If you’re typing "is Kenneth Washington still alive" into a search bar, you’re likely looking for a specific face from television’s golden era or perhaps a high-profile name in the tech world. Names repeat in history. It’s confusing. Honestly, there is a lot of conflicting noise out there because several famous men share this name, and the news cycle recently shifted for one of them.
To give it to you straight: the beloved actor Kenneth Washington, the man who famously stepped into the barracks of Hogan’s Heroes, is no longer with us. He passed away on July 18, 2025. He was 88 years old. His death marked the end of an era, as he was the very last surviving member of the main cast from that iconic show.
What Happened to Actor Kenneth Washington?
Death is rarely a simple "breaking news" headline for actors who retired decades ago. For Kenneth Washington, the end came peacefully at his home in Beverly Hills, California. It wasn't until about a month later, in August 2025, that the specific details became public via his death certificate. According to reports from outlets like People, the official cause was cardiopulmonary arrest. He had also been privately battling prostate cancer.
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Other factors like respiratory failure and aspiration pneumonia played a part, which is often the case with health complications at that age. His cousin, Derek Olivia, was one of the first to share the news on social media, sparking a wave of nostalgia for fans of 1960s and 70s TV.
It’s easy to forget how much he actually did. While most people know him as Sergeant Richard Baker—the guy who replaced Ivan Dixon’s "Kinch" in the final season of Hogan’s Heroes—his career was a steady climb of "firsts."
He wasn't just a replacement actor. He was a pioneer.
The Legacy of a Hollywood Pioneer
When Kenneth Washington joined Hogan’s Heroes in 1970, he was making history. Think about the landscape of network television back then. Seeing a Black actor in a regular, non-stereotypical role on a major sitcom was still relatively rare. He carried that responsibility with a kind of quiet dignity that fans still talk about today.
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But his resume didn't start or stop with Stalag 13. You might remember him from:
- Adam-12, where he played Officer Miller for several episodes.
- Star Trek, appearing in the episode "That Which Survives" as the ill-fated engineer John B. Watkins.
- Westworld (the original 1973 film, not the HBO reboot).
- A Different World, which was actually his final on-screen credit in 1989.
The weird thing is that he didn't just stay in Hollywood. After he stopped acting, he basically walked away from the limelight to go back to school. He got his degree from Loyola Marymount University and then became a professor. He taught at Southwest College and Loyola Marymount, focusing on speech and the history of Black actors in film. He lived the "second act" that most people only talk about.
Why People Get Confused: The Other Kenneth Washingtons
Searching for "is Kenneth Washington still alive" often leads to a mix-up with two other very prominent men. This is where the internet gets messy.
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The NFL Legend: Kenny Washington
First, there’s the football trailblazer. Kenneth "Kenny" Washington was the man who broke the NFL color barrier in 1946 with the Los Angeles Rams. He was a UCLA teammate of Jackie Robinson. This Kenneth Washington passed away a long time ago—June 24, 1971—at just 52 years old. If you're looking for the athlete, he’s been gone for over half a century.
The Tech Giant: Dr. Ken Washington
Then you’ve got the modern-day powerhouse. Dr. Kenneth Washington is a massive name in technology and business. He served as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Ford Motor Company and worked at Amazon Lab126. As of early 2026, Dr. Ken Washington is very much alive and active. He is currently a top executive at Medtronic and sits on various boards. If you’re looking for the engineer who’s shaping the future of robotics and healthcare tech, he’s still working and doing quite well.
Remembering the Hogan's Heroes Star
It’s a bit surreal to realize that with Kenneth Washington’s passing in 2025, the entire main cast of Hogan's Heroes is gone. Robert Clary, who played LeBeau, was the second-to-last survivor until his death in late 2022.
Washington’s role as Sgt. Richard Baker was shorter than some of the others, but it was vital. He stepped into a difficult situation—joining a hit show in its final year—and managed to make the character his own without mimicking what had come before.
He is survived by his wife, Alice Marshall (a former editor at Variety), his children, and a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He lived a full, multi-faceted life that spanned from the segregated sets of 1950s Hollywood to the lecture halls of 21st-century universities.
If you want to honor his memory, the best way is probably to track down some of his early guest spots. His appearance on Petticoat Junction in 1969 was actually a milestone—he was the first Black actor to have a major guest role on that specific show. He was always breaking ground, even when the roles seemed small.
To keep your records straight:
- The Actor: Deceased (July 2025).
- The NFL Player: Deceased (June 1971).
- The Tech Executive: Alive and active in 2026.
Knowing which Kenneth Washington you’re looking for makes all the difference when navigating the history books.
Actionable Insight: If you’re a fan of classic television, you can currently find most of Kenneth Washington's work, including his season of Hogan's Heroes and his Star Trek appearance, on various streaming platforms like Pluto TV or Paramount+. It’s worth a watch to see a real professional at work during a pivotal time in TV history.