Police Academy star George R Robertson, who played the hilarious Chief Henry J. Hurst across six of the franchise’s films, has died at the age of 89.
The Canadian actor passed away on January 29, at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, his family confirmed in an obituary.
In it, Robertson was described as a “husband, father, grandfather, actor, writer, painter, [and] humanitarian”, his family writing that he “leaves a legacy of many accomplishments”.
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Born in Brampton, Ontario on April 20, 1933, Robertson began his acting career on the theatre stage.
He landed small roles in three films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Airport (1970); Norma Rae (1979); and JFK (1991). And also starred in several TV series including The F.B.I., The Most Deadly Game, and Cool Million.
But it wasn’t until he landed a role in the ’80s classic Police Academy, alongside stars Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall and the late Bubba Smith, that he got his big break.
The movie was a huge commercial success and led to five more sequels between 1985 and 1989.
All up, Robertson boasts 80 acting credits, including portraying former Vice President Dick Cheney in The Path To 9/11 and the late US Sen. Barry Goldwater in The Reagans.
His last on-screen role was in the TV movie Cradle to Grave in 2017.
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Growing up in Canada, Robertson also excelled in football and hockey. He eventually moved to NYC, where he earned his MBA at Columbia University in 1959.
And according to his online obituaryt was there that he met Adele Probst, who became his wife of 61 years.
Despite his lengthy film career, his family also noted his humanitarian efforts, writing that “his most important goals were achieved by helping others.”
He used his role as Chief Hurst to speak to youth in high schools across Canada as a UNICEF ambassador – something that eventually earned him the Danny Kaye UNICEF Canada award in 1990 for outstanding contribution.
He is survived by his wife Adele, two daughters, Sarah and Ellen, as well as several grandchildren.
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