George R. Robertson, Chief Hurst in the ‘Police Academy’ Films, Dies at 89
The Canadian actor appeared in the first six films in the franchise and in three Oscar nominees for best picture.
He was not on the list.
George R. Robertson, the Canadian actor who portrayed the police chief and later police commissioner Henry Hurst in the first six Police Academy films, has died. He was 89.
Robertson died Sunday at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, his family announced.
Robertson also showed up in small roles in three films that were nominated for the best picture Oscar — Airport (1970), Norma Rae (1979) and JFK (1991) — and portrayed vice president Dick Cheney in the 2006 ABC miniseries The Path to 9/11.
Robertson appeared as Hurst in 1994 in the first Police Academy movie, directed by Hugh Wilson, and stuck around through Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989). His character grows more tolerant of the wacky recruits led by Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) as the franchise moves along.
The actor did not make the trip to Moscow for the 1994 installment but was on one episode of the 1997-98 Police Academy series at CTV.
George Ross Robertson was born on April 20, 1933, in Brampton, Ontario. He exceled at hockey and football and in 1952 received from West Hill High School the Allan Hall Memorial Trophy, “presented each year to the athlete who sets a high standard in clean sportsmanship and who, through precept and example, inspires his teammates to greater achievement.”
He earned his master’s degree in business in 1959 at New York’s Columbia University and then began his acting career on the stage. He made his onscreen debut with an uncredited role in Rosemary’s Baby (1969) and played a minor-league hockey coach in Paperback Hero (1973), starring Keir Dullea.
During his 60-year career, Robertson played lots of authority figures. He portrayed Adm. William Leahy in the 1995 Showtime telefilm Hiroshima, and in 2003 TV movies, he was Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater in Showtime’s The Reagans, starring James Brolin and Judy Davis, and Arkansas Sen. William Fulbright in FX’s The Pentagon Papers, starring James Spader.
His big-screen résumé also included National Lampoon’s Senior Trip (1995), Murder at 1600 (1997) and Still Mine (2012).
The CBC presented him with its Margaret Collier Award in 1993 for his outstanding body of work.
Robertson walked the length of southwest France, a distance of 328 miles, to raise money for an orphanage in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and as Chief Hurst, he traveled across Canada speaking to high school kids as a UNICEF ambassador (he received the Danny Kaye UNICEF Canada Award in 1990).
He also was given a Gemini Award as Humanitarian of the Year in 2004, honored for the impact he had on children in Canada and around the world.
His later life was devoted to painting and writing.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Adele (they met at Columbia); daughters Sarah (and her husband, Steve) and Ellen (Mitch); grandchildren Julia and William; and step-grandchildren Ariel, Gabe, Maddie and Josh.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1968 Rosemary's Baby Lou Comfort Uncredited
1969 Marooned VIP Uncredited
1970 Airport Richard Stout - Passenger Uncredited
1973 U-Turn Tennis pro
1973 Paperback Hero Burdock
1979 Norma Rae Farmer
1981 The Amateur U.S. Consul
1982 Murder by Phone George Lord
1984 Police Academy Chief / Commissioner Henry Hurst
1985 Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
1986 Police Academy 3: Back in Training
1987 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol
1988 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
1989 The Twilight Zone Gen. Greg Slater TV Series, 1 episode
1989 Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Commissioner Henry Hurst
1991 Deceived Adrienne's Father
1991 JFK White House Man
1995 National Lampoon's Senior Trip President Davis
1996 Holiday Affair
1997 Murder at 1600 Mack Falls
2012 Still Mine Chester Jones
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