Leslie Nielsen
- Acting
- February 11, 1926 · Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
- November 28, 2010
Biography
Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a Canadian American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in over one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying over 220 characters. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Nielsen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to Neighborhood Playhouse. Making his television debut in 1948, he quickly expanded to over 50 television appearances two years later. Nielsen made his film debut in 1956, and began collecting roles in dramas, westerns, and romance films. Nielsen's performances in the films Forbidden Planet (1956) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) received positive reviews as a serious actor, though he is primarily known for his comedic roles. Although Nielsen's acting career crossed a variety of genres in both television and films, his deadpan delivery in Airplane! (1980) marked a turning point in his career, one that would make him, in the words of film critic Roger Ebert, "the Olivier of spoofs." Nielsen enjoyed further success with The Naked Gun film series (1988 – 1994), based on a short-lived television series Police Squad! in which he starred earlier. His portrayal of serious characters seemingly oblivious to (and complicit in) their absurd surroundings gave him a reputation as a comedian. In the final years of his career, Nielsen appeared in multiple spoof and parody films, many of which were met poorly by critics, but performed well in box office and home media releases. Nielsen married four times and had two daughters from his second marriage. He was recognized with a variety of awards throughout his career, and was inducted into the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame.
Known for
Filmography
- O.J.: Made in America · Self
- Mel Brooks: Make a Noise · Self
- Stonerville · Producer
- Spanish Movie · Doctor Nielsen
- Stan Helsing · Kay
- Slap Shot 3: The Junior League · Mayor of Charlestown
- An American Carol · Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
- Superhero Movie · Uncle Albert Adams
- Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest · Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
- Lipshitz Saves the World · Self
- Music Within · Bill Austin
- Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet · Self
- Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon · Self
- Gameshow Marathon
- Scary Movie 4 · President Baxter Harris
- Robson Arms · Caldo Vasco
- Tubridy Tonight
- Nos Bastidores de Hollywood · Self
- The Nutcracker and the Mouseking · (Mouseking) (Voice)
- The Best of So Graham Norton · Self
- Zeroman · Zeroman (Voice)
- Noël Noël · Narrator (english version)
- Scary Movie 3 · President Harris
- Chilly Beach · Santa (Voice)
- Odd Job Jack
- Men with Brooms · Gordon Cutter
- Chilly Dogs · Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
- Liography · Terrence Brynne McKennie
- Liography
- Camouflage · Jack Potter
- Santa Who? · Santa Claus
- 2001: A Space Travesty · Marshal Richard "Dick" Dix
- Harvey · Dr. Chumley
- The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn · Self
- Family Guy · Dr. Rumack (archive footage)
- Wrongfully Accused · Ryan Harrison
- Safety Patrol! · Mr. Penn
- Mr. Magoo · Mr. Quincy Magoo
- The Wonderful World of Disney · Mr. Penn
- Pirates 4-D · Captain Lucky
- Family Plan · Harry Haber
- Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video · Self, Executive Co-Producer
- Harvey · Dr. Chumley
- Life and Times
- The Rosie O'Donnell Show · Self
- Spy Hard · Dick Steele, Executive producer
- Dracula: Dead and Loving It · Count Dracula
- Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree · Baxter
- Die Harald Schmidt Show · Self
- Rent-a-Kid · Harry Haber
- S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago · Lucio Cinico
- Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards · Host
- An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck · Self
- Due South · Sgt. Buck Frobisher
- The Danny Baker Show
- WWE SummerSlam 1994 · Self
- Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects · Self
- Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult · Lt. Frank Drebin
- Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way · Leslie Nielsen
- World's Funniest Commercials
- Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier · Self
- Live & Kicking · Self
- Digger · Arthur Evrensel
- The Unknown Marx Brothers · Self
- Surf Ninjas · Colonel Chi
- Katie and Orbie · Narrator
- Raw · Leslie Nielsen
- Terry Wogan's Friday Night · Self
- Chance of a Lifetime · Lloyd Dixon
- All I Want For Christmas · Santa
- Flesh 'n' Blood · Red Houser
- Herman's Head · God
- The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear · Lt. Frank Drebin
- Evening Shade
- Repossessed · Father Jebedaiah Mayii
- Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation · Host
- The Railway Dragon · Narrator (Voice)
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! · Frank Drebin
- Dangerous Curves · Greg Krevske
- Day by Day · Jack Harper