Richard Dawson Passes Away at 79

[PressYourLuckWhammy]

Just had it confirmed through Gary Dawson's Facebook page that Richard Dawson passed away yesterday evening at the age of 79 from complications due to esophageal cancer. You can view the Facebook posting here:

https://www.facebook.com/gdawsonla/p...51015118607518

[Kinokima]

May he rest in peace. Thanks for all the years of entertainment Richard.

I am sad but at the same time I think he lived a fulfilling life. He had a long career and then had a family who loved him.

[matchgame74fan]

Sad to hear this. RIP.

[Lingofan97]

I'm sorry to hear this, and I'm hoping GSN will do something to honor him (hopefully lease a new season of his Family Feud too)

But, I don't see any mention of this anywhere (that he died) on Google news, typing his name into Yahoo or anywhere else. On his Wikipedia page it says he died today but I'm surprised this isn't big news in the world of TV. (as of 9am Eastern time)

EDIT: This was confirmed by ABC News (9:15am)

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertai...d-host-was-79/

[FACEO15]

We will be having some special episodes of Family Feud and Match Game in Richard's honor today!

You will be missed greatly

[Xavier1989]

Sad, sad day in the Game Show world. You will be missed Richard. Thank you for all the great years of laughter you brought us on Match Game, Family Feud, and all the other great shows you were on. We love you sir!

[FACEO15]

I would expect a big tribute to Richard with Match Game and Family Feud in the mix. Granted GSN only has a limited amount of episodes, Richard has been a staple on GSN for many many many years. They should honor him in the best way possible!

[Xavier1989]

BTW, didn't Ray Combs also die on June 2nd? Kind of weird.

[FACEO15]

Ray Combs passed away on June 2, 1996. WOW!!

[CaseyAbell]

From the blog with a photo of an older Richard Dawson before a lot of Feud memorabilia...

Final feud

One of the real giants of game show hosting - that odd combination of script reading, improvising, refereeing, and interviewing - has died. Richard Dawson has passed away at age 79.

I'm pretty much in the "nothing but good about the [recently] dead" camp, but Dawson poses particular problems. Nobody doubted his great ability. At the top of his form on Family Feud, he could run a game show better than almost anybody. A terrific improv comic and contestant interviewer, he kept Feud purring smoothly for years.

But Dawson could also be a royal pain for his fellow-workers, as the E! True Hollywood Story on Feud made all too clear. He departed Match Game under contentious circumstances and never seemed at ease in his work or his life.

Born Colin Lionel Emm in Hampshire (the old one, not New Hampshire), Dawson first came to wide notice in this country as Peter Newkirk, the wisecracking Limey on Hogan's Heroes, that bizarre POW comedy. This led to his Match Game gig and eventually to the show's semi-spinoff, Family Feud. The feudin' continues to this day, after a multiplicity of hosts, and you can watch Dawson's work on the show every weekday on GSN.

Dawson played an evil game show host (typecasting, some would say) in 1987's Running Man opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. But otherwise he settled into a fairly reclusive retirement, though he tried an unsuccessful return to Feud in 1994-95. R.I.P.

[Melyssa56]

ABC blog: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertai...d-host-was-79/

RIP, Richard, a/k/a Corporal Newkirk!

[Xavier1989]

Richard is the number one trending topic on Twitter right now. Hogan's Heroes, Match Game and Family Feud are just a few below him. Sad that he has to die to get the honor.

[CardSharks8689]

The news came out of nowhere, though I knew it was going to happen soon.

Richard Dawson was a class act indeed. He gave us a lot of humor on Match Game, and his humor, charisma, and kissing of female contestants for peace and good luck on Family Feud was proving him to be a class act indeed.

R.I.P., Mr. Dawson. You'll receive many more kisses from the angels in heaven now.

I bet GSN will be compiling some Family Feud episodes in his memory.

And it is very ironic that he died exactly 16 years after Ray Combs' death.

[flora1941]

Richard Dawson gave us a lifetime of entertainment. He was one heck of a game show host, and will be greatly missed. He also knew more of our history here in the United States than most natural born citizens. He loved this country.

Richard Dawson, RIP

Also, my sympathy and prayers go out to his family.

[CardSharks8689]

With Richard Dawson now gone, of the game show hosting legends, only Bob Barker, Bob Eubanks, Wink Martindale, Tom Kennedy, Peter Marshall and Monty Hall remain.