Ivan Dixon
Ivan Dixon | |
---|---|
Born | Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III April 6, 1931 New York City,U.S. |
Died | March 16, 2008 | (aged 76)
Alma mater | North Carolina Central University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1957–1991 |
Spouse | Berlie Ray Dixon (m.1954) |
Children | 4 |
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 sitcomHogan's Heroes,and for his starring roles in the 1964 independent dramaNothing But a Manand the 1967television filmThe Final War of Olly Winter.In addition, he directed many episodes of television series.
Active in thecivil rights movementfrom 1961, Dixon served as a president of Negro Actors for Action.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III was born inHarlem,Manhattan,New York City,New York,the son of agrocery storeowner 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 abrownstoneat 518 West 150th Street in Harlem, on the same block withJosh White,writerRalph Ellison,and the tap-dancing brothersGregory HinesandMaurice Hines.[2]
Dixon graduated fromLincoln Academy,a private blackboarding schoolinGaston County, North Carolina.[4]He subsequently earned a drama degree in 1954 fromNorth Carolina Central University(NCCU), ahistorically black college.[2]Its theater troupe is now known as the Ivan Dixon Players in his honor.[1]While at NCCU, he joined theOmega Psi Phifraternity.[1]
Dixon also later studied drama atCase Western Reserve University,inCleveland,Ohio,followed by theAmerican Theatre Wingafter returning to New York City.[1]
Career
[edit]Dixon appeared on stage, and in both movies and TV series or specials. In 1957, Dixon appeared onBroadwayinWilliam Saroyan'sThe Cave Dwellers.In 1959 he performed inLorraine Hansberry'sA Raisin in the Sun.[5]
In 1958, he was a stunt double forSidney Poitierin the filmThe Defiant Ones.Dixon was cast in two episodes ofThe Twilight Zone:"The Big Tall Wish"– as the lead, in a primarily black cast in a TV drama – and a key supporting role in"I Am the Night—Color Me Black".In 1962, Dixon co-starred withDorothy Dandridgein the "Blues for a Junkman" episode ofCain's Hundred;it was the highest-rated episode of the series. An expanded version was released as a feature film in Europe asThe Murder Men;this was Dandridge's last screen appearance.[citation needed]
On September 25, 1962, Dixon portrayed Jamie Davis, alivery stablegroom, in the episode "Among the Missing" ofNBC'sLaramiewesternseries.[6]In 1963, he played the role of John Brooks, alias Caleb Stone IV, in thePerry Masonepisode "The Case of the Nebulous Nephew."
In 1964, Dixon starred in the independent filmNothing But a Man,written and directed byMichael Roemer;Dixon said he was most proud of this performance.[2]He also appeared in two episodes ofABC'sThe Fugitive:"Escape into Black" and "Dossier on a Diplomat".
In his best-known role, Dixon appeared asprisoner of warStaff Sergeant James "Kinch" Kinchloein the ensemble cast of the televisionsitcomHogan's Heroes."Kinch" was the communications specialist, a translator ofGerman,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 Washingtonreplaced Dixon for the last year of the show's run, playing a different character who filled a similar role.
Dixon was nominated for anEmmy Awardfor his performance in the TV movieThe Final War of Olly Winter(1967).[1]
Film work and directing
[edit]From 1970 to 1993, Dixon worked primarily as a television director on such series andTV moviesasThe Waltons,The Rockford Files,[4]The Bionic Woman,The Eddie Capra Mysteries,Magnum, P.I.,[4]andThe A-Team.
Dixon's first feature film as director was theblaxploitationthrillerTrouble Man.[7]He also directed the controversial 1973 feature filmThe Spook Who Sat by the Door,[4]based onSam Greenlee's 1969novel of the same name.It was about the first blackCIAagent, who applies his espionage knowledge to lead a blackguerrillaoperation in Chicago.
The New York Timeswrote in 2008:
AlthoughThe Spookcaused controversy and with suppression facilitated by theF.B.I.,was soon pulled from theaters, it later gainedcult statusas a bootleg video and in 2004 was released on DVD. At that time Mr. Dixon toldThe Timesthat 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'sCar Wash(1976). He played a doctor and leader of a guerrilla movement in theABCminiseriesAmerika(1987), set in post-Soviet invasionNebraska.
In 1978 Dixon served as Chairman of the Expansion Arts Advisory Panel of theNational Endowment for the Arts.
After his career as an actor and director, Dixon became owner-operator of radio stationKONI (FM)onMaui.In 2001, he left Hawaii for health reasons and sold the radio station in 2002.[8][1]
Personal life
[edit]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]
Death
[edit]Ivan Dixon died on March 16, 2008, aged 76, atPresbyterian HospitalinCharlotte, North Carolina,of complications fromkidney failure.He was predeceased by sons Ivan Dixon IV and N'Gai Christopher Dixon.[9]
His widow Berlie Ray Dixon, born on April 5, 1930, inBadin,North Carolina, died on February 9, 2019, in Charlotte, at age 88.[10]
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1957 | Something of Value | Lathela, Loyal Gun-Bearer | Alternative title:Africa Ablaze |
1959 | Porgy and Bess | Jim | |
1960 | The Twilight Zone | Bolie Jackson | TV series, Episode:"The Big Tall Wish" |
1961 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Isham Spruce | TV series, "Long Way Home" (air date April 2, 1961) |
1961 | A Raisin in the Sun | Asagai | |
1961 | Battle at Bloody Beach | Tiger Blair | |
1961 | Too Late Blues | Party Guest | Uncredited, Directed by John Cassavetes |
1962 | Laramie | Jamie Davis | TV series, "Among the Missing" (Sept 25, 1962) |
1962 | Cain's Hundred | Joe Sherman | TV series, "Blues for a Junkman" (February 20, 1962), co-starring Dorothy Dandridge |
1962 | The New Breed | Wick | TV series, 2 episodes |
1963 | Perry Mason | Caleb Stone IV | TV series, Episode: "The Case of the Nebulous Nephew" |
1963 | Outer Limits | Major Harold Giles | TV series, Episode: "The Human Factor" |
1963 | Going My Way | Robin Green | TV series, "Run, Robin, Run" |
1963 | Stoney Burke | Dr. Manning | TV series, Episode: "The Test" |
1964 | Nothing But a Man | Duff Anderson | |
1964 | The Fugitive | Dr. Towne | Episode: "Escape Into Black" |
1964 | The Outer Limits | Sgt. James Conover | Episode: "The Inheritors" |
1964 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E. | Jean Francis Soumarin | TV series, Episode:"The Vulcan Affair" |
1964 | The Twilight Zone | Reverend Anderson | TV series, Episode:"I Am the Night—Color Me Black" |
1965 | I Spy | Elroy Brown | TV series, Episode: "So Long, Patrick Henry" |
1965 | A Patch of Blue | Mark Ralfe | |
1965–1970 | Hogan's Heroes | Staff Sergeant James Kinchloe | TV series, 145 episodes |
1967 | The Fugitive | Ambassador Unawa | TV series, Episode: "Dossier on a Diplomat" |
1967 | CBS Playhouse | Olly Winter | TV play,The Final War of Olly Winter |
1968 | It Takes A Thief | General Kristoff | TV series, Episode: "Get Me to the Revolution on Time" |
1969 | Where's Jack? | Naval Officer | |
1970 | The F.B.I. | Terrance Maynard | TV series, Episode: "The Deadly Pact" |
1970 | Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came | Sgt. Jones | Alternative title:War Games |
1971 | Clay Pigeon | Simon | |
1971–1972 | Nichols | TV series, Director, 4 episodes | |
1972 | Trouble Man | Director | |
1973 | The Spook Who Sat by the Door | Director | |
1974–1975 | The Waltons | TV series, Director, 7 episodes | |
1974 | Claudine | Wedding Guest | Uncredited |
1975 | Starsky & Hutch | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1975–1979 | The Rockford Files | TV series, Director, 9 episodes | |
1976 | Car Wash | Lonnie | |
1977 | McCloud | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1977 | Quincy, M.E. | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1978 | The Bionic Woman | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1979 | Wonder Woman | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1981–1982 | Bret Maverick | TV series, Director, 3 episodes | |
1981–1983 | The Greatest American Hero | TV series, Director, 6 episodes | |
1984 | Trapper John, M.D. | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1984 | The A-Team | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
1982–1986 | Magnum, P.I. | TV series, Director, 13 episodes | |
1987 | Amerika | Dr. Alan Drummond | TVminiseries,7 parts |
1989 | Quantum Leap | TV series, Director, 1 episode | |
In the Heat of the Night | TV series, Director, 1 episode | ||
1991 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Rev. Johnson | TV series, Episode: "The Joyful Noise Mystery", (final appearance) |
1993 | Percy & Thunder | Director |
Awards and honors
[edit]- National Black Theatre Award
- Paul Robeson Pioneer Award,Black American Cinema Society
- 1967Emmy Awardsnomination, Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama,The Final War of Olly Winter
References
[edit]- ^abcdefgHayward, Anthony(May 16, 2008)."Ivan Dixon: Kinchloe in 'Hogan's Heroes'".The Independent.London.RetrievedOctober 20,2008.
- ^abcdeHevesi, Dennis (March 20, 2008)."Ivan Dixon, Actor in 'Hogan’s Heroes,' Dies at 76",The New York Times.
- ^"The Sergeant's Hard Climb from the Ranks",TV Guide,September 16, 1967, pp. 35–36.
- ^abcdef"Actor Ivan Dixon Dies".Daily Press; Los Angeles Times.March 22, 2008.RetrievedMay 10,2021.
- ^"Ivan Dixon".Internet Broadway Database.
- ^"Laramie:"Among the Missing", September 25, 1962 ".IMDb.RetrievedOctober 3,2012.
- ^Canby, Vincent(November 2, 1972)."'Trouble Man' Arrives ".The New York Times.RetrievedOctober 6,2015.
- ^Engle, Erika (May 13, 2002)."The Buzz".Honolulu Star-Bulletin.RetrievedApril 29,2020.
- ^abStewart, Jocelyn Y. (March 20, 2008)."Actor's roles reflected life for blacks in America".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedOctober 20,2008.
- ^"Berlie Dixon".The Charlotte Observer.February 18, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 18,2019.
External links
[edit]- Ivan DixonatIMDb
- Ivan Dixonat theInternet Broadway Database
- Ivan Dixondiscography atDiscogs
- 1931 births
- 2008 deaths
- 20th-century African-American people
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century African-American people
- African-American film directors
- African-American male actors
- African-American television directors
- American civil rights activists
- Film producers from New York City
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American television directors
- Deaths from kidney failure in the United States
- Film directors from New York City
- Male actors from Manhattan
- North Carolina Central University alumni