Milburn Stone was a popular American actor who played the role of Dr. Galen “Doc” Adams on the long-running Western series Gunsmoke. He won an Emmy Award for his performance and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He also appeared in many films and serials, such as Young Mr. Lincoln, The Master Key, and The Great Alaskan Mystery. But how did Milburn Stone die? What was the cause of his death? Here is what we know about his life and death.
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Early Life and Career
Milburn Stone was born on July 5, 1904, in Burrton, Kansas, to Herbert and Laura Belfield Stone. He had a passion for acting since his childhood and was influenced by his uncle Fred Stone, who was a versatile actor on Broadway and in circuses. He graduated from Burrton High School, where he was active in the drama club, sang in a barbershop quartet, and played basketball.
He left his home to find work with touring repertory troupes and later became part of a vaudeville song-and-dance team called “Stone and Train”. He moved to Los Angeles in the 1930s to pursue his screen career and was featured in Monogram Pictures’ series of Tailspin Tommy adventures. He also played Stephen Douglas in the movie Young Mr. Lincoln with Henry Fonda and Ward Bond in 1939.
He signed with Universal Pictures in 1943 and appeared in many features and serials, such as Captive Wild Woman, Jungle Woman, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, The Master Key, and The Great Alaskan Mystery. He also starred in the Inner Sanctum murder mystery The Frozen Ghost.
Gunsmoke Fame and Retirement
In 1955, Milburn Stone landed the role of Dr. Galen “Doc” Adams on the television series Gunsmoke, which was based on a radio show of the same name. He played the role of a gruff but kind-hearted physician who treated the residents of Dodge City, Kansas, during the late 19th century. He co-starred with James Arness, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Ken Curtis, and Burt Reynolds.
He became an instant star on the show and received critical acclaim for his performance. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Drama in 1968 and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series in 1971.
He played the role of Doc Adams for 20 years, until the show ended in 1975. He only missed seven episodes in 1971 due to a heart attack that required bypass surgery. He retired from acting after Gunsmoke and received an honorary doctorate from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas.
Milburn Stone Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Milburn Stone died on June 12, 1980, at the age of 75, from a heart attack in La Jolla, California. A heart attack is a serious medical emergency in which the supply of blood to the heart is suddenly blocked, usually by a blood clot. This can damage or destroy part of the heart muscle and cause chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, and fainting.
He was buried at the El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley, San Diego. He was survived by his second wife Jane Garrison Stone (whom he married twice) and his daughter Shirley Stone Gleason.
Milburn Stone was a beloved actor who left a lasting legacy on television and film. He will always be remembered as Doc Adams on Gunsmoke, one of the most iconic characters in Western history.
