George Gaynes has passed at 98.

[Amaris]

LOS ANGELES — George Gaynes, who portrayed an irritable foster parent on the '80s sitcom "Punky Brewster," the bewildered commandant in seven "Police Academy" films and a soap opera star with a crush on Dorothy Michaels, whom he doesn't know is Dustin Hoffman's character in drag, in the hit feature comedy "Tootsie," died on Monday in North Bend, Wash. He was 98.

His death was confirmed by his daughter, Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown, according to the New York Times.

Gaynes, who was not only a character actor but a baritone singer, made hundreds of appearances both on TV comedies and dramas, as well as 35 films (counting both features and and made-for-TV movies) and many plays, musical comedies and even operas in the U.S. and Europe.

Read here: http://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/...-brewster-police-academy-fame-dies-98-n519806

I love the man. He was a kind and decent gentleman, and he was a talented actor. I also knew, when I was a kid, that when I grew up, I wanted to become Commandant of a police academy. I knew I would be very, very good at it, and have many, many graduating cadets.

Rest in peace, sir.

 

[Silvercrest]

Huh. My family is from that town. I wonder if anyone knew him.
R.I.P., Commandant.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Rest in peace Mr. Gaynes.

 

[Retu]

Huh? I didn't know he was born in Helsinki.

Thank you for the laughter you provided for people and rest in peace.

 

[Tosk]

Maybe the world is blind, or just a little unkind. Don't know. Seems you can't be sure of anything anymore.
Although, you maybe lonely and then, one day you're smiling again.

Every time I turn around, I see the girl who turns my world around. Standing there.
Every time I turn around, her spirit's lifting me right off the ground.

What's gonna be? Guess we'll just wait and see.

 

[Random_Spock]

RIP sir. I think I remember him from the Police Academy films.

 

[John Clark]

RIP. For me, he was always Commandant Lassard. Going off IMDB, I've seen him elsewhere, but I'll always remember him for that.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Commandant Lassard is end of watch...