Peter Marshall, ‘Hollywood Squares’ Host, Dies at 98
variety.comPat Saperstein Deputy Editor 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 appeared in dozens of movies, stage musicals and TV shows.
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 NBC’s long-running “The Hollywood Squares” starting in 1966, featuring regulars like Paul Lynde, Joan Rivers, Rose Marie and hundreds of guest stars.
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