Police Academy Is 38 Years Old, And The Cast Is Much Different Today

It’s doubtful that anyone expected Police Academy to become a huge hit. With a budget that didn’t reach $5 million, the knockabout comedy defied critics such as Roger Ebert, who hated it, to reap more than $150 million at the box office. The story of a bunch of unlikely wannabe cops hit viewers right in the funny bone, so much so that there’d be six sequels. Everyone loved the ensemble that starred in the film. But where are the likes of Mahoney, Hightower, Sparkes and Tackleberry today?

20. Don Lake

When put-upon minion Mahoney comes across “Mr. Wig,” he can’t find anywhere to park his car. The man with the wig doesn’t take it very well, and hilarity ensues. Don Lake took the part of the man in the wig, who doesn’t appreciate Mahoney’s solution to his parking problem: the car ends up wedged in between two others.

Canadian Lake went on to bigger and, at least from his point of view, better things: he didn’t have to wear a wig again that we’re aware of! He forged a long-lasting working relationship with comedian and talk show maven Bonnie Hunt. The pair worked on several hit movies, not least Disney hit Zootopia, in which Lake gave voice to Stu Hopps.

19. George R. Robertson

It’s fair to say that Chief Hurnst is old school. Probably his best-known scene in the movie comes when he laments the lack of “Johnsons” among the recruits when the academy removes barriers to training as a cop. George R. Robertson’s hilarious as the police chief who resists change with all his might.

While Police Academy might be his biggest hit, Robertson had one of “those faces.” He cropped up all the time on TV and was in plenty of movies as well. And when you weren’t seeing him, you were hearing him, with his music featuring in several successful films. He was last seen in TV movie Cradle to Grave.