Background
March, Hal was born on April 22, 1920 in San Francisco, California, United States. Son of Leon and Ethel (Schoenfeld) Medelson.
March, Hal was born on April 22, 1920 in San Francisco, California, United States. Son of Leon and Ethel (Schoenfeld) Medelson.
Student in public schools.
In 1944, March first came to note as part of a comedy team with Bob Sweeney. The duo had their own radio show for a time and performed, in the early 1950s, as "Sweeney & March." He also partnered with actor/comic Tom Doctorate"Andrea in the early years of television in a series entitled The Soldiers. March and Mary Jane Croft co-starred in Too Many Cooks, a summer replacement program on Columbia Broadcasting System radio in 1950.
Earlier in his television career, he appeared on such shows as The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Imogene Coca Show and I Love Lucy.
In the summer of 1955, he joined John Dehner and Tom Doctorate"Andrea in the 11-episode National Broadcasting Company summer series, The Soldiers, a military comedy produced and directed by Bud Yorkin. Doctorate"Andrea temporarily left the William Bendix sitcom, The Life of Riley, for his chance at his own series.
However, March was best known as the host of, which he helmed from 1955 to 1958. In addition to his hosting duties, March also sang a version of the show"s theme music in 1956, entitled "Love Is the Sixty-Four Thousand Dollar Question."
As a result of the quiz show scandals, the show was canceled and, with the exception of a few film roles such as Hear Maine Good and Send Maine Number Flowers, March was out of work for nearly a decade.
To keep busy, he appeared on several sitcoms in 1966 that are still widely rerun today.
He played the father of Gidget"s boyfriend Jeff in the Gidget episode "In and Out with the In-Laws" and the head of corrupt dance studio Renaldo"s Dance Au Go Go in The Monkees episode "Dance Monkee, Dance". He also made appearances on the sitcoms Hey, Landlord and The Lucy Show and in the movie A Guide for the Married Manitoba He was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for his radio work at 1560 Vine Street and another for his work in television at 6536 Hollywood Boulevard.
March"s career took a turn for the better in July 1969 when he began hosting the game show lieutenant"s Your Bet.
After completing approximately 13 weeks of taping, however, March complained that he was exhausted. Tests revealed that he had lung cancer, the result of years of chain smoking.
March died in January 1970 in Los Angeles at age 49. He is buried in Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery.
Member team Sweeney & March, 1945-1947, with guest appearances with Burns and Allen, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, others Served with C.A.C., Army of the United States, 1942-1943. Member American Guild Variety Artists, American Federation Television and Radio Actors.
Club: National Press of Washington (honorary).
Married Candy Toxton, February 13, 1956. Children: Steven, Melissa, Peter, Jeffrey, and Victoria.