America knew Richard Dawson as the host of Family Feud but the rest of the world knew him as the safe-cracking Corporal Peter Newkirk in the 60s comedy ‘Hogan’s Heroes’.
Richard Dawson in Hogan's Heroes
Dawson died at the UCLA Medical Center from oesophageal cancer. He was diagnosed three years ago.
Richard was born in Hampshire, UK in 1932. His first TV role was as Racy Tracy Rattigan in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show but it was his ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ role that made him famous worldwide.
After ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ ended in 1971 Richard became a regular on The New Dick Van Dyke Show and appeared in McCloud. He also had a regular spot in ‘Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in’.
Next he went into game shows. He appeared in Match Game 73 which led to hosting a brand new show called ‘Family Feud’.
In 1987, he played the evil game show host Damon Killian in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s action film ‘The Running Man’.
Richard retired in 1991.
He is survived by wife Gretchen, daughter Shannon, sons Mark and Gary and four grandchildren.
