Actor Kenneth Washington Has Passed Away
Kenneth Washington, best known for his role as Sergeant Baker on Hogan’s Heroes, has passed away. He died on July 18 at the age of 88.
Washington’s family confirmed the news on social media. His cousin posted a tribute on Facebook in memory of the actor.
“Yesterday we had to say goodbye to my big cousin Kenneth Washington,” they wrote, sharing multiple photos of Washington. “Kenneth was surrounded by friends and family whom loved him. Rest in eternal peace.”
Born in Ethel, Mississippi, in 1935, Kenneth Washington began his acting career in the 1950s after moving to Los Angeles.
During his acting career, Washington appeared in a handful of films, including Westworld and the Jerry Lewis comedy Hook, Line & Sinker.
However, he found greater success on television, landing guest roles in popular shows like The Rockford Files, Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, and My Three Sons.
He later appeared in eight episodes of the police drama Adam-12 as Officer Miller.
Following that, he landed his recurring role as Sergeant Richard Baker in 1970 on the popular sitcom Hogan’s Heroes.
Washington held the role until Hogan’s Heroes was canceled by CBS, just one year later.
He was the last surviving main cast member of the series.
In 1989, he made his final on-screen appearance. It was in the sitcom A Different World, starring alongside Jasmine Guy, Lisa Bonet, and Kadeem Hardison.
After stepping away from acting, Washington chose to go back to school and eventually earned his college degree from Loyola Marymount University, according to Variety.
In 2001, he married Alice Marshall, who was the editor-in-chief of a local newspaper and also a film reviewer.
Washington is survived by his wife, his brother Johnnie, and sister Aaliyah Akbar; his children Kim Lee, Kenneth Jr., and Quianna Stokes-Washington, as well as three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.