Leslie Nielsen
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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
Credits
Scary Movie 4 (2006)
as President Baxter Harris
Scary Movie 3 (2003)
as President Baxter Harris
Halloween (1978)
as Commander John J. Adams (archive footage)
Airplane! (1980)
as Dr. Rumack
Superhero Movie (2008)
as Uncle Albert Adams
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
as Frank Drebin
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)
as Lt. Frank Drebin
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994)
as Lt. Frank Drebin
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
as Captain Harrison
Forbidden Planet (1956)
as Commander John J. Adams
Spy Hard (1996)
as Dick Steele
Tammy and the Bachelor (1957)
as Peter Brent
Creepshow (1982)
as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
as Count Dracula
Mr. Magoo (1997)
as Mr. Quincy Magoo
Prom Night (1980)
as Mr. Hammond
Wrong Is Right (1982)
as Mallory
Camouflage (2001)
as Jack Potter
Stan Helsing (2009)
as Kay
Soul Man (1986)
as Mr. Dunbar
The Battle of Gettysburg (1955)
as Narrator (voice)
Wrongfully Accused (1998)
as Ryan Harrison
An American Carol (2008)
as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
Repossessed (1990)
as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest (2007)
as Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Spanish Movie (2009)
as Doctor Nielsen
The Sheepman (1958)
as Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
2001: A Space Travesty (2000)
as Richard 'Dick' Dix
Surf Ninjas (1993)
as Colonel Chi
City on Fire (1979)
as Mayor William Dudley
Ransom! (1956)
as Charlie Telfer
Nuts (1987)
as Allen Green
Harlow (1965)
as Richard Manley
Music Within (2007)
as Bill Austin
All I Want For Christmas (1991)
as Santa
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood (2005)
as Self (archive footage)
Santa Who? (2000)
as Santa Claus
Rent-a-Kid (1995)
as Harry Haber
Family Plan (1997)
as Harry Haber
O.J.: Made in America (2016)
as Self (archive footage)
Safety Patrol! (1998)
as Mr. Penn
Little Mo (1978)
as Nelson Fisher
Beau Geste (1966)
as Lt. De Ruse
The Opposite Sex (1956)
as Steve Hilliard
Day of the Animals (1977)
as Paul Jenson
Men with Brooms (2002)
as Gordon Cutter
The Plainsman (1966)
as Col. George Armstrong Custer
The Aquarians (1970)
as Official
The Reluctant Astronaut (1967)
as Major Fred Gifford
Dark Intruder (1965)
as Brett Kingsford
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League (2008)
as Mayor of Charlestown
Counterpoint (1967)
as Victor Rice
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking (2004)
as (Mouseking) (voice)
Change of Mind (1969)
as Sheriff Webb
...and millions will die! (1973)
as Jack Gallagher
Trial Run (1969)
as Jason Harkness
Harvey (1996)
as Dr. Chumley
Hot Summer Night (1957)
as William Joel Partain
The Vagabond King (1956)
as Thibault d'Aussigny
Viva Knievel! (1977)
as Stanley Millard
Dangerous Curves (1988)
as Greg Krevske
Four Rode Out (1969)
as Mr Brown
Gunfight in Abilene (1967)
as Grant Evers
Foxfire Light (1982)
as Reece Morgan
Chilly Dogs (2001)
as Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
The Letters (1973)
as Derek Childs
Nightstick (1987)
as Thad Evans
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects (1994)
as Self
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago (1994)
as Lucio Cinico
The Amsterdam Kill (1977)
as Riley Knight
Twilight Theater II (1982)
as Self- Host
The Canadian Conspiracy (1986)
as Self
Snatched (1973)
as Bill Sutter
Cave-In! (1983)
as Joe Johnson
How to Steal the World (1968)
as General Maximilian Harmon
Hauser's Memory (1970)
as Joseph Slaughter
The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1980)
as Paul Warren
They Call It Murder (1971)
as Frank Antrim
Digger (1993)
as Arthur Evrensel
Amanda Fallon (1973)
as Mr. Cummings
Twilight Theatre (1982)
Actor
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation (1989)
as Host
Night Slaves (1970)
as Sheriff Henshaw
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler (1971)
as Harry Walsh
Spaceship (1983)
as Capt. Jamieson
The Patriot (1986)
as Admiral Frazer
Home Is Where the Hart Is (1987)
as Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise (2013)
as Self (archive footage)
WWE SummerSlam 1994 (1994)
as Himself
Can Ellen Be Saved? (1974)
as Arnold Lindsey
Deadlock (1969)
as Lt. Sam Danforth
Incident in San Francisco (1971)
as Lt. Brubaker
Brinks: The Great Robbery (1976)
as Agent Norman Houston
Blade in Hong Kong (1985)
as Harry Ingersoll
Riel (1979)
as Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
Reckless Disregard (1985)
as Bob Franklin
The Velvet Alley (1959)
as Eddie Kirkley
Cocoon (1968)
as Brent
Chance of a Lifetime (1991)
as Lloyd Dixon
Stonerville (2011)
as Producer
Project: Kill (1976)
as John Trevor
Shadow Over Elveron (1968)
as Sheriff Verne Drover
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree (1995)
as Baxter
Rosie! (1967)
as Cabot Shaw
Sixth and Main (1977)
as John Doe
See How They Run (1964)
as Elliot Green
The Unknown Marx Brothers (1993)
as Self - Narrator
Journey to the Outer Limits (1973)
as (voice)
Companions in Nightmare (1968)
as Dr. Neesden
Noël Noël (2003)
as Narrator (english version)
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery (1987)
as Senator Erdain
OHMS (1980)
as Governor
Institute for Revenge (1979)
as Counselor Hollis Barnes
How to Commit Marriage (1969)
as Phil Fletcher
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet (2006)
as Self
Grand Jury (1977)
as John Williams
Dayton's Devils (1968)
as Frank Dayton
Night Train to Paris (1964)
as Alan Holiday
The Return of Charlie Chan (1973)
as Alexander Hadrachi
Striker's Mountain (1985)
as Jim McKay
Dive to the Edge of Creation (1980)
as Self - Narrator
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way (1994)
as Leslie Nielsen
Code Name: Heraclitus (1967)
as Fryer
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck (1994)
as Self - Audience Member
Dark Possession (1954)
as Dr. Roger Waring
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier (1993)
as Himself
The Railway Dragon (1989)
as Narrator (voice)
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience (1975)
as Self - Narrator (voice)
The Boy Who Flew with Condors (1967)
as Narrator
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video (1997)
as Himself
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon (2006)
as Self
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant (1951)
as Bill
The Dawson Patrol (1977)
as Narrator
The Wild Heart (1968)
as Narrator
World's Funniest Commercials (1994)
Actor
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave (1975)
as Narrator
King of the Underwater World (1975)
as Self/Narrator