The Side Of Leslie Easterbrook That The World Never Knew

Leslie Easterbrook is a well-known actress, especially for fans of the Police Academy movies. Many people recognize her as Sgt. Debbie Callahan, a role that made her popular for her confidence and humor.

But there’s more to her than just Police Academy. Leslie was born in Nebraska and was adopted at nine months old. Her father was a music professor, and her mother was an English teacher. They encouraged her love for music, and at first, Leslie wanted to be an opera singer.

That changed when she got into acting. In 1980, she played Rhonda Lee in the sitcom Laverne & Shirley. She was excited about the role, but a SAG strike delayed her start. Even after getting the part, she had to audition six more times before she was officially cast.

Her big break came with Police Academy, where she played a tough and confident character. But in real life, she was nothing like that. She once shared, “I had never played someone intimidating before. I wasn’t sure I could do it. But at the audition, I scared the producers so much they backed away in their chairs. I thought I blew it!”

To prepare for the role, Leslie worked hard on her fitness. She loved food but was also an athlete who played volleyball and ran. For Police Academy, she took martial arts classes to build strength.

Many people only remember her for that role, but Leslie appeared in over 300 TV episodes. She was in shows like Murder, She Wrote, Baywatch, Matlock, and The Dukes of Hazzard. She also acted in movies like The Devil’s Rejects and Private Resort.

Leslie had a talent for singing, too. In the 1980s, she performed the national anthem at games for the California Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1983, she sang at Super Bowl XVII.

On the Police Academy set, she had to learn how to handle firearms. After an accident where she fired a starter pistol too close to her face and shattered an eardrum, she trained to master the shotgun despite vision challenges.

Leslie was married to screenwriter Dan Wilcox until he passed away in 2024. Even beyond Police Academy, she continued pushing boundaries and proving her talent in many ways.