Richard Dawson(1932-2012)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Richard Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm on November 20, 1932 in
Gosport, Hampshire, England. When he was 14, he joined the Merchant
Navy and served for three years. During that time, he made money
boxing. He had to lie about his age and remain tough so the older guys
would not hassle him. In the late 1950s, Richard met a British actress
named Diana Dors. On April 12, 1959, while in
New York for an appearance on
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956),
they were married. Richard and Diana's first child, a son named
Mark Dawson, was born in 1960, and a
second son, Gary Dawson, was born
in 1962. Richard and Diana separated in 1964 and eventually divorced in
1967. When Richard moved to the United States, he began acting on the
well-known series,
Hogan's Heroes (1965), in
1965. Richard played the lovable British Corporal Peter Newkirk. The
show ended in 1971. Not long after that, in 1973, he became a panelist
on Match Game (1973) and
remained there until 1978.
While still on "Match Game", he hosted his own show called
Family Feud (1976). , which he is most remembered for by his
trademark of kissing all the female contestants. Those kisses made the show a
warm and friendly program, along with his quick wit, subtle jokes, and ability to
make people feel at ease with being on camera.
In 1987, Richard co-starred withArnold Schwarzenegger in the science fiction action movie
The Running Man (1987).
Richard portrayed an egotistical game show host, Damon Killian, whom many say
was a mirror image of himself at one time or another, during his real-life career.
When Richard was 61, he hosted the third incarnation of "Family Feud"
in 1994, but had only a short run. On April 6, 1981, the Johnson family
appeared on "Family Feud" and Richard was introduced to 27-year-old
Gretchen Johnson. They had a daughter,
Shannon Dawson (Shannon Nicole Dawson),
in 1990, and were married in 1991. They were still married and reside
in Beverly Hills, California. Richard narrated
TV's Funniest Game Show Moments (1984)
on Fox in early 2000. On Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, 2000, he
hosted a "Family Feud" marathon, which was filmed in 1995. Some people
hear the name Richard Dawson and may not recognize the name. But say his name, followed by his famous quote "Survey says...!"
or mention "Newkirk on
Hogan's Heroes (1965)", and
they're sure to know who you mean. Richard Dawson died at age 79 of
complications from esophageal cancer on June 2, 2012.
Gosport, Hampshire, England. When he was 14, he joined the Merchant
Navy and served for three years. During that time, he made money
boxing. He had to lie about his age and remain tough so the older guys
would not hassle him. In the late 1950s, Richard met a British actress
named Diana Dors. On April 12, 1959, while in
New York for an appearance on
The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956),
they were married. Richard and Diana's first child, a son named
Mark Dawson, was born in 1960, and a
second son, Gary Dawson, was born
in 1962. Richard and Diana separated in 1964 and eventually divorced in
1967. When Richard moved to the United States, he began acting on the
well-known series,
Hogan's Heroes (1965), in
1965. Richard played the lovable British Corporal Peter Newkirk. The
show ended in 1971. Not long after that, in 1973, he became a panelist
on Match Game (1973) and
remained there until 1978.
While still on "Match Game", he hosted his own show called
Family Feud (1976). , which he is most remembered for by his
trademark of kissing all the female contestants. Those kisses made the show a
warm and friendly program, along with his quick wit, subtle jokes, and ability to
make people feel at ease with being on camera.
In 1987, Richard co-starred withArnold Schwarzenegger in the science fiction action movie
The Running Man (1987).
Richard portrayed an egotistical game show host, Damon Killian, whom many say
was a mirror image of himself at one time or another, during his real-life career.
When Richard was 61, he hosted the third incarnation of "Family Feud"
in 1994, but had only a short run. On April 6, 1981, the Johnson family
appeared on "Family Feud" and Richard was introduced to 27-year-old
Gretchen Johnson. They had a daughter,
Shannon Dawson (Shannon Nicole Dawson),
in 1990, and were married in 1991. They were still married and reside
in Beverly Hills, California. Richard narrated
TV's Funniest Game Show Moments (1984)
on Fox in early 2000. On Thanksgiving Day, November 23rd, 2000, he
hosted a "Family Feud" marathon, which was filmed in 1995. Some people
hear the name Richard Dawson and may not recognize the name. But say his name, followed by his famous quote "Survey says...!"
or mention "Newkirk on
Hogan's Heroes (1965)", and
they're sure to know who you mean. Richard Dawson died at age 79 of
complications from esophageal cancer on June 2, 2012.