Richard Dawson didn't just host a game show. He ran a clinic on human psychology for nearly a decade. If you grew up in the late '70s or early '80s, you probably remember the suit, the British accent, and that weirdly intense way he'd lean in to listen to a contestant's answer.
Then, there was the kissing.
He kissed everyone. Every woman who walked onto that set got a peck on the cheek or the lips. By the time he wrapped up his first run on Family Feud in 1985, the "Kissing Bandit" had reportedly smooched over 20,000 women. It sounds insane now. In 2026, a host doing that would be trending for all the wrong reasons within five minutes. But back then? It was his brand.
The Survey Says: He Was the King of Cool
Dawson wasn't originally a game show guy. He was a legit actor. You might’ve seen him as Corporal Peter Newkirk on Hogan’s Heroes. He played a smooth-talking, pickpocketing POW. Honestly, that character wasn't a huge stretch for him. Dawson had this natural, cynical wit that felt miles away from the "happy-to-be-here" vibe of other hosts like Dick Clark or Bob Barker.
When Mark Goodson launched Family Feud in 1976, Dawson was already a fan favorite on Match Game. He sat in that bottom-center seat and basically became the guy everyone wanted to play the "Head-to-Head Match" with. He was smart. He was quick. And he was clearly bored with being a sidekick.
He took that "bored brilliance" to the Feud.
The show worked because of the stakes—not just the money, but the family dynamics. Dawson would roast people. He’d make fun of their outfits or their terrible answers, but he did it with this sort of "we're all in on the joke" wink. People loved him for it. He won a Daytime Emmy in 1978, and at his peak, he was pulling in $2 million a year. That’s big money for 1980.
Why the Kissing Actually Started
Critics hated the kissing. ABC executives hated it even more. They actually tried to get him to stop, telling him it was unsanitary or inappropriate.
Dawson’s response? He didn't care.
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The story goes that around episode 10, a woman was so nervous she couldn't name a green vegetable you eat raw. She was shaking. Dawson, remembering how his mother used to calm him down, gave her a little kiss on the cheek to relax her. She immediately blurted out "Asparagus!"
It became his "good luck" charm.
When the network pushed back, Dawson took it to the viewers. He asked the audience to write in and vote on whether he should keep kissing or stop. The survey said: Keep it. By a landslide. He wasn't just being a "lecherous flirt," as some critics called him; he was building a weird, intimate connection with the audience that other shows couldn't touch.
The Dark Side of the "King"
Success changed things. By the early '80s, the "King Richard" era had begun on set.
Working with him became... complicated.
He was known for being incredibly difficult behind the scenes. He’d show up late. He’d argue with producers. He even had a producer banned from the set once. If you watch those later episodes from '84 and '85, you can see the shift. He stopped smiling as much. The witty banter felt a bit sharper, more biting.
He was also a heavy smoker. That’s probably why he was so cranky. He was basically living on caffeine, nicotine, and the high of being the most famous man on daytime TV.
Eventually, the ratings started to dip. Wheel of Fortune was moving in, and the Feud was losing its luster. When the show was cancelled in 1985, it wasn't a shock to the industry. Dawson was burnt out, and the industry was ready for a break from him.
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The Running Man and the Meta-Self
One of the coolest things Dawson ever did was lean into his own reputation.
In 1987, he played Damon Killian in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man. Killian was a villainous, ego-maniacal game show host who would kill contestants for ratings.
It was a masterpiece of casting.
Dawson basically played a dark, twisted version of himself. He knew what people said about him—that he was arrogant, that he was "slimy," that he was full of himself. He took those insults and turned them into a classic movie villain. It's one of the few times a game show host has successfully transitioned into a memorable film role by mocking their own public persona.
The Love Story You Didn't Expect
For all the talk about him being a "ladies' man," Richard Dawson’s most important relationship started right on the Feud stage.
In 1981, a contestant named Gretchen Johnson appeared on the show.
Dawson was smitten.
He actually tracked down her number and called her after the taping. They started dating, eventually had a daughter together, and stayed married until he passed away in 2012. It’s kind of a Hollywood ending for a guy who spent years kissing thousands of strangers. He finally found the one he didn't want to let go of.
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The 1994 Comeback That Almost Worked
Most people forget that Dawson actually came back to Family Feud in 1994.
Ray Combs had been hosting for several years, but the ratings were in the gutter. The producers brought Dawson back to save the ship.
He was different.
He had lost weight. He was older. He had stopped the lip-kissing—mostly because times had changed, but also because he was a married man. He still had the wit, but the fire wasn't quite the same. The show only lasted one more season with him at the helm.
Why We Still Talk About Him
Richard Dawson matters because he was authentic in an era of plastic television.
He wasn't a "brand" managed by a PR team. He was a moody, brilliant, sometimes rude, often charming Englishman who treated a game show like a high-stakes dinner party.
He championed the "little guy." He was vocal about civil rights, he’d talk about his love for his kids on air, and he’d genuinely root for families who really needed the money. He wasn't just reading a teleprompter. He was there.
What You Can Learn from Dawson’s Career:
- Own your quirks. The kissing was controversial, but it made him unforgettable.
- Don't be afraid to pivot. Moving from acting to game shows made him a millionaire.
- Self-awareness is power. Playing a villainous version of yourself (like in The Running Man) can cement your legacy.
- Relationships matter more than ratings. His marriage to Gretchen lasted longer than any of his TV contracts.
If you want to understand the history of American television, you have to look at Richard Dawson. He was the bridge between the formal, stuffy hosts of the '50s and the personality-driven, chaotic energy of modern TV.
Next steps for you: Go watch the "September" clip on YouTube. It’s arguably the funniest moment in game show history. If you really want to see him at his best, track down the 1970s episodes of Match Game where he’s still hungry and hilariously cynical.
You’ll see exactly why they called him the King.