George Gaynes, Star of ‘Punky Brewster’ and ‘Police Academy,’ Dead at 98

Character actor George Gaynes, who is remembered as for his stints on 1980s sitcom “Punky Brewster,” seven “Police Academy” films, and as a soap opera star with a crush on Dustin Hoffman in drag in 1982 theatrical “Tootsie,” died on Monday at his daughter’s home in North Bend, Washington. He was 98.

Born on May 16, 1917 in Helsinki, Russian Empire as George Jongejans, George Gaynes was an accomplished Broadway musical comedy performer, including appearing in the original production of “Wonderful Town” (1953). He guest starred in dozens of television series throughout the course of his career, and also had regular roles in “Rich Man, Poor Man – Book II,” and sitcoms “The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd” and “Hearts Afire.”

His is survived by his actress wife, Allyn Ann McLerie, his daughter, a granddaughter and two great-granddaughters. His son, Matthew, died in a car crash in 1989.