Marion Ramsey, star of the
Police Academy film franchise, died on Thursday in her home in Los Angeles, Calif., EW has confirmed. She was 73.
Best known for portraying Officer Laverne Hooks, first in
Police Academy and through
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege, Ramsey got her film and TV career started with 1975 s
Keep on Truckin and with a guest starring role on
The Jeffersons in 1976 before going on to star on Bill Cosby s sketch show
Cos. She was also an accomplished stage actor, appearing on Broadway many times including
Grind and
Hello, Dolly!, starring opposite Bette Davis in
Miss Moffatt, and co-starring in two productions of