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Actor and TV host Richard Dawson passes away

Actor and TV host Richard Dawson passes away

THE actor and TV host Richard Dawson has passed away. He was 79.

Mr. Dawson was born in England but it was in the United States that he enjoyed success.  

He had moved to California in the 1960s with his then wife Diana Dors and began developing his career in television.

His big break came when he was chosen for the role of cockney prisoner Corporal Peter Newkirk in the TV comedy Hogan’s Heroes.

After the series finished he went on to make appearances in shows including Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and The New Dick Van Dyke Show. He was even a guest host on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show on two occasions.

But it was as the host of a quiz show that really cemented his place in American TV. He was chosen by the ABC network to host Family Feud (see below) when it was launched in 1976. 

The show — which was launched as Family Fortunes in the U.K. —was a hit and Mr. Dawson won a daytime Emmy Award in 1978 for best game show host. 

He remained as host until 1985, although he returned to the role in 1994 for one season.

Among his movie credits were The Devil’s Brigade (1968) and The Running Man (1987) in which he played a ruthless game show host.

Mr. Dawson passed away after what his family said were complications due to escophagael cancer.

To see Richard Dawson in an excerpt from Family Feud, click here.

 

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