'Family Feud' host Richard Dawson dead: TV host died of cancer at 79
The legendary TV personality wed a contestant from the show in 1991, and the two had a daughter together
Richard Dawson, known as the cheery TV host of 'Family Feud,' died Saturday at the age of 79.
Richard Dawson, the British-born actor who became the iconic host of the game show "Family Feud," died of complications from cancer, his son confirmed via Facebook on Sunday.
He was 79.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away this evening from complications due to esophageal cancer," Gary Dawson wrote. "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."
Dawson hosted "Family Feud" from its inception in 1976 to 1985, and then again for a brief run from 1994 to 1995.
During his last appearance in 1985, Dawson was given a standing ovation, to which he said: "Please sit down. I have to do at least 30 minutes of fun and laughter and you make me want to cry."
He was known as the "Kissing Bandit" for smooching all the female contestants on the show - that is, until he made one of those women his wife - Gretchen Johnson, whom he wed in 1991.
In the second run of the show, he promised Johnson that he would stop kissing contestants.
The couple had one daughter together, Shannon Nicole Dawson.
Dawson also had two sons from his previous mariage to Diana Dors - Mark and Gary Dawson.
Before becoming the legendary "Family Feud" host, Dawson worked regularly as an actor. He co-starred on "Hogan's Heroes," and appeared in many of other shows, including "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In." He made his mark on the big screen as the villainous Damon Killian in the Arnold Schwarzenegger 1987 sci-fi actioner, "The Running Man."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...ied-cancer-79-article-1.1089084#ixzz1wkcDdwqR
The legendary TV personality wed a contestant from the show in 1991, and the two had a daughter together
Richard Dawson, known as the cheery TV host of 'Family Feud,' died Saturday at the age of 79.
Richard Dawson, the British-born actor who became the iconic host of the game show "Family Feud," died of complications from cancer, his son confirmed via Facebook on Sunday.
He was 79.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away this evening from complications due to esophageal cancer," Gary Dawson wrote. "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."
Dawson hosted "Family Feud" from its inception in 1976 to 1985, and then again for a brief run from 1994 to 1995.
During his last appearance in 1985, Dawson was given a standing ovation, to which he said: "Please sit down. I have to do at least 30 minutes of fun and laughter and you make me want to cry."
He was known as the "Kissing Bandit" for smooching all the female contestants on the show - that is, until he made one of those women his wife - Gretchen Johnson, whom he wed in 1991.
In the second run of the show, he promised Johnson that he would stop kissing contestants.
The couple had one daughter together, Shannon Nicole Dawson.
Dawson also had two sons from his previous mariage to Diana Dors - Mark and Gary Dawson.
Before becoming the legendary "Family Feud" host, Dawson worked regularly as an actor. He co-starred on "Hogan's Heroes," and appeared in many of other shows, including "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In." He made his mark on the big screen as the villainous Damon Killian in the Arnold Schwarzenegger 1987 sci-fi actioner, "The Running Man."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/entertai...ied-cancer-79-article-1.1089084#ixzz1wkcDdwqR
RIP (again)
