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