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‘Police Academy', ‘Punky Brewster' Star George Gaynes Dies

George Gaynes, who played Commandant Lassard in the "Police Academy" movies and the grouchy foster dad in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster," died on Monday. He was 98. 

Gaynes' daughter, Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown, confirmed his death to The New York Times.

On "Punky Brewster," which ran on NBC from 1984-86, Gaynes played Henry Warnimont, a widower who finds abandoned young girl Punky Brewster and ultimately becomes her foster father. 

He was also part of seven quintessentially 1980s "Police Academy" films as Commandant Eric Lassard, the leader of a ragtag group police officers in training.

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