Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III (April 6, 1931 – March 16, 2008) was an American actor, director, and producer best known for his series role in the 1960s sitcom Hogan's Heroes, and for his starring roles in the 1964 independent drama Nothing But a Man and the 1967 television filmThe Final War of Olly Winter. In addition, he directed many episodes of television series.
Active in the civil rights movement from 1961, Dixon served as a president of Negro Actors for Action.[1][2]
Early life and education
Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III was born in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, the son of a grocery store owner and his wife, who together later owned a bakery.[1] His parents separated when he was young, and he lived at his mother's apartment while working in his father's grocery store. His father, also named Ivan, fought with distinction in World War I and read Yiddish.[3] When he was young, the family lived in a brownstone at 518 West 150th Street in Harlem, on the same block with Josh White, writer Ralph Ellison, and the tap-dancing brothers Gregory Hines and Maurice Hines.[2]
On September 25, 1962, Dixon portrayed Jamie Davis, a livery stable groom, in the episode "Among the Missing" of NBC's Laramiewestern series.[6] In 1963, he played the role of John Brooks, alias Caleb Stone IV, in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Nebulous Nephew". Dixon had earlier appeared as Parness, a prosecution expert witness, in the 1962 episode "The Case of the Promoters Pillbox", and later appeared as a judge in the 1986 Perry Mason made-for-TV movie "The Case of the Shooting Stsr".
In 1964, Dixon starred in the independent film Nothing But a Man, written and directed by Michael Roemer; Dixon said he was most proud of this performance.[2] He also appeared in two episodes of ABC's The Fugitive: "Escape into Black" and "Dossier on a Diplomat".
In his best-known role, Dixon appeared as prisoner of warStaff Sergeant James "Kinch" Kinchloe in the ensemble cast of the television sitcomHogan's Heroes. "Kinch" was the communications specialist, a translator of German, and Hogan's default second-in-command. Dixon played Kinchloe from 1965 to 1970, the only one of the series' long-time cast who did not stay for the entire series run. Kenneth Washington replaced Dixon for the last year of the show's run, playing a different character who filled a similar role.
Dixon was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance in the TV movie The Final War of Olly Winter (1967).[1]
Although The Spook caused controversy and with suppression facilitated by the F.B.I., was soon pulled from theaters, it later gained cult status as a bootleg video and in 2004 was released on DVD. At that time Mr. Dixon told The Times that the movie had tried only to depict black anger, not to suggest armed revolt as a solution.[2]
Dixon occasionally took acting parts throughout the 1970s and '80s. Notable roles include Lonnie, the straw boss, in 1976's Car Wash (1976). He played a doctor and leader of a guerrilla movement in the ABCminiseriesAmerika (1987), set in post-Soviet invasion Nebraska.
After his career as an actor and director, Dixon became owner-operator of radio station KONI (FM) on Maui. In 2001, he left Hawaii for health reasons and sold the radio station in 2002.[8][1]
Personal life
In 1954, the same year Dixon graduated from North Carolina Central University, he married theater student Berlie Ray.[4] The couple had four children:[4] sons Ivan IV, N'Gai Christopher, and Alan Kimara Dixon; and daughter Doris Nomathande Dixon.[9]
