Kenneth Washington, known as the last main cast member of the CBS sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes,” passed away on July 18, 2025, at the age of 88. Washington died at his residence in Beverly Hills, California, marking the conclusion of an era for the iconic TV series.
Washington was born on October 19, 1936, in Ethel, Mississippi, although some sources suggest 1935 as his birth year. His family relocated to California during his childhood. He grew up in the Bay Area, specifically in Redwood City and San Francisco, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. After obtaining his first screen test, he embarked on what would become a decades-long journey in television and film.
Throughout the 1960s, Washington was a frequent guest star on various television series, including popular shows like “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.” Notably, in 1969, he appeared in the “Star Trek” episode “That Which Survives” as engineer John B. Watkins.
In 1970, Washington took on his most recognized role as Sergeant Richard Baker on “Hogan’s Heroes,” joining the ensemble for its final season. The sitcom, set during World War II in a prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany, aired 168 episodes over six seasons from 1965 to 1971. Washington’s character stepped in following the departure of Ivan Dixon, who portrayed Sergeant James Kinchloe in the first five seasons. The show was canceled by CBS in 1971, a year after Washington’s arrival.
During the 1970s, Washington continued to work in television, appearing in series such as “The Paul Lynde Show,” “The F.B.I.,” “The Rockford Files,” and “Police Story.” He also appeared in the 1973 science fiction film “Westworld” and participated in several television movies, including “J. Edgar Hoover,” “Money on the Side,” and “Our Family Business.” His television career extended into the 1980s, with one of his final appearances alongside Jasmine Guy in “A Different World” in 1989.
After retiring from acting in the late 1980s, Washington pursued higher education, earning a degree from Loyola Marymount University. He later became an instructor at the same university, teaching a course focused on Black actors in film. He expanded his teaching career by offering classes in oral interpretation and speech at Southwest College.
In 2001, Washington married Alice Marshall, a former editor-in-chief at Wave Newspapers in South Los Angeles and a film reviews editor at Variety. She remained his wife for over two decades until his passing.
Washington’s death represents a significant moment in television history, as he was the last living principal cast member of “Hogan’s Heroes.” His co-stars had all predeceased him: Bob Crane and Werner Klemperer in 1978 and 2000, respectively; John Banner, Larry Hovis, and Richard Dawson in 1973, 2003, and 2012, respectively; Ivan Dixon in 2008; and Robert Clary, who portrayed Corporal Louis LeBeau, in November 2022. Only Nita Talbot, who played the supporting role of Russian spy Marya in several episodes, remains alive from the cast.
Washington is survived by his wife, Alice Marshall; his brother, Johnnie; his 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 to the late 1980s, with his first uncredited role in the 1956 romantic comedy “The Birds and the Bees.”
Following the announcement of his death, tributes emerged on social media, with fans and colleagues acknowledging Washington’s contributions to classic television and his pioneering performances across genres. His work on “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Star Trek,” and “Adam-12” continues to be accessible to new audiences through reruns and streaming platforms, ensuring his legacy in television history endures for future generations.
