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