Veteran actor Peter Van Norden, known for his roles in several popular comedies and television shows from the 1980s and 1990s, has died at 75.
Van Norden passed away peacefully Thursday morning at a hospice facility in Southern California while dealing with several health conditions, his wife, Wendy, confirmed to TMZ.
She was by his side when he died.
A native of New York City, Van Norden began his Hollywood career in the late 1970s with a small role in the controversial comedy Squeeze Play.
He went on to build a long list of film and television credits over the next several decades, appearing in projects including Waitress!, Cheers, T.J. Hooker, The Stand and Roadhouse 66, which starred Willem Dafoe and Judge Reinhold.
Comedy fans may best remember Van Norden for playing Officer Vinnie Schtulman in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment.
He also appeared in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear as former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu.
In addition to his screen work, Van Norden was a respected stage actor who performed on Broadway and in regional theaters across the country.
His final acting credit came last year when he played Joe in a production of Corktown ’39 at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles.
The drama focused on the IRA’s involvement in World War II, and Van Norden’s performance received positive reviews from local critics.
Van Norden is survived by his wife, Wendy, and their son, Robert.