Kevin Hagen

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 Little House on the Prairie.[2]

For the baseball pitcher, see Kevin Hagen (baseball).
Kevin Hagen
Born(1928-04-03)April 3, 1928
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2005(2005-07-09) (aged 77)
Grants Pass, Oregon, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1958–2004
Spouse(s)Adaline Sohns Heidt (1960–?) (divorced)
Susanne Cramer (1967–1969, her death)
Dorali Dossantos (1969–) (divorced) 1 child
Jan Hagen (1993–2005, his death) 1 child

Background

Hagen was born in Chicago, Illinois, to professional ballroom dancers,[2] Haakon Olaf Hagen and Marvel Lucile Wadsworth. When Haakon Hagen deserted his family, young Hagen was reared 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. 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. Hagen spent a year in law school at the University of California, Los Angeles, and was employed by the U.S. State Department in West Germany then spent two years in the United States Navy. Hagen taught ballroom dancing for the Arthur Murray. At age 27 Hagen was spotted in a production of Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms and given a guest-starring role on the classic 1950s police series Dragnet, starring Jack Webb.

Acting roles
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.[3]

Hagen guest-starred on Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Laramie, Have Gun - Will Travel, Mannix, The Time Tunnel, and Perry Mason. He appeared as Inspector Dobbs Kobick in nine episodes of Land of the Giants from 1968-70.

Other appearances included Bat Masterson, Riverboat, Wagon Train, Outlaws, Straightaway, GE True, 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, 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

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][4]

Hagen was married to actress Susanne Cramer until her death in 1969.

In 2004, Hagen was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He died on July 9, 2005 at his home in Grants Pass.[2][5] Hagen was survived by his wife, Jan, whom he met in 1993, and his son, Kristopher.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Little House on the Prairie Role Hiram Baker "Doc Baker" Notes
1958The Light in the ForestFiddlerUncredited
1958Gunsmoke in TucsonClem Haney
1959Pork Chop HillCpl. Kissell
1962Rider on a Dead HorseJake Fry
1963The VirginianOscar SwensonEpisode "Run Away Home"
1963The Man from GalvestonJohn Dillard
1964Rio ConchosBlondebeard
1965ShenandoahMule - Rebel Deserter
1967The Ride to Hangman's TreePrisonerUncredited
1967The Last ChallengeFrank Garrison
1967The High ChaparralTannerEpisode "Shadows on the Land"
1969The Learning TreeDoc Tim Cravens
1973Gentle SavageKen Shaeffer
1980The HunterPoker Player #2
1986PowerCop
1990The AmbulanceCop at Stables(final film role)
gollark: You seem like a "haha yes the government must intervene in everything" person.
gollark: I can tell.
gollark: * boxes
gollark: Anyway, you'll be the first to be put in the box.
gollark: Do you understand "sarcasm"?

References
  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. "Doc Baker on 'Little House' dies at 77". USA Today. Associated Press. July 11, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  3. ""Cort" (April 29, 1962)". Internet Movie Data Base. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  4. "Little House Star Kevin Hagen Dies at 77". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. July 12, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  5. 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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