# Peter Van Norden, Actor in ‘Police Academy 2’ and ‘The Stand,’ Dies at 75

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/peter-van-norden-actor-in-police-academy-2-and-the-stand-dies-at-75/
- Published: 2026-07-11T16:40:25+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/peter-van-norden-dead-police-academy-1236807230/
- Topics: Art, Culture

## Key points

- Character actor known for 'Police Academy 2' and Stephen King's 'The Stand' died in California at 75
- Maintained prolific career across film, television, and theatre from 1979 onward, with appearances on 'Cheers,' 'Murder, She Wrote,' 'ER,' and numerous other series

## Summary

Peter Van Norden, a character actor whose career spanned five decades, passed away Thursday in California at age 75. He was widely recognised for his comedic role as Vinnie Schtulman in 'Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment' and for portraying farmer Ralph Brentner in Stephen King's 1994 television adaptation of 'The Stand.'

Van Norden began his career in theatre, performing in classic productions before transitioning to film in 1979. He built a substantial television presence throughout the 1980s and beyond, appearing regularly on shows including 'Cheers,' 'Murder, She Wrote,' 'Family Ties,' and later 'ER' and '9-1-1.' He is survived by his wife Wendy and son Robert.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.