Basic Information About Richard Dawson
| Category | Celebrities › Actors |
|---|---|
| Professions | Comedian, Actor, Game Show Host |
| Net worth | $100,000 |
| Date of birth | 1932-11-20 |
| Place of birth | Gosport |
| Date of death | 2012-06-02 (aged 79) |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Curiosities and Trademarks | Often closed the show with the phrase, "Love ya, we'll see you here on the Feud." Kissed the female contestants, earning him the nickname "The Kissing Bandit" Performing a Donald Duck impersonation The catchphrase - "Survey Says!" |
| Spouse | Gretchen Johnson - (1991 - 2 June 2012) (his death) (1 child) Diana Dors - (12 April 1959 - 1966) (divorced) (2 children) |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.75 m) |
| Social Media | ↗︎ Wikipedia ↗︎ IMDb |
Famous Network of Actors with Similar Net Worth
What Movie Awards did Richard Dawson win?
 Oscar |
 Golden Globe |
 Golder Raspberry |
 BAFTA |
 Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Richard Dawson awards
| Award Name | State | Movie / Series Name | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturn Award - Best Supporting Actor | Winner | The Running Man | 1988 |
| Daytime Emmy - Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Game or Audience Participation Show | Winner | Family Feud | 1978 |
Richard Dawson roles
| Movie / Series | Role |
|---|---|
| Uncle Frank | Self - Guest on The Merv Griffin Show (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| The Longest Day | British Soldier (uncredited) |
| The Devil's Brigade | Pvt. Hugh MacDonald |
| Promises..... Promises! | (uncredited) |
| Match Game PM | Self - Panelist 121 episodes, 1975-1978 |
| Mama's Family | Richard Dawson 1 episode, 1983 |
| Love, American Style | Danny (segment "Love and the Hiccups") / ... 3 episodes, 1971-1972 |
| The Gong Show | Panelist 1 episode, 1976 |
| The Outer Limits | Oliver Fair 1 episode, 1964 |
| The Love Boat | Bert Buchanan 1 episode, 1978 |
| Tattletales | Self 11 episodes, 1974-1977 |
| The Dating Game | Self - Guest star contestant 1 episode, 1968 |
| The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Robert Johnson 1 episode, 1964 |
| Match Game 73 | Self - Panelist 1,279 episodes, 1973-1978 |
| Fantasy Island | Harry Beamus 1 episode, 1978 |
| Hogan's Heroes | Newkirk / ... 168 episodes, 1965-1971 |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Self 1 episode, 1994 |
| The New Dick Van Dyke Show | Richard Richardson 7 episodes, 1973-1974 |
| Laugh-In | Regular Performer / ... 41 episodes, 1968-1973 |
Richard Dawson's Quotes
- Be nice to each other. You can make a whole day a different day for everybody.
- [When the male hunks thought they'd won the game] It's wonderful to win, but don't get cocky about it!
- I'm a hustler. I'm a smartass, but I love people.
- They kept us on the air probably a year more than they should have. We were burying them. [in 1985, on ABC's cancellation of Family Feud (1976)].
- It's important to me that on 'Family Feud' I could kiss all the people. It sounds crazy but when I first came here Petula Clark was on a show with Nat King Cole and he kissed her on the cheek and eighty-one stations in the South canceled him. I kissed black women daily and nightly on 'Family Feud' and the world didn't come to an end, did it?
Richard Dawson's photos
The Life and Career of Richard Dawson: A Look at his Net Worth, Achievements, and Legacy
One can easily argue that game show host Richard Dawson was among the most famous television personalities of his generation. Rising to prominence through his quick wit and charming personality, Dawson became a household name in America and beyond. Despite the fact that he passed away in 2012, his influence endures, and millions of fans around the world still celebrate him and his achievements.
What was Richard Dawson’s Net Worth?
At the time of his passing, Richard Dawson’s net worth was estimated at $100,000. During his storied career, he earned handsome sums of money and was among the highest-paid game show hosts of his time. Yet, despite earning millions over time, he gave away most of it to charity over several decades.
Biography
Early Life and Education
Dawson was born as Colin Lionel Emm on November 20, 1932, in Gosport, Hampshire, England. At the age of 14, he ran away from home and joined the Merchant Marines. He later worked as a nightclub comedian and earned extra cash as an unlicensed boxer. Disillusioned by his service in Korea, he moved to Britain and began appearing in several TV programs.
Career
Moving to the US in the early 196s, Dawson appeared on several shows such as The Jack Benny Program and The Dick Van Dyke Show before finding success as Corporal Newkirk on Hogan’s Heroes. He left the show after six seasons and transitioned to serving as a regular on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. His big break came in 1975 when he was signed on to host The Family Feud, which would become a massive hit. Dawson’s irreverent humor and easy rapport with contestants helped make the show an enduring classic and won him many awards and accolades. He married Gretchen Johnson, whom he had met while she and her family were contestants on the show. Dawson continued hosting Family Feud on and off until the late 90s, building a devoted fan base in the process. Dawson also made appearances in various TV shows and movies, including a starring role in the movie The Running Man alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. At the height of his fame, he was among the wealthiest entertainers in Hollywood and was once considered for the role of James Bond.
Death and Legacy
Dawson passed away in 2012 due to complications from esophageal cancer. His death shook fans all over the world, and many tributes poured in from former contestants, colleagues, and friends. As time goes by, his influence on the field of entertainment only seems to grow stronger. Almost a decade after his passing, countless viewers continue watching episodes of Family Feud on streaming services and fondly recall Dawson’s unique approach to his work. His affable personality made him an icon, and his undeniable talent served to inspire tens of thousands of performers all over the world.
Achievements
Dawson won several awards for his work on The Family Feud, including a Daytime Emmy Award in 1978 and received several further nominations through much of the 198s. He was also honored with induction into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History for his contributions to television. Besides his achievements on-screen, Dawson was also celebrated for his extensive charity work throughout his life, indicating not just that he was a skilled entertainer and TV personality but also that he had a significant heart for helping others. Although Dawson’s career concluded many years ago, millions continue to admire his gifts and his immense contribution to the entertainment industry.
The Bottom Line
In summary, Richard Dawson was one of the most prominent entertainers of his generation, leaving a lasting legacy of humor and kindness that resonates with fans to this day. Although his net worth was impressive, it pales by comparison with his singular talent and the impact he created. Dawson will always be remembered for being among the most beloved and respected TV stars in history, displaying tremendous skill, style, and grace that few others can match.
Interesting Facts about Richard Dawson
- Joined the Merchant Marines at 14 and stayed for 3 years.
- Hosted Thanksgiving Day "Family Feud Marathon" in 1995, aired November 23rd, 2000.
- Became a US citizen in 1984 and showed his passport and photo to America during the intro to a Family Feud (1976) episode.
- Met his second wife Gretchen Johnson (IV) when she was a contestant on Family Feud (1976) in 1981.
- Hosted Family Feud (1976) for a total of ten years: nine consecutive years (1976-85) and returned for one season nine years later in 1994.
- During an interview early in the Family Feud (1976) run, he revealed that he enjoyed wearing and collecting T-shirts (a huge fad in the 1970s). Shortly afterward, the custom began of families on the show presenting him a shirt early in the game, usually during the "introduce the family members" portion. As a result, he has one of the largest collections of unique and rare T-shirts in the world.
- Won the Password (1961) All-Stars Grand Master Championship in 1975 against Betty White, Bill Bixby, and Hal Linden. He gave his winnings to a children's charity.
- Picked up the nickname "The Kissing Bandit" during the initial run of Family Feud (1976) because he greeted every attractive female contestant with a kiss.
- Best remembered by the public for his role as Cpl. "Peter Newkirk" in the television series Hogan's Heroes (1965) and as the host of Family Feud (1976).
- Before Family Feud (1988) was revived in 1988, producer Mark Goodson would not allow him to come back as host, because of conflicts with the producers. Instead, he wanted to restart the show with a new host, so he hired Ray Combs. After Goodson's death in December 1992, his son Jonathan M. Goodson took over the show's production company and, in a failed attempt to boost the declining ratings, replaced Combs with Dawson in 1994.
- On the final week of Family Feud (1976), his devoted fan and friend, Alex Trebek ,appeared on the show.
- Before he was an actor, comedian and game show host, he worked as a waiter.
- When the third incarnation of Family Feud (1999) debuted, comedian Louie Anderson invited him to come on the premiere episode to give him his blessing, but he refused.
- After his divorce from Diana Dors, he continued to send flowers to his ex-wife on her birthday, every year, and always defended her.
- Was offered the lead role as Capt. Robert Hogan in Hogan's Heroes (1965), but refused it because his voice did not sound American enough, hence, the role was given to Bob Crane. He was then offered the role of Cpl. Peter Newkirk, which he accepted.
- Was not the first choice to host the original Family Feud (1976) for ABC, when Mark Goodson found out that Geoff Edwards was under contract with both Chuck Barris and Bob Stewart, hence, he was unavailable to host the show's pilot.
- Had five biggest winners in the nine years of hosting the ABC version of Family Feud (1976), each of them were all five-time undefeated families: in first place, the Rizzo Family had won $33,000+ during the last season of the show; in second place, the McManus Family had won $30,204 in 1984' in third place, the Larkey Family had won $29,170 during the first season of the show; in fourth place, the Tack Family had won $29,197 in 1980; and in fifth place, the Panatonni Family had won $29,916 in 1981.
- Originated the phrase "Survey says", for Family Feud (1976), which every host after him used as well.
- Long before Kathy Najimy became an actress, she was one of his winning contestants on "Family Feud" (1976).
- When he replaced Ray Combs as host of Family Feud (1988) in 1994, he made a promise to his daughter that he wouldn't do anymore kissing with the female contestants.
