![\"main-Peter-Van-Norden-getty-1\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/42b42fc0a14641649da902118ebaea20_md.jpg\")
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Peter Van Norden<\/a> — a longtime actor who starred in several hit 1980s and 1990s comedies — has died … TMZ has confirmed.<\/p>\n The actor’s wife, Wendy, tells TMZ … Peter passed away peacefully in a Southern California hospice facility Thursday morning while dealing with several different health conditions. Wendy was with him when he passed.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Peter — a New York City native — got his start in Hollywood in the late 1970s … grabbing a bit role in the controversial comedy “Squeeze Play.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Over the next decade, Pete appeared in popular projects like “Waitress!,” “Cheers,” “T.J. Hooker,” “The Stand,” and “Roadhouse 66,” starring Willem Dafoe<\/a> and Judge Reinhold<\/a>.<\/p>\n Screwball comedy fans will likely recognize Peter as Officer Vinnie Schtulman from “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment” and “The Naked Gun 2\u00bd: The Smell of Fear” as former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu.<\/p>\n On top of his film and TV credits, Peter was also a beloved stage actor … grabbing roles on Broadway and in regional theatres across the country.<\/p>\n Peter’s final credit came when he played Joe in a production of “Corktown ’39” at the Matrix Theater in Los Angeles last year. His performance in the dramatic piece about the IRA’s involvement in World War 2 was well-received by local critics.<\/p>\n He is survived by Wendy and their son, Robert.<\/p>\n Peter was 75.<\/p>\n![\"sub-Peter-Van-Norden-getty-1\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/0c0b4394bfcd4298a558ac377b02e9fc_md.jpg\")
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