Peter Marshall, the iconic host of "Hollywood Squares," has passed away at the age of 98 in Los Angeles. The entertainer, known for his versatility and charisma, succumbed to kidney failure on August 15, 2024, leaving behind a legacy that spans decades in the entertainment industry.
Born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30, 1926, in Huntington, West Virginia, Marshall's journey to stardom began in his youth. Standing at an impressive 6'3" by age 14, he moved to New York City as a teenager, where he worked as a page at NBC studios in Rockefeller Center. This early exposure to the entertainment world would shape his future career.
Marshall's path to fame was diverse and eventful. During World War II, he served in an artillery unit in Italy and later became a popular disc jockey in Naples, entertaining soldiers across Europe. Upon returning to the United States, he briefly worked as a numbers runner for an illegal bookie before fully committing to his entertainment career.
The turning point in Marshall's career came in 1966 when he became the inaugural host of "Hollywood Squares." For 15 years, he presided over more than 5,000 episodes of the celebrity game show, which became a staple of daytime television. Marshall's affable demeanor and quick wit made him the perfect foil for the show's celebrity guests, including comedians Joan Rivers and Jonathan Winters, and actors Helen Hayes and George C. Scott.
"It was the easiest thing I have ever done in show business. No rehearsal. I walked in and said, 'Hello, stars,' I read questions and laughed and got paid wonderfully well."
The show's format, based on tic-tac-toe, featured celebrities offering responses to questions, often with humorous or risqué comments. Marshall kept the show moving at a brisk pace, recording five episodes - a week's worth - in a single day. He recalled that after the lunch break, "Everyone would drink, wine flowed. The last two shows were hysterical."
Marshall's talents extended beyond hosting. He appeared in the 1964 film "Ensign Pulver" and starred in the 1965 Broadway musical "Skyscraper." In the mid-1980s, he took on a leading role in the national touring production of "La Cage aux Folles," later starring in the Broadway production for a year.
Throughout his career, Marshall recorded several albums as a singer and published a memoir, "Backstage With the Original Hollywood Square," in 2000. He won five Emmy Awards for his work on "Hollywood Squares," cementing his place in television history.
Peter Marshall's personal life was as colorful as his career. He was married three times and is survived by his wife of 35 years, Laurie Stewart, three children, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. His son, Pete LaCock, had a successful career as a professional baseball player with the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals.
As we bid farewell to this entertainment legend, we remember Peter Marshall not just as the host of "Hollywood Squares," but as a multifaceted talent who left an indelible mark on American popular culture.