Ivan Dixon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ivan Dixon
Dixon in 1964
Born	Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III (1931-04-06)April 6, 1931 New York City, U.S.
Died	March 16, 2008(2008-03-16) (aged 76) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	North Carolina Central University
Occupation	Actor, director, producer
Years active	1957–1991
Spouse(s)	Berlie Ray Dixon (m.1954)
Children	4

Ivan Dixon (left) with Steven Perry and Kim Hamilton in an episode of The Twilight Zone from 1960.

Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III (born April 6, 1931 – died March 16, 2008) was a talented American actor, director, and producer. He was best known for his role as Staff Sergeant Kinchloe in the popular 1960s TV show Hogan's Heroes. He also starred in important movies like Nothing But a Man (1964) and the TV film The Final War of Olly Winter (1967). Besides acting, Ivan Dixon directed many episodes of different television series.

Ivan Dixon was also very active in the Civil Rights Movement, which worked for equal rights and fairness for all people. Starting in 1961, he even served as a leader for a group called Negro Actors for Action.

Ivan Dixon's Early Life and School Days

Ivan Nathaniel Dixon III was born in Harlem, a famous neighborhood in New York City. His parents owned a grocery store and later a bakery. When he was young, his parents separated, and he lived with his mother while helping out at his father's grocery store. His father, also named Ivan, was a brave soldier in World War I.

Ivan grew up in a lively neighborhood in Harlem. Famous people like musician Josh White and writer Ralph Ellison lived on the same street! He also lived near the amazing tap-dancing brothers, Gregory Hines and Maurice Hines.

He went to Lincoln Academy, a private boarding school for Black students in North Carolina. After that, he earned a degree in drama in 1954 from North Carolina Central University (NCCU). This university is a historically black college, which means it was founded to educate Black students. Today, NCCU's theater group is called the Ivan Dixon Players, honoring him. He also studied drama at other places, like Case Western Reserve University and the American Theatre Wing.

Ivan Dixon's Acting and Directing Career

Ivan Dixon performed on stage, in movies, and in many TV shows. In 1957, he acted on Broadway in a play called The Cave Dwellers. In 1959, he was in the famous play A Raisin in the Sun.

In 1958, he worked as a stunt double for actor Sidney Poitier in the movie The Defiant Ones. He appeared in two episodes of the classic TV show The Twilight Zone. In one episode, "The Big Tall Wish", he played the main character in a cast that was mostly Black actors. In 1962, he acted alongside Dorothy Dandridge in an episode of Cain's Hundred.

In 1964, Ivan Dixon starred in the independent film Nothing But a Man. He was very proud of his performance in this movie. He also appeared in two episodes of the TV show The Fugitive.

Becoming a TV Star in Hogan's Heroes

Ivan Dixon's most famous role was as Staff Sergeant James "Kinch" Kinchloe in the TV comedy Hogan's Heroes. In the show, Kinchloe was a communications expert. He could translate German and was often the second-in-command to Colonel Hogan. Ivan Dixon played Kinchloe from 1965 to 1970. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his acting in the TV movie The Final War of Olly Winter (1967).

Directing Movies and TV Shows

From 1970 to 1993, Ivan Dixon mostly worked as a director for television shows and movies. He directed episodes of many popular series, including The Waltons, The Rockford Files, The Bionic Woman, Magnum, P.I., and The A-Team.

Ivan Dixon also directed feature films. His first movie as a director was the thriller Trouble Man. He also directed the 1973 film The Spook Who Sat by the Door. This movie was based on a book and was about the first Black CIA agent who uses his spy skills to lead a rebellion. The movie caused some discussion and was even pulled from theaters for a while. However, it later became a "cult classic" and was released on DVD. Ivan Dixon explained that the movie aimed to show Black anger, not to suggest violence.

Even while directing, Dixon sometimes took on acting roles in the 1970s and 80s. For example, he played Lonnie in the 1976 movie Car Wash. He also played a doctor in the TV miniseries Amerika (1987).

Later in his life, Ivan Dixon owned and operated a radio station in Hawaii. In 2001, he sold the station and moved due to health reasons.

Ivan Dixon's Family Life

In 1954, the same year he graduated from college, Ivan Dixon married Berlie Ray, who was also a theater student. They had four children together: three sons named Ivan IV, N'Gai Christopher, and Alan Kimara, and a daughter named Doris Nomathande.

Ivan Dixon's Death

Ivan Dixon passed away on March 16, 2008, at the age of 76. He died in Charlotte, North Carolina, due to problems from kidney failure. Sadly, his sons Ivan IV and N'Gai Christopher had passed away before him.

His wife, Berlie Ray Dixon, was born on April 5, 1930, and she passed away on February 9, 2019, at the age of 88.

Ivan Dixon's Filmography (Selected Roles)

Awards and Special Honors

Ivan Dixon received several awards for his work:

• National Black Theatre Award
• Paul Robeson Pioneer Award from the Black American Cinema Society

See also

In Spanish: Ivan Dixon para niños