WhenPolice Academyarrived in 1984, it was a phenomenon. And it went onto spawn a huge comedy franchise. Sadly, the man behind making the original a true classic has passed away. DirectorHugh Wilsondied from unknown causes. He was 74 years old at the time of his death.
Not only is Hugh Wilson responsible for droppingPolice Academyon the world, he also created the classic sitcomWKRP in Cincinnati, which debuted in 1978. And he helmed the popular comedy movieThe First Wives Club. The filmmaker and TV producer died this past weekend in Albemarle County.
Hugh Wilson got his comedy start writing for TV in the 1970s. He first worked onThe Bob Newhart Showand theTony Randall Showbefore creatingWKRP in Cincinnati. The show aired for four successful seasons on CBS between 1978 and 1982, and still lives on in syndication. The series followed the ups and downs of a struggling radio station, with Gary Sandy playing a ratings hungry director trying to whip his team into shape as popular radio made the transition from AM to FM. The show was never a top ratings earner, but it did get nominated for a Best Comedy Series Emmy three consecutive times. It lost twice toTaxiand once toBarney Miller, all of which were a little more serious than the traditional sitcoms you saw in the 80s leading into the 90s.
A writer and executive producer on the show, Wilson would try and revive the sitcom in the 90s with The New WKRP in Cincinnati which brought back some of the original cast. It briefly aired in syndication. Wilson would continue to work in TV, also creating the sitcomsFrank’s PlaceandEasy Street. He also worked on the Jon Cryer sitcomThe Famous Teddy z.
But it was on the big screen where Hugh Wilson found his true calling. BetweenWKRPandEasy Street, he would write and direct a number of popular comedy movies. Before doingPolice Academy, he collaborated on the script for Burt Reynolds' 1983 stock car laugher Stroker Ace. Then came the defining moment in his career, as he co-wrote and directed Steve Guttenberg and Kim Cattrall in the originalPolice Academy, which launched one of Warner Bros.' most popular franchises in the 80s. The comedy chronicled a group of cops in training, and was followed by 6 other sequels, which he was not involved with.Police Academyalso spun-off into a 1988 animated series that lasted for two seasons and 65 episodes. And then in 1997, there was a live-action sitcom based on the movies. It lasted for 26 episodes in syndication.Key and Peelehave been developing a remake, but not much has been said about it in more than a year since it was originally announced. In 2016,President Bill ClintonnamedPolice Academyhis favorite movie.
In 1985, Wilson directed Tom Berenger in the Western ComedyRustler’s Rhapsody, which paired him back up withPolice Academymainstay G.W. Bailey. Then in 1987 he directed Whoopi Goldberg inBurglar, which gave him an opportunity to work with comedianBobcat Goldthwait, who did not star in the originalPolice Academymovie, but would appear in the sequel as Biker Zed, who later becomes a recruit inPolice Academy3 and eventually a full blown cop inPolice Academy4 before bowing out of the series.
Hugh Wilson too a six year break from directing movies followingBurglar. He would return to TV, continuing to work on some of his more successful shows. Wilson then returned to feature films in 1994, directing and also co-writing the script forGuarding Tess, which allowed him to work with Nicolas Cage, playing a secret service agent assigned to protect a former first lady played by Shirley MacLane. He followed that up with his next big hitThe First Wives Club, which united Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton.
In 1999, he would direct Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone inBlast From the Past, following that up the same year with another Brendan Frazer comedyDudley Do-Right, based on a segment from the popularRocky and Bullwinklecartoon. He directed his final movie in 1994 withMickeystarring musician-turned-actor Harry Connick Jr. He leaves the world with his final scriptThe First Force, which is a direct nod back toPolice Academy. It is a comedy about the first police squadron in the Middle Ages put together by a rag tag team of outlaws, wizards, dancers, slaves and girls that dress like men. It has not been produced yet.
Hugh Wilson was known for giving himself cameos in all of his movies. He was married to Charters Smith. The couple shared three children. Hugh Wilson was a big contributor to the 80s comedy movie genre and scene. He will be missed. RIP, the godfather ofPolice Academy.Deadlinefirst reported on the director’s passing.
