RICHARD DAWSON - Family Feud Host & Running Man Villain - Dead at 79

British-born comedian Richard Dawson, who was best known as host of the "Family Feud" game show, died of complications of esophageal cancer in Los Angeles on June 2, 2012. He was born Colin Lionel Emm in Gosport, Hampshire, England, on November 20, 1932. He began his career as a comedian in England under the name Dickie Dawson. He married actress Diana Dors in 1959 and came to the United States in the early 1960s. He was featured in a handful of films including "The Longest Day" (1962), "Promises! Promises!" (1963), "King Rat" (1965), "Out of Sight" (1966), "Munsters, Go Home!" (1966), and "The Devil's Brigade" (1968). He also appeared on television in episodes of "The Jack Benny Program", "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Outer Limits" (in "The Invisibles" episode), "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", and "Mr. Terrific". Dawson had seperated from Dors several years before their divorce in 1966. He was noted for his role as Cpl. Peter Newkirk in the popular comedy series "Hogan's Heroes", starring Bob Crane, from 1965 to 1971. He was a regular performer on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" from 1971 to 1973, and was Richard Richardson on the sit-com "The New Dick Van Dyke Show" from 1973 to 1974. He also guest-starred in episodes of "McCloud", "Lover, American Style", "Wait Till Your Father Comes Home", "The Odd Couple", "McMillan & Wife", "Fantasy Island", and "The Love Boat", and appeared in the 1978 tele-filn "How to Pick Up Girls!". Dawson became best known for his work in television game-shows, becoming a regular panelist on the popular "Match Game" from 1973 to 1978 with host Gene Rayburn, and fellow stars Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly. He hosted the short-lived game show "Masquerade Party" in 1974, and became the first host of "Family Feud" in 1975. He earned a Daytime Emmy Award in 1978, and his kissing of female contestants became his trademark. He remained with the series until it was canceled in 1985. Dawson starred in the 1987 science fiction film "The Running Man" with Sylvester Stallone, playing Damon Killian, the host of a deadly futuristic game show. He returned to "Family Feud" for a season in 1994, before retiring from show business. He married Gretchen Johnson in 1991, who he had met when she was a "Family Feud" contestant a decade earlier. She and their daughter survive him, as do his two sons from his previous marriage.