Kevin Hagen

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

Kevin Hagen
Born(1928-04-03)April 3, 1928
DiedJuly 9, 2005(2005-07-09) (aged 77)
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2004
Spouse
(m. 1993)

Kevin Hagen (April 3, 1928 – July 9, 2005)[1] was an american actor best known for his role as Dr. Hiram Baker on NBC's TV series Little House on the Prairie.[2]

Early life[edit]

Hagen was born in Chicago, Illinois, to professional ballroom dancers,[2] Haakon Olaf Hagen and Marvel Lucile Wadsworth. After his father deserted the family, Hagen was raised by his mother, grandmother, and aunts. As a 15-year-old, he relocated to Portland, Oregon, where one of his aunts had taken a teaching job.[citation needed]

Hagen attended Portland's Jefferson High School.[2] His family returned to Chicago, and he attended Oregon State University in Corvallis and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, from which he received a degree in international relations.[citation needed]

Acting roles[edit]

Kevin Hagen in Little House on the Prairie

Hagen's first regular role on a series was in 1958 playing John Colton, the city administrator of New Orleans in the CBS Western Yancy Derringer.

On April 29, 1962, Hagen was cast in the episode "Cort" of Lawman.

Hagen guest-starred on Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Laramie, Have Gun - Will Travel, Mannix, The Time Tunnel, and Perry Mason. He made three appearances on Mason. In 1958 he played Sgt. Burke in "The Case of the Sardonic Sergeant"; in (1965) he played murderer Jacob Leonard in "The Case of the Gambling Lady", and Samuel Carleton in "The Case of the Fugitive Fraulein." Hagan appeared as Inspector Dobbs Kobick in nine episodes of Land of the Giants from 1968 to 1970.

Other appearances included Tales of Wells Fargo, The Untouchables, Bat Masterson, Riverboat, Wagon Train (S1 E21 "The Annie MacGregor Story" 1958), Outlaws, Straightaway, GE True, Hawaiian Eye, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Twilight Zone, Daniel Boone, Blue Light, Mission: Impossible, Rawhide, 77 Sunset Strip, M*A*S*H, The Rifleman (as Billy St.John in S2 E31 "The Prodigal" 1960), Lancer, The Virginian, The Guns of Will Sonnett, The Cowboys, Lost in Space, The Silent Force, Sara, Quincy, M.E., Simon and Simon, and Knots Landing.

Hagen played a Confederate renegade who kills James Stewart's son and daughter-in-law in the 1965 film Shenandoah. His most famous role was Doc Baker on Little House on the Prairie.

Personal life[edit]

In 1992, Hagen moved to Grants Pass in southwestern Oregon where he performed in concerts, dinner theaters, and on stage in Medford, Ashland, and Grants Pass, including the one-man show A Playful Dose of Prairie Wisdom.[2][3]

In 2004, Hagen was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He died on July 9, 2005, at his home in Grants Pass.[2][4] Hagen was survived by his son, Kristopher, and his wife, Jan, whom he married in 1993.[2]

Filmography[edit]

1957 The Tales of Wells Fargo Mitt Credited
1958 The Light in the Forest Fiddler Uncredited
1958 Gunsmoke in Tucson Clem Haney
1958 Gunsmoke Bill Jennings
1959 Gunsmoke Coney Thorn Episode: Love of A Woman
1959 Pork Chop Hill Corporal Kissell
1960 The Twilight Zone Captain James Webber Episode "Elegy" (S1E20)
1961 The Untouchables "Swede" Kelso Episode "Stranglehold"
1961 Straightaway Frazer Episode "The Stranger"
1962 Maverick Justin Radcliffe Episode "One of Our Trains is Missing" (S5E13)
1962 Gunsmoke Bowman “Wagon Girls” (S7E27)
1962 Rider on a Dead Horse Jake Fry
1963 The Virginian Oscar Swenson Episode "Run Away Home"
1963 The Man from Galveston John Dillard
1964 Rio Conchos "Blondebeard"
1964 Gunsmoke Emmett Ginnis Episode “No Hands” (S9E19)
1965 Shenandoah Mule, Rebel Deserter Daniel Boone (Tv show) John Dobson
1966 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series) Holden Episode'"The Shape Of Doom"'(S2E20)
1967 The Ride to Hangman's Tree Prisoner Uncredited
1967 The Last Challenge Frank Garrison
1967 The High Chaparral Tanner Episode "Shadows on the Land"
1967 The Time Tunnel Sgt. Maddox Episode "The Death Merchant"
1968 Big Valley Unknown Episode The Long Ride
1968 Mission: Impossible David Webster Episode "The Condemned"
1969 The Learning Tree Tim "Doc" Cravens
1973 Gentle Savage Ken Shaeffer
1974-1984 Little House on the Prairie Hiram "Doc" Baker 113 episodes + 3 TV movies
1978 Quincy, M.E. Dr. Dale Albers Episode: A Night to Raise the Dead
1978 M*A*S*H Major Goss S7E2 - Peace on Us
1980 The Hunter Poker Player #2
1986 Power Cop
1990 The Ambulance Cop At Stables (final film role)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hayward, Anthony (July 28, 2005). "Kevin Hagen: Kindly Doc Baker in 'Little House on the Prairie'". The Independent. London, UK. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Doc Baker on 'Little House' dies at 77". USA Today. Associated Press. July 11, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  3. ^ "Little House Star Kevin Hagen Dies at 77". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 12, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  4. ^ Times Staff and Wire Reports (July 13, 2005). "Kevin Hagen, 77; Doc Baker in 'Little House on the Prairie'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 12, 2015.

External links[edit]