Richard Dawson (actor)
Richard Dawson (born November 20, 1932 as Colin Lionel Emm in Gosport , England , † June 2, 2012 in Los Angeles ) was a British actor and television presenter .
Life
Dawson joined the Merchant Navy , but came back three years later, initially working as a waiter before embarking on an acting career and later a comedian. He had one of his first appearances in Plymouth . In a London night club Dawson met Diana Dors , his future wife. They married in April 1959 and had two children, Mark and Gary, for whom Dawson was granted sole custody after the separation. The divorce took place in 1966.
Ed Feldman , the producer of A Cage Full of Heroes , became aware of Richard Dawson. At first he wanted him for the role of Colonel Hogan, but because of his British accent he was used as Corporal Peter Newkirk. Dawson worked on the comedy series for six years, but also in other films and series.
From 1973 to 1978 he was a permanent member of the advice team of the quiz show Match Game . His high hit rate and humor increased his popularity. In 1976 he finally got his own show, Family Feud, the American model of family duels , which he successfully hosted until 1985. In 1978 he won an Emmy for it .
In 1987 he played the role of Damon Killian in the Schwarzenegger film Running Man , in which he partially parodied his own career as a show master. In 1991 Richard Dawson was married for a second time; with Gretchen Johnson, whom he met on his show in 1981. The two had a daughter, Shannon. In 1994, Dawson returned to Family Feud as a brief host . After leaving the show, he retired into private life.
Richard Dawson, who most recently in Beverly Hills lived, died on June 2, 2012 at the Ronald Reagan Memorial Hospital of UCLA in Los Angeles of complications from esophageal cancer .
Filmography (selection)
- 1962: The Longest Day
- 1965–1971: A Cage Full of Heroes (Hogan's Heroes , TV series)
- 1966: Ghost party (Munster, Go Home!)
- 1966: Out of Sight
- 1968: The Devil's Brigade (The Devil's Brigade)
- 1973: Keep an Eye on Denise
- 1978: Attention, skirt-hunters! (How to Pick Up Girls)
- 1987: Running Man
Web links
- Richard Dawson in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b 'Family Feud' TV host Richard Dawson dies at 79th news of death on boston.com of June 3, 2012 (accessed June 3, 2012)
- ↑ Biography on IMDB.com
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Dawson, Richard |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Emm, Colin Lionel (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | British actor and television presenter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 20, 1932 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Gosport , England |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 2, 2012 |
| Place of death | los Angeles |