Leslie Nielsen
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
Captain Harrison
The Poseidon Adventure
Dr. Rumack
Airplane!
Dick Steele
Spy Hard
Commander John J. Adams
Forbidden Planet
President Baxter Harris
Scary Movie 3
President Baxter Harris
Scary Movie 4
Lucio Cinico
S.P.Q.R. 2000 e 1/2 anni fa
Father Jebedaiah Mayii
Repossessed
Fryer
Code Name: Heraclitus
Richard 'Dick' Dix
2001: A Space Travesty
Kay
Stan Helsing
Colonel Chi
Surf Ninjas
Harry Haber
Family Plan
Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
Kevin of the North
Mallory
Wrong Is Right
Count Dracula
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Ryan Harrison
Wrongfully Accused
Mr. Quincy Magoo
Mr. Magoo
Mr. Dunbar
Soul Man
General Maximilian Harmon
How to Steal the World
Gordon Cutter
Men with Brooms
Doctor Nielsen
Spanish Movie
Allen Green
Nuts
Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
An American Carol
Capt. Jamieson
Spaceship
Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Lt. Frank Drebin
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Mr. Hammond
Prom Night
Harry Haber
Rent-a-Kid
Santa Claus
Santa Who?
Major Fred Gifford
The Reluctant Astronaut
Peter Brent
Tammy and the Bachelor
Steve Hilliard
The Opposite Sex
Frank Drebin
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Lt. Frank Drebin
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Creepshow
Paul Jenson
Day of the Animals
Jack Potter
Camouflage
Self - Narrator
The Unknown Marx Brothers
Stanley Millard
Viva Knievel!
Greg Krevske
Dangerous Curves
Self
The Canadian Conspiracy
Brett Kingsford
Dark Intruder
Mr Brown
Four Rode Out
William Joel Partain
Hot Summer Night
Reece Morgan
Foxfire Light
Riley Knight
The Amsterdam Kill
Narrator (voice)
The Railway Dragon
John Trevor
Project: Kill
Grant Evers
Gunfight in Abilene
Mayor William Dudley
City on Fire
Phil Fletcher
How to Commit Marriage
Joe Johnson
Cave-In!
Himself
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Charlie Telfer
Ransom!
Dr. Chumley
Harvey
Victor Rice
Counterpoint
John Williams
Grand Jury
Baxter
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Lt. De Ruse
Beau Geste
Cabot Shaw
Rosie!
Twilight Theatre
Arnold Lindsey
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Narrator (voice)
The Battle of Gettysburg
Harry Walsh
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
Paul Warren
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
Alan Holiday
Night Train to Paris
Sheriff Henshaw
Night Slaves
Elliot Green
See How They Run
Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
Home Is Where the Hart Is
Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
The Sheepman
Sheriff Webb
Change of Mind
Lt. Sam Danforth
Deadlock
Thibault d'Aussigny
The Vagabond King
Joseph Slaughter
Hauser's Memory
Arthur Evrensel
Digger
Self
King of the Underwater World
Senator Erdain
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
Santa
All I Want For Christmas
Self - Audience Member
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Uncle Albert Adams
Superhero Movie
Derek Childs
The Letters
Harry Ingersoll
Blade in Hong Kong
Self (archive footage)
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Admiral Frazer
The Patriot
Self (archive footage)
O.J.: Made in America
Frank Dayton
Dayton's Devils
They Call It Murder
Narrator
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
Dr. Neesden
Companions in Nightmare
Nelson Fisher
Little Mo
Sheriff Verne Drover
Shadow Over Elveron
Bill Sutter
Snatched
Himself
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
Thad Evans
Nightstick
Narrator
The Wild Heart
Jim McKay
Striker's Mountain
Jack Gallagher
...And Millions Die!
Narrator
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
Richard Manley
Harlow
Alexander Hadrachi
The Return of Charlie Chan
Official
The Aquarians
Col. George Armstrong Custer
The Plainsman
(voice)
Journey to the Outer Limits
Eddie Kirkley
The Velvet Alley
Narrator
The Dawson Patrol
Lt. Brubaker
Incident in San Francisco
Host
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
Mayor of Charlestown
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Dr. Roger Waring
Dark Possession
Bob Franklin
Reckless Disregard
John Doe
Sixth and Main
Bill Austin
Music Within
Producer
Stonerville
Narrator (english version)
Noël Noël
Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
Mr. Penn
Safety Patrol!
Agent Norman Houston
Brinks: The Great Robbery
Self
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Self
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Governor
OHMS
Brent
Cocoon
Himself
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Mr. Cummings
Amanda Fallon
Lloyd Dixon
Chance of a Lifetime
(Mouseking) (voice)
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
Counselor Hollis Barnes
Institute for Revenge
Jason Harkness
Trial Run
Self
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Self - Narrator
Dive to the Edge of Creation
World's Funniest Commercials
Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
Riel
Self - Narrator (voice)
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Bill
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
135
Gender
Male
Birthday
1926-02-11
Place of Birth
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Also Known As
Leslie William Nielsen