George Wyner is an American actor best known for his supporting role as Colonel Sandurz in Spaceballs (1987), which he is set to reprise in Spaceballs: The New One (2027), as well as his supporting roles in films such as My Favorite Year (1982), To Be or Not to Be (1983), The Devil's Advocate, The Postman (both 1997), American Pie 2, Not Another Teen Movie (both 2001), A Serious Man (2009), and Trouble with the Curve (2012). Wyner is also known for his recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Irwin Bernstein on the NBC police procedural series Hill Street Blues (1981–1987) and his lead role as Deputy Max Rubin on the sitcom She's the Sheriff (1987–1989).
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Early life
Wyner was born in Boston, one of six sons born to Edward Newton Wyner and Helen Theresa Crowley, both of whom were Jewish. His father founded and managed the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where he and his five brothers grew up in a penthouse apartment at the hotel. After his father died while he was in high school, Wyner graduated from Syracuse University in 1968 as a drama major and was an in-demand character actor by the early 1970s.
Career
Wyner was introduced to producer Steven Bochco while appearing in Bochco's short-lived 1976 series, Delvecchio. This led to the role as Irwin Bernstein in Hill Street Blues, and to roles in four subsequent Bochco productions: Doogie Howser, M.D., Brooklyn South, NYPD Blue and L.A. Law. Additionally, Wyner has appeared on the following programs for Hill Street's production company, MTM: Rhoda, The Bob Newhart Show, The White Shadow, WKRP in Cincinnati, M*A*S*H and Newhart.
Filmography
Willie Dynamite (1973) as court bailiff
All the President's Men (1976) as Attorney #2
The Bad News Bears (1976) as White Sox coach
Dogs (1976) as Michael Fitzgerald
Tail Gunner Joe (1977) as Roy Cohn
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan (1978) as The Network Director
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) as Dr. Jacobs
My Favorite Year (1982) as Myron Fein
To Be or Not to Be (1983) as Ratkowski
Fletch (1985) as Marvin Gillet (a.k.a. "Arnold T. Pants, Esq.")
Wildcats (1986) as Principal Walker
Spaceballs (1987) as Col. Sandurz
Fletch Lives (1989) as Marvin Gillet
The Postman (1997) as Benning Mayor
The Devil's Advocate (1997) as Meisel
Not Another Teen Movie (2001) as Principal Cornish
American Pie 2 (2001) as the Camp Director
How to Be a Serial Killer (2008) as Dr. Goldberg
A Serious Man (2009) as Rabbi Nachtner