For millions of Americans, Gunsmoke was more than a television show—it was a weekly ritual. And now, longtime viewers are grieving the loss of one of the performers whose steady, understated presence helped make Dodge City feel like home.

Roger Ewing, the tall, soft-spoken actor best known for playing deputy marshal Thad Greenwood during the 1960s, has died at 83. His family confirmed that Ewing passed away on December 18 at his longtime home in Morro Bay, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Standing 6-foot-4 and known for his rugged, easygoing look, Ewing first appeared on Gunsmoke in February 1965 in the episode “Song for Dying,” portraying a character named Ben Lukens. Only months later, audiences were introduced to Thad Greenwood, who debuted in the third episode of season 11. Just 23 at the time, Ewing quickly became a familiar and calming presence on the long-running CBS western.

Thad was written as the son of an elderly Oklahoma sheriff, played by Paul Fix, who arrives in Dodge City seeking the men he believed responsible for his father’s fatal heart attack. Although his warrant could not be enforced in town, circumstances led to the suspects being killed or captured for cattle theft. With his purpose fulfilled, Marshal Matt Dillon—portrayed by James Arness—invited Thad to remain in Dodge as a deputy marshal.

Ewing later spoke about how naturally Thad fit into the show’s core group. With Thad’s family gone, he explained, Matt Dillon, Kitty, Doc, and Festus essentially became his new family. Whatever needed doing—an extra set of hands, another person to back someone up—Thad was always present, quietly filling the gaps.