George Gaines is a world-famous actor from the United States who became famous after the release of the Police Academy movie series. George played the role of Academy Commandant Eric Lassard.
Childhood
The biography of George Gaines says that he was born on 05/03/1917 in Helsingfors (now Helsinki) in Finland. Then Finland was still a principality. Among the guy's ancestors were not only Finns, but also Poles, Russians, French and Dutch. Gaines is not George's real surname, but an acting pseudonym. The real name of the actor is of Dutch origin - Jongeeans.
The family in which the actor was born was not easy. The guy’s mother is fashion designer, artist and socialite Iya de Ge, also known as Lady Abdi. Father is a businessman from Holland Gerrit Jongeeans. George's grandfather on the mother's side, Grigory G., was an actor in the Imperial Alexandria Theater. Uncle (brother of Lady Abdi) - actor Gregory Gai (at birth Grigory Ge) - was born in St. Petersburg in Russia, emigrated to the United States after the October Revolution of 1917. George was also a relative of the famous artist Nikolai Ge through his mother.
The guy from childhood grew up in a creative, artistic environment. Gaines's parents divorced when the boy was only a few years old. In 1923 his mother remarried. This time, her choice was the Englishman Sir Robert Abdi. This marriage lasted five years.
Carier start
In the mid-twentieth century (40-50s), the actor performed in musical comedies on Broadway and gained popularity among local audiences. His best roles of that time are in the productions of Wonderful City and My Sister Eileen.
Gaines first appeared in films in 1955. Like any aspiring movie actor, at that time he was offered small, often episodic roles. The actor played the first significant role in 1966 in the film "Group" directed by Sidney Lumet. The career of such famous actors in the USA as Hal Holbrook, Joan Hackett and Kendis Bergen began with the same picture.
In 1969, a film about the Lost space was released, where George played the role of mission leader. The film was nominated for an Oscar in three categories.
In 1973, the melodramatic tape “Meeting of Two Hearts” with George Gaines was released, which received six Oscar nominations.
The series of films "Police Academy"
In 1984, the director made a film based on a story written by Neil Israel and Pat Proft. The tape was called the "Police Academy". Filming lasted only forty days. The premiere in the USA took place on March 23, 1984.
The film tells about how one day the mayor issued a decree to admit everyone to the academy for policemen, regardless of their physical data, age, gender. Many people immediately rushed to the academy.
The main character of the film, Mahoney, falls into the police academy not of his own free will, but in order not to go to jail. He himself cannot leave the academy, therefore he is doing his best to exclude him.
The main roles in the film were played by Steve Guttenberg, George Bailey, Kim Cattrall, George Gaines, Marion Ramsey, Leslie Easterbrook and other actors. Gaines in the picture had the opportunity to play commandant Lassard. Initially, this role was offered to actor Robert Conrad. Conrad refused and regretted it very much afterwards.
The picture earned a lot of money at the box office - $ 81 million, and already in 1985 came the continuation of the story - "Police Academy 2". In total, seven films were eventually shot. The last film of the series “Mission in Moscow” was released on the screens in 1994. All films of the cycle were very successful both in the USA and around the world.
Other films
After filming the film "Police Academy 6" in 1989, Gaines began to think about ending his career. Age did not allow the actor to continue active shooting in films. George Gaines and his wife moved to Santa Barbara, California. Already on a well-deserved rest, the actor played in seven more films. In 1993 - in the film "Monstrous Stepmother." In 1994 - in the films Fantastic Four, Police Academy 7 and Vanya on 42nd Street. In 1996 - in the film adaptation of Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible”, in 1997 - in the satirical comedy “Cheating”, in 2003 - in the romantic comedy “Just Married”.
Personal life and death
Actor George Gaines was married to Canadian actress and TV presenter Allyn Ann McLury, whom he met in New York in 1952. Ellin played with George in theatrical productions.
The couple had two children - a daughter named Iya and son Matthew.
George died 02/15/2016 at the age of 98 in the town of North Bend, where his daughter lives.