Marion Ramsey Dies: ‘Police Academy’s Officer Hooks & Broadway Actress Was 73
She was not on the list.
Marion Ramsey, an actress and singer who appeared in the 1978 hit Broadway show Eubie! but is best known for her portrayal of the sweet, squeaky-voiced Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy franchise, died today in her Los Angeles home. She was 73.
Her death was announced by her management team at Roger Paul Inc. A cause has not been determined, though the actress had been ill in recent days.
Born in Philadelphia, Ramsey began her show business career on the stage, appearing in both the original Broadway and subsequent touring productions of Hello, Dolly! In 1974, she starred opposite Bette Davis in the legendary flop musical Miss Moffat, an adaption of Davis’ classic 1945 film The Corn Is Green. Directed by Josh Logan, the Broadway-bound musical closed during out-of-town tryouts.
Ramsey’s stage career rebounded four years later with Eubie!, the lauded biographical musical about jazz pianist Eubie Blake starring Gregory and Maurice Hines.
By the time Eubie! opened, Ramsey had started what would be a long career in TV and film, beginning with a 1976 guest appearance on sitcom The Jeffersons. That same year she became a regular on the Bill Cosby-hosted sketch comedy series Cos.
Her signature role came in 1984 with Police Academy, the comedy film starring Steve Guttenberg. As the mild-mannered Officer Laverne Hooks, Ramsey made good use of her high-pitched, whispery voice, a vocal delivery that contrasted with the character’s occasional high-volume outbursts. The hit film was followed by five sequels over the next five years, with Ramsey appearing in all of them. She briefly reprised the role in the 1993 comedy video John Virgo: Playing for Laughs and, as a voice actress, in a 2006 episode of the animated Robot Chicken.
Other TV credits include the 1992 animated series The Addams Family. In 2015 and 2016, she reunited with Guttenberg in the campy Syfy TV movies Lavalantula and sequel 2 Lava 2 Lantula! A staunch AIDS/HIV awareness advocate, Ramsey performed in Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Divas Simply Singing, an annual fundraising event in Los Angeles.
Ramsey is survived by three brothers.
Filmography
Film and television roles Year Title Role Notes Refs
1975 Keep on Truckin' Various Regular role
1976 The Jeffersons Tracy Williams Episode: "The Breakup: Part 2"
Cos Various Regular role
1984 Police Academy Cadet Laverne Hooks On Police Academy: What an Institution! (UK: video title)
Family Secrets Linda Jones
1985 Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment Officer Laverne Hooks
1986 Police Academy 3: Back in Training Sgt. Laverne Hooks
1987 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol On Citizens on Patrol: Police Academy 4 (UK: poster title)
1988 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
1989 Police Academy 6: City Under Siege
1990 MacGyver Police officer Episode: "Harry's Will"
1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 Careers Counsellor Episode: "Stand (Up) and Deliver"
1993 Johnny Bago Nurse Roberta 'Bobbie' Thompson Episode: "Hail the Conquering Marrow"
John Virgo: Playing for Laughs Officer Hooks
Daddy Dearest Cop No. 2
1994 The Nanny Woman in Audience Episode: "The Strike"
2001 Maniacts Hooker
2003 Recipe for Disaster Motorcycle Cop TV movie
2006 Robot Chicken Laverne Hooks / Teacher Voice, Episode: "Sausage Fest"
2007 Lord Help Us Doretha Jackson
The Stolen Moments of September Ms. Henshaw
2009 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Harriet Episode: "Harriet"
2011 Modern Family Lady in salon Episode: "Two Monkeys and a Panda"
2012 Who Killed Soul Glow?
2013 Return to Babylon Barbara's Maid
2014 Wal-Bob's Lillian
2015 Lavalantula Teddie TV movie
2016 2 Lava 2 Lantula!
DaZe Vol. Too (sic) – NonSeNse Ms. Thenusda Norbuckle
2017 Vendetta Wilhelmina Thibodeaux
2018 When I Sing Reggie (final film role)
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