Latest news with #KennethWashington
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Last star of ‘Hogan's Heroes' dies
Veteran television actor Kenneth Washington, best remembered for his roles in Star Trek and Hogan's Heroes, has died at the age of 88. His death was confirmed on July 18, though only now have details of his passing been made public. According to reports, Washington died from complications related to Alzheimer's disease. He had been living with the condition in recent years, and his health had steadily declined. News of his death had initially been announced without a stated cause, prompting speculation from fans and followers of the classic shows he helped shape. Washington made history as the only Black actor in the main cast of Hogan's Heroes, joining in its final season as Sergeant Richard Baker. He replaced Ivan Dixon's character Sergeant Kinchloe and remained part of the show until its end in 1971. Though the role came late in the series' run, it became a defining part of Washington's career. Beyond Hogan's Heroes, he built a rich TV résumé that spanned decades. From iconic shows like I Dream of Jeannie and My Three Sons to appearances on Dragnet 1967, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Name of the Game, his range and presence stood out. Fans of Star Trek also remember him for his role in the franchise, further cementing his place in television history. He married journalist Alice Marshall in 2001, and she survives him, along with his three children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Washington's passing marks the end of an era, he was the final surviving principal cast member of Hogan's Heroes. For many, his legacy lives on through the trail he blazed and the timeless shows that continue to resonate across generations.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kenneth Washington, 'Hogan's Heroes 'Star and Final Surviving Main Cast Member, Dies at 88
The actor retired from the business in the 1990s, shortly after his final on-screen credit in 'A Different World' Kenneth Washington, a familiar face on television in the 1960s and '70s and the last surviving main cast member of Hogan's Heroes, has died. He was 88. Washington died on July 18, according to Variety, who first reported the news. No cause of death was shared. His cousin, Derek Olivia, mourned the loss in a public Facebook post. "Yesterday we had to say goodbye to my big cousin Kenneth Washington," Olivia wrote, alongside a series of photos of the star. "Kenneth was surrounded by friends and family whom loved him. Rest in eternal peace." The actor joined Hogan's Heroes in 1970 for its sixth and final season, playing Sergeant Richard Baker — making history as one of the few Black actors with a regular role on a network sitcom at the time. The CBS series, about a group of Allied prisoners in a prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany during World War II, ended a year later. Washington's legacy on screen continued, though. Throughout his career, the California native appeared on a variety of hit shows, including Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, My Three Sons, Marcus Welby, M.D., and The Rockford Files. He was the first and only Black actor to be featured in a major guest role on 1963's Petticoat Junction. On film, he had a role in the 1973 sci-fi classic Westworld and the TV movies J. Edgar Hoover, Money on the Side and Our Family Business. His final on-screen credit was in 1989 in another monumental sitcom: A Different World, opposite Jasmine Guy, Lisa Bonet and Kadeem Hardison. After retiring from acting, Washington returned to school and earned his degree from Loyola Marymount University in L.A., later becoming a professor there and at Southwest College in the city, where he taught courses on speech, oral interpretation and Black actors in film. Washington was married twice, first to Alyce Loretta Hawkins (from 1959 to 1969). He wed journalist Alice Marshall, former editor-in-chief of Wave Newspapers and film reviews editor at Variety, in 2001. He is survived by his wife; his brother Johnnie and sister Aaliyah Akbar; his children Kim Lee, Kenneth Jr. and Quianna Stokes-Washington, as well as three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. The last living Hogan's Heroes cast member prior to Washington was Robert Clary, who died in November 2022 at the age of 96. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Last Surviving Cast Member of Popular TV Show Dies at 89
One of the most popular sitcoms of all time has brought laughs to several generations of fans, but those fans are now mourning the loss of the show's final surviving cast member. Kenneth Washington, who played Sergeant Richard Baker on the final season of "Hogan's Heroes," died on July 18 at the age of 89. Washington joined the show in its sixth and final season, replacing Ivan Dixon in the role of Sgt. Baker in 1970. The show would end the following year, but his role in the popular series was a gateway for Washington to appear in other popular shows. In addition to his role on "Hogan's Heroes," Washington also appeared in the original "Star Trek" series with George Takei and William Shatner. He was seen in multiple episodes of "Adam-12" in the 1960s with actors like Martin Milner. "Hogan's Heroes" aired on CBS for six seasons in the 1960s and 70s. The show was set in a Nazi Germany POW camp and followed a group of Allied soldiers who used the camp as a base to plan operations. Bob Crane starred as the titular Col. Robert E. Hogan, the main protagonist of the show. The show aired over 160 episodes during its original run, and has entertained fans for years through both local and national syndication. The show was nominated for several awards during its run, including 12 nominations in the Emmys. It won twice, with Werner Klemperer taking the outstanding supporting actor honor in both 1968 and 1969. "Hogan's Heroes" was also included in the first-ever NAACP Image Awards as an example of positive representation from Black actors on screen in 1967. Washington also appeared in the original film adaptation of "Westworld," alongside western legend Yul Brynner. His film career spanned several decades, beginning in the mid-1950's. In one of the final roles of his career, he was a guest star on an episode of "A Different World," the Cosby spin-off set at a fictional historically Black college. Rest in peace to Kenneth Washington, and we send condolences to his fans, friends, family and loved ones during this difficult time. Last Surviving Cast Member of Popular TV Show Dies at 89 first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 23, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Kenneth Washington, Star Trek actor and last Hogan's Heroes cast member, dies at 88
Kenneth Washington, a veteran television actor and the last surviving main cast member of the CBS series Hogan's Heroes, passed away on July 18 at the age of 88, according to a report by Variety. After landing his first screen test, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. His work includes roles in television films such as J. Edgar Hoover, Money on the Side, and Our Family Business. He also appeared in a variety of popular TV shows, including Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, My Three Sons, The Name of the Game, Petticoat Junction, Marcus Welby, M.D., Adam-12, and Dragnet 1967, the report noted. Washington married Alice Marshall in 2001. She is a former editor-in-chief at Wave Newspapers in South Los Angeles and previously served as film reviews editor at Variety. He is survived by his wife, Alice; his brother, Johnnie; his sister, Aaliyah Akbar; his three children: Kim Lee, Kenneth Jr., and Quianna Stokes-Washington — along with three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. (This is a breaking news)
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Star Trek actor Kenneth Washington dies at 88: The star was the last living cast member from Hogan's Heroes
Kenneth Washington, the film and television actor who appeared on several high-profile shows over multiple decades, has died at 88. Washington died last week on July 18, according to Variety. The performer held the sad distinction of being the last living cast member from Hogan's Heroes, the classic CBS sitcom set in a POW camp in Nazi Germany. Washington had guest roles on major TV series, including My Three Sons, the 1967 revival of Dragnet, Petticoat Junction, The FBI, The Rockford Files and Police Story, among others. He also held the distinction of playing a guest role on the third and final season of the original Star Trek series in 1969. Washington joined Hogan's Heroes in 1970 for the show's sixth and final season. He played Sergeant Richard Baker, who filled the void left by the departure of another Black actor, Ivan Dixon, who had appeared in the previous five seasons as Staff Sergeant James 'Kinch' Konloe. Although Washington was a main cast member, his part wasn't as juicy as Dixon's had been. He didn't have time to expand the character, as the show was canceled after his first season on Hogan's Heroes. The show was a ratings success in its early seasons, and it won two Emmy Awards during its run after being nominated 12 times. Hogan's Heroes was also recognized for featuring Black actors in major roles when it was honored at the first NAACP Image Awards in 1967. Washington had a guest role that year on another show that was honored at the Image Awards, Daktari, and he later appeared on Star Trek, which was also cited for its diverse casting. Washington had small, sometimes uncredited roles in a handful of films, though he was primarily known for his work in television. His most prominent film role was as a technician in Michael Crichton's 1973 sci-fi western thriller Westworld. Aside from his season on Hogan's Heroes, his longest running television role was as Officer Miller on Adam-12. The recurring role on the popular police drama lasted for eight episodes in 1968 and '69. Washington was born in Ethel, Mississippi, in 1936, but his family soon relocated to California's Bay Area. As an adult, Washington caught the acting bug and moved south to Los Angeles to focus on auditions. As his acting career wound down, he enrolled at Loyola Marymount University to earn his degree, and he subsequent returned to the university as a instructor leading a class on Black film actors. Washington also taught classes on oral interpretation and speech at Southwest College in LA, according to Variety. Washington was previously married to Alyce Hawkins from 1959 to 1969, and they shared three children: Kim Lee, Kenneth Jr. and Quianna Stokes-Washington. In 2001, he married his second wife, Alice Marshall, who was at one time the editor-in-chief of the LA-based Wave Newspapers, as well as a former film reviews editor at Variety. Washington is survived by his wife, his three children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, as well as his brother Johnnie and sister Aaliyah Akbar.
