'Family Feud' host Richard Dawson dies at 79

[trr1]

Richard Dawson, the longtime "Family Feud" game-show host and "Hogan's Heroes" actor, has died in Los Angeles. He was 79.

His son, Gary Dawson, announced his death via Facebook.

"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away [Saturday] evening from complications due to esophageal cancer. He was surrounded by his family. He was an amazing talent, a loving husband, a great dad and a doting grandfather. He will be missed but always remembered," Gary Dawson wrote.

Richard Dawson was born in England on Nov. 20, 1932. He was perhaps best known for hosting "Family Feud for nine years in the 1970s and 1980s and then again shortly in the 1990s.

According to the Associated Press, the audience gave him a standing ovation during his final show.

"Please sit down. I have to do at least 30 minutes of fun and laughter and you make me want to cry," Dawson said at the time. "I've had the most incredible luck in my career. I never dreamed I would have a job in which so many people could touch me and I could touch them."

The Times will have a full obituary later Sunday.

 

[Nemo14]

I don't know why but DH and I both thought he had passed a long time ago.

RIP Newkirk!

 

[Monty]

My favourite character from Hogan's Heroes. A little piece of my childhood.

 

[trr1]

dont forget he was on match game also with Charles Nelson Reilly

 

[Tiggerish]

Sad. I remember him best from Hogan'sHeroes, then Family Feud. Had akmostforgotten about Match Game! That was a good show, too!

 

[unkadug]

My favourite character from Hogan's Heroes. A little piece of my childhood.

Yeah, I always thought of Hogan's Heroes first when it came to Dawson.

 

[prberk]

dont forget he was on match game also with Charles Nelson Reilly

And I always thought he was better on Match Game than he was on "the Feud," as he sometimes called it. I read that he was selected for "Family Feud" because of his popularity and acerbic wit on "Match Game".

Some would say he was a little arrogant or "self-assured" on each show, but I think it was just part of good television. He was definitely very smart, and seemed to have a lot of fun. The best part, I would say, was that he didn't approach game shows as a put-down to his career (although he joked about it in interviews -- saying that he would have to tell St. Peter "privately" what his contributions to humanity were while on earth!), as some do. He approached it with fun and vigor. As more actors should.



"100 people surveyed, top five answers on the board... Name a well-remembered game-show host of the 20th century...."

"Umm, Richard Dawson."

"Richard Dawson. Let's hope it's up there."

[Turning to the board, with hand on contestant's should, card in hand.]

"Looking for 'Richard Dawson'. Survey says...

"The number two answer!"

"Let's see the rest of the list. Show us number 5."

[AUDIENCE YELLS out as each is revealed:]

"Chuck Woolery"

"Show us number 4."

"Groucho Marx"

"Show us number 3"

"Gene Rayburn"

"Show us number 1"

"Bob Barker".