I just found this out at the GSN boards. I was hoping that this was just a cruel joke but it isn't. He and his wife died yesterday in a plane crash. A small article can be found here http://insider.tv.yahoo.com/news/3870/ I'm in complete shock. RIP Peter :(

:rip:

Peter Tomarken, the host of the CBS Daytime TV cult hit "Press Your Luck" (1983-1986) killed in a plane crash in Los Angeles. To hear the report, you can go to the KNX-AM (1070) website and click for the latest. Registration's not necessary and it's free.

I'm saddened. He was really great on that show, and I was always stunned he didn't continue on to host something. He had a great energy and could ad-lib pretty well. I just saw the blurb on the crawl for Fox News.

Rest well, Peter. You were a great one.

Rest in Peace Peter

Will GSN show a tribute to Peter Tomarken?

It's been announced that a PYL marathon will air this Sunday from 9am EST to 6pm. Big Bucks Scandal will air tomorrow night.

The official release....http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060313/lam116.html?.v=29

I just read about this here (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060314/ap_en_tv/small_plane_crash;_ylt=Ak3ewaO6TwiTGrSeitTmkgRpMhkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--). Honestly hadn't heard much about him in recent years. Very sad to hear...

From the LA Times

At least two people were killed this morning when a small plane crashed in the Pacific Ocean near the Santa Monica Pier, authorities said.

The Los Angeles County coroner's office identified the two victims whose bodies were recovered as Peter Tomarken, 63, of Los Angeles, and his wife, Kathleen Tomarken, 41. Searchers continued to look for a third passenger.

Peter Tomarken was an actor and former host of the 1980s game show "Press Your Luck." .

The 1973 Beechcraft 36 went into the water about 9:36 a.m., shortly after takeoff from Santa Monica Airport.

"The pilot reported engine failure shortly after takeoff. He attempted to return to the airport, but didn't make it," said Allen Kenitzer, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The crash was first reported by Los Angeles County lifeguards, who said it went down 400 yards offshore and south of the pier.

One eyewitness who was on the beach told a television interviewer that the plane hit the ocean "with a big crash and just went down."

That was sad news. I always love "Press Your Luck" when I was a kid. I remember Peter Tomarkin was the host of the show. I missed him a lot. RIP. :(

Will Peter be buried or cremated?

This is real sad to hear. I hope that he gets a proper tribute to Press Your Luck. He will be Mr. Press Your Luck. :sad2:

I remember watching Press Your Luck in the mid 80s when I was really young and the repeats again on the USA Network. My heart goes out to his family.

Unfortunately I just woke up & found out too late about the accident. Peter was really great as host of PYL but my fondest memory of him was when I was a contestant on GSN's Decades interactive game show & He was host. He was very nice & cordial toward myself & the other contestants that night & it was an experience I'll never forget.

R.I.P Peter :(

It's really sad how these TV legends keep leaving us. Such a great host... such a sad way to go. Probably one of the most loved people in the game show community. I can just imagine how heartbroken the rest of his fans are. :(

I didn't see it when it first aired in the 1980s, but I did watch the reruns on the Game Show Channel in the 90s when I was living in Cleveland. The Whammies were great. R.I.P., Peter.:( :(

I remember when I was a kid i watched reruns of PYL everyday afterschool on USA I agree that the whammys were great. So Long Peter you will be missed.:(

:rip:

Peter Tomarken, the host of the CBS Daytime TV cult hit "Press Your Luck" (1983-1986) killed in a plane crash in Los Angeles. To hear the report, you can go to the KNX-AM (1070) website and click for the latest. Registration's not necessary and it's free.
Our local news station played over and over again the tape of the crash. It was sad to watch knowing what we know now.

Its even sadder knowing he died trying to help others... :(

If anyone would like to sign the guestbook for Peter & Katherine Tomarken, Here's the link.

http://www.legacy.com/latimes/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=17094202

One of my moments on "Press Your Luck" with Peter Tomarkin was the famous Michael Larsen's big bucks winner with a whopping $110,237 and another of my favorite moment was Peter called one of the Looney Tunes on the phone was Sylvester, Speedy and Porky (played by Mel Blanc) where he made an appearence off-screen at the end of the show discussing the incorrect answer where he asked a famous cartoon character known for its motto "Suffer'n Succotash!", one of the three contestants answered Sylvester, but Peter's response was Daffy Duck. Two of them are my favorite funniest moments in PYL history. He would surely missed.:(

http://www.sunandmoonmurals.com/artwork/st2.jpg

http://images.art.com/images/-/Looney-Tunes---Speedy-Gonzales--C11754816.jpeg

http://images.art.com/images/-/Looney-Tunes---Porky-Pig--C11754811.jpeg

According to these pics, thanks to the three Looney Tunes icons for fans who called Peter on the phone with his response. RIP.:(

http://gscentral.net/peter3.jpg

"Tune in tomorrow for another edition of "Looney Tunes!"