George Gaynes
From Free net encyclopedia
George Gaynes (born May 16, 1917) is a Finnish-American actor.
He was born George Jongejans in Helsinki, Finland, the son of Iya De Gay (later known as Lady Iya Abdy) and Gerrit Jongejans. He is an accomplished Broadway actor, as well as a film and television star in the United States.
He has been married to Canadian-born stage and television actress and dancer, Allyn Ann McLerie, since December 20, 1953, and they have two children.
Gaynes is perhaps best known to movie fans as the male lead, John Van Horn, on the soap opera in the movie Tootsie and as Commandant Eric Lassard in the cult classic Police Academy. Gaynes also starred in the latter's six sequels. To television audiences, he may be best remembered as the often gruff but otherwise kind and loveable Henry Warnimont on the 1980s series Punky Brewster.
Selected filmography
- Just Married ..... Father Robert
- Wag the Dog ..... Sen. Cole
- Chicago Hope ..... Brook Austin
- The Crucible ..... Judge Samuel Sewall
- Vanya on 42nd Street ..... Serybryakov
- Punky Brewster ..... Henry Warnimont
- Police Academy ..... Commandant Eric Lassard
- Tootsie ..... John Van Horn
- Marooned ..... Mission Director