TV News: Memorable ‘Family Feud’ TV Host Richard Dawson Dies at 79

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LOS ANGELES – Richard Dawson, who had distinction in two areas of television – in his supporting role on the 1960s sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes” and as a game show host in the 1970s with his trademark of kissing contestants on “Family Feud” – died Saturday from complications due to cancer. He was 79.

Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm to an American father and English Mother in Gosport, Hampshire, England in 1932. After running away from a poverty-ridden childhood to join the Merchant Marines at the age of 14, Dawson pursued boxing and entertaining once he was discharged. He first went on stage as comedian Dickie Dawson, but revised the name to Richard Dawson once he became established.

Gaining popularity as a comedian in England, Dawson married Diana Dors – called the British Marilyn Monroe – in 1959 (the marriage ended in 1966), which led him to follow her to Los Angeles for her career. In 1963, he appeared on the classic TV sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” and turned some small film roles into a supporting part on “Hogan’s Heroes” (1965-71), where he played Peter Newkirk, a WWII-era British prisoner-of-war imprisoned in fictional Stalag 13. Dawson is also notable during that era for having introduced “Hogan’s Heroes” star Bob Crane to John Henry Carpenter. The relationship of Crane and Carpenter was later featured in the film “Auto Focus” (2002), in which Dawson was portrayed by Michael Rogers.

After his stint ended on the sitcom in 1971, Dawson joined the cast of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” for the last two years of that show, and also appeared as a regular on “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” during the same period. He also signed up as a regular on the legendary “Match Game,” along with Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly and host Gene Rayburn. It was his smooth wit that caught on with game show producer Mark Goodson, and he was hired to host the new game show “Family Feud,” which premiered July 12. 1976.

Hogan’s Heroes’: Richard Dawson (center, in blue), left to right, Richard Clary, Bob Crane, Ivan Dixon and Larry Hovis Photo credit: Paramount Home Video

Dawson famously became known as the “Kissing Bandit” for his characteristic greeting of the female contestants on the show. He explained it was a tribute to his mother, who did it for him in “love and luck.” He stayed with “Family Feud” throughout its first run, until 1985. After appearing as a demonic game show host in the Arnold Schwarzenegger film, “The Running Man” (1987), Dawson did one more season of the second run of Feud – after promising his wife and daughter not to kiss contestants – before retiring from show business in the late 1990s.

Richard Dawson is survived by his second wife, Gretchen Johnson, a daughter by that marriage, two sons from his previous marriage and five grandchildren.

By PATRICK McDONALD Senior Staff Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com