ACTOR
George Gaynes
Known for Columbo · Cheers · Bonanza
George Gaynes (May 16, 1917 – February 15, 2016) was a Finnish-born American actor of stage, screen and television. He is best known for his role of Commandant Eric Lassard in the Police Academy film series, and as Henry Warnimont on the television series Punky Brewster.
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- May 16, 1917
- Died
- Feb 15, 2016
- Birthplace
- Helsinki, Finland
- Known For
- Acting
Biography
George Gaynes (May 16, 1917 – February 15, 2016) was a Finnish-born American actor of stage, screen and television. He is best known for his role of Commandant Eric Lassard in the Police Academy film series, and as Henry Warnimont on the television series Punky Brewster.
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Known For
TV
ColumboEverett · 1971
★ 8.1
★ 8.1
TV
CheersMalcolm Kramer · 1982
★ 7.6
★ 7.6
TV
BonanzaSenator Purdy · 1959
★ 7.5
★ 7.5
TV
Mission: ImpossibleDr. Paul van Bergner · 1966
★ 7.6
★ 7.6
TV
Hawaii Five-OThurman Elliott · 1969
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
TV
Quincy, M.E.2 eps · 1976
★ 7.5
★ 7.5
TV
The Alfred Hitchcock HourMr. Campbell · 1962
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
TV
Chicago HopeBrook Austin · 1994
★ 7.2
★ 7.2
Filmography
Movies
One Touch of VenusWhitelaw Savory
1955
PT 109PT Flotilla Captain (uncredited)
1963
Joy House
1964
The GroupBrook Latham
1966
MaroonedMission Director
1969
Doctors' WivesPaul McGill
1971
Slaughter's Big Rip-OffWarren
1973
The Boy Who Cried WerewolfDr Marderosian
1973
The Way We WereEl Morocco Captain
1973
Song of the SuccubusC.J. Meredith
1975
Trilogy of TerrorDr. Chester Ramsey
1975
Harry and Walter Go to New YorkPrince
1976
NickelodeonReginald Kingsley
1976
The Flying MisfitsMaj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault
1976
Woman of the YearHarding
1976
The Girl in the Empty GraveDavid Alden
1977
Altered StatesDr. Wissenschaft
1980
Evita PeronEvita's Doctor
1981
Dead Men Don't Wear PlaidDr. Forrest
1982
TootsieJohn Van Horn
1982
I'm Going to Be Famous
1983
To Be or Not to BeRavitch
1983
It Came Upon the Midnight ClearArch Angel
1984
Micki & MaudeDr. Eugene Glztszki
1984
Mom's on StrikeThe Commander
1984
Police AcademyCommandant Lassard
1984
Police Academy 2: Their First AssignmentCommandant Lassard
1985
Police Academy 3: Back in TrainingCommandant Lassard
1986
A Taxi Driver in New Yorkl'ammiraglio
1987
Police Academy 4: Citizens on PatrolCommandant Lassard
1987
TernoseccoDon Salvatore
1987
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami BeachLassard
1988
Police Academy 6: City Under SiegeLassard
1989
StepmonsterNorman
1993
Police Academy: Mission to MoscowCommandant Lassard
1994
The Fantastic FourProfessor
1994
Vanya on 42nd StreetSerybryakov
1994
The CrucibleJudge Samuel Sewall
1996
Wag the DogSenator Nole
1997
Just MarriedFather Robert
2003
Musical Mel: Inventing The InquisitionSelf (archive footage)
2009Television
CheyenneRod Delaplane · 1 eps
1955
BonanzaSenator Purdy · 1 eps
1959
Hawaiian EyeRoger Korvin · 1 eps
1959
The Alfred Hitchcock HourMr. Campbell · 1 eps
1962
The Gallant Men1 eps
1962
The Patty Duke Show1 eps
1963
Hogan's Heroes1 eps
1965
Mission: ImpossibleDr. Paul van Bergner · 1 eps
1966
MannixProfessor Brendan · 1 eps
1967
Hawaii Five-OThurman Elliott · 1 eps
1969
McCloud1 eps
1970
Cannon1 eps
1971
ColumboEverett · 1 eps
1971ColumboFrenchman · 1 eps
1971
McMillan & WifeBurton Rhoner · 1 eps
1971
Search1 eps
1972
The Six Million Dollar ManGeneral Wiley · 1 eps
1974
Baa Baa Black SheepClaire Lee Chennault · 1 eps
1976
City of Angels1 eps
1976
DelvecchioCommissioner Schaub · 1 eps
1976
Quincy, M.E.2 eps
1976
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book IIMax Vincent · 5 eps
1976
The Quest1 eps
1976
Carter Country1 eps
1977
WKRP in CincinnatiHenri · 1 eps
1978WKRP in CincinnatiDirector
1978
Breaking Up Is Hard to DoWiley · 2 eps
1979
Just FriendsRock La Rue · 1 eps
1979
ScruplesJohn Prince · 3 eps
1980
CheersMalcolm Kramer · 1 eps
1982
Hotel1 eps
1982
Blue ThunderDr. Willi Von Hartig · 1 eps
1984
Punky BrewsterHenry Warnimont · 91 eps
1984
It's Punky Brewster33 eps
1985
MatlockJudge Hollis D. Dunaway · 2 eps
1986
The Days and Nights of Molly DoddArthur Feldman · 17 eps
1987
The New Lassie1 eps
1989
DinosaursElder in Chief (voice) · 1 eps
1991
Hearts AfireSenator Strobe Smithers · 23 eps
1992
Chicago HopeBrook Austin · 3 eps
1994
SlidersOld Quinn Mallory · 1 eps
1995
Police Academy: The SeriesCommandant Eric Lassard · 1 eps
1997Photos
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