Peter Van Norden, whose roles include those in films such as Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, has died at 75. The actor died peacefully by the side of his wife, Wendy, early Thursday in a Southern California hospice facility, struggling with several health conditions, according to TMZ.
Peter Van Norden was born on December 16, 1950, in New York City. He started in entertainment when he first moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s. He made his film debut in the Lloyd Kaufman-directed comedy Squeeze Play!.
His two most famous roles are as Officer Vinnie Schtulman in Police Academy 2 and the subsequent sequels, and as George H.W. Bush’s chief of staff, John H. Sununu, in The Naked Gun 2½. In addition to those roles, Van Norden appeared in several other films. His filmography includes roles in films like Headin’ for Broadway! (1980), Hard to Hold (1984), Roadhouse 66 (1984), The Accused (1988), and Gigli (2003).
The actor also worked extensively in television. His television roles include shows such as Cheers, TJ Hooker, St. Elsewhere, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, Newhart, Matlock, LA Law, The Stand, Tales from the Crypt, Murder She Wrote, Nash Bridges, Family Matters, ER, Days of Our Lives, and 9-1-1.
Peter Van Norden is survived by his wife and his son, Robert.
Leave a Comment