Richard Dawson Bio, Net Worth, Wife Gretchen Johnson and Cause of Death

Richard Dawson was a British-born actor, comedian and game show host. As an actor, he became known to television viewers in the 1960s when he landed the role of Corporal Peter Newkirk in the sitcom. Hogan’s Heroes. Dawson later became much more important as the original host of the game show Family Feud, a role that won him the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1978.

Biography of Richard Dawson

Dawson was born Colin Lionel Emm on November 20, 1932. He was born to Arthur and Josephine Emm in Gosport, Hampshire, England. He left home at 14 to join the British Merchant Navy and began his career in boxing. He was discharged from the Navy after 2 years and he chose to pursue a career in comedy, going by the stage nickname “Dickie Dawson”. As an adult, he changed his stage name to “Richard Dawson” which he eventually adopted as his legal name.

After nearly a decade of comedy, Richard Dawson immersed himself in acting in the early 1960s. He made his debut as an uncredited extra in the epic war film The Longest Day (1962). In 1963 he appeared in the sex comedy film Promises! Promises! followed by a guest role on the sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. He also featured in several other television series, including The Outer Limits (1964) and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964).

Dawson had his breakthrough role on the sitcom Hogan’s Heroes (1965-71) with Corporal Newkirk. During his long career on the show, he recorded other credits in films like Munster, Come Home! (1966) and The Devil’s Brigade (1968). He sat on the short-lived comedy show Can You Top That? (1970) followed by regular spots on comedy shows like Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In (1971–73) and Dick Van Dyke’s New Show (1973–74). On the big screen, the multi-talented artist lent his voice to the lead role in the animated feature Treasure Island (1973).

Richard Dawson’s role as a regular on the game show Match Match lasted from 1973 to 1978. In 1976, he landed his most notable television role as the first host of the ABC game show Quarrel . of family. Dawson was a fan favorite during his long stint in Family Feud (1976-1985, 1994-1995) and he received wide acclaim for his work on the show, including a Daytime Emmy Award in 1978. He had his final role in the science fiction film. The Running Man (1987) which also featured Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dawson officially retired as host of the game show Family Feud in May 1995.

Net value

Richard Dawson was undoubtedly a multi-talented star who was known for his work on the small screen as well as the big screen. Along with several other credits, he is best known for his illustrious long stint as the show’s host. Family quarrel. With this and several other businesses, Dawson amassed quite an impressive wealth. At the time of his death in 2002, Richard Dawson’s net worth was conservatively estimated at $100,000.

Wife – Gretchen Johnson

Richard Dawson had been married to Gretchen Johnson for over ten years. Interestingly, the duo met in May 1981 when Johnson performed on Dawson’s show. Family feud. The couple dated for a long time and finally tied the knot in 1991. There was a gaping difference of 25 years between the two, however, their marriage turned out to be a huge success. They had one child together, a daughter named Shannon Nicole Dawson, born in 1990.

Prior to her marital union with Gretchen Johnson, Dawson was previously married to British actress Diana Dior. His marriage to her lasted from 1959 to 1966 and they had 2 sons together. Their first son Mark was born on February 4, 1960, and their second son Gary was born on June 27, 1962. Dawson was granted custody of both sons following his divorce from Dior in 1966.

Cause of death

After his retirement from showbiz, Richard Dawson remained in Beverly Hills, California. He died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on June 2, 2012. He had died of complications from esophageal cancer. He was 79 at the time of his death. His remains were buried in Westwood Memorial Park, Los Angeles. To mark the anniversary of Dawson’s death, a four-hour compilation of his greatest Match Match and Family Feud moments was aired by Game Show Network.

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