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Beloved ... George Gaynes, pictured with Punky Brewster co-star Soleil Moon Frye, has died. Picture: Supplied
GEORGE Gaynes, who touched hearts as the foster dad in Punky Brewster and tickled funny bones in the Police Academy movies and Tootsie, has died.
Gaynes’ daughter, Iya Gaynes Falcone Brown, confirmed his death to Variety in Washington state aged 98.
Hit ... The cast of Punky Brewster (clockwise from left), Cherie Johnson (Cherie Johnson), Susie Garrett (Betty Johnson), George Gaynes (Henry Warnimont), Casey Ellison (Allen Anderson), Soleil Moon Frye (Punky Brewster), Brandon the Wonder Dog and Ami Foster (Margaux Kramer).Source:Supplied
Co-star ... Soleil Moon Frye in scene from TV program Punky Brewster. Picture: SuppliedSource:News Corp Australia
He is perhaps best known for his role in Punky Brewster.
Gaynes played building manager Henry Warnimont, who finds an abandoned girl (Soleil Moon Frye) and becomes her foster parent and eventually her adoptive father.
Frye led the tributes to her former on-screen foster father, saying he would always be “in my heart and soulâ€.
“The universe just gained a gigantic star. You will be in my heart and soul always & forever.
Your little Punky. RIP George Gaynes,†she tweeted.
Funny ... George Gaynes, who starred in seven Police Academy movies, has died. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
Gaynes scored the role after memorable performances in 1982’s Tootsie, alongside Dustin Hoffman, and in seven of the Police Academy†movies, in which he played the police commander.
In Tootsie, he played a soap opera star who ended up kissing Dustin Hoffman in drag as Dorothy Michaels.
Big role ... George Gaynes, starred alongside Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied
Gaynes was born George Jongejans in Helsinki, Finland and was raised in France, England and Switzerland and later during the Second World war he enlisted in the Royal Dutch Navy.
After the war he travelled to New York, where he joined the New York City Opera.
He later changed his name to Gaynes and married Allyn Ann McLerie, his co-star in the comedy The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd.
His last role was in the comedy Just Married alongside Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy.
Gaynes is survived by a daughter; one granddaughter; and two great-granddaughters. His son, Matthew, died in a 1989 car crash.