Page "Hogan's Heroes" Paragraph 25

Royal Air Force Corporal Peter Newkirk ( British-American actor Richard Dawson ) is the group's conman, magician, pick-pocket, card sharp, forger, bookie, tailor, lock picker, safe cracker and impersonator of German officers ( and on one occasion, Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during the war ); on numerous occasions Newkirk also impersonates women to fool the Germans and help the underground movement.

He also is in charge of making uniforms and assisting in distracting the Germans to perform other sabotage.

This series marked Dawson's second appearance on American television ( he had earlier appeared on an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1963 ).

Dawson auditioned for the role of Hogan, but was told he did not sound American enough.

In the version translated for broadcast in Germany, Newkirk's pronounced British accent was replaced by a simulation of stuttering.

Newkirk is also a skilled tailor, often called upon to make or alter uniforms and other disguises.

Newkirk was also teamed with Carter and his irritation at Carter's bumbling antics and lack of common sense was often used for comedic effect.

Newkirk is called " the Englander " by Schultz and sometimes even Klink in some of the episodes.

It can be argued that he was the first POW at Stalag 13.