Richard Dawson, former host of Family Feud, has died

Jan Young
InstantRiverside.com

Richard Dawson, actor and former host of the popular TV game show Family Feud, died Saturday night at Ronald Reagan Memorial hospital in Los Angeles from complications related to esophageal cancer. He was 79 years old.

Dawson also appeared in many other television shows in the 1960’s and 70’s, such as Hogan’s Heroes, The Love Boat, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, and Love American Style. But the role that put the comedic Brit front and center with American audiences was his stint as the flirty host of Family Feud from its debut in 1976 until 1985, endearing himself to the audience with wisecracks as he went out of his way to get a kiss from the female contestants.

Dawson won a daytime Emmy Award as best game show host in 1978.

Richard Dawson was born in Hampshire, England in 1932. He is survived by his wife, Gretchen, who was a former contestant on the game show, three children and several grandchildren.

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