Richard Dawson Essay

Richard Dawson was born as Colin Lionel Emm in Gosport Hampshire, England on November 20, 1932. Dawson at the age of 14 left home and joined the Merchant Marines.While in the Merchant Marines he made a living as a boxer. Dawson was with the marines for 3 years until he was discharged. 2 years after his discharge Dawson was trying to be a comedic actor while trying to pursue his dream he was a waiter. When he made it as a comedic actor he used a fake name Dickie Dawson, but as he grew older he then switched his name to Richard Dawson and eventually made Richard Dawson his legal name.

Richard Dawson with his new name went to New York for an appearance on The Steve Allen Plymouth show where he met his first wife Diana Dors on April 12, 1959. The two were together until 1967 when they got divorced at that time they had two children Mark Dawson and Gary Dawson

Richard Dawson moved to the United States and in 1965 he began acting on the sitcom Hogan's Heroes where he played the loveable British corporal Peter Newkirk. The show first aired on September 17, 1965; The show was about the fictional hilarity in a Nazi P.O.W prison
Richard Dawson was the first host of Family Feud which debuted in 1976. Dawson was still a panelist on the Match Game at this time but when he started Family Feud his popularity and the shows raised to newfound heights. Dawson was well known for his nickname “The Kissing Bandit” which he got because of he kissed all the female contestants for good luck. The Women on the show said that he was comforting and it made them less nervous on camera. He was also known for his famous line “Survey Says!” which is still used in today's Family Feud. Dawson was the host of Family Feud from 1976 up until its first cancellation of the ABC version in 1985. Dawson with his quick and witting sense of humor made Family Feud one of the most watched shows of all