Peter Van Norden, 75, dies after hospice care

Peter Van Norden, a veteran character actor known for his roles in the "Police Academy" and "Naked Gun" film franchises, died on Thursday, July 9, 2026. He was 75. His wife, Wendy, confirmed that he died peacefully that morning at a hospice facility in Southern California, with her at his side, after battling multiple health conditions.

Van Norden’s career spanned five decades across film, television, and theater. He was born in New York City on December 16, 1950, and made his on-screen debut in the 1979 comedy "Squeeze Play!" He soon became a familiar face in popular comedies of the 1980s and 1990s. In 1985, he joined the ensemble of "Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment," playing Officer Vinnie Schtulman, the first partner of Steve Guttenberg’s character. Six years later, he appeared in "The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear," portraying John Sununu, the former White House chief of staff to President George H.W. Bush.

Beyond comedy, Van Norden demonstrated a versatile range in dramatic roles. He played an attorney in the 1988 Jodie Foster drama "The Accused" and appeared as Ralph Brentner in the 1994 television miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s "The Stand." His other...