Peter Marshall, host of ‘Hollywood Squares,’ dies at 98 from kidney failure
Peter Marshall, notable for being the original host of the legendary game show “The Hollywood Squares,” has passed away at the age of 98.
Marshall, who began his role as host on NBC in 1966, passed away on Thursday from kidney failure at his residence in Encino, California, as confirmed by his spokesperson, Harlan Boll.
Born Ralph Pierre LaCock, Marshall hosted over 5,000 episodes of the Emmy-winning “Hollywood Squares” from 1966 to 1980 and also led a syndicated iteration of the show from 1971 to 1981.
In addition to his hosting work, Marshall had a diverse career in television, film, music, and theater.
As a contract actor at 20th Century Fox, Marshall featured in several films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including “Ensign Pulver,” “The Rookie,” “Swingin’ Along/Double Trouble Rookie,” “The Cavern,” and “Annie.”
Marshall performed alongside Broadway legend Chita Rivera in a West End rendition of “Bye Bye Birdie” in London and made his Broadway debut in 1965 with “Skyscraper,” featuring Julie Harris. His stage credits also include “High Button Shoes,” “Anything Goes,” “The Music Man,” and “42nd Street.”
Drafted into the Army in 1944, Marshall refined his hosting abilities as a disc jockey for Armed Forces Radio. Two decades later, he was selected as host of NBC’s “Hollywood Squares” after appearing in commercials for Kellogg’s cereals.
This popular game show featured a star-studded tic-tac-toe board, featuring nine celebrity guests and two contestants, with regular panelists including Paul Lynde, Joan Rivers, Rich Little, Rose Marie, George Gobel, and Wally Cox.
In addition to “Hollywood Squares,” Marshall hosted various other shows, such as “The Peter Marshall Variety Show,” “Big Bands from Disneyland,” “Fantasy” with Leslie Uggams, “All-Star Blitz,” and “Yahtzee.”
He is survived by his wife Laurie, daughters Suzanne Browning and Jaime Dimarco, as well as son Pete LaCock.
A new version of “Hollywood Squares,” with Nate Burleson hosting and actress and talk-show host Drew Barrymore in the center square, is scheduled to premiere on CBS in January.
