Peter Marshall, the host of 'Hollywood Squares,' has passed away at the age of 98.

The Emmy Award-winning host of "Hollywood Squares," Peter Marshall, has passed away at the age of 98.

On Thursday, Marshall passed away at his Los Angeles home due to kidney failure, as announced by his publicist Harlan Boll in a statement obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital.

From 1966 to 1981, "The Hollywood Squares" was hosted by Marshall for 15 years.

"In a 2010 interview for the Archive of American Television, Marshall stated that the easiest thing he had ever done in show business was walking in, saying "Hello stars," reading questions, and laughing. It paid well."

"It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done in show business." — Peter Marshall

Marshall, born in Huntington, West Virginia on March 30, 1926, began his career in show business as a teenager by landing a job as an NBC Radio page and an usher at Paramount Theater in New York City. After graduating from high school in 1944, Marshall was drafted into the Army and began working as a disc jockey for the Armed Forces Radio.

In the late 1940s, Marshall and comedian and film producer Tommy Noonan started performing frequently in major nightclubs and theaters across the country. Following his success in several films in the '60s, Marshall's first starring role on Broadway was in "Skyscraper," which he shared with Julie Harris in 1965.

In 2021, Planet Chronicle Digital reported that Marshall had revealed the reason behind the sudden cancellation of the show.

"Fred Silverman, the head of CBS, turned down "Hollywood Squares" and always hated the show. He then moved to NBC and kept changing the time, trying to get them off. He brought David Letterman for an hour and a half, which led to the cancellation of the show. However, Letterman was not suitable for daytime and was later put on late at night, where he was wonderful."

Despite the significant change in his schedule due to the game show's conclusion, Marshall remained determined not to dwell on his misfortune.

"At the time, he stated, "I had a career aside from that. I was working in Vegas for 26 weeks a year and doing theater. After completing 'Squares,' I worked on 'Fantasy Island' for two years. I've always remained busy, and this business is an exciting adventure. I've been fortunate enough to work consistently.""

On Jan. 12, 2021, three years before his death, Marshall and his wife of 35 years, Laurie, were both diagnosed with COVID-19. According to a statement sent to Planet Chronicle by Marshall's spouse, the star was initially treated at home but later required hospitalization.

"In early January, my wife began experiencing dizziness, so she went to get tested. While we waited for her results, I realized I was feeling dizzy too. I took both a rapid test and an 48-hour test. The rapid test came back negative, but the 48-hour test was positive."

Laurie realized that the hospital staff was under strain and resources were in short supply, so the family decided to bring her husband home to live out his final days surrounded by family and animals. However, Laurie was warned that Marshall wouldn't be able to survive at home without the high flow oxygen therapy that the hospital was providing. Laurie was then advised to make final arrangements.

On Feb. 12, Marshall was discharged, anticipating a hospice situation.

""Since my hospitalization, I was concerned about my survival due to the high mortality rate associated with the illness and my age, which put me at a higher risk. As my condition worsened in the hospital, I accepted my impending death. Each time I spoke to my wife, I wondered if it would be our final conversation," stated Marshall."

""My wife found a medical team that saved my life, but I wasn't sure if it was a good thing at the time. I was in bad physical shape and didn't want to linger if I was leaving the world," Marshall said."

""I managed to get past the virus with ease, but my immune system was weakened, and I developed pneumonia, which eventually led to sepsis. All three conditions can be fatal for someone my age. It was a miracle that medical professionals were able to reverse the situation," Marshall stated."

Peter was predeceased by son David LaCock in 2021 but is survived by his wife, Laurie, daughters Suzanne Browning and Jaime Dimarco, and son Pete LaCock.

This post was contributed to by Stephanie Nolasco of The Associated Press and Planet Chronicle Digital.