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]

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

Early life

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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

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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 and S8 E25 “The Silver Lady” 1965), 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

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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

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1957The Tales of Wells FargoMittCredited
1958The Light in the ForestFiddlerUncredited
1958Gunsmoke in TucsonClem Haney
1958GunsmokeBill Jennings
1959GunsmokeConey ThornEpisode: Love of A Woman
1959Pork Chop HillCorporal Kissell
1960The Twilight ZoneCaptain James WebberEpisode "Elegy" (S1E20)
1961The Untouchables"Swede" KelsoEpisode "Stranglehold"
1961StraightawayFrazerEpisode "The Stranger"
1962MaverickJustin RadcliffeEpisode "One of Our Trains is Missing" (S5E13)
1962GunsmokeBowman“Wagon Girls” (S7E27)
1962Rider on a Dead HorseJake Fry
1963The VirginianOscar SwensonEpisode "Run Away Home"
1963The Man from GalvestonJohn Dillard
1964Rio Conchos"Blondebeard"
1964GunsmokeEmmett GinnisEpisode “No Hands” (S9E19)
1965ShenandoahMule, Rebel DeserterDaniel Boone (Tv show) John Dobson
1966Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (TV series)HoldenEpisode'"The Shape Of Doom"'(S2E20)
1967The Ride to Hangman's TreePrisonerUncredited
1967The Last ChallengeFrank Garrison
1967The High ChaparralTannerEpisode "Shadows on the Land"
1967The Time TunnelSgt. MaddoxEpisode "The Death Merchant"
1968Big ValleyUnknownEpisode The Long Ride
1968Mission: ImpossibleDavid WebsterEpisode "The Condemned"
1969The Learning TreeTim "Doc" Cravens
1973Gentle SavageKen Shaeffer
1974-1984Little House on the PrairieHiram "Doc" Baker113 episodes + 3 TV movies
1978Quincy, M.E.Dr. Dale AlbersEpisode: A Night to Raise the Dead
1978M*A*S*HMajor GossS7E2 - Peace on Us
1980The HunterPoker Player #2
1986PowerCop
1990The AmbulanceCop At Stables(final film role)

References

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  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.
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