Richard Dawson (born Colin Lionel Emm; 20 November 1932 – 2 June 2012) was an English-American actor, comedian, game-show host, and

panelist {{Short pages monitor

After his move to the USA, in September 1961, Dawson began hosting a late-night talk show, the '' Mike Stokey Show'', on Los Angeles television station

KCOP-TV KCOP-TV (channel 13), branded Fox 11 Plus, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, United States, serving as the West Coast flagship station of MyNetworkTV. It is owned and operated by Fox Television Stations alongside Fox outlet K ...

. On 8 January 1963, Dawson appeared on ''

The Jack Benny Program ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio and television comedy series. The show ran for over three decades, from 1932 to 1955 on radio, and from 1950 to 1965 on television. It won numerous awards, including the 1959 and 19 ...

'', season 13, episode 15, as an audience member seated next to Jack, barely recognisable in glasses and false moustache. That same year, Dawson made a guest appearance on ''

The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961, to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Productions"Calv ...

'' (season two, episode 27) playing "Racy" Tracy Rattigan, a lecherous flirt who was the summer replacement host on the Alan Brady Show. He was credited as Dick Dawson. In 1965, Dawson had a small role at the end of the film '' King Rat'', starring

George Segal George Segal Jr. (February 13, 1934 – March 23, 2021) was an American actor. He became popular in the 1960s and 1970s for playing both dramatic and comedic roles. After first rising to prominence with roles in acclaimed films such as '' Ship o ...

, playing 1st Recon

paratrooper A paratrooper or military parachutist is a soldier trained to conduct military operations by parachuting directly into an area of operations, usually as part of a large airborne forces unit. Traditionally paratroopers fight only as light infa ...

Captain Weaver, sent to liberate allied

POWs A prisoner of war (POW) is a person held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of war for a ...

in a

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prison. Dawson had by then moved to Los Angeles. He gained fame in the television show ''Hogan's Heroes'' as Cpl. Peter Newkirk from 1965 to 1971. Dawson had a minor role in

Universal Universal is the adjective for universe. Universal may also refer to: Companies * NBCUniversal, a media and entertainment company that is a subsidiary of Comcast ** Universal Animation Studios, an American Animation studio, and a subsidiary of N ...

's ''

Munster, Go Home! ''Munster, Go Home!'' is a 1966 American comedy film based on the 1960s family sitcom ''The Munsters''. It was directed by Earl Bellamy, who also directed a number of episodes in the series. The film was produced immediately after the television ...

''. A year later, he released a psychedelic 45-rpm single including the songs "His Children's Parade" and "Apples & Oranges" on Carnation Records. In 1968, Dawson was in the film '' The Devil's Brigade'' as Private Hugh McDonald. Following the cancellation of ''Hogan's Heroes'', Dawson was a regular joke-telling panellist on the short-lived syndicated revival of the game show '' Can You Top This?'' in 1970 and joined the cast of ''

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' (often simply referred to as ''Laugh-In'') is an American sketch comedy television program that ran for six seasons from January 22, 1968, to July 23, 1973, on the NBC television network. The show, hosted by comed ...

'' that same year. After ''Laugh-In'' was cancelled in 1973, game-show pioneer

Mark Goodson Mark Leo Goodson (January 14, 1915 – December 18, 1992) was an American television producer who specialized in game shows, most frequently with his business partner Bill Todman, with whom he created Goodson-Todman Productions. Early life and e ...

signed Dawson to appear as a regular on '' Match Game '73'', alongside

Brett Somers Brett Somers (born Audrey Dawn Johnston; July 11, 1924 – September 15, 2007) was a Canadian-American game-show personality, actress, and singer. Somers was best known as a panelist on the 1970s game show ''Match Game'' and for her recurring r ...

Charles Nelson Reilly Charles Nelson Reilly (January 13, 1931 – May 25, 2007) was an American actor, comedian, director and drama teacher. He performed in the original Broadway casts of ''Bye Bye Birdie''; '' Hello, Dolly!''; and '' How to Succeed in Business With ...

, and host

Gene Rayburn Gene Rayburn (born Eugene Peter Jeljenic; December 22, 1917 – November 29, 1999) was an American radio and television personality. He is best known as the host of various editions of the American television game show ''Match Game'' for over tw ...

. Dawson, who had already served a year as panellist for Goodson's revival of '' I've Got a Secret'', proved to be a solid and funny player, and was the frequent choice of contestants to participate in the Head-To-Head Match portion of the "Super-Match" bonus round, in which the contestant and a panellist of the contestant's choice had to match exactly. During Dawson's time on ''Match Game'', he most often occupied the bottom centre seat, only sitting elsewhere (in the top centre seat) during one week early in the show's run.

''Family Feud'' host and TV stardom

Due to his popularity on ''Match Game'', Dawson expressed to Goodson his desire to host a show of his own. In 1975, during Dawson's tenure as one of ''Match Game'' regular panelists, Goodson began developing a

spin-off Spin-off, Spin Off, Spin-Off, or Spinoff may refer to: Entertainment and media *Spinoff (media), a media work derived from an existing work *''The Spinoff'', a New Zealand current affairs magazine * ''Spin Off'' (Canadian game show), a 2013 Canad ...

game show, ''Family Feud'', based on the "Super Match" portion of ''Match Game''. Goodson specifically saw the show as a vehicle for Dawson, due to his popularity among ''Match Game'' contestants. ''Family Feud'' debuted on 12 July 1976, on ABC's daytime schedule. ''Family Feud'' was a break-out hit, eventually surpassing the ratings of ''Match Game'' in late 1977. In 1978, Dawson left ''Match Game'' due to a combination of the recent introduction of the "Star Wheel"—which affected his being selected for the Head-To-Head Match portion of the show's "Super Match" bonus round—and burnout from his regular appearances on both ''Match Game'' and ''Family Feud''. That same year, Dawson won a

Daytime Emmy Award The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...

for Best Game Show Host for his work on ''Family Feud''. After Dawson left ''Match Game'', his spot on the panel was filled with many other stars—most notably his best friend

Bob Barker Robert William Barker (December 12, 1923 – August 26, 2023) was an American media personality, game show host, and animal rights advocate. He hosted CBS's '' The Price Is Right'', the longest-running game show in North American television ...

, who was then the host of ''

The Price is Right ''The Price Is Right'' is an American television game show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes. A 1972 revival by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman of their The Price Is Right (1956 American game ...

''. One of Dawson's trademarks on ''Family Feud'', kissing the female contestants, earned him the nickname "The Kissing Bandit". Television executives repeatedly tried to get him to stop the kissing. After receiving criticism for the practice (which also included a great deal of physical contact such as holding hands and touching), Dawson asked viewers to write in and vote on the matter. The wide majority of the roughly 200,000 responses favoured the kissing. On the 1985 finale, Dawson explained that he kissed female contestants for love and luck, something his mother did with Dawson himself as a child. Dawson was a frequent guest host for ''

Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show A late-night talk show is a genre of talk show, originating in the American Media, United States. It is generally structured around humorous monologues about the day's news, guest inte ...

'' host

Johnny Carson John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, and writer best known as the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' (1962–1992). Carson is a cultural phenomenon and w ...

, hosting 14 times during 1979. Dawson was a contender for the role of ''Tonight Show'' host in the event that Carson left the show, a move that Carson was seriously considering during 1979–80. (Carson ended up remaining as host until 1992.) Two of the few Carson-era ''Tonight Show'' episodes that did not air on the night they were intended were guest hosted by Dawson. During one, actress

Della Reese Della Reese (born Delloreese Patricia Early; July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017) was an American singer, actress, television personality, author and ordained minister. As a singer, she recorded blues, gospel, jazz and pop. Several of her singl ...

suffered a near-fatal

aneurysm An aneurysm is an outward :wikt:bulge, bulging, likened to a bubble or balloon, caused by a localized, abnormal, weak spot on a blood vessel wall. Aneurysms may be a result of a hereditary condition or an acquired disease. Aneurysms can also b ...

midinterview during taping; the remainder of the episode was cancelled. (Reese later recovered.) The other featured an untimely monologue regarding the danger of flying on airplanes; it was replaced with a rerun because it would have aired the same night as the crash of

American Airlines Flight 191 American Airlines Flight 191 was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago to Los Angeles International Airport. On the afternoon of May 25, 1979, the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 operating th ...

in Chicago, which killed all 271 people aboard, as well as two on the ground. The episode was aired several weeks later.

Later years

Dawson parodied his TV persona in 1987's '' The Running Man'' opposite

Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, businessman, former politician, and former professional bodybuilder, known for his roles in high-profile action films. Governorship of Arnold Schwarzenegger, ...

, portraying the evil, egotistical game-show host Damon Killian. He received rave reviews for his performance. Film critic

Roger Ebert Roger Joseph Ebert ( ; June 18, 1942 – April 4, 2013) was an American Film criticism, film critic, film historian, journalist, essayist, screenwriter and author. He wrote for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' from 1967 until his death in 2013. Eber ...

(who gave the film a thumbs down) wrote, "Playing a character who always seems three-quarters drunk, he chain-smokes his way through backstage planning sessions and then pops up in front of the cameras as a cauldron of false jollity. Working the audience, milking the laughs and the tears, he is not really much different

rom Rom, or ROM may refer to: Biomechanics and medicine * Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient * Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac * ...

most genuine game-show hosts—and that's the film's private joke". Before Dawson was cast as Damon Killian,

Chuck Woolery Charles Herbert Woolery (March 16, 1941 – November 23, 2024) was an American television host, actor, and musician. He had long-running tenures hosting several game shows. Woolery was the original host of the original daytime '' Wheel of Fortun ...

was originally considered for the role, but was unavailable and Schwarzenegger suggested Dawson because he and Dawson were close friends. Dawson hosted an unsold pilot for a revival of the classic game show ''

You Bet Your Life ''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radioTrump Card Trump card(s) may refer to: Cards * Trump (card games), any higher-ranked playing card * Trump cards, or Major Arcana, a suit in tarot * Trump Cards, 2022 NFTs featuring Donald Trump Film and television * ''The Trump Card'' (film), a 1942 Fren ...

''; the role went to

Jimmy Cefalo James Cameron Cefalo (born October 6, 1956) is an American journalist, news broadcaster and sports broadcaster, radio talk show host, Voice of the Miami Dolphins, businessman, wine enthusiast and former professional football wide receiver and g ...

. On 12 September 1994, Dawson returned to ''Family Feud'', hosting what became the last season of the show's second run (1988–1995) after previous host

Ray Combs Raymond Neil Combs Jr. (April 3, 1956 – June 2, 1996) was an American stand-up comedian, actor and game show host. He began his professional career in the late 1970s. His popularity on the stand-up circuit led to him being signed as the second ...

was fired due to spiralling ratings. During his second tenure as host, Dawson did not kiss female contestants because of a promise he had made to his young daughter to kiss only her mother. The show's ratings never recovered under Dawson and the final episode aired on 26 May 1995, after which Dawson officially retired. ''Family Feud'' remained out of production until being revived for a third run in 1999 with new host

Louie Anderson Louis Perry Anderson (March 24, 1953 – January 21, 2022) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author and game show host. He created the cartoon series ''Life with Louie'' and the television sitcom ''The Louie Show'', and wrote four books ...

, who asked Dawson to make a special appearance on the first episode to give Anderson his blessings. Dawson turned down the offer, wanting no further involvement with the show. In 2000, Dawson narrated ''TV's Funniest Game Shows'' for the Fox Network in what would prove to be his final public performance . On 7 June 2012, at the time of Dawson's death, GSN aired a four-hour marathon of Dawson's greatest moments on ''Match Game'' and ''Family Feud'', including the first episode of his 1994–95 ''Feud'' tenure.

Personal life and family

With his first wife, actress Diana Dors, Dawson had two sons, including

Mark Mark may refer to: In the Bible * Mark the Evangelist (5–68), traditionally ascribed author of the Gospel of Mark * Gospel of Mark, one of the four canonical gospels and one of the three synoptic gospels Currencies * Mark (currency), a currenc ...

. The marriage ended with a divorce granted in Los Angeles in April 1967, and Dawson gained custody of both sons. He had four grandchildren. Dawson became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1984. On retiring, Dawson remained in Beverly Hills, California, where he had lived since 1964. He met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson (born 22 September 1955), when she was a contestant on ''Family Feud'' in May 1981. They married in 1991. Their daughter was born in 1990. Dawson announced the birth and showed a picture of his daughter during the inaugural episode of his second stint as host of ''Feud'' in 1994 as he was greeting a contestant who had been a contestant on ''Match Game'' when he was a panelist. The episode was featured on the 25th anniversary of ''Family Feud'' as number two on the

Game Show Network Game Show Network (GSN) is an American basic cable channel owned by the television network division of Sony Pictures Television. The channel's programming is primarily dedicated to game shows, including reruns of acquired game shows, along wit ...

's top 25 ''Feud'' moments. He appeared with his daughter on at least two episodes of the show in 1995, including one taped on his birthday. During the 1960s and 1970s, Dawson participated in various movements, including the

Selma to Montgomery marches The Selma to Montgomery marches were three Demonstration (protest), protest marches, held in 1965, along the highway from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery. The marches were organized by Nonviolence, nonvi ...

and George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign.

Death

Dawson died of complications from

esophageal cancer Esophageal cancer (American English) or oesophageal cancer (British English) is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include dysphagia, difficulty in swallowing and weigh ...

at the

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (also commonly referred to as UCLA Medical Center, RRMC or Ronald Reagan) is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United S ...

in Los Angeles on 2 June 2012, aged 79. He is interred in Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dawson, Richard 1932 births 2012 deaths 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American male actors 20th-century English male actors American game show hosts American male comedians American male film actors American male television actors American sketch comedians British Merchant Navy personnel British Merchant Navy personnel of World War II Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Comedians from Hampshire Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host winners Deaths from esophageal cancer in California English emigrants to the United States English game show hosts English male comedians English male film actors English male television actors English sketch comedians Family Feud Male actors from Hampshire Actors from Gosport People from Gosport