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

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.

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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.