Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen

Born: 1926-02-11

Place of Birth: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Biography

Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a European-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

Airplane!

Airplane!

19807.3
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

19887.3
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

19955.9
Scary Movie 3

Scary Movie 3

20036.0
Scary Movie 4

Scary Movie 4

20065.5
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult

19946.5
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear

19916.8
Spy Hard

Spy Hard

19965.4
Soul Man

Soul Man

19865.3
Wrongfully Accused

Wrongfully Accused

19986.0
Repossessed

Repossessed

19905.2
Superhero Movie

Superhero Movie

20085.3
Mr. Magoo

Mr. Magoo

19974.5
Creepshow

Creepshow

19826.9
Dangerous Curves

Dangerous Curves

19882.8
Prom Night

Prom Night

19805.7
Dracula: Dead and Loving It

Dracula: Dead and Loving It

19956.1
The Sheepman

The Sheepman

19586.9
Safety Patrol!

Safety Patrol!

19984.4
The Amsterdam Kill

The Amsterdam Kill

19774.7
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking

The Nutcracker and the Mouseking

20046.1
Forbidden Planet

Forbidden Planet

19567.3
Beau Geste

Beau Geste

19665.3
Counterpoint

Counterpoint

19676.0
Code Name: Heraclitus

Code Name: Heraclitus

19670.0
The Boy Who Flew with Condors

The Boy Who Flew with Condors

19676.0
The Aquarians

The Aquarians

19706.0
Four Rode Out

Four Rode Out

19693.6
The Plainsman

The Plainsman

19664.8
Harlow

Harlow

19655.4
Spanish Movie

Spanish Movie

20095.0
Twilight Theatre

Twilight Theatre

19820.0
Trial Run

Trial Run

19691.0
The Patriot

The Patriot

19863.2
The Poseidon Adventure

The Poseidon Adventure

19727.1
Family Plan

Family Plan

19975.2
Surf Ninjas

Surf Ninjas

19935.0
Change of Mind

Change of Mind

19694.8
Camouflage

Camouflage

20014.3
Sixth and Main

Sixth and Main

19770.0
Spaceship

Spaceship

19833.7
Project: Kill

Project: Kill

19764.6
2001: A Space Travesty

2001: A Space Travesty

20004.3
The Reluctant Astronaut

The Reluctant Astronaut

19675.9
Rosie!

Rosie!

19670.0
Day of the Animals

Day of the Animals

19775.2
Digger

Digger

19936.4
Ransom!

Ransom!

19567.2
OHMS

OHMS

19805.0
Music Within

Music Within

20076.4
Dark Possession

Dark Possession

19540.0
Riel

Riel

19796.0
Cocoon

Cocoon

19688.0
Deadlock

Deadlock

19690.0
Night Slaves

Night Slaves

19705.8
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant

The Lost Will of Dr. Rant

19510.0
Stonerville

Stonerville

20112.9
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest

Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest

20087.4
Nightstick

Nightstick

19872.8
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood

200510.0
Stan Helsing

Stan Helsing

20094.2
See How They Run

See How They Run

19644.0
An American Carol

An American Carol

20084.2
Hot Summer Night

Hot Summer Night

19575.6
Rent-a-Kid

Rent-a-Kid

19955.6
O.J.: Made in America

O.J.: Made in America

20168.4
Men with Brooms

Men with Brooms

20025.2
Journey to the Outer Limits

Journey to the Outer Limits

19736.2
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler

The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler

19715.4
Foxfire Light

Foxfire Light

19823.5
Amanda Fallon

Amanda Fallon

19730.0
The Opposite Sex

The Opposite Sex

19565.2
The Unknown Marx Brothers

The Unknown Marx Brothers

19935.4
Santa Who?

Santa Who?

20005.5
Brinks: The Great Robbery

Brinks: The Great Robbery

19760.0
Nuts

Nuts

19876.3
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League

Slap Shot 3: The Junior League

20085.0
Chance of a Lifetime

Chance of a Lifetime

19915.2
Hauser's Memory

Hauser's Memory

19706.2
All I Want For Christmas

All I Want For Christmas

19915.7
The Dawson Patrol

The Dawson Patrol

19770.0
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation

Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation

19897.7
They Call It Murder

They Call It Murder

19715.4
Wrong Is Right

Wrong Is Right

19825.5
Companions in Nightmare

Companions in Nightmare

19684.0
The Battle of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg

19555.8
Gunfight in Abilene

Gunfight in Abilene

19676.5
City on Fire

City on Fire

19795.0
The Letters

The Letters

19736.2
Little Mo

Little Mo

19787.5
Chilly Dogs

Chilly Dogs

20015.3
The Night the Bridge Fell Down

The Night the Bridge Fell Down

19805.9
Dive to the Edge of Creation

Dive to the Edge of Creation

19800.0
Dark Intruder

Dark Intruder

19656.2
Blade in Hong Kong

Blade in Hong Kong

19850.0
Cave-In!

Cave-In!

19833.8
The Vagabond King

The Vagabond King

19565.7
Tammy and the Bachelor

Tammy and the Bachelor

19577.0
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago

S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago

19944.8
Snatched

Snatched

19735.2
WWE SummerSlam 1994

WWE SummerSlam 1994

19946.0
The Velvet Alley

The Velvet Alley

19590.0
The Railway Dragon

The Railway Dragon

19891.0
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise

20138.2
The Return of Charlie Chan

The Return of Charlie Chan

19734.8
The Wild Heart

The Wild Heart

19680.0
How to Steal the World

How to Steal the World

19685.2
Viva Knievel!

Viva Knievel!

19773.6
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon

20067.0
Harvey

Harvey

19964.2
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects

19940.0
...And Millions Die!

...And Millions Die!

19734.0
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet

20064.5
World's Funniest Commercials

World's Funniest Commercials

19940.0
How to Commit Marriage

How to Commit Marriage

19694.8
Shadow Over Elveron

Shadow Over Elveron

19686.5
Night Train to Paris

Night Train to Paris

19645.8
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery

Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery

19878.0
Reckless Disregard

Reckless Disregard

19850.0
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video

Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video

19975.6
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience

Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience

19750.0
Can Ellen Be Saved?

Can Ellen Be Saved?

19743.8
Striker's Mountain

Striker's Mountain

19851.0
Incident in San Francisco

Incident in San Francisco

19713.5
The Canadian Conspiracy

The Canadian Conspiracy

19865.0
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave

The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave

19750.0
Home Is Where the Hart Is

Home Is Where the Hart Is

19875.2
Noël Noël

Noël Noël

20036.5
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier

Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier

19936.5
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way

Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way

19942.7
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck

An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck

19940.0
Leslie Nielsen - Movie Site