George Gaynes, the character actor best known to Irish audiences for his roles as the bungling Commandant Lassard in the Police Academy movies and foster parent Henry Warnimont in the TV series Punky Brewster, has died. He was 98.
Gaynes' screen career spanned six decades and his many TV shows also included Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Columbo, Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II, The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, Hearts Afire and Chicago Hope.
His film credits included Wag the Dog, The Crucible, Altered States, The Way We Were and Tootsie, where he memorably played the soap opera star who fell for Dustin Hoffman's character - a struggling actor who resorts to dressing in drag in order to get his big break.
Born George Jongejans in Helsinki in 1917, Gaynes lived in a number of European countries as a child and served with the Royal Dutch Navy in World War II. After the war he joined the New York City Opera with the baritone going on to appear in many productions in the US and Europe.
He retired in 2003 with his last film the Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy-starring comedy Just Married.
George Gaynes is survived by his wife of 63 years, actress and singer Allyn Ann McLerie, their daughter, granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.
George Gaynes and Soleil Moon Frye in Punky Brewster
His Punky Brewster co-star, Soleil Moon Frye, paid tribute on Twitter:
The universe just gained a gigantic star. You will be in my heart and soul always & forever.
— soleil moon frye (@moonfrye) February 17, 2016
Your little Punky
RIP George Gaynes
