George R. Robertson, who played Chief Hurst (later Commissioner) in the top six police school films during a film career spanning half a century is over. He was 89 years old. His family said he died Jan. 29 at Toronto’s Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, but gave no further details.
Robertson worked in television and film for nearly 15 years when he played the role of strict but fair Chief Henry Hurst. police school, the 1984 cop flick starring Steve Guttenberg. The film was a left-field hit and spawned a franchise that spanned seven films over the next decade, including one a year until 1989. He appeared in the first six, but not the last in 1994’s Moscow.
The films followed the antics of a group of misfit police recruits who flock together after their city’s newly elected mayor announces that the department must hire anyone who applies. Co-stars include Kim Cattrall, Bubba Smith, Debralee Scott and Michael Winslow.
Born on April 20, 1933 in Brampton, Ontario, Robertson began his career in theater before landing roles in films in the late 1960s. He has guest starred in numerous TV series, among others The FBI in the 1970s and eventually appeared in small roles in three Academy Award nominees for Best Picture: Airport (1970), Norma Rae (1979) and JFK (1991).
He has worked continuously on the big and small screens over the decades, with credits stretching back to 2017. Along the way, Robertson was a regular on the CTV drama series from 1989 to 1994. EN and came back in the 2001 Showtime drama series leap years. He also played Vice President Dick Cheney in the 2006 ABC miniseries The Road to 9/11 Barry Goldwater in the 2000 Showtime miniseries The Reagan and the fictional US president National Lampoon Seniors Tour (1995).
Robertson is survived by his wife of 61 years, Adele; daughter, Sarah Robertson (Steve Pulver); grandchildren Julia and William; step-grandchildren Ariel, Gabe, Maddie and Josh; and many other extended family members. A memorial service is planned for the end of March.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Youth Without Shelter or UNICEF Canada.
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
