Marion Ramsey was born on May 10, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was an American actress and singer known for her role as the soft-spoken Officer Laverne Hooks in the "Police Academy" film series.

She began her career on stage, performing in Broadway shows such as "Hello, Dolly!" and "Eubie!" before transitioning to television and film. She made her television debut as part of the regular cast in the variety series "Keep On Truckin'" (1975) and later appeared in the sketch comedy show "Cos" (1976).

Her most memorable role came in 1984 when she starred as Officer Laverne Hooks in the comedy film "Police Academy." She reprised the role in five sequels, becoming one of the series' most beloved characters.

Marion Ramsey also appeared in television shows like "The Jeffersons" and "Sanford Arms," and later in her career, she had guest appearances on shows such as "Robot Chicken" and "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!"

Marion Ramsey was a singer and songwriter who collaborated with composer Haras Fyre on several songs. She was deeply committed to AIDS awareness and lent her voice to charitable causes, performing in "Divas Simply Singing," an annual fundraising event.

Marion Ramsey passed away on January 7, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, after a short illness, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and dedication to social causes.