Peter Marshall Dead: Hollywood Squares Host Was 98

Peter Marshall, recognized for his time internet hosting The Hollywood Squares, has died, his household confirmed in an announcement on Thursday, August 15.

The TV character was 98 years previous. He died of kidney failure at his residence within the Encino, California, neighborhood, whereas surrounded by his family members, his publicist, Harlan Boll, confirmed to a number of shops.

“Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather handed away this morning. We’ll love him endlessly,” an announcement on his official X account from his household learn.

Marshall hosted The Hollywood Squares for 16 years from 1966 to 1981 after filling in for Bert Parks. Initially, he solely thought the gig would only last 13 weeks. A lot to his shock, it lasted far longer and earned him the love of recreation present followers in all places.

“At first, we have been up in opposition to The Dick Van Dyke Present reruns. We languished for possibly 9 months,” he informed Nearer in February 2022. “After which unexpectedly we began rising. The subsequent factor you already know, we have been a giant hit.”

He completely beloved internet hosting the long-lasting recreation present, working with so many large stars alongside the way in which and creating so many cannon TV moments.

“It was a lot enjoyable to do. It was not like work in any respect,” he stated. “We’d do a present, after which we’d break for quarter-hour, after which one other present, after which we’d have lunch or dinner. We’d do 5 reveals in 5 hours. It was very easy for me. I didn’t rehearse. I’d simply are available and go over the questions. That’s all I did.”

Marshall is survived by his spouse, Laurie Stewart, whom he wed in 1989, in addition to daughters Suzanne Browning and Jaime Dimarco, and son Pete LaCock from his first marriage. He had 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, together with quite a few canines and cats.

“I met Laurie after I was doing La Cage aux Folles,” he stated of their marriage. “She labored for TWA and was seated subsequent to me in firstclass. She had seen me in La Cage and thought I used to be homosexual! That was the start. I used to be 60 years previous, and he or she was 25. However we’ve been collectively 35 years.”

Marshall opened up about tragically dropping son David LaCock to COVID-19.

“It’s actually very unhappy,” Marshall stated. “He was only a fantastic boy who had eight youngsters, six grandchildren and an exquisite spouse. He was an artist. It simply breaks my coronary heart. To lose a toddler is simply terrible.”

Companies weren’t quick introduced. Nonetheless, in lieu of flowers, his household requested that donations be made to Actors & Others for Animals.

“A lifelong animal lover, Peter not too long ago participated in a fiftieth anniversary tribute for Betty White’s Pet Set and hosted Doris Day’s ninetieth birthday celebration to profit her animal basis,” a put up on the late star’s official web site learn. “In 2017, Peter narrated Wait For Your Snort, a documentary dedicated to his late pal and Hollywood Squares colleague Rose Marie. In 2002, he penned his memoir, Backstage With the Unique Hollywood Sq..”