Quiz

On the final week of Family Feud (1976), his devoted fan and friend, Alex Trebek appeared on the show.

Became a US citizen in 1984 and showed his passport and photo to America during the intro to a Family Feud (1976) episode.

During an interview early in the Family Feud (1976) run, he revealed that he enjoyed wearing and collecting T-shirts (a huge fad in the 1970s). Shortly afterward, the custom began of families on the show presenting him a shirt early in the game, usually during the "introduce the family members" portion. As a result, he has one of the largest collections of unique and rare T-shirts in the world.

After his divorce from Diana Dors, he continued to send flowers to his ex-wife on her birthday every year, and always defended her.

Before Markie Post, would become a successful actress, she used to work on his show Family Feud (1976), as a writer.

Won the Password (1961) All-Stars Grand Master Championship in 1975 against Betty White, Bill Bixby, and Hal Linden. He gave his winnings to a children's charity.

Originated the phrase "Survey says", for Family Feud (1976), which every host after him used as well.

He lived in the same house for 48 years between 1964 and 2012.

Was offered the lead role as Capt. Robert Hogan in Gli eroi di Hogan (1965), but refused it because his voice did not sound American enough, hence, the role was given to Bob Crane. He was then offered the role of Cpl. Peter Newkirk, which he accepted.

Suffered a stroke in 2008 and recovered from it.

Met his second wife Gretchen Johnson (IV) when she was a contestant on Family Feud (1976) in 1981.

When he replaced Ray Combs as host of Family Feud (1988) in 1994, he made a promise to his daughter that he wouldn't do any more kissing with the female contestants.

Did a farewell speech on the final episode of the original Family Feud (1976).

Before Family Feud (1988) was revived in 1988, producer Mark Goodson would not allow him to come back as host, because of conflicts with the producers. Instead, he wanted to restart the show with a new host, so he hired Ray Combs. After Goodson's death in December 1992, his son Jonathan M. Goodson took over the show's production company and, in a failed attempt to boost the declining ratings, replaced Combs with Dawson in 1994.

After he died on June 2, 2012, Robert Clary is the only surviving original cast member of Gli eroi di Hogan (1965), until he died on November 16, 2022.

Left his role as panelist on Match Game 73 (1973) in 1978 to continue hosting Family Feud (1976) up until its first cancellation of the ABC version in 1985. A contributing factor of Richard leaving Match Game was the addition of the wheel in the bonus round where contestants chose a celebrity at random, having been previously a favorite choice of contestants to match answers with.

He changed his name from Colin Emm to Richard Dawson to pursue an acting career.

Richard Dawson passed away on June 2, 2012, at 79. Ray Combs, who hosted the revised version of "Family Feud" (1976) in 1994, had committed suicide on that same day 16 years earlier.

His son Gary's godfather is Steve Allen.

Picked up the nickname "The Kissing Bandit" during the initial run of Family Feud (1976) because he greeted every attractive female contestant with a kiss.

When he began hosting Family Feud (1976), the show wasn't an immediate hit; besides,, it was only supposed to be a short-lived game show. 6 months later, ABC executives made the change to move his show from afternoon to the morning, to give it another shot, and fortunately, it did, which lasted for the remainder of the eight seasons.

Hosted Family Feud (1976) for a total of ten years: nine consecutive years (1976-85) and returned for one season nine years later in 1994.

His father, Arthur Emm, who was born in America, was a furniture mover and his mother, Josephine (Lindsay) Emm, who was born in England, was a housewife.

When he moved to Beverly Hills, CA, he worked at a nightclub where he met Carl Reiner, and guest-starred in a The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) episode titled "Racy, Tracy Rattigan"; he used the name Dick Dawson.

In 1950, after his discharge from the Navy at age 17, he started performing stand-up comedy.

After the cancellation of Laugh-In (1967), producer Mark Goodson signed him to serve as one of the regular panelists alongside Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly on Match Game 73 (1973).

While talking with a contestant on "Family Feud" (1976) who happened to be a member of the Merchant Marine, he mentioned that not only had he run away from home at 14 and joined the merchant marine; his first ship was the Atlantis.

When the third incarnation of Family Feud (1999) debuted, comedian Louie Anderson invited him to come on the premiere episode to give him his blessing, but he refused.

Except for the very first episode of his return on Family Feud (1988), he did not kiss the female contestants because of a commitment he made to his young daughter only to kiss his wife.

Long before Kathy Najimy became an actress, she was one of his winning contestants on "Family Feud" (1976).

Joined the Merchant Navy at 14 and stayed for 3 years.

Best remembered by the public for his role as Cpl. "Peter Newkirk" in the television series Gli eroi di Hogan (1965) and as the host of Family Feud (1976).

Was considered to replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962), but Carson decided to stay with the show, until his official retirement in 1992.

When he was growing up, he wanted to work at a dock yard in Portsmouth, England.

Much to the winning contestants who selected him on Match Game 73 (1973), the producers of that show invented "The Star Wheel," at the end of the fifth season, which replaced the "Head-To-Head Match." While the show's top prize could potentially be doubled and the new feature allowed more celebrities the chance to participate in the end game, it also eliminated of what effectively was Richard Dawson's "spotlight" feature. Dawson, unhappy with the change and more focused on his role as host of Family Feud (1976), left the panel on Match Game 73 (1973), a few weeks later.

Before he was an actor, comedian and game show host, he worked as a waiter.

Wanted to become a game show host because he was a popular panelist on game shows.

Met Gene Rayburn on The Steve Allen Show (1956), 14 years later he would reunite with Rayburn on Match Game 73 (1973).

Was not the first choice to host the original Family Feud (1976) for ABC, when Mark Goodson found out that Geoff Edwards was under contract with both Chuck Barris and Bob Stewart, hence, he was unavailable to host the show's pilot.

He turned down the role of host of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.".

Ranked #14 on Life's 15 Best Game Show Hosts.

When he began acting, one of his first impressions was Sheldon Leonard.

Sons Mark Dawson and Gary Dawson, and former daughter-in-law, Cathy Hughart Dawson, all worked for Mark Goodson Productions, including Family Feud (1976).

Ranked #5 as GSN's Top 10 Game Show Hosts of All Time.

At age 31 he moved to Beverly Hills, CA, in 1964 to pursue an a career as an actor and comedian.

"TV Guide" was creating a "Game Show" cover in the 1980s to highlight the resurgence of game shows since their downfall in the 1950s scandals. All the current game show hosts were invited to do a group picture, but declined because he felt he rated his own cover. They continued and printed the cover without him.

Jack Benny was said to be his idol.

Was one of the first guests of The Gong Show (1976).

Interred at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, CA.

Lifelong friend of Della Reese.