Richard Dawson best known for appearing in Hogan’s Heroes and hosting Family Feud has died in the UCLA medical center, in Los Angeles at the age of 79. He reportedly died of complications from esophageal cancer.
Richard Dawson
1932 -2012
Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm in Gosport, Hampshire, England on November 20, 1932. He died on Saturday in Los Angeles, California.
He portrayed Corporal Peter Newkirk on Hogan’s Heroes from 1965-1971 in 166 episodes.
Dawson also appeared in 73 episodes of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in.
He did very little acting after leaving Laugh-in and was host of Family Feud from 1976-1985 and 1994-1995.
It is ironic that his death was exactly 16 years after his successor Ray Combs died. Combs had committed suicide.
He was married to Diana Dors, who was the British version of Marilyn Monroe from 1959-1966. He married Gretchen Johnson, a contestant on Family Feud and they were married from 1991 till his death.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-06-03/richard-dawson-death/55357952/1
RIP! I loved him on Family Feud.
I agree….The hosts after Richard Dawson on Family Feud were never as good, as he was at hosting the show.
I Loved Him As The Evil Game-Show Host/Producer in THE RUNNING MAN.
He Was Spot-On-PERFECT.
He Shall Be Missed :*(
-BRAD
Brad, I second that. He will be missed. Family Feud has had six hosts, but Richard Dawson was the best in my book.
I read a review of him as a host that said he was amused by the guests but not patronizing. That’s a fine line to walk.
I agree…he was the perfect host for the show.