Game-show host Peter Marshall, 98, died on August 15. Born with the shy-making name of Ralph Pierre LaCock, he was the brother of actress Joanne Dru. After serving in Italy during WWII, he formed a comedy act with Tommy Noonan. His acting career was stalling, so in 1966, he took the job of hosting Hollywood Squares. He was signed for 13 weeks, and wound up holding the job for 15 years. Marshall went on to host his own variety show, appeared in three Broadway shows did some minor TV and movie cameos, and appeared on such game shows as Fantasy, All-Star Blitz, and Yahtzee. But he was forever linked with Hollywood Squares; his memoirs are titled Backstage with The Original Hollywood Square. Marshall told Closer magazine that the show “was so much fun to do. It was not like work at all. We’d do a show, and then we’d break for 15 minutes, and then another show, and then we’d have lunch or dinner. We’d do five shows in five hours. It was really easy for me. I didn’t rehearse. I’d just come in and go over the questions.”
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