Peter Marshall, Emmy-award winning game show host of “Hollywood Squares,” died of kidney failure Thursday in Encino. He was 98.
His wife Laurie said in a statement that he died at home.
Emmy-nominated 19 times, with five wins, he hosted more than 5,000 episodes of the original version of game show “The Hollywood Squares” and worked as an actor, singer and emcee.
Marshall was born Ralph Pierre LaCock in Huntington, W.V. He started his career as an NBC Radio page and usher at Paramount Theater. He served in the Army, working as a d.j. for Armed Forces Radio.
Marshall developed a comedy act with Tommy Noonan, touring the country and appearing on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” As a contract player at 20th Century Fox, he appeared in films including “Ensign Pulver,” “The Rookie” and “Annie.”
He was hired to host “The Hollywood Squares” staring in 1966, featuring regulars like Paul Lynde, Joahn Rivers, Rose Marie and hundreds of guest stars.
Marshall went on to host “The Peter Marshall Variety Show,” “Big Bands From Disneyland,” the audience participation series “Fantasy” with Leslie Uggams and game shows “All-Star Blitz” and “Yahtzee.”
He is survived by his wife Laurie, of 35 years, daughters Suzanne Browning (David) and Jaime Dimarco (Steve), son Pete LaCock (Janna) and predeceased by son David LaCock, as well as 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Donations can be made to either Actors & Others for Animals (https://actorsandothers.com/), the Lange Foundation (langefoundation.org) or the Mercy Kids Therapy and Development Center (https://www.mercy.net/practice/mercy-kids-therapy-and-development-center/).
