Kenneth Washington, the last remaining main cast member of CBS’s sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes,” passed away on July 18, 2025, at the age of 88. Washington died at his residence in Beverly Hills, California, closing a chapter for the iconic television series.
Born on October 19, 1936, in Ethel, Mississippi, Washington moved with his family to California during his childhood. He grew up in Redwood City and San Francisco, California, before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. After receiving his initial screen test, he embarked on a career in television and film spanning several decades.
His career began in the mid-1950s, with his first uncredited role in the 1956 romantic comedy “The Birds and the Bees.”
Washington appeared as a guest star in numerous television series throughout the 1960s. His credits include popular shows such as “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, he portrayed engineer John B. Watkins in the 1969 third-season episode “That Which Survives” of “Star Trek.”
In 1970, Washington secured his most famous role as Sergeant Richard Baker in “Hogan’s Heroes,” joining for its final season. The sitcom, set in a World War II Nazi Germany prisoner-of-war camp, aired from 1965 to 1971 for 168 episodes over six seasons. Washington replaced Ivan Dixon’s character, Sergeant James Kinchloe, who appeared in the first five seasons. However, CBS canceled the show in 1971, a year after Washington joined.
In the 1970s, Washington continued his television work with roles in “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 various television movies, such as “J. Edgar Hoover,” “Money on the Side,” and “Our Family Business.” His television work extended into the 1980s, including a 1989 appearance in “A Different World” with Jasmine Guy.
Following his retirement from acting in the late 1980s, Washington pursued higher education and earned a degree from Loyola Marymount University. He later became an instructor there, teaching a course 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, former editor-in-chief at Wave Newspapers in South Los Angeles and film reviews editor at Variety. Marshall was his wife for over two decades at the time of his passing.
Washington’s death is significant in television history, as he was the last main cast member of “Hogan’s Heroes.” His co-stars had died earlier: 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 in November 2022. Only Nita Talbot, who played the recurring role of Russian spy Marya, remains from the cast.
Washington is survived by his wife, Alice Marshall; his brother, Johnnie; his sister, Aaliyah Akbar; three children from his first marriage, Kim Lee, Kenneth Jr., and Quianna Stokes-Washington; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Following his death, tributes appeared on social media. Fans and colleagues recognized Washington for his work in classic television and his diverse performances. His roles in “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Star Trek,” and “Adam-12” continue to reach audiences through reruns and streaming, preserving his legacy for future generations.
