Peter Marshall has died at age 98. Very sad. He was the longtime host of “Hollywood Squares,” from 1966 to 1981. It seemed like longer because of syndication. He was beloved by audiences as genuine and genial, sort of anti-Hollywood.
Everyone who did that show loved him, and thought of him as family. I had the good fortune to meet Peter in November 2017. “Dick van Dyke” star Rose Marie couldn’t get to New York to promote a documentary about her life. So Marshall, then 91, came in from LA for a presentation at Sardi’s. Rose Marie had been on Squares dozens of times, and he was returning the favor. After the event I walked him back across Shubert Alley to the Marriott Marquis (his wife was a matinee). We had the nicest time talking about Broadway in his heyday. I’ll never forget it.
Peter’s sister was actress Joanne Dru, who was very famous in the 40s and 50s. A couple of years ago, his son, David, died at 66 from COVID. You can read his official obit here.
