Peter Marshall, Host of ‘The Hollywood Squares,’ Dies at 98

Reflecting upon the captivating life of Peter Marshall, I am truly awestruck by his extraordinary journey from humble beginnings to Hollywood stardom. His tale is a testament to resilience, talent, and an unwavering spirit that propelled him through the ups and downs of showbiz.

Peter Marshall, the charming host of the popular game show “The Hollywood Squares” on NBC, which featured many celebrities, passed away on Thursday. He was 98 years old.

In simpler terms, Marshall – a renowned vocalist, prominent actor on Broadway, and part of a well-liked comedy duo – passed away at his house in Encino due to complications with kidneys. His relatives confirmed the news.

West Virginia’s cherished television show, ‘The Hollywood Squares’, broadcast approximately 6,000 episodes between 1966 and 1981, earning four Daytime Emmy Awards in the process. Marshall typically only worked one day a week, taping five shows on that day. He stated, “It was the most effortless job I ever had, and I never practiced beforehand.”

Shortly after his standout performance in the Tony-nominated Broadway musical comedy “Skyscraper” alongside Julie Harris, Marshall received an offer to take on the role as host for the TV game show “The Hollywood Squares”, which was devised by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley. Previously, another version of the program, hosted by Bert Parks, had been rejected.

Marshall showed no initial enthusiasm for the position, but his interest piqued once he discovered that if he declined, it would be offered to comedian Dan Rowan instead. In a 2010 interview with the Archive of American Television, he admitted, “I’ve disliked just two people in my entire life; Dan Rowan was one of them.”

Previously, Tommy Noonan – a comedian who had partnered with Marshall in humor – facilitated an introduction between Marshall (then a used-car dealer) and Dick Martin, a barkeep. Together, they wrote comedy material that eventually allowed them to host the 1960s television show known as Laugh-in. In his reflections, Marshall expressed disappointment that Rowan failed to pay a visit to Noonan during his battle with terminal brain cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Home.

Additionally, producer Abe Burrows hoped to cast Marshall alongside Mary Tyler Moore in a Broadway production of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Marshall believed that “The Hollywood Squares” would only run for 13 weeks and he could join afterwards. However, when the show was extended for another 13 weeks, Burrows informed him that he had chosen Richard Chamberlain instead.

“For 16 years, I hosted Hollywood Squares, but Breakfast at Tiffany’s ended its run in Boston,” Marshall remarked. “You just never know what will happen.”

Back in 1966, on October 17th, I found myself captivated as “The Hollywood Squares” premiered from a studio in Burbank. This game show was masterfully hosted by the charming Marshall, who sat at the center of a massive tic-tac-toe board, surrounded by nine celebrities. Each episode saw two contestants, one representing ‘X’ and the other ‘O’, engaging in a battle of wits. They aimed to secure three squares in a row by either agreeing or disagreeing with the celebrity’s answer to a question posed by our charismatic host, Marshall. It was quite an exciting spectacle!

These entertainers – Paul Lynde, Rose Marie, Cliff Arquette (Charley Weaver), George Gobel (who was particularly liked by the host), and Wally Cox – found a comfortable niche in their later careers by frequently appearing as guests on the show. In fact, during one of the contests, Marshall might have chosen Wally Cox to counterbalance a competitor’s answer.

In the year 2002, for a full week, Marshall stepped into the role of the central square once more, this time under the guidance of the new host, Tom Bergeron. During that period, he was given the opportunity to lead an entire episode himself.

Following “The Hollywood Squares,” Marshall went on to host several game shows, including “Fantasy” with Leslie Uggams, “All-Star Blitz,” “Yahtzee,” and “Reel to Reel.” In 2007, he was honored by being inducted into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame.

Marshall’s elder sibling was actress Joanne Dru, well-known for her roles in movies like “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” and “All the King’s Men”. She was wedded to singer Dick Haymes initially, followed by actor John Ireland later on.

Marshall was born under the name Ralph Pierre LaCock on the 30th of March, 1926, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. His father was a pharmacist (he passed away when Marshall was only ten years old), and his mother worked as a costume designer. He spent his early years growing up in Huntington, West Virginia, under the care of his grandmother.

At 14, Marshall relocated to New York City to live with his mom who had already moved there to support her daughter’s modeling career. Subsequently, he landed a job as an usher at the renowned Paramount Theater, thanks to Al Jolson securing him the position. A year later, at 15, Marshall began singing with Bob Chester’s Band and took home $50 each week.

“From the very beginning, it’s been my dream to be a singer. Music has always held significance in my life, something I’ve never forgotten,” he shared during his TV interview stored in the archive.

I managed to secure a position as an NBC page before even turning 18, thanks in part to the chairman of the board at the network who I was acquainted with through a friend. In this role, I provided assistance on the show “Truth or Consequences,” hosted by Ralph Edwards, and also worked behind the scenes for a program where Mayor Fiorello La Guardia would read stories to children.

1943 saw him moving to California, where he resided with his sister and Haymes in their guesthouse. However, his stay was brief as he was drafted into the U.S. Army shortly afterwards. During his military service, he worked as a disc jockey and program director at a 50,000-watt station in Naples, Italy. Post-service, he continued his career as a DJ and singer in Florida.

In 1949, Marshall met struggling comedian Noonan, who turned out to be Ireland’s half-brother and later Dru’s husband. They teamed up to create the comedy duo Noonan & Marshall, with Marshall playing the role of the straight man. Their performances filled nightclubs across L.A., leading them to secure a 16-week booking at the iconic La Martinique club in New York City.

Afterward, Marshall and his associate made brief appearances in the movies “Jesse James” (1950), “Holiday Rhythm” (1950), “FBI Girl” (1951) and the musical production “Starlift” (1951).

“The publication Time magazine has declared that the film Starlift might be one of the worst releases this year, but it’s a sight worth paying for to watch Noonan & Marshall,” he stated.

Originally, the duo were set to star alongside Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in the movie version of the Broadway success “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes“, but Marshall ended up being replaced by Elliott Reed, while Noonan remained on the project.

“[Noonan] got so hot after that, he couldn’t afford to do our act,” Marshall said.

For three years, I joined forces with comedian Tommy Farrell on the ABC variety series, “Two of the Most.” Later, I collaborated with Noonan on stage and screen for projects like “The Rookie” (1959) and “Swingin‘ Along” (1961). However, my partnership with Noonan came to an end when I made the decision to relocate to London, where I teamed up with Chita Rivera in “Bye Bye Birdie.” This career-changing move, as I put it, was a pivotal moment in my life and professional journey.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Marshall made appearances. One of these was on the set of “Squares” during the movie “Rabbit Test” (1978), directed by Joan Rivers. He also starred in the 1982 film adaptation of “Annie”, playing a radio personality. In the original Broadway play of “La Cage Aux Folles” during the 80s, he took on the role of Georges for over 800 performances.

Marshall proudly displayed his vocal talents on albums like “Boy Singer” and “No Happy Ending”, which paid homage to Billie Holiday. In the year 2002, he released his autobiography titled “Backstage With the Original Hollywood Square“. For a significant period of time, he also hosted a radio program called “Music of Your Life“, where he played tunes from the 1930s and ’40s.

Among those who mourn his passing are his devoted wife Laurie, after 35 years of marriage; Suzanne, Jaime, and Pete LaCock, with Pete being a retired first baseman for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals; David and Steve, his loving sons-in-law; twelve grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Tragically, his son David, at 68 years old, passed away in 2021 due to complications from COVID-19.

Memorial donations may be given to Actors & Others for Animals, the Lange Foundation, or the Mercy Kids Therapy and Development Center in his honor.

2024-08-15 20:26

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