R.I.P. Peter Marshall, original host of ''The Hollywood Squares''

He almost turned down the job that earned him four Daytime Emmys. The entertainer and host was 98 years old.

The Everett Collection

Peter Marshall, known for his role as host of the 1966 game show The Hollywood Squares,has passed away.

Born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30, 1926, Marshall knew from a young age that he wanted to be in show business. By 14 he was working as an usher in the famous Paramount Theater, and by 15 he was earning $50 a week singing with the Bob Chester Band.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army after graduating high school, where he was recruited as a disc jockey at a radio station in Naples, Italy. After serving, he met Tommy Noonan, and the two formed a comedy duo known as Noonan & Marshall. Together, the duo performed in night clubs, appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and even landed a few roles in movies as a comedy team.

In 1961, Marshall replaced Dick Van Dyke as the lead of the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie during its West End run in London. 

In 1966, he landed the gig that would be his most memorable, and he almost turned it down. Morey Amsterdam recommended Marshall as the host of The Hollywood Squares, replacing Bert Parks from the game show's pilot. Marshall initially was not interested, but upon hearing that the other entertainer up for the job was Dan Rowan, of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and who Marshall held a personal grudge against, he took the position to make sure that Rowan wouldn't get it. (Marshall resented that Rowan had not visited Tommy Noonan during his fight with terminal brain cancer, after Noonan & Marshall had written for Rowan & Martin.)

Hollywood Squares featured celebrities sitting in nine boxes, who would offer responses to questions posed by the host and judged by the contestants. Certain celebrities became known as regulars on the show, like Paul Lynde, Cliff Arquette, Rich Little, Wally Cox, Roddy McDowall, Rose Marie, Demond Wilson, and many more. Paul Lynde earned three Daytime Emmy nominations for his zingers.

Marshall himself took home four Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Game Show Host, and in 2007 was one of the first inductees in the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.

Marshall hosted Hollywood Squares from 1966 to 1981 and said that it was "the easiest job I ever had."

Though he is best known for Hollywood Squares, Marshall turned up in TV and movies outside of the game show, including guest roles on WKRP in Cincinnati, The Love Boat, The Lucy Show, and Fantasy Island. In 1982 he had a role in the musical movie Annie starring Albert Finney and Carol Burnett. Marshall played a radio host who helps broadcast Annie's search for her long-lost parents.

The host and entertainer was 98 years old.

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64 Comments

Kramden62 3 months ago
I also remember Peter Marshall in another game (as well as variety) show, "Fantasy," which he hosted with Leslie Uggams and ran for one year, 1982 - 1983. Some of the music acts were rather cornball (Marshall showed disdain whenever a contestant who did some good rock & roll was featured), but "Fantasy" was much better when it focused on human interest stories (there is one episode of "Fantasy" available on YouTube).

And in 1968 Marshall made a vocal album for Dot Records called "For the Love of Pete." One of the tracks, "Silly Song," was the "Hollywood Squares" theme with lyrics. An interesting but good album for anyone who didn't know Marshall was a singer as well as a game show host. (Sad to say, UMG Recordings, whose Geffen Records label currently holds the rights to "For the Love of Pete," suffered a warehouse fire that destroyed all the company's master tapes about a decade ago, and therefore the master of Marshall's album is now lost. If UMG licensed anybody to rerelease Marshall's album on CD, it would most likely be sourced from a "needle drop.")

In any event, yet another great talent has left us. RIP, Peter Marshall. You will be missed.
cperrynaples Kramden62 3 months ago
For those of you out there who don't understand "needle drop", understand that we oldsters didn't had digital technology! In the words of Dana Carvey's Grumpy Old Man", we had to listen to music on vinyl records which required a needle! Sometimes, the needle would scratch the album and the music would skip, but "we loved it"...LOL!
CortneyNicole 3 months ago
Nice story. He was the best original host of Hollywood Square.

RIP Mr. Peter Marshall 🙏🏼
Badge714 3 months ago
He was a great TV show personality and I probably would've changed my name too if I had that one.
Melfins2024 3 months ago
Hollywood Squares was the funniest game show ever. Peter Marshall played the perfect straight man to everyone's quips and jokes.

One of the funniest was when Peter asked Charlie Weaver (Cliff Arquette) this question. He said " Chuck, true or false, when you die you see your whole life flash before your eyes." And Charlie answered " That's true, but when I die I want to see Ann Margaret's life flash before my eyes."

Classic.
cperrynaples Melfins2024 3 months ago
Yep, he was a dirty old man! His son was on a lot of old shows and his grandchildren still perform! For example, Patricia Arquette is the evil boss on Severance, a great show on AppleTV+!
Moverfan Melfins2024 7 days ago
Peter: Why do motorcycle riders wear leather?

Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles!
Muleskinner 3 months ago
His son was Major League Baseball player Pete LaCock.
DS62 3 months ago
It’s so sad as these Entertainers of our young adulthood pass away. I loved watching Hollywood Squares with my mom and we’d get such a kick out of the zingers and enjoyed Peter Marshall’s relaxed, entertaining yet sophisticated manner. R.I.P. Mr. Marshall.
OVkid 3 months ago
His sister was the 1950s actress Joanne Dru.
George58 3 months ago
Sad to hear this. Watched Hollywood Squares a lot. Charlie Weaver was also a regular on there. As far as celebrity's go, deaths usually occur in three's. Just this past week, Greg Kihn died, then Jack Russell ex-singer for the band, Great White. And now Peter Marshall. R.I.P.
cperrynaples George58 3 months ago
Fun Fact: Kihn appeared in Weird Al's "I Lost On Jeopardy"! Bonus Question: Which 2 game show legends also appeared? PS Gena Rolands also died! Most people remember her in The Notebook!
Susilla George58 3 months ago
And also Gena Rowlands and now Alain Delon. 😢
cperrynaples Susilla 3 months ago
Sorry for the misspell on Gena Rowlands!Let's not forget Phil Donahue!
cperrynaples cperrynaples 3 months ago
PS Bonus Question: what recent MeTV star wrote the Donahue theme? Hint: His show was dropped from MeTV but still runs on MeTV+!
Kramden62 cperrynaples 3 months ago
Don O'Grady (Agratti), also of the group "Yellow Balloon."
cperrynaples Kramden62 3 months ago
Yep, Robbie Douglas of My 3 Sons! Fun Fact: Stanley Livingston AKA Ernie Douglas can STILL be seen in guest roles! He's bald, but he still has that face!
Moverfan cperrynaples 7 days ago
Art Fleming and Don Pardo (original host and announcer of Jeopardy!).
I believe Rice-A-Roni also has a cameo.
djw1120 3 months ago
I was very saddened to hear that he died. I used to love to watch "Hollywood Squares" all the time especially with Paul Lynde in the "center square". I had no idea he was still alive. At least he lived to a real old age. God bless him. What did he die from?
Jon djw1120 3 months ago
Kidney disease, from what I've read.
jacko3 3 months ago
A wonderful personality that brought fun and joy to many - Peter Marshall, Ralph Pierre LaCock - May GOD Bless You forever - Amen - Alleluia!

AgingDisgracefully 3 months ago
Peter asks Paul Lynde: Which character in Alice in Wonderland cried, "I'm late! I'm late!"?
Paul: Alice...and her mother's sick about it.
Well I hope he didn't say it on Storybook Squares...LOL!
tootsieg 3 months ago
Rest In Peace Peter Marshall. You had a wonderful career (loved seeing you laughing it up on HS) and a long life.
🙏🙏
brigarzmetv123 3 months ago
Peter Marshall, you were the best, great memories through my childhood. Sitting with my family watching Hollywood squares in the summer 🌞 time were awesome!! Rest in peace Peter!! 🙏 God bless!!
maxh22 3 months ago
RIP Peter Marshall . Last of the original guard of game show hosts 😞
djw1120 maxh22 3 months ago
Just like Richard Dawson on "Family Feud" and Bob Barker on "The Price Is Right". They were the best on their respective shows. I absolutely CANNOT STAND their replacements. Especially Drew Carey on "The Price Is Right". I think both are absolutely STUPID!!!
WordsmithWorks 3 months ago
Lived a long and full life. Left a great legacy. Who could ask for anything more?
Runeshaper 3 months ago
R.I.P. Peter Marshall. Thanks for all of the contributions!
JHP 3 months ago
what a super show back in the day - now we are tortured with the "floor" (inane as can be)
Bapa1 3 months ago
".....and X gets the square". RIP. Liked HS as a kid, could be really funny. His son played MLB for the Royals.
MarioNYC Bapa1 3 months ago
Was his son the pitcher Pete LaCock?
JimmyAngel Bapa1 3 months ago
And the Cubs a first baseman if I remember correctly
Adamtwelvia 3 months ago
I first saw him in the movie "Annie". Amazing singer!
sagafrat69 3 months ago
R.I.P. Peter Marshall. He was truly one of the greats of game show hosting. "Hollywood Squares" was a very funny show. Lots of remakes over the years, but not quite the same with this man as the host.
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