Richard Dawson was a game show contestant in the United States.
Richard Dawson ( born Colin Lionel Emm ; 20 November 1932 -- 2 June 2012 ) was a British-American actor and comedian , and a game show host and panellist in the United States . Dawson was well known for playing Corporal Peter Newkirk on Hogan 's Heroes , being the original host of the Family Feud game show from 1976 -- 85 , and from 1994 -- 95 , and a regular panellist on the 1970s version of Match Game on CBS from 1973 -- 78 .