Name at birth: Colin Lionel Emm

British comedian Richard Dawson was picked to play Corporal Newkirk in the World War II sitcom Hogan's Heroes in 1965, and a television career was born. Richard Dawson next appeared in the comedy smash Laugh-In and the game show Match Game, before taking what became his signature job: wisecracking, contestant-kissing host of the game show Family Feud. Dawson hosted the game from 1976 until 1985, and then again for one season in 1994. He also played an evil game show host in the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man. He died from complications of esophageal cancer in 2012.

Richard Dawson's replacement on Family Feud was the late Ray Combs... Richard Dawson met his second wife, Gretchen Johnson, when she was a contestant on Family Feud. They married in 1991 and had one daughter, Shannon... Dawson's first wife was British actress Diana Dors. They were married from 1959-66 and had two children: Mark (born 1960) and Gary (b. 1962). His co-stars on Hogan's Heroes included Bob Crane as Hogan and John Banner as Sgt. Schultz... His co-stars on Match Game included host Gene Rayburn and panelists Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly.