Peter Marshall obit

Peter Marshall Dies: Longtime ‘Hollywood Squares’ Host, Comic & Actor Was 98

 

He was not on the list.

Peter Marshall, who hosted the popular game show The Hollywood Squares for more than 15 years and had a long career as an actor, singer and comic, died today of kidney failure at his Encino home. He was 98. His publicist Harlan Boll confirmed to news to Deadline.

Marshall won four Daytime Emmys for hosting the syndicated Hollywood Squares from 1966-81. The tic-tac-toe game featured two contestants agreeing or disagreeing with celebrities who provided answers to Marshall’s questions — which ranged from silly to ribald. The format has been revived a few times over the years, with a new edition hosted by Nate Burleson with Drew Barrymore in the famed center square is to premiere in midseason.

Among the scores of stars who appeared on Hollywood Squares were Walter Matthau, Gloria Swanson, Glenn Ford, and Milton Berle, as well as regulars Paul Lynde — who often killed as the center square — Rose Marie, Nipsey Russell, Cliff Arquette, and Wally Cox.

Marshall went on to host other TV game shows including All-Star Blitz and Yahtzee.

“Listen to people, have fun, and know the game. That’s basically all you have to do to be a good game show host,” Marshall said in a 2019 interview for the Television Academy Foundation. “Know the game thoroughly so if something goes wrong, you know how to rectify it. And most importantly, enjoy the people.”

He also hosted The Peter Marshall Variety Show, Big Bands from Disneyland and the audience participation series Fantasy with Leslie Uggams.

Born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30, 1926, in Huntington, WV, Marshall had a long career in showbiz before his Hollywood Squares gig. Boasting a memorable voice, he worked as a DJ for Armed Forces Radio after being drafted into the Army stint during World War II and as an NBC page and a theater usher. Marshall teamed with Tommy Noonan in 1949 for a comedy act that sold out nightclubs and did The Ed Sullivan Show twice. They appeared together in movies including The Rookie (1959) and Swingin’ Along (1961).

He had bit parts in some early 1950s movies and became an contract player at Twentieth Century Fox, appearing in such films as Ensign Pulver, The Cavern and Annie, in which he played radio crooner Bert Healy.

Marshall got his TV start guesting on ’50s variety shows as part of a comedy team with Tommy Farrell. Later that decade, he appeared in episodes of series including Men of Annapolis and The Millionaire. He also appeared in Manhattan Tower, the first color special NBC aired.

Marshall made his Broadway debut in the short-lived 1961 play How to Make a Man and returned as a star of the 1965-66 musical Skyscraper. Those shows came after he starred with Chita Rivera in Bye Bye Birdie on stage in London’s West End. His other musical theater credits High Button Shoes, Anything Goes, The Music Man and 42nd Street. From 1983-87, Marshall performed the lead role of Georges in more than 800 performances of La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway and its national tour. He also starred for two years as Lenny Ganz in the national tour of Neil Simon’s Rumors.

Marshall authored the 2002 memoir Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square.

He is survived by his Laurie, his wife of 35 years; daughters Suzanne Browning (husband David) and Jaime Dimarco (fusband Steve); son Pete LaCock (wife Janna); 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Another son, David LaCock, died of Covid complications in 2021.

 

Actor

Minimize Me (2011)

Minimize Me

Short

Annie's Father

2011

 

Teddy Bears' Picnic (2001)

Teddy Bears' Picnic

3.9

Peter Marshall

2001

 

Ashli Adams, Tyrone Burton, Suzzanne Douglas, Reagan Gomez-Preston, Robert Townsend, and Curtis Williams in The Parent 'Hood (1995)

The Parent 'Hood

7.0

TV Series

Chuck Roxbury

1997

1 episode

 

Heather Tom, Thorsten Kaye, and Katherine Kelly Lang in The Bold and the Beautiful (1987)

The Bold and the Beautiful

3.4

TV Series

1997

1 episode

 

Melissa Joan Hart in Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996)

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

6.7

TV Series

Game Show Host

1997

1 episode

 

Gene Barry and Peter Barton in Burke's Law (1994)

Burke's Law

6.5

TV Series

Glen Dowling

1995

1 episode

 

Last Dance (1993)

Last Dance

5.1

Host in Blackpool

1993

 

Anne-Marie Martin, Harrison Page, and David Rasche in Sledge Hammer! (1986)

Sledge Hammer!

8.1

TV Series

Bob Kenny

1986

1 episode

 

Tony Lo Bianco and Lindsay Wagner in Jessie (1984)

Jessie

7.4

TV Series

Prestwick

1984

1 episode

 

Desi Arnaz Jr. and Chuck Wagner in Automan (1983)

Automan

6.8

TV Series

Keith Gillette

1984

1 episode

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

Garrett Rhodes

1983

1 episode

 

H.M.S. Pinafore (1982)

H.M.S. Pinafore

6.1

TV Movie

Captain Corcoran

1982

 

Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)

The Love Boat

6.3

TV Series

Franklin

Dr. Todd Gardner

1979–1982

2 episodes

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.4

TV Series

Vincent

Peter Marshall

1979–1982

3 episodes

 

Aileen Quinn in Annie (1982)

Annie

6.6

Bert Healy

1982

 

Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)

Fantasy Island

6.6

TV Series

Tom Wilkerson

1981

1 episode

 

Loni Anderson, Tim Reid, Frank Bonner, Howard Hesseman, Gordon Jump, Richard Sanders, and Gary Sandy in WKRP in Cincinnati (1978)

WKRP in Cincinnati

8.0

TV Series

Phil Tarry

1980

1 episode

 

Edward Asner in Lou Grant (1977)

Lou Grant

7.3

TV Series

Art McQueen

1979

1 episode

 

Americathon (1979)

Americathon

4.5

Peter Marshall

1979

 

A Guide for the Married Woman (1978)

A Guide for the Married Woman

5.2

TV Movie

Fred Hurley

1978

 

Billy Crystal and Joan Rivers in Rabbit Test (1978)

Rabbit Test

3.1

Peter Marshall (as Peter La Cock)

1978

 

Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue (1977)

Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue

7.4

TV Mini Series

Brian Whitfield

1977

1 episode

 

Big Hawaii (1977)

Big Hawaii

5.8

TV Series

Fred Whipple

1977

1 episode

 

Art Carney in Lanigan's Rabbi (1976)

Lanigan's Rabbi

6.2

TV Series

Mike Alessio

1977

1 episode

 

Happy Anniversary and Goodbye (1974)

Happy Anniversary and Goodbye

5.6

TV Movie

Greg Carter

1974

 

George Peppard in Banacek (1972)

Banacek

7.7

TV Series

Hal Parker

1974

1 episode

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

Stan (segment "Love and the Weirdo")

Freddie Knockman (segment "Love and the Amateur Night")

Arnold Pfister (segment "Love and the Mountain Cabin")

1969–1973

3 episodes

 

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

8.0

TV Series

Guest Performer

1972

2 episodes

 

The Good Life (1971)

The Good Life

6.6

TV Series

Trevor Phipps

1971

1 episode

 

Maryjane (1968)

Maryjane

5.2

1968

 

Ensign Pulver (1964)

Ensign Pulver

5.9

Carney (as Peter L. Marshall)

1964

 

The Cavern (1964)

The Cavern

6.1

Lt. Peter Carter (as Peter L. Marshall)

1964

 

Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

77 Sunset Strip

7.7

TV Series

Charles Bell

1963

1 episode

 

The Lucy Show (1962)

The Lucy Show

7.2

TV Series

Hughie

1963

1 episode

 

Ed Sullivan in The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

The Ed Sullivan Show

7.9

TV Series

Comedian (as Noonan and Marshall)

1960–1961

2 episodes

 

Barbara Eden, Ray Charles, Peter Marshall, Tommy Noonan, Bobby Vee, and Roger Williams in Swingin' Along (1961)

Swingin' Along

4.7

Duke (as Pete Marshall)

1961

 

Peter Marshall, Julie Newmar, and Tommy Noonan in The Rookie (1959)

The Rookie

3.5

MSgt. Pete Marshall

Japanese Submarine Sailor (as Pete Marshall)

1959

 

Frank McHugh and Marvin Miller in The Millionaire (1955)

The Millionaire

7.8

TV Series

Harry Mercer

1959

1 episode

 

Wendell Corey in Harbor Command (1957)

Harbor Command

7.7

TV Series

Pinkey Parker

1958

1 episode

 

Men of Annapolis (1957)

Men of Annapolis

6.9

TV Series

Coach

1957

1 episode

 

The 20th Century-Fox Hour (1955)

The 20th Century-Fox Hour

7.2

TV Series

Mechanic (uncredited)

1956

1 episode

 

Saturday Spectacular: Manhattan Tower

9.0

TV Movie

Steven

1956

 

John Ireland in The 49th Man (1953)

The 49th Man

5.9

Leo Wayne

1953

 

James Cagney, Gary Cooper, Doris Day, Randolph Scott, Virginia Gibson, Ron Hagerthy, Phil Harris, Frank Lovejoy, Gordon MacRae, Virginia Mayo, Gene Nelson, Lucille Norman, Louella Parsons, Ruth Roman, Janice Rule, Dick Wesson, Jane Wyman, and Patrice Wymore in Starlift (1951)

Starlift

5.8

Peter Marshall (as Noonan and Marshall)

1951

 

F.B.I. Girl (1951)

F.B.I. Girl

6.0

Television Act (as Pete Marshall)

1951

 

Ike Carpenter, The Cass County Boys, Mary Beth Hughes, Nappy Lamare, Peter Marshall, Tommy Noonan, Tex Ritter, David Street, Wally Vernon, and Gloria Grey in Holiday Rhythm (1950)

Holiday Rhythm

6.7

Orderly

1950

 

Ann Dvorak and John Ireland in The Return of Jesse James (1950)

The Return of Jesse James

5.8

George

1950

 

Let There Be Stars

TV Series

1949

1 episode

 

Writer

My Music: The Big Band Years (2009)

My Music: The Big Band Years

8.4

TV Movie

introductions

2009

 

Georg Stanford Brown in Black Jack (1972)

Black Jack

5.7

original story

1972

 

Maryjane (1968)

Maryjane

5.2

writer

1968

 

Soundtrack

Aileen Quinn in Annie (1982)

Annie

6.6

performer: "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile" (uncredited)

1982

 

Renee Anderson, Wanda Bailey, Patricia Mickey, Susie Ewing, Jackie Chidsey, Micki McGlone, Paula Cinko, The Golddiggers, Pauline Antony, Rosie Cox Gitlin, and Michelle DellaFave in Dean Martin Presents the Golddiggers (1968)

Chevrolet Presents the Golddiggers

8.2

TV Series

performer: "Applause Medley"

1973

1 episode

 

The John Byner Comedy Hour (1972)

The John Byner Comedy Hour

8.0

TV Series

performer: "Beautiful"

1972

1 episode

 

Peter Marshall, Julie Newmar, and Tommy Noonan in The Rookie (1959)

The Rookie

3.5

performer: "I'm Goin' Home" (uncredited)

1959