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