Acting Career
In 1963, Dawson appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show in the role of dapper entertainer "Racy Tracy" Rattigan. He played a soldier in the 1962 film The Longest Day. In 1965, Dawson had a small role at the end of the film King Rat, starring George Segal, playing 1st Recon paratrooper Captain Weaver, sent to liberate allied POWs in a Japanese prison.
Having married sex symbol Diana Dors, Dawson moved to Los Angeles, California, where he gained fame in the television show Hogan's Heroes as Cpl. Peter Newkirk from 1965 to 1971.
He had a minor role in Universal's Munster, Go Home!. A year later, Dawson released a psychedelic 45rpm single including the songs "His Children's Parade" and "Apples & Oranges" on Carnation Records. In 1968, Dawson was in the film The Devil's Brigade, as Private Hugh McDonald. Dawson and Dors eventually divorced, and he gained custody of both their children, Gary and Mark. Following the cancellation of Hogan's Heroes, he was a regular on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In from 1971 to 1973, and became a regular on The New Dick Van Dyke Show (1973-74). He portrayed a theater director in the first season of McCloud and was a panelist on the 1972–73 syndicated revival of I've Got a Secret. He played himself in a guest appearance on The Odd Couple as a former Army pal of Felix.
Read more about this topic: Richard Dawson
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