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Peter Van Norden

American actor (1950–2026) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Peter Edward Van Norden (December 16, 1950 – July 9, 2026) was an American actor.[1] He is best known for his roles in Hollywood films of the 1980s and 1990s, including Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), The Accused (1988), and The Stand (1994), among others.

Born
Peter Edward Van Norden

(1950-12-16)December 16, 1950
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2026(2026-07-09) (aged 75)
San Diego, California, U.S.
EducationColgate University
Occupation
  • Actor
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Peter Van Norden
Van Norden in The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear, 1991
Born
Peter Edward Van Norden

(1950-12-16)December 16, 1950
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 9, 2026(2026-07-09) (aged 75)
San Diego, California, U.S.
EducationColgate University
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active1975–2025
SpouseWendy Edith Van Norden
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Background

Van Norden was born in New York City on December 16, 1950.[2][3] He graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University.[3]

He was married to Wendy Van Norden. The couple had a son named Robert.[4] Peter Van Norden died in Southern California on July 9, 2026, at the age of 75.[3]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Squeeze Play! Beauty Parlor Manager
1980 Headin' for Broadway Auditioner
1981 Waitress! Policeman
1984 Hard to Hold Casserole
Roadhouse 66 Moss
1985 Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment Officer Vinnie Schtulman
1988 The Accused Paulsen
1991 The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear John Sununu
2003 Gigli Morgue Attendant
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Cheers Cymbals Player Episode: "Friends, Romans, and Accountants"
1982–1983 St. Elsewhere Patient / Bill Fulkerson 2 episodes
1982 T. J. Hooker Lenny Episode: "Thieves' Highway"
1983 Malibu Bumbo TV movie
Blood Feud Pierre Salinger
1985 Three's a Crowd Herbert Potts Episode: "A Friend in Deed"
Silver Spoons Larry Episode: "All the Principal's Men"
Family Ties Janitor Episode: "The Real Thing: Part 2"
1989–1996 Murder, She Wrote Henryk Stuyvesant / Dr. Sid Lantz / CIA Agt. Dennis Quinlan 3 episodes
1990 In the Heat of the Night Sgt. D'Agostino 2 episodes
1991 Matlock Nick Saddler Episode: "The Suspect"
1994 The Stand Ralph Brentner Miniseries; 4 episodes
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Stage

More information Year, Title ...
Theatre credits
Year Title Role Venue Refs.
1975 Measure for Measure Escalus Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway [5]
A Country Scandal Count Partin, Semeonovich Glagolaev [6]
Antigone Durand [7]
1976 The Hound of the Baskervilles Dr. John Watson [8]
Tartuffe Orgon [9]
The Balcony Bishop [10]
1977 Romeo and Juliet Abram, Friar John, Watchman Circle in the Square, Broadway [11]
Saint Joan Bertrand de Poulengey [12]
1978 The Inspector General Stepán Illyích Ukhovyórtov, Merchant [13]
1981 Macbeth Scottish Doctor, Old Man, Murderer Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway [14]
1981 Little Johnny Jones Anthony Anstey US national tour [15]
1982 Alvin Theatre, Broadway [16]
1986 Hamlet First Gravedigger, Gentleman The Public Theater, Off-Broadway [17]
1990 The Last Pad Archie Friends and Artists Theatre, Los Angeles [18]
1994 The Cradle Will Rock Mr. Mister Off Ramp Theatre, Los Angeles [19]
1997 Nixon's Nixon Henry Kissinger San Jose Repertory Theatre [20]
Loot Truscott Blank Theatre Company, Hollywood [21]
1998 Mizlansky/Zilinsky Zilinsky San Jose Repertory Theatre [22]
Nixon's Nixon Henry Kissinger Seattle Repertory Theatre [23]
1999 The Magic Fire Giovanni, Juan Guarneri Berkeley Repertory Theatre [24]
Old Globe Theatre, San Diego [25]
Cymbeline Cymbeline [26]
2000 Love's Labour's Lost Holofernes [27]
2000 Enter the Guardsman The Playwright San Jose Repertory Theatre [28]
2001 Camping With Henry and Tom Warren G. Harding La Mirada Theatre, California [29]
2003 Mr. Shaw Goes to Hollywood Billy, John Barrymore Laguna Playhouse, California [30]
Misalliance John Tartleton Center Stage, Baltimore [31]
2005 The Wild Party Gold Hudson Theatre Mainstage, Los Angeles [32]
2006 Moonlight and Magnolias Ben Hecht Intiman Theatre, Seattle [33]
2007 Don Quixote Quixote San Diego Repertory Theatre [34]
Nixon's Nixon Henry Kissinger San Jose Repertory Theatre [20]
2008 Desperate Writers Leo Goldberg Edgemar Center for the Arts, California [35]
2009 Groundswell Smith San Jose Repertory Theatre [36]
2010 Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers Fritz Beebe, Henry Kissinger New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway [37]
Hairspray Edna Turnblad San Diego Repertory Theatre [38]
2011 The Cradle Will Rock Mr. Mister Stella Adler Theatre, Los Angeles [39]
2012 Macbeth Duncan Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles [40]
2013 The Sunshine Boys Willie Clark Arizona Theatre Company [41]
The Liar Géronte Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles [42]
2014 Flim Flam: Houdini And The Hereafter Arthur Conan Doyle Malibu Playhouse, California [43]
Othello Brabantio Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, Los Angeles [44]
2015 Serrano: The Musical Don Reyes Matrix Theatre, Los Angeles [45]
Copenhagen Niels Bohr Rubicon Theatre, California [46]
A Christmas Carol Scrooge [47]
2016 King Charles III Charles III

(Van Norden was the first American actor to play the role)[citation needed]

 Arizona Theatre Company [48]
A Christmas Carol Scrooge Rubicon Theatre, California [47]
2017 Taking Sides Wilhelm Furtwängler Rubicon Theatre, California [49]
A Christmas Carol Scrooge [50]
2018 The Hothouse Roote Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles [51]
Henry IV Performer

Standby for Tom Hanks as Falstaff[citation needed]

 Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles [52]
1776 Benjamin Franklin La Mirada Theatre, California [53]
2019 Singin' in the Rain R.F. Simpson La Mirada Theatre, California [54]
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play Freddie Filmore, Mr. Potter, Bill Bailey, others Ensemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara [55]
2020 Red Ink performer Atwater Village Theatre, Los Angeles [56]
2023 The Tempest Gonzalo Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles [57]
Prospero Antaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles [58]
2024 Misalliance John Tartleton A Noise Within, California [59]
2025 Corktown '39 Joe Matrix Theatre, Los Angeles [60]
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Notes

1.^ Adaptation combining Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2

References

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