Peter Marshall was born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30 1926 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. His older sister was Joan LaCock, who would gain fame as actress Joanne Dru. He was raised in Huntington, West Virginia by his grandmother. In 1940 he moved to New York City to be with his mother, who had moved to the city to support his sister Joan's modelling career. When he was 14 years old singer Al Jolsen got him a job at the Paramount Theatre as an usher. He was only 15 when he sang with the Bob Chester Band. He was under 18 when he got a job as an NBC page. As a page he assisted on the game show Truth or Consequences.
Peter Marshall moved to California in 1943 where he stayed in his sister Joanne Dru and her husband Dick Haymes's guest house. It was not long after he moved to California that the was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served as a disc jockey and as a programmer at a radio station in Naples, Italy. Following his service, he worked as a DJ and a singer in Florida. It was in 1949 that he met comedian Tommy Noonan, the half-brother of Mr. Marshall's sister Joanne Dru's then husband John Ireland. The two formed a comedy team and were soon playing clubs in the Los Angeles area. In New York they played sixteen weeks in the club La Martinique.
It was as one half of Marshall and Noonan that Peter Marshall made his television debut on The Garry Moore Show in 1952. The comedy team appeared on the shows Tonight!, Stage Show, Of All Things, The George Gobel Show, The Big Party, The Red Rowe Show, and Toast of the Town. Marshall and Noonan also appeared in the movies The Return of Jesse James (1950), Holiday Rhythm (1950), FBI Girl (1951), and Starlift (1951). Peter Marshall guest starred on the shows The 20th Century Fox Hour, Men of Annapolis, Harbor Command, and The Millionaire. He appeared in the movies The 49th Man (1953) and The Rookie (1959).
It was in 1966 that Peter Marshall became the host of Hollywood Squares.Between the daytime network version of the show and the syndicated nighttime version of the show, he would host it until 1981. In the Sixties he guest starred on The Lucy Show, and 77 Sunset Strip. He appeared in the movies Swingin' Along (1961), Settle contra la morte (1964), Ensign Pulver (1964), and Maryjane (1968). He appeared on Broadway in How to Make a Man and Skyscraper.
In the Seventies Peter Marshall continued to host Hollywood Squares. He guest starred on the shows The Good Life; Laugh-In; Love, American Style; Banacek; Lanigan's Rabbi; Big Hawaii; Lou Grant; and WKRP in Cincinnati; CHiPs; and The Love Boat. He appeared in the mini-series Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue.He appeared in the movies Rabbit Test (1979) and Americathon (1979).
In the Eighties Peter Marshall hosted the Miss World pageant and the game shows Fantasy, All Star Blitz, and Yahtzee. He guest starred on Fantasy Island, CHiPs, The Love Boat, Hotel, Automan, Jessie, and Sledge Hammer!. He appeared in the movie Annie (1982). He appeared on Broadway in La Cage aux Folles.
In the Nineties he hosted the game show The Reel to Reel Picture Show. He guest starred on In Living Color, MADtv, Burke's Law, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Parent 'Hood. He appeared in the movie Sista dansen (1993). In 2001 he appeared in the film Teddy Bear's Picnic. He was a guest host on Hollywood Squares.
In addition to his work in film and on television, Peter Marshall hosted a music program on the the Music of Your Life radio network with Debby Boone for 15 years.
Peter Marshall was a remarkable game show host. Not only was he friendly and charming, but he was the perfect straight man for the celebrities on the show. Peter Marshall was more than a game show host, as he did have an acting career. He had a gift for comedy, as seen in his guest appearances on Sledge Hammer, In Living Color and MADtv. He could also play drama, as seen in the movie The 49th Man and his guest appearances on 77 Sunset Strip and Banacek. He was also a gifted singer, a talent he got to display on various variety shows and talk shows. Peter Marshall may always be remembered as the host of Hollywood Squares, but he did much more.
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