Paul Marc Maslansky (/məˈzlænski/ mə-ZLAN-skee;[1] November 23, 1933 – December 2, 2024) was an American film producer and writer best known for the Police Academy franchise, and directing the Blaxploitation horror film Sugar Hill (1974).
Paul Maslansky | |
|---|---|
 Maslansky in 1999 | |
| Born | Paul Marc Maslansky November 23, 1933 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 2, 2024 (aged 91) Los Robles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | Producer, writer |
| Years active | 1964–2024 |
Early life
editMaslansky was born in Harlem, New York, on November 23, 1933. He played jazz for a living while briefly attending law school in New York. He graduated from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, in 1954.[2]
Career
editMaslansky had 41 film credits as producer or executive producer. His first production credit was for 1964's Castle of the Living Dead, which starred Christopher Lee. Initially, Maslansky used his middle initial in his credits, though this was later dropped. Maslansky worked throughout the 1960s and 1970s as producer, notable credits include Race with the Devil, Damnation Alley, The Villain, and Love Child. He also directed the Blaxploitation Southern Gothic horror film Sugar Hill (1974).[3]
Maslansky was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for the 1978 series King.
Maslansky had a breakthrough hit with Police Academy in 1984. From a budget of $4.1 million, the film grossed $155 million and spawned a film franchise and television series Police Academy: The Series, which Maslansky wrote.[4]
He frequently made cameo appearances in the Police Academy movies.
Maslansky's notable credits following Police Academy include 1985's Return to Oz, 1990's The Russia House and Fluke in 1995.
The Lenfest Center for the Art's 'Maslansky Rehearsal Hall' in Lexington is named after him.[2]
Death
editMaslansky died in Los Robles, California, on December 2, 2024, aged 91.[5][6]
Filmography
editMaslansky was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
Film
edit- As writer
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Castle of the Living Dead | |
| 1984 | Police Academy | Uncredited |
- As an actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Race with the Devil | Road Worker in Cowboy Hat | Uncredited |
| 1978 | Circle of Iron | Student at Temple | |
| 1986 | Police Academy 3: Back in Training | Man #4 in Police Line-up | |
| 1987 | Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol | Retirement Home Warden | |
| 1988 | Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach | Homeless Man at Museum | |
| 1989 | Police Academy 6: City Under Siege | Man at Precinct Payphone | |
| 2021 | Silent Life | Adolph Zukor |
- Production manager
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Jason and the Argonauts | Unit manager |
| 1969 | The Red Tent | Executive in charge of production |
- As director
| Year | Film |
|---|---|
| 1974 | Sugar Hill |
- Second unit director or assistant director
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Race with the Devil | Second unit director | Uncredited |
- Miscellaneous crew
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Long Ships | Assistant to producer |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Gun and the Pulpit | Television film | |
| 1978 | King | ||
| 1987 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Executive producer | |
| 1988 | Police Academy | Executive producer | |
| 1997–98 | Police Academy: The Series | Executive producer |
- As writer
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | Police Academy: The Series |
- As an actor
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997–98 | Police Academy: The Series | Grumpy Man at Table Grumpy Man in Convertible | Uncredited |
References
edit- ↑ "Producer Paul Maslansky on making Return to Oz". YouTube. February 11, 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
- 1 2 "Paul Maslansky '54". Washington and Lee University. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ↑ Navarro, Meagan (July 8, 2020). "'Sugar Hill' Remains an Underseen Outlier Among Post-'Night of the Living Dead' Zombie Films [Shudder]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
- ↑ Paul Maslansky at Box Office Mojo
- ↑ "Paul Maslansky Dies: 'Police Academy' Producer Was 91". Deadline. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ↑ "Paul Maslansky, 'Police Academy' and 'Return to Oz' Producer, Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.