The Last Heroes: Tragic Endings And Surprising Second Acts Of The Hogan’s Heroes Cast

The iconic cast of Hogan's Heroes, the groundbreaking 1960s sitcom set in a World War II German POW camp, remains one of the most beloved ensembles in television history. While the show brought laughter to millions, the lives of its stars were often marked by dramatic twists, surprising second acts, and, in some cases, profound tragedy. As of late December 2025, a new era has officially closed for fans of the classic CBS series, as every single principal cast member has now passed away, leaving behind a legacy that is both celebrated and complex.

The recent passing of the final surviving main cast member has put the spotlight back on the stellar acting troupe who masterminded operations at Stalag 13. From an unsolved Hollywood murder to an actor who survived the Holocaust, and a game show host who became a household name, the real stories of Colonel Hogan, Colonel Klink, Sergeant Schultz, and the rest of the crew are far more compelling than the fictional exploits that made them famous.

The Stalag 13 Roll Call: Complete Cast Biography and Death Details

The ensemble cast was a unique collection of international talent, many of whom were Jewish actors playing the very German officers who had persecuted their families in real life. Here is the complete list of the main actors, their roles, and the final details of their lives.

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• Bob Crane (Colonel Robert E. Hogan)
  • Born: July 13, 1928, Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
  • Died: July 13, 1978 (Age 50), Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Murder (Blunt-force trauma)
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Radio personality, *The Donna Reed Show*.
• Werner Klemperer (Colonel Wilhelm Klink)
  • Born: March 22, 1920, Cologne, Germany.
  • Died: December 6, 2000 (Age 80), New York City, New York, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Cancer (long illness)
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Dramatic actor, *Judgment at Nuremberg*, opera singer.
• John Banner (Sergeant Hans Schultz)
  • Born: January 28, 1910, Vienna, Austria-Hungary.
  • Died: January 28, 1973 (Age 63), Vienna, Austria.
  • Cause of Death: Abdominal Aneurysm
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Character actor, *The Blue Angel*.
• Robert Clary (Corporal Louis LeBeau)
  • Born: March 1, 1926, Paris, France.
  • Died: November 16, 2022 (Age 96), Los Angeles, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Natural Causes
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Holocaust survivor, singer, Broadway performer.
• Richard Dawson (Corporal Peter Newkirk)
  • Born: November 20, 1932, Gosport, Hampshire, England.
  • Died: June 2, 2012 (Age 79), Los Angeles, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Esophageal Cancer
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Host of *Family Feud*, regular on *Match Game*.
• Ivan Dixon (Staff Sergeant James Kinchloe)
  • Born: April 6, 1931, New York City, New York, U.S.
  • Died: March 16, 2008 (Age 76), Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Kidney failure
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Film and television director (*Magnum P.I.*, *The A-Team*).
• Larry Hovis (Sergeant Andrew Carter)
  • Born: February 20, 1936, Wapato, Washington, U.S.
  • Died: September 9, 2003 (Age 67), Los Angeles, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Cancer
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Writer, regular on *Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In*.
• Kenneth Washington (Sergeant Richard Baker)
  • Born: October 19, 1936, New York City, New York, U.S.
  • Died: July 18, 2025 (Age 88), Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
  • Cause of Death: Not Publicly Disclosed (Died at home)
  • Notable Pre/Post-Show Career: Stage and television actor, appeared in *Star Trek*.

The Shocking Truth Behind Bob Crane’s Unsolved Murder

The death of the show's lead, Bob Crane, who played the charismatic Colonel Robert Hogan, remains one of Hollywood's most enduring and tragic mysteries. Crane was found brutally murdered in his Scottsdale, Arizona apartment on his 50th birthday in July 1978.

The actor had been beaten to death with a weapon (believed to be a camera tripod) and an electric cord was found tied around his neck.

The primary suspect in the case was his longtime friend, John Carpenter, a video equipment salesman who had allegedly helped Crane film his private sexual encounters.

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The case went cold for years until Carpenter was charged with the murder in 1992 based on new forensic evidence—a tissue sample thought to be blood—but he was ultimately acquitted in 1994. The murder of Bob Crane remains officially unsolved, casting a dark shadow over the legacy of the show's central hero.

From Stalag 13 to Stardom: The Cast’s Surprising Second Careers

While the sitcom was the defining role for most of the cast, several actors went on to have wildly successful, and sometimes entirely different, post-series careers that cemented their place in television history.

Richard Dawson: The Game Show King

Richard Dawson, who played the quick-witted Corporal Peter Newkirk, transitioned from the POW camp to become one of the most recognizable faces on American television.

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He first gained notoriety as a regular panelist on the popular game show *Match Game* from 1973 to 1978.

Dawson then secured his most iconic role as the original host of the wildly successful game show *Family Feud*, which he hosted from 1976 to 1985 and again in 1994.

His charming, often kiss-heavy style earned him the nickname "The Kissing Bandit" and made him a television superstar, far surpassing the fame he found as Newkirk.

Ivan Dixon: The Groundbreaking Director

Ivan Dixon, who played the communications expert Staff Sergeant Kinchloe, used his platform on the show to launch a highly respected career behind the camera as a director.

Dixon became a trailblazer for African-American directors in Hollywood, helming episodes for dozens of hit shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

His directing credits are extensive and include episodes of major series such as *The Rockford Files*, *Magnum P.I.*, *The Bill Cosby Show*, and *The A-Team*. His transition from acting to directing is a testament to his dedication to the craft of storytelling.

The Holocaust Connection: Werner Klemperer and Robert Clary

Perhaps the most poignant aspect of the cast's history is the fact that several of the actors who played German officers were Jewish refugees who had fled the very regime the show satirized.

Werner Klemperer, the German-born actor who played the bumbling Kommandant Colonel Wilhelm Klink, was the son of famed conductor Otto Klemperer. His family fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Klemperer famously only agreed to take the role of Klink on the condition that Klink would never succeed in his schemes, ensuring the Nazi character was always portrayed as a fool and the American heroes always won.

Even more strikingly, Robert Clary (Corporal LeBeau) was a Holocaust survivor. He was deported to a concentration camp at age 16 and spent over three years imprisoned at various camps, including Buchenwald.

Clary lost his entire immediate family in the Holocaust, but he chose to use his experience to educate the public in his later years, becoming a tireless advocate for Holocaust remembrance. His ability to find humor in life and perform on a show about a POW camp, despite his personal history, is a profound testament to his resilience and spirit.

The Final Chapter: The End of an Era

The passing of the cast members over the decades has been a slow, poignant farewell to a golden age of television. The death of Robert Clary in November 2022 at the age of 96 marked the end for the core heroes of Stalag 13.

The final main cast member to pass away was Kenneth Washington, who played Sergeant Richard Baker in the final season. Washington passed away in July 2025 at the age of 88, officially closing the chapter on the original *Hogan's Heroes* ensemble.

The collective legacy of these actors—a mix of comedy, drama, tragedy, and triumph—ensures that the adventures of Colonel Hogan and his men will continue to be celebrated by generations of fans around the world, long after the final hero has taken his bow.