The actor who played the tiny-voiced police officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy movies, Marion Ramsey died at the age of 73.

Roger Paul of Roger Paul Inc, Ramsey’s representative, has reportedly confirmed the news to the industry publication Variety.

He said that Ramsey had fallen sick recently but did not clarify the cause of her sudden demise.

Paul stated in a statement that her passion for performing and sharing her heart with the world was immense. Marion carried with her a level of kindness and permeating light that would instantly fill a room upon her arrival. The dimming of her light is already being felt by those who knew her well and they all shall miss her and would always love her.

While Marion is best known for her role in Police Academy, she had quite a career outside of that franchise as well. It all got started for Ramsey on Broadway where she co-starred in productions like the 1978’s Eubie!, a biographical musical about the jazz pianist Eubie Blake, and has also toured the U.S. in the musical Hello Dolly!.

Her career on both the big and small screen had taken off after she guest-starred on the sitcom The Jeffersons in the year 1976. She then went onto become a regular on Cos, Bill Cosby’s short-lived sketch comedy show.

Then it was time for the Police Academy. Marion starred in six of eight of the franchise’s movies that made her one of the most notable characters. As Hooks, she would receive laughs from the audiences whenever her soft-spoken demeanor broke into a fierce-powerful roar.

Post-Academy Marion voiced D.I. Holler on The Addams Family animated series, and had also guest-starred on TV shows like Beverly Hills, 90210, MacGyver, and Robot Chicken.

Moreover, Ramsey was an avid supporter of AIDS awareness and often lent her talents to help fund-raise for the respective cause.

Upon hearing the news of her demise, Police Academy co-star Michael Winslow shared his condolences on social media. He said that he is falling short of words and cannot even explain the pain of all those who they have lost. It is only that they can feel it and understand, and the fact is that it still hurts, he wrote.

Ramsey is survived by her three brothers.