Kevin Hagen (April 3, 1928 – July 9, 2005) was an American actor best known for his role as Dr. Hiram Baker on NBC's TV series Little House on the Prairie.
Kevin Hagen played Ed Bosworth in a 1958 episode of Have Gun - Will Travel, titled "Three Sons."
Early life Hagen was born in Chicago, Illinois, to professional ballroom dancers, 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.
Hagen attended Portland's Jefferson High School. 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.
Acting roles
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(playing Ed Bosworth in "Three Sons" S1E34, 1958), 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, The High Chapparal, 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 and death
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.
In 2004, Hagen was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. He died on July 9, 2005, at his home in Grants Pass. Hagen was survived by his son, Kristopher, and his wife, Jan, whom he married in 1993.
Filmography YearTitleRoleNotes 1957 The Tales of Wells Fargo Mitt 1958 The Light in the Forest Fiddler Uncredited Gunsmoke in Tucson Clem Haney Gunsmoke Bill Jennings 1959 Gunsmoke Coney ThornEpisode: "Love of A Woman" Pork Chop Hill Corporal Kissell 1960 The Twilight Zone Captain James Webber Episode: "Elegy" 1961 The Untouchables "Swede" Kelso Episode: "Stranglehold" Straightaway Frazer Episode: "The Stranger" 1961–1967 Bonanza Various 5 episodes1962Maverick Justin Radcliffe Episode: "One of Our Trains is Missing" Gunsmoke Bowman Episode: "Wagon Girls" Rider on a Dead Horse Jake Fry 1963 The Virginian Oscar Swenson Episode: "Run Away Home" The Man from Galveston John Dillard 1964 The Twilight Zone Pete Radcliff Episode: "You Drive" Rio Conchos Major Johnson, aka "Blondebeard" Gunsmoke Emmett Ginnis Episode: "No Hands" 1965 Shenandoah Mule, Rebel Deserter 1966 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Holden Episode: "The Shape Of Doom"1966 The Time TunnelGreek Sword LeaderEpisode "Revenge of the Gods"1966The Time TunnelMcDonnellEpisode "Secret Weapon"1967BonanzaBrother GuyEpisode: S9.E10 Showdown at Tahoe The Ride to Hangman's Tree Prisoner Uncredited The Last Challenge Frank Garrison The High Chaparral Tanner Episode "Shadows on the Land" The Time Tunnel Sgt. Maddox Episode: "The Death Merchant" The Time Tunnel Alien Planet Leader Episode: "Raiders from Outer Space" 1968–1970 Land of the Giants Inspector Dobbs Kobick 9 episodes 1968 Big Valley Unknown Episode: "The Long Ride" Mission: Impossible David Webster Episode: "The Condemned" 1969 The Learning Tree Tim "Doc" Cravens 1969 Mission: Impossible Kurt Lom Episode: "Illusion" 1973 Gentle Savage Ken Shaeffer 1974–1984 Little House on the Prairie Hiram "Doc" Baker 113 episodes & 3 TV movies1976 M*A*S*HColonel Coner Episode: "Some 38th Parallels” 1978 Quincy, M.E. Dr. Dale Albers Episode: "A Night to Raise the Dead"M*A*S*HMajor GossEpisode: "Peace on Us" 1980 The Hunter Poker Player #2 1986 Power Cop 1990 The Ambulance Cop At Stables Final film role
References
External links
Series-80 - Biography TV Land - Little House on the Prairie