Peter Tomarken
The energetic host who turned a simple game of avoiding animated 'Whammies' into a daytime television phenomenon.
1942–2006 (age 64)·American television personality·Birthday: December 7·The Silent Generation
Biography
Peter Tomarken brought a unique blend of warmth, wit, and genuine enthusiasm to the game show stage. Before finding his signature role, he worked as a radio announcer and television writer, honing the timing that would later define his on-screen presence. His big break came in 1983 with 'Press Your Luck,' a show that combined trivia with a frenetic, luck-based bonus round. Tomarken was the perfect ringmaster for this chaos, guiding contestants through the suspense of avoiding the mischievous, money-stealing 'Whammy' characters. His ability to build tension and share in both the elation of a big win and the groan of a devastating loss made the show a hit. Beyond that iconic role, he was a familiar face as a host for other series and specials. Tomarken's life was tragically cut short in 2006 while piloting a plane to transport a cancer patient to a treatment center, an act that reflected the generous character his fans sensed through the screen.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Peter was born in 1942, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Peter Was Born
The biggest hits of 1942
#1 Movie
Bambi
Best Picture
Mrs. Miniver
Peter's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1942Born
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1947Started school
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1955Became a teenager
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1958Could drive
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1960Could vote
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Turned 21
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1972Turned 30
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1982Turned 40
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1992Turned 50
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2002Turned 60
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2006Died at 64
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- He hosted the popular game show 'Press Your Luck' from 1983 to 1986, creating its distinctive, high-energy atmosphere.
- He helped turn 'Press Your Luck' into a cultural touchstone, remembered for its 'Whammy' animations and big-money wins.
- He served as the host for the 1994 revival of the classic game show 'Hit Man' (also known as 'The New Hit Man').
- He was a frequent guest host on other game shows like 'The Price Is Right' and 'Wheel of Fortune.'
Did You Know?
He was a licensed private pilot and often used his plane for charitable medical transport missions.
He and his wife both perished in the plane crash that took his life, which was en route to pick up a patient for the Patient Airlift Services charity.
Before hosting, he wrote for television shows, including episodes of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.'
“Let's play the game! The bonus round is worth twenty-five thousand dollars.”
