Richard Dawson Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Richard Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm was a British actor and comedian. Born on November 20, 1932, he was also a game show host and a regular panelist on Match Game from 1973 to 1978. Richard Dawson was the original host of Family Feud from 1976 to 1985 and returned to host it again from 1994 to 1995. He is also known for his role as Corporal Peter Newkirk on Horgan’s Heroes. Richard Dawson made an acting debut playing minor and uncredited roles in films like The Longest Day, 1962 and King Rat in 1965.

Early Life And Education

Richard Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm was born on November 20, 1932, in Gosport, Hampshire in England. He was born to Arthur and Josephine Emm. Colin left home at age 14 to join a British Merchant navy to pursue a boxing career. He was discharged two years later.

Early Comedy Career

Richard Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm was a British actor and comedian. Born on November 20, 1932, he was also a game show host and a regular panelist on Match Game from 1973 to 1978. 

Richard Dawson was the original host of Family Feud from 1976 to 1985 and returned to host it again from 1994 to 1995. He is also known for his role as Corporal Peter Newkirk on Horgan’s Heroes. Richard Dawson made an acting debut playing minor and uncredited roles in films like The Longest Day, 1962 and King Rat in 1965.

Acting Career

Richard Dawson played several uncredited roles in films including The Longest Day, 1962 and Promise! Promise!in 1963. That same year she appeared in the season 13 episode 15 of Jack Benny Program. He followed it with an appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show playing the role of a dapper entertainer "Racy Tracy" Rattigan in 1963. The following year, he appeared on “The Outer Limit,” episode “The Invisible” and as Dick Dawson in “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour’s” episode" Anyone For Murder?"Dawson received a minor role as Captain Weaver in the film King Rat starring George Segal.

Hogan’s Heroes And others

Richard Dawson had his breakthrough and achieved fame with his role as Corporal Peter Newkirk in the television sitcom Horgan’s Heroes starring Bob Crane. He will play the role from 1965 to 1971. In 1966, Dawson played a minor role in the in Munster, Go Home!. His next film role was as Private Hugh McDonald in The Devil’s Brigade in 1968. 

He will in 1970 become a regular comic on the syndicated game show Can You Top This? From 1971 to `973, he became a regular guest on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and also on The New Dick Van Dyke Show from 1973 to 1974.

Hosting Of Game Shows

In 1973, Richard Dawson was signed to appear regularly on the game show Match Game ’73 alongside Charles Nelson Reilly and Brett Somers with Gene Rayburn as the host. With his impressive tenure on Match Game, Dawson was given his own game show, Family Feud. The show debuted in on July 12, 1976, on ABC had Dawson as the host. The show became a massive hit winning Dawson a Daytime Emmy Award for best Game Show Host. The show ended in 1985.

Later Years

Richard Dawson imitated his persona in the Running Man in 1987. The following year, he hosted the revival of the game show You Bet Your Life, which previously aired on NBC but the network declined to pick up the show. The network has unsuccessfully tried reviving the show with hosts Bill Cosby and Buddy Hackett.

Personal Life

Richard Dawson married twice first to actress Diana Dors with him he had a two sons Marj and Gary. After their divorce, Dawson took custody of his two sons. In 1991, he married Gretchen Johnson who was a former contestant on Family Feud. They had a daughter Shannon Nichole Dawson. 

Richard Dawson died on June 2, 2012, at age 79 at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Centre in Los Angeles, California. The cause of his death was by complications of esophageal cancer. He was interred in Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles.