Overview
- His son Robert announced the death on Instagram and his wife Wendy told TMZ that Van Norden passed away peacefully with family at his side.
- Multiple outlets report he died in a Southern California hospice on Thursday, July 9, 2026, and no specific cause of death has been released.
- He was best known for supporting roles in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment and The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear.
- Van Norden worked across film, television and theater for more than four decades and his final credited stage role was Joe in Corktown ’39 at Los Angeles’ Matrix Theatre in 2025.
- He is survived by his wife Wendy and son Robert, and colleagues and critics have noted his lasting reputation in the theater community as a reliable and respected character actor.