About
"It's very important to me that on 'Family Feud' I could kiss all people... I kissed black women daily and nightly on 'Family Feud' for 11 years and the world didn't come to an end, did it?"
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Richard Dawson (1932-2012) describes his path from comedy stages in the West End to game show sets in Hollywood. He discusses how he loves to make people laugh and shares how he made the jump from comedian to actor. He recalls his memorable roles on both The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show, and speaks of his work as "Corporal Peter Newkirk" on Hogan's Heroes. Dawson also talks about his experiences as guest host for The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and details how he got the gig for which he's most famous: hosting Family Feud. He recounts favorite moments from his years with Family Feud, and offers advice on how to be a considerate host. Paul Brownstein conducted the interview on December 1, 2010 in Beverly Hills, CA.
Highlights
Richard Dawson on kissing the ladies on Family Feud
Richard Dawson on loving the hosting spotlight of Family Feud
Richard Dawson on the magic of Family Feud - freezing a moment in time
Richard Dawson on how Family Feud fit him perfectly
Richard Dawson on working on Hogan's Heroes
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood in England and early influences; on his childhood aspirations of working in the docks and his start in show business
On changing his name from Colin Emm to Richard Dawson; on crafting his first act as a comedian
On the first time he saw television - when he was on it; on moving to America and his start in television hosting; on his manager of 30-plus years
On acting on The Dick Van Dyke Show; on his role on Hogan's Heroes
Chapter 2
On the cast and premise of Hogan's Heroes; on the response to Hogan's Heroes once it aired; on a typical production week on Hogan's Heroes, and his favorite episodes
On the movie "Auto Focus" and Bob Crane's murder; on the legacy of Hogan's Heroes
On his role as guest star on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In; on The New Dick Van Dyke Show
On Match Game and his talent as a game show player; on Password and Family Feud
Chapter 3
On the premise of Family Feud; on the first day of taping Family Feud, kissing the ladies, and how he closed each show
On meeting his wife on Family Feud; on his favorite and least favorite contestants on the show
On what he learned about family from Family Feud; on the producers and creators of Family Feud
On celebrity episodes of Family Feud; on becoming a U.S. Citizen; on the cancellation of Family Feud
Chapter 4
On saying goodbye and then returning to Family Feud; on the subsequent hosts of Family Feud
On being guest host for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show; on appearing as one of the first judges on The Gong Show; on guest-starring as himself on The Odd Couple
On working in films; on the then-current state of game shows; on his proudest achievement; on his biggest regret
On career advice; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Richard Dawson on getting on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Richard Dawson on working with the cast of The Dick Van Dyke Show
Richard Dawson on differences between The Dick Van Dyke Show and The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Family Feud
Richard Dawson on hosting Family Feud
Richard Dawson on Family Feud
Richard Dawson on saying goodbye and then returning to Family Feud
Gong Show, The
Richard Dawson on his appearance on the first episode of The Gong Show
Hogan's Heroes
Richard Dawson on working on Hogan's Heroes
Richard Dawson on Hogan's Heroes
Jack Benny Program, The
Richard Dawson on his first U.S. show, The Jack Benny Program
Match Game
Richard Dawson on Match Game and his talent as a game show player
New Dick Van Dyke Show, The
Richard Dawson on working on The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Richard Dawson on censorship and his character on The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Odd Couple, The (1970-75)
Richard Dawson on his appearance as himself on The Odd Couple
Password
Richard Dawson on hosting Match Game after his success at Password
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Richard Dawson on his role as guest star on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Topics
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Richard Dawson on censorship on The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Characters & Catchphrases
Richard Dawson on his Hogan's Heroes character, "Peter Newkirk"
Richard Dawson on his Hogan's Heroes character, "Peter Newkirk"
Pop Culture
Richard Dawson on his Hogan's Heroes character, "Peter Newkirk"
Richard Dawson on his Hogan's Heroes character, "Peter Newkirk"
Television Industry
Richard Dawson on censorship on The New Dick Van Dyke Show
Professions
Comedian
Richard Dawson on crafting his first act as a comedian and getting into acting
Game Show Host
Richard Dawson on hosting Match Game and Family Feud
Richard Dawson on how hosting Family Feud fit him perfectly
Richard Dawson on advice to aspiring game show hosts
Hosts
Richard Dawson on his start in television hosting with Mike Stokey
Richard Dawson on hosting Match Game and Family Feud
Richard Dawson on how hosting Family Feud fit him perfectly
Richard Dawson on advice to aspiring game show hosts
Performers
Richard Dawson on crafting his first act as a comedian and getting into acting
Genres
Comedy Series
Richard Dawson on getting on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Richard Dawson on getting cast as "Peter Newkirk" on Hogan's Heroes
Richard Dawson on Hogan's Heroes
Game Shows
Richard Dawson on Family Feud
People
Bob Barker
Richard Dawson on hosting a show that Bob Barker gave him
Chuck Barris
Richard Dawson on his appearance on the first episode of The Gong Show
Jack Benny
Richard Dawson on his first U.S. show, The Jack Benny Program
Bob Crane
Richard Dawson on his Hogan's Heroes co-star Bob Crane and how the two of them would play practical jokes on cast members
Richard Dawson on his off-camera relationship with Hogan's Heroes co-star Bob Crane
Michael Dann
Richard Dawson on Michael Dann wanting Dawson to change his character's accent on Hogan's Heroes
Bobby Darin
Richard Dawson on working with Bobby Darin on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Fred de Cordova
Richard Dawson on guest-hosting The Tonight Show, produced by Fred De Cordova
Mark Goodson
Richard Dawson on hosting Family Feud
Richard Dawson on the premise of Family Feud
Richard Dawson on the genius of Mark Goodson and his involvement with day to day operations of Family Feud
Steve Lawrence
Richard Dawson on doing a Groucho Marx Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In sketch with Steve Lawrence
Sheldon Leonard
Richard Dawson on getting on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dick Martin
Richard Dawson on his role as guest star on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Groucho Marx
Richard Dawson on doing a Groucho Marx Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In sketch with Steve Lawrence
Tony Randall
Richard Dawson on his appearance as himself on The Odd Couple
Ronald Reagan
Richard Dawson on Ronald Reagan as President
Carl Reiner
Richard Dawson on getting on The Dick Van Dyke Show
Dan Rowan
Richard Dawson on his role as guest star on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Richard Dawson on working with Arnold Schwarzenegger in "The Running Man"
William Shatner
Richard Dawson on how William Shatner came close to becoming the host of Family Feud
Phil Silvers
Richard Dawson on wanting to do his part of Hogan's Heroes as Phil Silvers doing "Sgt. Bilko"
Mike Stokey
Richard Dawson on his start in television hosting with Mike Stokey
Bill Todman
Richard Dawson on Bill Todman
Dick Van Dyke
Richard Dawson on working on The New Dick Van Dyke Show
John Wayne
Richard Dawson on doing a sketch with John Wayne on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In
Betty White
Richard Dawson on Betty White's talents at Password
William Wyler
Richard Dawson on making William Wyler laugh