Peter Tomarken, host of "Press Your Luck," dies in plane crash

http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-pressyourluckhostdies,0,44122.story?coll=zap-news-headlines

LOS ANGELES -- Peter Tomarken, the host of the 1980s game show "Press Your Luck," died Monday morning when a small plane carrying him and two other passengers crashed in the Pacific Ocean.

According to news reports, Tomarken, 63, and two other people were aboard a Beechcraft 36 when it hit the ocean near the Santa Monica Pier a little after 9:30 a.m. Monday. The pilot reported engine failure not long after the aircraft's takeoff from Santa Monica Airport, a couple of miles inland from the crash site.

Rescuers recovered two bodies -- those of Tomarken and his wife, Kathleen, 41. Authorities are seeking a third person who was reportedly aboard.

Tomarken hosted "Press Your Luck," which was a daytime hit on CBS from 1983-86. The show is notable for its animated "Whammy" characters that took contestants' money when they landed on them, and for a 1984 scandal in which a player named Paul Michael Larson discovered a pattern in the show's game board and used it to win more than $100,000.

Press your Luck was a favorite during a time when I was unemployed. I don't remember the scandal of course, but the "Whammy" Stuff was fun indeed.

I know people are in a hurry, but small planes? I'd never get into anything smaller than a LearJet. Anyone who can afford one of THOSE babies gets a real experienced pilot to fly them. I've yet to hear of a crash with them except for perhaps Golfer Stewart.

Does anyone remember this older man who was down on his luck and on a winning streak? I don't remember how that turned out. The old guy was risking major money and was on a roll. It was hilarious to watch.

Won over $110,000 on the show. His trick was having been able to remember the board patterns (which only numbered six at the time) through his watching the show on TV.

Unfortunately blew much of it on bad real estate dealings and the rest was taken in a robbery of his house. He died a couple of years ago.

RIP Peter

THEY got to him. He clearly KNEW too much.

Too bad. Best wishes to his friends and family. May he rest peacefully.

I have to say Mr. Tomarken was a class act. He was volunteering for the Angel Flight organization, and was en route to pick up a patient for transport to LA for medical treatment. He turned his hobby into an amazing gift to others.

May they all rest in peace. :(