Marion Ramsey

Marion Ramsey
Ramsey as her character, Laverne Hooks, in the Police Academy franchise.
Ramsey as her character, Laverne Hooks, in the Police Academy franchise.
Background information
Born(1947-05-10)May 10, 1947
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 7, 2021(2021-01-07) (aged 73)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • songwriter
Years active1975–2018

Marion Ramsey (May 10, 1947 – January 7, 2021) was an American actress and singer.[1] She was a regular on the series Cos but is best known for her role as the soft-spoken Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy series.[2] Later she appeared in the films Recipe for Disaster and Return to Babylon, and in the television films for SyFy, such as Lavalantula and 2 Lava 2 Lantula!.[3]

Biography

Early life

Born in Philadelphia on May 10, 1947, Ramsey's entertainment career started on stage.

Career

She co-starred in Broadway shows, including productions of Eubie! and Grind, and toured the US in the musical Hello Dolly.

Her first television part was a guest role on the series The Jeffersons, and was a regular on Cos, the Bill Cosby sketch comedy series.[4] In 1976, Her career in TV and film took off after she appeared as a guest on the hit sitcom The Jeffersons.[5]

One of Ramsey's most memorable roles was that of Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy films. She appeared as the character in the films: Police Academy (1984), Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986), Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988), and Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989). Like most of her police academy co-stars, she did not return for the seventh and final film in the franchise, Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994). Ramsey lent for her voice to the character Denise Pidgeon in the animated Police Academy series, which ran from 1988 to 1989. Ramsey was one of few main cast members of the series, to not guest appear in the sitcom, which aired from 1997 to 1998.

Later career

Later in her career, she had guest appearances on Adult Swim shows Robot Chicken and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. In 2015, she reunited with Police Academy stars Steve Guttenberg and Michael Winslow in the Syfy camp film Lavalantula and its sequel 2 Lava 2 Lantula! the following year. Her final acting role was in the 2018 indie film When I Sing.[4]

Ramsey was a singer and songwriter who wrote songs with Haras Fyre (composer of "Supernatural Thing," "This Time I'll Be Sweeter," "Satan's Daughter" for Gary Glitter, and others).[citation needed]

Ramsey was deeply committed to AIDS awareness and lent her voice for charitable causes, performing in "Divas Simply Singing," an annual fundraising event.

Ramsey was good friends with actress Nell Carter.

Death

She died at her Los Angeles home on January 7, 2021, after a short illness. She was survived by three of her brothers.[6][7]

Filmography

Film and television roles
Year Title Role Notes Refs
1975 Keep on Truckin' Various Regular role [8]
1976 The Jeffersons Tracy Williams Episode: "The Breakup: Part 2" [3]
Cos Various Regular role [8][3]
1984 Police Academy Cadet Laverne Hooks On Police Academy: What an Institution! (UK: video title) [7][9]
Family Secrets Linda Jones [10]
1985 Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment Officer Laverne Hooks [7][9]
1986 Police Academy 3: Back in Training Sgt. Laverne Hooks [7][9]
1987 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol On Citizens on Patrol: Police Academy 4 (UK: poster title) [7][9]
1988 Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach [7][9]
1989 Police Academy 6: City Under Siege [7][9]
1990 MacGyver Police officer Episode: "Harry's Will" [9]
1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 Careers Counsellor Episode: "Stand (Up) and Deliver" [9]
1993 Johnny Bago Nurse Roberta 'Bobbie' Thompson Episode: "Hail the Conquering Marrow"
John Virgo: Playing for Laughs Officer Hooks [3]
Daddy Dearest Cop No. 2
1994 The Nanny Woman in Audience Episode: "The Strike"[citation needed] [11]
2001 Maniacts Hooker
2003 Recipe for Disaster Motorcycle Cop TV movie
2006 Robot Chicken Laverne Hooks / Teacher Voice, Episode: "Sausage Fest"[citation needed] [4]
2007 Lord Help Us Doretha Jackson
The Stolen Moments of September Ms. Henshaw
2009 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Harriet Episode: "Harriet"[citation needed] [4]
2011 Modern Family Lady in salon Episode: "Two Monkeys and a Panda"[citation needed] [11]
2012 Who Killed Soul Glow?
2013 Return to Babylon Barbara's Maid[citation needed] [11]
2014 Wal-Bob's Lillian [10]
2015 Lavalantula Teddie TV movie [9]
2016 2 Lava 2 Lantula! [9]
DaZe Vol. Too (sic) – NonSeNse Ms. Thenusda Norbuckle
2017 Vendetta Wilhelmina Thibodeaux
2018 When I Sing Reggie (final film role) [9][4]

References

  1. ^ "Marion Ramsey: Police Academy and Broadway star dies at 73". BBC News. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  2. ^ "Police Academy Star Marion Ramsey Dies at 73". CBR. January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Evans, Greg. "Marion Ramsey Dies: 'Police Academy's Officer Hooks & Broadway Actress Was 73". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Marion Ramsey Obituary". CNN. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Marion Ramsey: Police Academy and Broadway star dies at 73". BBC News. January 8, 2021.
  6. ^ "Marion Ramsey Dies: 'Police Academy's Officer Hooks & Broadway Actress Was 73". Yahoo News. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "Police Academy star Marion Ramsey dies aged 73". RTÉ. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Marion Ramsey, 'Police Academy' star, dies at 73". NBC News. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Marion Ramsey, 'Police Academy' star, dies at 73". TODAY.com. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Marion Ramsey". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c "Broadway, 'Police Academy' actress Marion Ramsey dead at 73". UPI. Retrieved January 8, 2021.