Richard Dawson, the British-born entertainer who became one of television’s most recognizable game show hosts, built a career defined by charm, quick wit, and a famously affectionate on-screen persona. Before he became a household name in America, he was Colin Lionel Emm, born on November 20, 1932, in Gosport, England. His early life was shaped by the disruptions of World War II. As a child, he and his older brother John were evacuated from their home to escape the bombing, which meant he could attend school continuously for only a couple of years.
At age 14, he left home and joined the British Merchant Navy, where he spent three years, starting as a laundry man before becoming a waiter. He also earned extra money as an amateur boxer during that time. After completing his naval service, he adopted the stage name Dickie Dawson and began performing as a stand-up comedian in London’s West End clubs, including the famous Stork Room. He later changed his name to Richard Dawson as an adult.
His early television appearances in the UK included a 1954 spot on the BBC show “Vinnie Hill Showcase” and appearances on radio programs “Midday Music Hall” and “How Do You Do. ” In 1958 and 1959, he appeared on several shows alongside Diana Dors, the English actress he married in 1959, including “Alan Melville Takes You from A to Z,” “The Steve Allen Plymouth Show,” “The Diana Dors Show,” and “Jukebox Jury. ”
After moving to the United States in the early 1960s, Dawson began landing quick appearances in television series. He acted in episodes of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” in 1963, “The Outer Limits” in 1964, and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour” in 1964.
He also made small, often uncredited appearances in films such as “The Longest Day” (1962) and “Promises! Promises! ” (1963). In 1965, he played a weaver in the movie “King Rat.
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His big break came when he was cast as Corporal Peter Newkirk, the British officer in the CBS sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes. ” The show, set in a German POW camp during World War II, was a major hit, running for six seasons from 1965 to 1971 and turning Dawson into a star. During this period, he continued to work in other productions, appearing in films like “Out of Sight,” “Munster, Go Home! ” (1966), and “The Devil’s Brigade” (1968).
In 1970, he began making regular appearances on the game show “Can You Top This? ” and joined the team of the sketch comedy show “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” where he remained a regular cast member until 1973. He also acted in three episodes of the comedy anthology series “Love, American Style” (1971–1972) and lent his voice to the animated series “Wait Till Your Father Gets Home” (1972) and “Hong Kong Phooey” (1974), as well as the movie “Treasure Island” (1973). Around the same time, he became a guest host on “The Bob Braun Show” and a panelist on “I’ve Got a Secret” in 1972–1973 and again in 1976.
In 1973, he joined the celebrity panel of the game show “Match Game. ” The show ran until 1978, and Dawson won audiences over with his outgoing personality and quick wit. The success of “Match Game” led to his own spin-off, “Family Feud,” which premiered on ABC in 1976 and became a breakout hit, running until 1985. At the height of its popularity, “Family Feud” was both the top daytime and top syndicated show, airing 11 times in a single week, with five of those broadcasts during daytime hours.
Dawson made an impression with his charm, wit, and ability to make people feel comfortable on camera. He also became known for kissing all female contestants, earning him the nickname “The Kissing Bandit. ” When criticized for the practice, he asked viewers to vote on whether he should stop. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of continuing the tradition.
He later said it was meant for love and luck and was something his mother used to do with him as a child. The 1970s also saw him act in seven episodes of the sitcom “The New Dick Van Dyke Show” (1973–1974) and the television movie “How to Pick Up Girls! ” (1978). He appeared in episodes of “The Odd Couple,” “Fantasy Island,” and “The Love Boat” in 1978.
In 1979 and 1980, he guest-hosted numerous episodes of NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and was even considered as a potential replacement for Carson if the award-winning host retired. Carson ultimately decided against retiring and continued with the show. In 1984, Dawson hosted the television movie “I Remember It Well: ABC Daytime’s 25th Anniversary” and, in 1988, hosted a special called “Richard Dawson and You Bet Your Life. ” In 1987, his dystopian action film “The Running Man,” co-starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, was released.
His portrayal of the conceited game show host Damon Killian earned him rave reviews from critics and won him an award. In 1994, he returned to host the final season of “Family Feud’s” second run (1988–1995), after which he officially retired. In 2000, he narrated Fox’s show “TV’s Funniest Game Shows. ”
Dawson married English actress Diana Dors in 1959, and they had two sons together, Mark and Gary.
The couple divorced in 1967, with Dawson granted custody of the boys. His second marriage was to Gretchen Johnson, whom he met during the making of “Family Feud” in 1981. She was one of the contestants on the show. They married in 1991, a year after their daughter Shannon Nicole Dawson was born.
Dawson struggled with a nicotine addiction and at one point smoked four packs of cigarettes a day. His daughter later persuaded him to quit smoking in 1994. On June 2, 2012, Richard Dawson was diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
He died due to complications from the disease at the age of 79.