Zed McGlunk is the main antagonist of the second film of Police Academy, a major redeemed character in the third and fourth film and the main character in the animated series.
In the second Police Academy film, Zed was portrayed as a hyperactive, antisocial gang leader with odd mannerisms, appearance, and taste. Many gags are based around Zed's fondness for things that contrast with his wild-man image, such as Family Affair (actually crying at dramatic moments) and Mickey Mouse watches. Zed is almost like a child, admonishing his cronies to "act their age" while they trash a supermarket and thanking the cashier for the "great bargains" (as his gang trundle shopping carts full of food out of the store). When his gang disrupts an anti-crime street fair sponsored by the Mayor, he tells her, "I voted for you!" Zed is caught at the end of the second film.
In the third film, a reformed Zed (who explains his change of heart by saying, "I used to be a real jerk! But now I'm a people guy!") joins the police force. He often brings trouble to Sweetchuck, who was the subject of harassment during their civilian years. They become roommates while they are both training at the Police Academy, and they manage to get along (to an extent) with each other in time. He suffers from an inability to speak properly and often squeaks or swallows his words. It is also discovered he is immune to the effects of teargas, and apparently even enjoys it. He falls in love in the fourth film with Laura, one of the Citizens On Patrol. His bad breath and screaming, potent enough to blow down a door, are far more-potent weapons than any firearm.
Zed is in the animated series (along with Sweetchuck). Several family members make guest appearances: Auntie Bertha, the cousins Ed and Ned, and his hillbilly parents. His surname is McGlunk. In the second film Zed mentions his mother's name was Jughead after Mahoney calls himself "Jughead" after picking a name at random off the top of his head.
A very Zed-like character (also played by Bob Goldthwait) appears in several Twisted Sister videos.