Ivan Dixon

The prolific actor, director, and producer Ivan Dixon died on March 16, 2008, at age 76, of complications from kidney failure. Dixon gained early notice with supporting roles in films such as Porgy and Bess (1959) and Raisin in the Sun (1961), which featured predominantly African-American casts during a time in which few roles were available to non-white actors. He also played Sgt. Kinchloe in the sitcom, Hogan's Heroes (1965-71). Dixon's extensive career as a television director, beginning in the early 1970s, includes episodes of The Bill Cosby Show, The Waltons, Magnum, PI, and The A-Team. After retiring from acting and directing in the late 1980s (taking on occasional work until 1993), he operated the radio station KONI-FM in Maui, Hawaii, which he sold in 2002 due to health concerns. Dixon was active in the civil rights movement, and was president of Negro Actors for Action, a group founded in 1965 to better integrate film and television.

Fast Facts:

1. Born: April 6, 1931
2. Birthplace: New York City
3. Resided: Charlotte, North Carolina
4. Alma Mater: North Carolina Central University
5. Married: Berlie Dixon
6. Worked as a stunt double for Sidney Poitier, in 1958
7. Four children: a son and a daughter living; two sons deceased

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