Ivan Dixon Was "Not Just a Hogan's Hero"

Pr-inside reports that Ivan Dixon has sadly passed away. Ivan Dixon, born on April 6, 1931, in New York City and has long been a part of America's families through his acting career that would bring him into our homes from the early 60's up until his death. With his wife Berlie by his side for more than 53 years he maintained being a husband and a father of two in addition to keeping America Entertained.

Ivan began his career on Broadway and would bring his talents to the big screen and became a well known star through the television series Hogan's Heroes where he played the role of Sgt. James Kinchloe better known as "kinch". However there were several additional roles that he would play in Hollywood.

The other television shows include an episode on the Bob Hope Presents The Chrystal Theatre, twice on Cain's Hundred, twice on Dr. Kildare, Father Dowling Mysteries, Follow the Sun, Have Gun Will Travel, Insight, Ironside, I Spy, It Takes a Thief, Laramie, Love, American Style, three episodes of Perry Mason, Studio One, Target: The Corruptors, The Armstrong Circle Theatre, twice in The Defenders, The DuPont Show Of the Month, The F.B.I., The Felony Squad, twice on The Fugitive, The Great Adventure, The Hollywood Palace, The Jonathan Winters Show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Mod Squad, twice on The Name of the Game, three times on the Outer Limits, The Play of the Week, and twice on The Twilight Zone.

In addition to starring in several roles on nightly television, he has had many roles in the movies. He starred in movies such as Car Wash (1976), Fer-De-Lance (1974), Suppose They Gave A War and Nobody Came (1970), A Patch of Blue (1965), Nothing But a Man (1964) and again in 2008 he starred in the remake Car Wash.

Ivan Dixon would not only entertain us on screen but, he would also bring us enjoyment from behind the scenes where he would produce movies such as The Sty of the Blind Pig, Trouble Man, Percy and Thunder, and The Spook Who Sat by the Door, which he directed as well. His directing credits come by the dozens as well. He directed several television series that we all knew or know and love.

His directing credits include Airwolf, Apple's Way, Black Sheep Squadron, three episodes of Bret Maverick, three episodes of Harris and Company, Hawaiian Heat, Hollywood Television Theatre, two episodes of Houston Knights, In the Heat of the Night, Legman, thirteen episodes of Magnum, P.I., McCloud, two episodes of Monty Nash, four episodes of Nichols, two episodes of Palmerstown, U.S.A., Quantum Leap, Quincy, M.E., Scarecrow and Mrs. King, two episodes of Snoops, Starsky & Hutch, Switch, Tales of the Gold Monkey, Tenspeed & Brownshoe, The A-Team, The Bill Cosby Show, The Bionic Woman, six episodes of The Greatest American Hero,two episodes of The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, The Mod Squad, nine episodes of The Rockford Files, nine episodes of The Waltons, Trapper John, M.D., and Wonder Woman.

Not only was Ivan an important part of movies and TV land, he was an African American actor and director who used his roles to change racial sterotypes. Ivan was very active in the Civil Rights movement and became president of the NAA (Negro Actors for Action). He also was the co-owner of a radio station out of Maui called KONI-FM until 2001 when he left due to health reasons.

Ivan passed away on Sunday March 16, 2008 at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina after a hemorrhage and complications from kidney failure. While he may be gone and will be deeply missed, he will never be forgotten due to all of the work he has done in his life to bring happiness through television and peace through his activism. Rest in Peace Ivan and thank you for all the much needed laughs.

*More information on his life and credits can be found at www.tv.com/ivan-dixon/person/9224/appearances.html