I think it’s impact is so strong with us because it was a weekly tv series, not just a movie.
In our living rooms, week after week, year after year, then on reruns.
I feel as you do. Something was just cut out of the heart of America, with his death.
Matt Dillon, US Marshall, aka James Arness, is gone from this earthly life.
This hurts.
I’m from Kansas and have a book, Why the West Was Wild. In the index it has Marshall Matt Dillon with the caption, “No there was never a Marshall Matt Dillon in Dodge City.”
Thought that was rather fun.
“...cut out of the heart of America...” you nailed it. That’s what it feels like.