Peter Marshall (entertainer)

Ralph Pierre LaCock (born March 30, 1926), better known by his stage name Peter Marshall, is an American television and radio personality, singer, and actor. He was the original host of The Hollywood Squares from 1966 to 1981 and has almost fifty television, movie, and Broadway credits. His stage name reportedly derived from the college in his home town (Marshall College, which became Marshall University in 1961).[1]

Not to be confused with Peter Marshall (UK broadcaster).
Peter Marshall
Marshall in 1965.
Born
Ralph Pierre LaCock

(1926-03-30) March 30, 1926
Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.
OccupationActor, singer, TV host, radio personality
Years active1950–present
Known forOriginal host of Hollywood Squares (1966–1981)
Spouse(s)
Nadene R. Teaford
​
(
m. 1947; div. 1973)

Sally Carter-Ihnat
​
(
m. 1977; div. 1983)

Laurie Stewart
​
(
m. 1989)
Children4, including Pete LaCock
RelativesJoanne Dru (sister)

Early life

Marshall was born Ralph Pierre LaCock on March 30, 1926, to Ralph and Jean LaCock, a show business family,[2] in Huntington, West Virginia. Following his father's suicide when Marshall was ten, he moved to New York City to be with his mother, a costume designer. After he graduated from high school he was drafted into the army in 1944 and stationed in Italy. He was originally in the artillery, but was later recruited to be a disc jockey at a radio station in Naples. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of staff sergeant.[3]

His elder sister Joan became the film and television actress known as Joanne Dru.[4] She was best known for her roles in such films as Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and All the King's Men.

Early career

In the 1950s, Marshall earned his living as part of a comedy act with Tommy Noonan,[5] and they appeared in night clubs, on television variety shows, and in films including Starlift (1951), The Rookie (1959) and Swingin' Along (1962).[6] He appeared in the 1958 episode "The Big Hoax" of the syndicated television series Harbor Command. In 1963, he appeared as Lucy's brother-in-law, Hughie, in The Lucy Show episode "Lucy's Sister Pays A Visit".[7]

Career

The Hollywood Squares

Although Marshall occasionally worked in film and television, he could not find regular work in the industry until his friend Morey Amsterdam recommended him to fill in for Bert Parks (who emceed the pilot) as the host of the game show The Hollywood Squares in 1966. Though Marshall did not initlally want the job, he took it in order to ensure that rival comic Dan Rowan would not get it. He expected to spend 13 weeks as host, then return to Broadway, but ultimately hosted for 15 years.[8]

The show had a long run on daytime network TV and in syndication, making Marshall as familiar to viewers as the celebrities who appeared on the show. The easygoing and unflappable Marshall was a perfect foil for the wicked wit of such panelists as Amsterdam and his Dick Van Dyke Show castmate Rose Marie, Paul Lynde, Jan Murray, and Wally Cox. The Hollywood Squares was canceled by the NBC network in 1980,[9] but production continued in syndication into 1981.

Television

After the completion of the final run of The Hollywood Squares in 1981, Marshall continued working in game shows and playing character roles. He appeared on the game shows Fantasy (1982) with cohost Leslie Uggams,[10] All-Star Blitz (1985),[3] Yahtzee (1988),[3] the "East Hollywood Squares" skit on In Living Color (1994),[11] and Reel to Reel (1998).[12]

In 1986, he portrayed Bob Kenny, game show host accused of murder of a game show contestant on an episode "To Live and Die on TV" on Sledge Hammer!.[13]

In 1989, Marshall hosted the unaired pilot for 3rd Degree! (a Burt & Bert Production in association with Kline & Friends). When the series was picked up for syndication, show producer Bert Convy decided to leave his position as the host of the syndicated edition of Win, Lose or Draw and take Marshall's place on 3rd Degree. Marshall filed a lawsuit against Convy for the action, but later dropped it after Convy's diagnosis of terminal brain cancer was made public.[14]

In 2002, he returned to the new version of The Hollywood Squares as a panelist during a Game Show Week hosted by Tom Bergeron. Marshall occupied the prestigious center square. For one day that week, Marshall took his old position at the podium to host while Bergeron was the center square.[3]

Radio

Marshall has been hosting a popular mid-day radio show for more than 15 years on the Music of Your Life syndicated radio network, currently broadcasting on AM, FM, and HD terrestrial radio stations across the United States, and around the world via the Internet here.

Time Life

Marshall, along with co-host, singer Debby Boone, are featured in a successful infomercial presented by Time Life, the Music of Your Life Collection. Featuring hit songs from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the infomercial was re-released in 2016 after selling more than a million CDs a few years prior.[15]

Other work

In 1979, he sang "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the Indianapolis 500.[16]

In 1982, he had a small role in the film adaptation of Annie as radio announcer Bert Healy.

In 2002, he published a book about his experiences, Backstage With The Original Hollywood Square.[17]

In 2009, Marshall appeared on television promoting compact disc hits from the Big Band era, and also hosted a two-hour PBS special, The Big Band Years. In 2010, Marshall, along with Monty Hall and Wink Martindale, appeared with their wives on a special Game Show Legend version of The Newlywed Game. The special was hosted by Bob Eubanks; the Martindales won the game.[18]

In 2014, Marshall returned to West Virginia to host four games of The West Virginia Squares as part of Charleston's FestivALL. The game, which featured questions about the state's history, included West Virginia notables such as Joyce Dewitt and Landon Murphy.[19][20]

Theater

Broadway

Marshall's Broadway credits include Skyscraper,[21] La Cage aux Folles[22] and The Music Man.

West End

In London's 1962 West End production, Marshall appeared in the stage musical Bye Bye Birdie,[23] a satire on American popular culture in the 1950s inspired by singer Elvis Presley receiving a draft notice into the Army. Marshall played the lead character of Albert Peterson, who writes a song for the pop-singing sensation Conrad Birdie (played by Marty Wilde). The production ran for 268 performances.[24]

Personal life

He is married to his third wife, Laurie Stewart, and has four children and two stepchildren from his previous marriages. He has a home in Palm Desert, California.[25] His son, Pete, is a former Major League Baseball player. The retired first baseman spent nine years playing for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals.[26]

Awards

Marshall won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host four times.[9] In 2006 he received the annual Bill Cullen Award for Lifetime Achievement, from the non-profit organization, Game Show Congress.[27] On October 13, 2007, Marshall was one of the first inductees into the American TV Game Show Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.[28]

In November 2013, Marshall was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.[29] He was introduced by his friend, Nick Clooney.

Selected filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1953The 49th ManLeo Wayne
1959The RookieMSgt. Pete Marshall
1961Swingin' AlongDuke
1964Ensign PulverCarney
The CavernLt. Peter Carter
1968Maryjane
1974Happy Anniversary and GoodbyeGreg CarterTV movie
1982AnnieBurt Healy
gollark: Attain the 4B 2GB or whatever (there is no 1GB model).
gollark: There's the A, but this is a cutdown one, so yes.
gollark: Yes it is. This is how it works. You simply enter "the military" and emerge after several years with no recollection of what occurs in the intervening time.
gollark: And actual gigabit ethernet.
gollark: Also USB 3.

References
  1. Johnson, Shauna. "Peter Marshall Calls Hall of Fame Epitome of Awards". West Virginia MetroNews Network. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  2. "Lacock - 1930 United States Federal Census - Ancestry.com". www.ancestry.com.
  3. Baber, David (August 11, 2009). Television Game Show Hosts: Biographies of 32 Stars. McFarland. ISBN 9781476604800. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  4. Grimes, William (13 September 1996). "Joanne Dru, 74, a Star of Movie Westerns". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  5. Nesteroff, Kliph (20 September 2012). "Classic Television Showbiz: An Interview with Peter Marshall - Part One". Classic Television Showbiz. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  6. Nesteroff, Kliph (October 5, 2012). "Classic Television Showbiz: An Interview with Peter Marshall - Part Two". Classic Television Showbiz. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  7. Monush, Barry; Sheridan, James (2011). Lucille Ball FAQ: Everything Left to Know About America's Favorite Redhead. Applause Theatre & Cinema. ISBN 9781557839336. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  8. Marshall, Peter (17 July 2002). Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 9781418566005. Retrieved 1 January 2018 – via Google Books.
  9. Marshall, Peter (July 17, 2002). Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square. Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 9781418566005. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  10. "Scott's World;NEWLN:Peter Marshall ranks top 'Fantasies'". UPI. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  11. "A Classic reborn?: East Hollywood Squares (In Living Color, 1990's)". thelandofwhatever.blogspot.ca. 2012-12-09. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  12. Paxman, Andrew (August 5, 1998). "Pax TV gets 'Reel' with new gameshow". Variety. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  13. "To Live and Die on TV | Episode 11 | Sledgecast". Sledge Hammer! Podcast. October 25, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  14. "Marshall, Convy in Angry Dispute". TV Guide. 37. 1989.
  15. "Music of Your Life Is on the Move" (Press release). Music of Your Life. Marketwired. June 20, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2020 – via Yahoo! Finance.
  16. "#72- Back Home Again In Indiana". 100 Years 100 Moments. March 17, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  17. Backstage with the Original Hollywood Square (2002), Amazon.com; accessed March 29, 2016
  18. "Game show icons return for special 'Newlywed' show". USATODAY.COM. Retrieved September 4, 2017.
  19. "WV Music Hall of Fame Presents "West Virginia Squares" starring Peter Marshall | FestivALL: A City Becomes A Work of Art, June 21-30, 2013". Festivallcharleston.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  20. "Game Show Features West Virginia Music and History". Wvpublic.org. June 24, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
  21. "Skyscraper – Broadway Musical – Original | IBDB".
  22. La Cage Aux Folles cast replacements and transfers at Internet Broadway Database, ibdb.com; accessed March 29, 2016.
  23. Bye Bye Birdie West End production, broadwayworld.com; accessed March 29, 2016.
  24. "Bye Bye Birdie – Theatre Aficionado at Large". Theatreaficionado.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  25. Meeks, Eric G. (2012). Palm Springs Celebrity Homes: Little Tuscany, Racquet Club, Racquet Club Estates and Desert Park Estates Neighborhoods (Kindle). Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. 429. ASIN B00A2PXD1G.
  26. "Pete LaCock". Retrosheet.org. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  27. "Huntington Quarterly | Articles | Issue 82 | Peter Marshall". Huntingtonquarterly.com. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  28. writer, From a Times staff (11 October 2007). "Game shows get hall of fame". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  29. Johnson, Shauna (November 15, 2013). "Peter Marshall calls Hall of Fame induction the 'epitome' of awards". WV MetroNews. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
Preceded by
Bert Parks
in CBS Pilot		 Host of The Hollywood Squares
1966–1981		 Succeeded by
Jon Bauman in the Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour
Preceded by
First Winner		 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host
1974 and 1975		 Succeeded by
Allen Ludden
Preceded by
Dick Clark		 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host
1980 and 1981		 Succeeded by
Bob Barker
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