Kenneth Washington, the final surviving 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, concluding a significant chapter for the iconic television series.
Washington was born on October 19, 1936 in Ethel, Mississippi. His family relocated to California during his childhood, where he was raised in the Bay Area, specifically in Redwood City and San Francisco. Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Following his initial screen test, he started developing a lengthy career in television and film.
His career began in the mid-1950s and continued through the late 1980s, with his first uncredited role in the 1956 romantic comedy “The Birds and the Bees.”
In the 1960s, Washington became a regular guest star on television series, appearing in numerous 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 appeared on “Star Trek” in 1969 as engineer John B. Watkins in the episode “That Which Survives.”
Washington’s most significant role came in 1970 when he was cast as Sergeant Richard Baker on “Hogan’s Heroes” for the show’s final season. The sitcom, set in a World War II prisoner-of-war camp in Nazi Germany, aired 168 episodes over six seasons from 1965 to 1971. Washington replaced Ivan Dixon, who played Sergeant James Kinchloe during the first five seasons. However, CBS canceled the series in 1971, a year after Washington joined.
Throughout the 1970s, Washington continued to work on television, appearing in “The Paul Lynde Show,” “The F.B.I.,” “The Rockford Files,” and “Police Story.” He acted in the 1973 science fiction film “Westworld” and various TV movies, including “J. Edgar Hoover,” “Money on the Side,” and “Our Family Business.” His television work extended into the 1980s, with one of his last roles alongside Jasmine Guy in “A Different World” in 1989.
Washington retired from acting in the late 1980s and pursued higher education, earning a degree from Loyola Marymount University. He later taught at the institution, offering courses on Black actors in film. He expanded his teaching career by leading 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 spouse for over two decades until his passing.
Washington’s death signifies a notable moment in television history, as he was the last surviving principal actor of “Hogan’s Heroes.” His co-stars passed 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, who portrayed Corporal Louis LeBeau, in November 2022. With Washington’s death, only Nita Talbot, who portrayed the Russian spy Marya in several episodes, 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, with fans and colleagues acknowledging Washington’s contributions to classic television and his notable performances across genres. His work in “Hogan’s Heroes,” “Star Trek,” and “Adam-12” continues to reach audiences via reruns and streaming platforms, maintaining his legacy in television history for generations to come.