Actor, game show host, and raconteur Richard Dawson has died at age 79.
Richard Dawson, the longtime “Family Feud” game-show host and “Hogan’s Heroes” actor, has died in Los Angeles. He was 79.
His son, Gary Dawson, announced his death via Facebook.
“It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away [Saturday] evening from complications due to esophageal cancer. He was surrounded by his family. He was an amazing talent, a loving husband, a great dad and a doting grandfather. He will be missed but always remembered,” Gary Dawson wrote.
Richard Dawson was born in England on Nov. 20, 1932. He was perhaps best known for hosting “Family Feud for nine years in the 1970s and 1980s and then again shortly in the 1990s.
According to the Associated Press, the audience gave him a standing ovation during his final show.
“Please sit down. I have to do at least 30 minutes of fun and laughter and you make me want to cry,” Dawson said at the time. “I’ve had the most incredible luck in my career. I never dreamed I would have a job in which so many people could touch me and I could touch them.”
The Times will have a full obituary later Sunday.
I first came to know Dawson watching Hogan’s Heroes reruns and then all the time as the bottom center seat on Match Game with Gene Rayburn, Charles Nelson Reilly, et al. throughout the 1970s and of course on Family Feud as well. He’s pictured above as the sinister game show tycoon on The Running Man. R.I.P. Richard Dawson and our prayers go out to his family and friends.
Dawson was one my favorite game show hosts and I thought he was great on “Hogan’s Heroes.” R.I.P.
Agreed
Ditto on the timeline getting to know Dawson. His mastery of the charming Family Feud host will never be equaled (Steve Harvey’s good, but he’s not that good). RIP, Mr. Dawson. Hope you, Gene and Charles are already double-entenre-ing it up up there.
RIP. He also guest starred on lots of TV shows we’ve seen first hand or in syndication.
He was good in a lot of things, and I thought he was the best non-Maria Conchita Alonso part of Running Man. Survey says rest in peace, Mr. Dawson
Double ditto the “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Match Game” intro’s. Never really liked Family Feud and by that point I was done with game shows. I’ll mention his excellent acting in 1968′s “The Devil’s Brigade” had me at one time believing he was really Canadian acting English in HH.
Isaiah 26:19 But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy.
We salute you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkJM5Upfusc
and of course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJfSI4cKWLY
So long Newkirk!