I have to say that my favorite game show of all time was Family Feud.

The families were always so entertaining and Richard Dawson, the host, always brought out the best in them.  He was funny and always a Casanova with the women.   He was known as the “Kissing Bandit” for smooching all the female contestants on the show, until he made one of those women his wife . Gretchen Johnson wed Richard Dawson in 1991.

Earlier this morning, his son confirmed on Facebook that his father, Richard Dawson, has died at the age of 79 due due to complications from cancer.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my father passed away this evening from complications due to esophageal cancer,” Gary Dawson wrote. “He was surrounded by his family… He was an amazing talent, a loving husband, a great dad, and a doting grandfather. He will be missed but always remembered.”

Dawson had one daughter with his wife Gretchen, Shannon Nicole Dawson.  He also had two sons from his previous marriage to Diana Dors – Mark and Gary Dawson