Why Does Festus Limp?

He was told to distinguish his character from Dillon, so he decided that a limp would be a unique character trait to make Chester stand out. He ended up regretting this decision because it can't be that easy limping week after week.

How did Festus get his limp?

Chester Goode supposedly got that wound during the Civil War. Weaver sometimes forgot to limp, and he sometimes limped on the wrong leg. ... We'll have to keep an eye out for that next time we watch Gunsmoke.

How did Chester on Gunsmoke hurt his leg?

How did Chester hurt his leg on Gunsmoke? That was a beautiful illustration of comeuppance. If you watch these early episodes you'll see the character Chester Goode. Chester had a stiff-legged limp from a wound in the War Between the State.