thriving movie career for a less certain and immensely less lucrative television role. Wayne did, however, recommend James Arness for the part and his offer to introduce the first episode was readily accepted by CBS. Others who had auditioned for the part included Raymond Burr, Richard Boone, Denver Pyle, and William Conrad. All would go on to other
Matt Dillon (Gunsmoke) as well as action heroes John Wayne and Rambo. In Toby Keith's 1993 number one hit, "Should've Been a Cowboy", the entire first verse concerns the relationship between Dillon and Miss Kitty. In the song Miss Kitty would have said yes to Matt "in a New York Minute," but Dillon's heart wasn't in it. "He stole a kiss as he rode away..." In some episodes of "Gilligan's Island", Gilligan would dream that he was "Matt Dillon" in Dodge City, and the CBS "Gunsmoke" set was used, including the jail and sheriff's office. "Gilligan's Island" was later abruptly canceled to make