Actor Peter Van Norden has died at the age of 75, his son, Robert, has confirmed. In a statement shared on Instagram, he wrote: "Peter passed away peacefully last night with his wife, Wendy, at his side. He was a terrific father, husband, friend, and a greatly respected member of the theatre community. He will be missed."
Speaking with TMZ, Van Norden's wife, Wendy, said that Peter had died in a Southern California hospice facility on Thursday, after struggling with a number of different health conditions.
Born in New York in 1950, Peter graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University before launching a decade-spanning career on the stage and screen. A respected thespian and Broadway star, the 75-year-old famously appeared in productions of Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Cymbeline, A Christmas Carol, Hairspray, Singin' in the Rain, and The Tempest.
As for his on-screen portfolio, Peter was recognised for playing Officer Vinnie Schtulman in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) and John Sununu in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991). Among his TV credits, the comedy star also landed roles in Cheers, St. Elsewhere, Family Ties and Murder, She Wrote, Matlock and The Stand.
Following the news of his passing, tributes have poured in across social media. "We're saddened to say farewell to Peter van Norden, a stage icon and a longtime friend," wrote LA Theatre Works. "In addition to his recordings for LATW, he joined our groundbreaking China tour of 'Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers'. Thanks for your amazing work Peter. We will miss you."
"RIP Peter Van Norden. He was a genuinely lovely chap who I enjoyed spending a little time with - since then he's kept in touch on Facebook. Condolences to his family," penned producer, Gary Smart.
"Saw that Peter Van Norden had passed last night. Met him for the first time back when I was in Antaeus," recalled actor and director, Eric Allan Kramer. "Respected and generous actor, someone who made a production better just by being in it… Was grateful to have known him. RIP."
