Kenneth Washington, the last surviving main cast member of the CBS sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes,” died on July 18 at age 89. Washington passed away at his home in Beverly Hills, California, marking the end of an era for the classic television series.
Born on October 19, 1935, in Ethel, Mississippi, Washington and his family moved to California when he was a child. He was raised in the Bay Area in Redwood City and San Francisco before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career. After earning his first screen test, he began building what would become a decades-long television and film career.
Washington became a familiar guest star on television series during the 1960s, appearing in numerous popular 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.” His most notable appearance on “Star Trek” came in 1969 when he played engineer John B. Watkins in the third season episode “That Which Survives.”
In 1970, Washington landed his most recognized role as Sergeant Richard Baker on “Hogan’s Heroes,” joining the cast for the show’s final season. The American sitcom, set in a prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany during World War II, ran for 168 episodes across six seasons from 1965 to 1971. Washington’s character filled the vacancy left by Ivan Dixon, who had played Sergeant James Kinchloe in the first five seasons. However, CBS canceled the show in 1971, just one year after Washington joined the cast.
Throughout the 1970s, Washington continued his television work with appearances in “The Paul Lynde Show,” “The F.B.I.,” “The Rockford Files,” and “Police Story.” He also secured a role in the 1973 science fiction film “Westworld” and appeared in several television movies including “J. Edgar Hoover,” “Money on the Side,” and “Our Family Business.” His television credits extended into the 1980s, with one of his last appearances being alongside Jasmine Guy in “A Different World” in 1989.
After retiring from acting in the late 1980s, Washington pursued higher education, earning his college degree from Loyola Marymount University. He subsequently became an instructor at the same institution, teaching a course that focused on Black actors in film. He later expanded his educational career by teaching classes in oral interpretation and speech at Southwest College.
In 2001, Washington married Alice Marshall, the former editor-in-chief at Wave Newspapers in South Los Angeles and film reviews editor at Variety. Marshall had been his wife for more than two decades at the time of his death.
Washington’s death marked a significant milestone in television history, as he was the last surviving principal cast member of “Hogan’s Heroes.” His co-stars had all previously passed away: Bob Crane and Werner Klemperer died in 1978 and 2000, respectively; John Banner, Larry Hovis, and Richard Dawson died in 1973, 2003, and 2012, respectively; Ivan Dixon died in 2008; and Robert Clary, who played Corporal Louis LeBeau, died in November 2022. With Washington’s passing, only Nita Talbot, who played a supporting role as the Russian spy Marya in several episodes, remains alive from the show’s cast.
Washington is survived by his wife Alice Marshall; his brother Johnnie and sister Aaliyah Akbar; three children, Kim Lee, Kenneth Jr., and Quianna Stokes-Washington; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. His career spanned from the mid-1950s through the late 1980s, with his first uncredited role appearing in the 1956 romantic comedy “The Birds and the Bees.”
Following news of his death, tributes began appearing on social media platforms. Fans and colleagues remembered Washington for his contributions to classic television and his groundbreaking performances across multiple genres. His work on “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Star Trek,” and “Adam-12” continues to reach new audiences through reruns and streaming platforms, ensuring his legacy in television history remains intact for future generations.
Sources:
https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/kenneth-washington-dead-hogans-heroes-1236468054/
https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/breaking-kenneth-washington-dead-star-35607299
https://metro.co.uk/2025/07/23/last-surviving-hogans-heroes-cast-member-kenneth-washington-dies-aged-89-23735439/
https://popculture.com/celebrity/news/hogans-heroes-last-surviving-cast-member-has-died-at-89-rip-kenneth-washington/
