Richard Dawson Biography
Richard Dawson, a British-born American actor, comedian, and game show presenter, was well-known for his role as Corporal Peter Newkirk in Hogan's Heroes (1965–1974) and as the host of Family Feud in 1976. He also earned notoriety as a panelist on Match Game '73 (1973-1979).
Dawson was well-known prior to his breakthrough on Family Feud for his roles on Hogan's Heroes and as a panelist on Match Game '73. He remained a popular television personality even after he reached his peak fame.
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| Richard Dawson Biography |
Richard Dawson Early Life and Education
Colin Lionel Emm, better known as Richard Dawson, was born on November 20, 1932, in Gosport, Hampshire, England. He died in 2024.
Arthur Emm and Josephine Lucy Emm had two sons, the youngest of which was him. Growing up in a working-class family, Richard witnessed the difficulties of the post-World War II era.
His father drove removal vans, and his mother worked in a munitions factory. Colin and his older brother, John Leslie Emm, were evacuated during World War II to avoid bombs in England's key southern port cities.
In a radio interview with Hogan's Heroes co-star Bob Crane, Colin said that this experience tremendously impacted his schooling, as he attended regularly for just two years.
Arthur Emm and Josephine Lucy Emm had two sons, the youngest of which was him. Growing up in a working-class family, Richard witnessed the difficulties of the post-World War II era.
His father drove removal vans, and his mother worked in a munitions factory. Colin and his older brother, John Leslie Emm, were evacuated during World War II to avoid bombs in England's key southern port cities.
In a radio interview with Hogan's Heroes co-star Bob Crane, Colin said that this experience tremendously impacted his schooling, as he attended regularly for just two years.
Richard left home at the age of 14 to join the British Merchant Navy, where he boxed professionally and earned approximately $5,000 from shipboard contests.
Between 1950 and 1951, he took the RMS Mauretania from Southampton to several ports of call, including Nassau, the Bahamas, Havana, and New York City.
After leaving the merchant service, he began a comedic career under the stage name Dickie Dawson, which he later altered to Richard Dawson before adopting it as his official name.
After leaving the merchant service, he began a comedic career under the stage name Dickie Dawson, which he later altered to Richard Dawson before adopting it as his official name.
Richard Dawson Personal Life
Dawson had two sons, Mark and Gary, with his first wife, actress Diana Dors. In April 1967, the marriage terminated in divorce in Los Angeles, with Dawson gaining custody of both sons. He has four grandchildren and became a naturalized US citizen in 1984.
Dawson retired and remained in Beverly Hills, California, where he had lived since 1964. He met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson, while she was a competitor on Family Feud in May 1981, and they married in 1991.
They had a daughter, Shannon Nicole Dawson, in 1990. During the first episode of his second tenure as host of Feud in 1994, Dawson announced the birth of his daughter and featured a picture of her While meeting a contestant who had previously appeared on Match Game as a panelist.
Dawson retired and remained in Beverly Hills, California, where he had lived since 1964. He met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson, while she was a competitor on Family Feud in May 1981, and they married in 1991.
They had a daughter, Shannon Nicole Dawson, in 1990. During the first episode of his second tenure as host of Feud in 1994, Dawson announced the birth of his daughter and featured a picture of her While meeting a contestant who had previously appeared on Match Game as a panelist.
Richard Dawson Career
Emm began his career in England as a stand-up comedian named Dickie Dawson. His first television debut came on June 21, 1954, at the age of 21, on the Benny Hill Showcase, an early BBC Television program that attempted to introduce new artists and performances to the public.
Emm also appeared on at least four BBC Radio programs in 1954, including two on BBC Home Service's Midday Music Hall and two on BBC Light Entertainment's How Do You Do, which brought together Commonwealth performers in a friendly setting.
Emm also appeared on at least four BBC Radio programs in 1954, including two on BBC Home Service's Midday Music Hall and two on BBC Light Entertainment's How Do You Do, which brought together Commonwealth performers in a friendly setting.
Emm appeared on BBC TV's A to Z: D in 1958, alongside his future wife, Diana Dors, in a show that highlighted artists whose names began with D.
Emm appeared on BBC TV's Juke Box Jury four times in 1959, three of them with Dors, whom he had married by then.
Emm appeared on BBC TV's Juke Box Jury four times in 1959, three of them with Dors, whom he had married by then.
Dawson moved to the United States in September 1961 and began hosting the Mike Stokey program, a late-night chat program, on Los Angeles television station KCOP-TV. In January 1963, he appeared as a guest on The Jack Benny Program, followed by The Dick Van Dyke Show that same year.
Dawson had gone to Los Angeles in 1965 and played a minor role in the picture King Rat. He then rose to prominence as Cpl. Peter Newkirk on the television series Hogan's Heroes, which aired from 1965 until 1971.
In addition, he played minor roles in Universal's Munster, Go Home! and recorded a psychedelic 45-rpm single with the songs "His Children's Parade" and "Apples & Oranges" on Carnation Records a year later.
Dawson had gone to Los Angeles in 1965 and played a minor role in the picture King Rat. He then rose to prominence as Cpl. Peter Newkirk on the television series Hogan's Heroes, which aired from 1965 until 1971.
In addition, he played minor roles in Universal's Munster, Go Home! and recorded a psychedelic 45-rpm single with the songs "His Children's Parade" and "Apples & Oranges" on Carnation Records a year later.
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| Richard Dawson net worth |
Awards
- Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host (1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983)
- T.V. Land Favorite Game Show Host Award (2006)
Richard Dawson Death
Richard Dawson died on June 2, 2012, at the age of 79 as a result of complications from esophageal cancer.
His death signaled the end of an era, leaving a legacy that still resonates with audiences around the world.
Controversy
Richard Dawson was embroiled in numerous issues. He had a propensity of kissing female contestants on the lips, which led to a regulation requiring them to have oral herpes tests.
There were allegations of "promiscuous kissing" and fears of catching infections. Dawson also joked about previous President Richard Nixon on air and was named first runner-up rather than winner of the Miss Universe contest.
The Times of India, Entertainment Weekly, Quora, Grunge, and the New York Post have all covered the controversies.
There were allegations of "promiscuous kissing" and fears of catching infections. Dawson also joked about previous President Richard Nixon on air and was named first runner-up rather than winner of the Miss Universe contest.
The Times of India, Entertainment Weekly, Quora, Grunge, and the New York Post have all covered the controversies.
Filmography
- King Rat
- The Devil’s Brigade
- The Running Man
Discography
- His Children’s Favorites
Books
- I’m Only Dancing (1991)
Richard Dawson Net Worth
Richard Dawson accumulated fortune through his successful entertainment career.
Dawson's talents were recognized and financially rewarded, from his early days as a comic to his legendary job as host of "Family Feud." At the time of his death in 2012, his net worth was estimated at $100,000.