Trivia

Spoke seven different languages.

In Europe, he served in the Dutch and British Navies during World War II.

After appearing in Just Married (2003), he retired from acting in 2003, at age 86.

He and his wife, Allyn Ann McLerie, were founders of the State Street Ballet Company in Santa Barbara.

His wife, Allyn Ann McLerie, guest-starred as his love interest on his television series, Punky Brewster (1984).

Appeared in all seven Police Academy movies.

Studied opera in Milan, Italy.

Before he was a film and television actor, he was a singer and established Broadway actor.

Met actress/dancer, Allyn Ann McLerie, in New York City, where they were both performing on Broadway in 1952.

Credited Jacques Tati as being a major influence on him as a comedic actor.

Was good friends with his Police Academy (1984) co-star Leslie Easterbrook.

George Gaynes passed away on February 15, 2016, three months away from what would have been his 99th birthday on May 16.

Best known for his roles as Henry Warnimont on Punky Brewster (1984) and Commandant Eric Lassard in the Police Academy series.

His son Matthew suffered from drug abuse for many years. He died in a car crash in India in 1989. He was traveling through Northern India to Nepal to film a kayaking special for ESPN. Left behind a widow whom he had married earlier that year.

Due to his appearance, voice and work in comedy, he is sometimes confused with Lloyd Bridges and Leslie Nielsen.

His father, Gerrit Jongejans, was a Dutch businessman. His mother, Iya Grigorievna De Gay (Lady Iya Abdy), was of mostly Russian ancestry, with smaller amounts of Polish and French roots.

His great-grandchild, Portia, was born in 2012.

Son of Iya Abdy (also known as Lady Abdy Jongejans).

After Punky Brewster (1984), Gaynes did not keep in touch with Soleil Moon Frye.

His second wife Allyn Ann McLerie was born in Canada.

Accomplished Broadway musical comedy performer, best remembered as Bob Baker in the original production of "Wonderful Town" (1953).

His daughter, Iya, was named after his mother.

Appeared in one Best Picture Academy Award nominee: Tootsie (1982).

Born and died in the same years as Zsa Zsa Gabor. Coincidentally, they were both born in Europe during WWI. Each of their native countries got divided by the end of the war.

Though he did not become a father till he was nearly 39 (in 1956 when his first child was born), he lived long enough to become a great-grandfather at age 95 (in 2012, when his first great-grandchild was born).

His uncle, Gregory Gaye, died in 1993. He lived to be 92.

Friends with: Anna Lee, Susie Garrett, Blair Brown, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Conrad, Charles Durning, Kim Cattrall, Barry Sullivan, Peter Falk, Gene Hackman, Gordon Jump, John Ritter, Richard Mulligan, Tony Randall, Jack Klugman and his wife Allyn Ann McLerie.

Grandfather of Nicole Falcone Stryjak.

Father of Iya and Matthew Gaynes.

Upon his death, he was cremated, his ashes are in his family's possession.

Altered his surname to 'Gaynes', as people in the United States had trouble saying his Scandinavian surname.

Gaynes and wife Allyn Ann McLerie moved from Los Angeles County to Santa Barbara in 1989.

Nephew of actor Gregory Gaye.

Was once parodied by Jimmy Fallon in a 'Super Buzzers' sketch on Saturday Night Live (1975).