Longtime TV Gameshow Host Peter Marshall Dead at 98

One of the staples of the late 1960s through the 1980s in terms of TV hosts has left us.

Peter Marshall, best known for his role in hosting “The Hollywood Squares,” has passed away.

Marshall was 98 years old.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Marshall has had some challenges in his old age, as is quite understandable.

According to his publicist, Marshall died of kidney failure at his home in Encino.

Marshall had a considerable acting career, getting his first break with a small role in 1949, then playing George in “The Return of Jesse James” in 1950.

He landed a handful of movie roles in the 1950s, then transitioned to mostly TV shows in the 1960s, where he would spend the majority of his acting career until his final role in 2011 (he only had two credits after 1997).

Some of the more popular shows he appeared on were, “The Lucy Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “WKRP in Cincinnati,” and “The Love Boat.”

What he was most famous for, however, was his long stint on “The Hollywood Squares,” which started in 1966 and ran through the 1981 season before being canceled.

On the show, Marshall once stated, “It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done in show business.

“I walked in, said ‘Hello stars,’ I read questions and laughed. And it paid very well.”

To be blunt, the show in its former version would never be able to be on TV today, but back then, it was edgy and funny.

Just as important to the success of the show as Marshall was Paul Lynde, who was a regular and regularly had the crowd busting up.

The premise of the show was simple… stars were asked questions, and the guests had to decide if they were telling the truth or not, and would win or lose the square depending upon their answer.

The winner was the first guest to score tic-tac-toe.

Rest in peace, Peter… and thanks for all the laughs.