Hollywood Squares host Peter Marshall has died aged 98, his representatives confirmed to Metro.co.uk.
The TV presenter was best known for hosting over 5,000 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning original version of the classic game show.
Marshall died from kidney failure this morning at home surrounded by his loved ones, his wife of 35 years Laurie said.
The broadcaster started his eight-decade career as a teenager in New York City, where he landed the coveted position of an NBC Page.
By 1948, he had joined forces with comedy partner Tommy Noonan, appearing on TV programmes including The Ed Sullivan Show.
Marshall was later hired as a contract player at Twentieth Century Fox, appearing in Ensign Pulver, The Rookie , Swingin’ Along/Double Trouble Rookie and The Cavern, as well as portraying radio crooner Bert Healy in Annie.
In 1961, Marshall starred opposite Chita Rivera in Bye Bye Birdie on stage in London’s West End, while his first starring role on Broadway was in Skyscraper with Julie Harris in 1965.
In the 1980s, Marshall performed the lead role of Georges in over 800 performances of La Cage Aux Folles on the national tour and on Broadway.
His other musical theater credits include High Button Shoes, Anything Goes, The Music Man, and 42nd Street.
On the non-musical stage, Marshall starred for two years as Lenny Ganz in the national tour of Neil Simon’s farce Rumors.
After appearing in commercials for Kellogg’s cereals, Peter was enlisted in 1966 to host The Hollywood Squares, a game show take on tic-tac-toe featuring nine celebrity guests and two contestants.
Regular guests included Joan Rivers, Rich Little, Rose Marie, George Gobel, Wally Cox, Ruta Lee and Charlie Weaver.
Marshall subsequently hosted The Peter Marshall Variety Show, Big Bands From Disneyland, the audience participation series Fantasy with Leslie Uggams and game shows All-Star Blitz and Yahtzee.
His other TV credits include Love Boat, Hotel, WKRP In Cincinnati, Burke’s Law, Love American Style, The Lucy Show, 77 Sunset Strip, Lou Grant and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
A lifelong animal lover, Marshall had most recently participated in a 50th-anniversary tribute for Betty White’s Pet Set and hosted the Doris Day 90th Celebration, in addition to narrating documentary Wait For Your Laugh.
In 2002, he penned the acclaimed memoir Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square.
Marshall is survived by his wife Laurie, daughters Suzanne Browning and Jaime Dimarco and son Pete LaCock. He was predeceased by son David LaCock in 2021 from complications due to Covid.
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He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
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