Peter Edward Van Norden (December 16, 1950 – July 9, 2026) was an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Hollywood films of the 1980s and 1990s, including Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), The Accused (1988), and The Stand (1994), among others.
Background Van Norden was born in New York City on December 16, 1950. He graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University.
He was married to Wendy Van Norden. The couple had a son named Robert. Peter Van Norden died in Southern California on July 9, 2026, at the age of 75.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1979Squeeze Play!Beauty Parlor Manager1980Headin' for BroadwayAuditioner1981Waitress!Policeman1984Hard to HoldCasseroleRoadhouse 66Moss1985Police Academy 2: Their First AssignmentOfficer Vinnie Schtulman1988The AccusedPaulsen1991The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of FearJohn Sununu2003GigliMorgue Attendant
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1982CheersCymbals PlayerEpisode: "Friends, Romans, and Accountants"1982–1983St. ElsewherePatient / Bill Fulkerson2 episodes1982T. J. HookerLennyEpisode: "Thieves' Highway"1983MalibuBumboTV movieBlood FeudPierre Salinger 1985Three's a CrowdHerbert PottsEpisode: "A Friend in Deed"Silver SpoonsLarryEpisode: "All the Principal's Men"Family TiesJanitorEpisode: "The Real Thing: Part 2"1989–1996Murder, She WroteHenryk Stuyvesant / Dr. Sid Lantz / CIA Agt. Dennis Quinlan3 episodes1990In the Heat of the NightSgt. D'Agostino2 episodes1991MatlockNick SaddlerEpisode: "The Suspect"1994The StandRalph BrentnerMiniseries; 4 episodes
Stage + Year Title Role Venue 1975Measure for MeasureEscalusClassic Stage Company, Off-BroadwayA Country ScandalCount Partin, Semeonovich GlagolaevAntigoneDurand1976The Hound of the BaskervillesDr. John WatsonTartuffeOrgonThe BalconyBishop1977Romeo and Juliet Abram, Friar John, WatchmanCircle in the Square, BroadwaySaint Joan Bertrand de Poulengey 1978The Inspector GeneralStepán Illyích Ukhovyórtov, Merchant 1981MacbethScottish Doctor, Old Man, MurdererVivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway1981Little Johnny JonesAnthony AnsteyUS national tour1982Alvin Theatre, Broadway1986HamletFirst Gravedigger, GentlemanThe Public Theater, Off-Broadway1990The Last PadArchieFriends and Artists Theatre, Los Angeles1994The Cradle Will RockMr. MisterOff Ramp Theatre, Los Angeles1997Nixon's NixonHenry KissingerSan Jose Repertory TheatreLootTruscottBlank Theatre Company, Hollywood1998Mizlansky/ZilinskyZilinskySan Jose Repertory TheatreNixon's NixonHenry KissingerSeattle Repertory Theatre1999The Magic FireGiovanni, Juan GuarneriBerkeley Repertory TheatreOld Globe Theatre, San DiegoCymbelineCymbeline2000Love's Labour's LostHolofernes2000Enter the GuardsmanThe PlaywrightSan Jose Repertory Theatre2001Camping With Henry and TomWarren G. HardingLa Mirada Theatre, California2003Mr. Shaw Goes to HollywoodBilly, John BarrymoreLaguna Playhouse, CaliforniaMisallianceJohn TartletonCenter Stage, Baltimore2005The Wild PartyGoldHudson Theatre Mainstage, Los Angeles2006Moonlight and MagnoliasBen HechtIntiman Theatre, Seattle2007Don QuixoteQuixoteSan Diego Repertory TheatreNixon's NixonHenry KissingerSan Jose Repertory Theatre2008Desperate WritersLeo GoldbergEdgemar Center for the Arts, California2009GroundswellSmithSan Jose Repertory Theatre2010Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon PapersFritz Beebe, Henry KissingerNew York Theatre Workshop, Off-BroadwayHairsprayEdna TurnbladSan Diego Repertory Theatre2011The Cradle Will RockMr. MisterStella Adler Theatre, Los Angeles2012MacbethDuncanAntaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles2013The Sunshine BoysWillie ClarkArizona Theatre CompanyThe LiarGéronteAntaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles2014Flim Flam: Houdini And The HereafterArthur Conan DoyleMalibu Playhouse, CaliforniaOthelloBrabantioOdyssey Theatre Ensemble, Los Angeles2015Serrano: The MusicalDon ReyesMatrix Theatre, Los AngelesCopenhagenNiels BohrRubicon Theatre, CaliforniaA Christmas CarolScrooge2016King Charles IIICharles III (Van Norden was the first American actor to play the role)Arizona Theatre CompanyA Christmas CarolScroogeRubicon Theatre, California2017Taking SidesWilhelm FurtwänglerRubicon Theatre, CaliforniaA Christmas CarolScrooge2018The HothouseRooteAntaeus Theatre Company, Los AngelesHenry IV Performer
Standby for Tom Hanks as FalstaffShakespeare Center of Los Angeles1776Benjamin FranklinLa Mirada Theatre, California2019Singin' in the Rain R.F. SimpsonLa Mirada Theatre, CaliforniaIt's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio PlayFreddie Filmore, Mr. Potter, Bill Bailey, othersEnsemble Theatre Company, Santa Barbara2020Red InkperformerAtwater Village Theatre, Los Angeles2023The TempestGonzaloShakespeare Center of Los AngelesProsperoAntaeus Theatre Company, Los Angeles2024MisallianceJohn TartletonA Noise Within, California2025Corktown '39JoeMatrix Theatre, Los Angeles
Notes 1. Adaptation combining Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2
References
External links
Rotten Tomatoes profile PETER VAN NORDEN official website