Leslie William Nielsen, OC (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a Canadian and naturalized 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Leslie Nielsen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Movie | O.J.: Made in America | Self (archive footage) | 2016-05-20 |
Movie | Mel Brooks: Make a Noise | Self (archive footage) | 2013-05-20 |
Movie | Stonerville | Producer | 2011-01-11 |
Movie | Spanish Movie | Doctor Nielsen | 2009-12-03 |
Movie | Stan Helsing | Kay | 2009-10-27 |
Movie | Slap Shot 3: The Junior League | Mayor of Charlestown | 2008-12-17 |
Movie | An American Carol | Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa | 2008-10-03 |
Movie | Superhero Movie | Uncle Albert Adams | 2008-03-28 |
Movie | Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest | Dr. Rumack (archive voice) | 2008-01-21 |
Series | Lipshitz Saves the World | Himself | 2007-03-01 |
Movie | Music Within | Bill Austin | 2007-01-05 |
Movie | Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon | Self | 2006-11-14 |
Movie | Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet | Self | 2006-11-14 |
Series | Gameshow Marathon | Unknown | 2006-05-31 |
Movie | Scary Movie 4 | President Baxter Harris | 2006-04-12 |
Movie | Nos Bastidores de Hollywood | Self | 2005-03-01 |
Series | Tubridy Tonight | Unknown | 2005-03-12 |
Series | Robson Arms | Caldo Vasco | 2005-06-17 |
Movie | The Nutcracker and the Mouseking | (Mouseking) (voice) | 2004-10-12 |
Series | Zeroman | Zeroman (voice) | 2004-09-11 |
Movie | Noël Noël | Narrator (english version) | 2003-12-13 |
Movie | Scary Movie 3 | President Baxter Harris | 2003-10-24 |
Series | Chilly Beach | Unknown | 2003-09-03 |
Series | Odd Job Jack | Unknown | 2003-03-05 |
Movie | Men with Brooms | Gordon Cutter | 2002-09-20 |
Series | Liography | Terrence Brynne McKennie | 2001-04-21 |
Series | Liocracy | Unknown | 2001-04-01 |
Movie | Camouflage | Jack Potter | 2001-01-09 |
Movie | Chilly Dogs | Clive Thorton / Cab Driver | 2001-01-01 |
Movie | Santa Who? | Santa Claus | 2000-12-03 |
Movie | 2001: A Space Travesty | Richard 'Dick' Dix | 2000-10-31 |
Series | Family Guy | Dr. Rumack (archive footage) | 1999-01-31 |
Series | Harvey | Dr. Chumley | 1999-07-18 |
Movie | Pirates: 3D Show | Lucky | 1999-12-31 |
Series | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | Self | 1999-03-30 |
Movie | Wrongfully Accused | Ryan Harrison | 1998-07-23 |
Movie | Safety Patrol! | Mr. Penn | 1998-03-29 |
Movie | Mr. Magoo | Mr. Quincy Magoo | 1997-12-25 |
Series | The Wonderful World of Disney | Mr. Penn | 1997-09-28 |
Movie | Family Plan | Harry Haber | 1997-01-01 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video | Himself | 1997-01-01 |
Movie | Harvey | Dr. Chumley | 1996-10-19 |
Series | Life and Times | Unknown | 1996-10-04 |
Series | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Self | 1996-06-10 |
Movie | Spy Hard | Dick Steele | 1996-05-24 |
Series | Die Harald Schmidt Show | Self | 1995-12-05 |
Movie | Rent-a-Kid | Harry Haber | 1995-01-01 |
Movie | Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree | Willowby's butler | 1995-12-06 |
Movie | Dracula: Dead and Loving It | Count Dracula | 1995-12-22 |
Series | The Danny Baker Show | Unknown | 1994-09-17 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way | Leslie Nielsen | 1994-01-01 |
Movie | WWE SummerSlam 1994 | Himself | 1994-08-29 |
Movie | Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1994-03-18 |
Series | Due South | Sgt. Buck Frobisher | 1994-09-22 |
Movie | An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck | Self - Audience Member | 1994-10-22 |
Series | Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards | Host | 1994-11-05 |
Movie | S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago | Lucio Cinico | 1994-12-15 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | Himself | 1993-11-03 |
Movie | Digger | Arthur Evrensel | 1993-09-29 |
Movie | The Unknown Marx Brothers | Self - Narrator | 1993-08-18 |
Movie | Surf Ninjas | Colonel Chi | 1993-08-12 |
Series | WWE Raw | Leslie Nielsen | 1993-01-11 |
Series | Terry Wogan's Friday Night | Self | 1992-10-09 |
Movie | The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1991-06-28 |
Movie | All I Want for Christmas | Santa | 1991-11-08 |
Series | Herman's Head | God | 1991-09-08 |
Movie | Chance of a Lifetime | Lloyd Dixon | 1991-11-18 |
Series | Evening Shade | Unknown | 1990-09-21 |
Movie | Repossessed | Father Jebedaiah Mayii | 1990-09-14 |
Movie | Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation | Host | 1989-11-17 |
Movie | The Railway Dragon | Narrator (voice) | 1989-03-17 |
Series | Father Dowling Mysteries | Senator Erdain | 1989-01-20 |
Movie | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1988-12-02 |
Movie | Dangerous Curves | Greg Krevske | 1988-09-23 |
Series | Day by Day | Unknown | 1988-02-29 |
Movie | Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Senator Erdain | 1987-11-30 |
Movie | Nuts | Allen Green | 1987-11-20 |
Movie | Nightstick | Thad Evans | 1987-09-01 |
Movie | Home Is Where the Hart Is | Sheriff Nashville Schwartz | 1987-06-13 |
Series | Race for the Bomb | Lewis Strauss | 1987-02-01 |
Movie | The Patriot | Admiral Frazer | 1986-07-25 |
Movie | Soul Man | Mr. Dunbar | 1986-10-24 |
Movie | Striker's Mountain | Jim McKay | 1985-11-01 |
Series | The Golden Girls | Lucas | 1985-09-14 |
Series | 227 | Unknown | 1985-09-14 |
Series | Doris Day's Best Friends | Unknown | 1985-07-16 |
Series | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Fantoccini | 1985-05-21 |
Movie | Reckless Disregard | Bob Franklin | 1985-03-17 |
Movie | Blade in Hong Kong | Harry Ingersoll | 1985-03-15 |
Movie | The Canadian Conspiracy | Unknown | 1985-01-01 |
Series | Showbiz Today | Unknown | 1984-10-29 |
Series | Murder, She Wrote | Captain Daniels | 1984-09-30 |
Series | Finder of Lost Loves | Matthew Vail | 1984-09-22 |
Series | Who's the Boss? | Unknown | 1984-09-20 |
Series | Highway to Heaven | Unknown | 1984-09-19 |
Series | Shaping Up | Buddy Fox | 1984-03-20 |
Movie | The Night the Bridge Fell Down | Paul Warren | 1983-02-28 |
Series | Prime Times | Self | 1983-04-04 |
Movie | Spaceship | Capt. Jamieson | 1983-07-01 |
Movie | Creepshow | Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over") | 1982-11-10 |
Movie | Twilight Theatre | Unknown | 1982-07-01 |
Series | Wogan | Self | 1982-05-04 |
Movie | Wrong Is Right | Mallory | 1982-04-16 |
Series | Police Squad! | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1982-03-04 |
Series | Twilight Theater | Unknown | 1982-02-13 |
Movie | Foxfire Light | Reece Morgan | 1982-01-01 |
Movie | Airplane II: The Sequel | Dr. Rumack (archive footage) | 1982-12-10 |
Series | Aloha Paradise | Grant Culberson | 1981-02-25 |
Movie | Prom Night | Mr. Hammond | 1980-07-18 |
Movie | Airplane! | Dr. Rumack | 1980-07-02 |
Movie | Cave-In! | Joe Johnson | 1980-04-12 |
Movie | OHMS | Governor | 1980-01-02 |
Series | Backstairs at the White House | Ike Hoover | 1979-01-29 |
Movie | Institute for Revenge | Counselor Hollis Barnes | 1979-01-22 |
Movie | City on Fire | Mayor William Dudley | 1979-07-11 |
Series | The Chisholms | Unknown | 1979-03-29 |
Series | The Littlest Hobo | Mayor Chester Montgomery | 1979-10-11 |
Movie | Halloween | Commander John J. Adams (archive footage) | 1978-10-24 |
Series | Vega$ | Unknown | 1978-09-20 |
Movie | Little Mo | Nelson Fisher | 1978-09-05 |
Movie | The Amsterdam Kill | Riley Knight | 1977-12-26 |
Series | What Really Happened To the Class Of '65? | Unknown | 1977-12-08 |
Series | The Love Boat | Dan Michaels | 1977-09-24 |
Series | Lucan | Unknown | 1977-09-12 |
Movie | Viva Knievel! | Stanley Millard | 1977-06-10 |
Movie | Day of the Animals | Paul Jenson | 1977-05-13 |
Movie | The Dawson Patrol | Narrator | 1977-03-25 |
Movie | Sixth and Main | John Doe | 1977-01-01 |
Movie | Grand Jury | John Williams | 1977-01-01 |
Movie | Brinks: The Great Robbery | Agent Norman Houston | 1976-03-26 |
Movie | Project: Kill | John Trevor | 1976-10-01 |
Series | Sidestreet | Unknown | 1975-09-14 |
Series | S.W.A.T. | Unknown | 1975-02-24 |
Movie | King of the Underwater World | Self | 1975-10-17 |
Series | The Swiss Family Robinson | Unknown | 1975-09-14 |
Series | Saturday Night Live | Self - Host | 1975-10-11 |
Series | The Manhunter | Unknown | 1974-09-11 |
Series | Celebrity Sweepstakes | Unknown | 1974-04-01 |
Movie | Can Ellen Be Saved? | Arnold Lindsey | 1974-02-05 |
Movie | Snatched | Bill Sutter | 1973-01-31 |
Movie | ...And Millions Die! | Jack Gallagher | 1973-01-01 |
Series | Barnaby Jones | Edward Brendon | 1973-01-28 |
Movie | Journey to the Outer Limits | (voice) | 1973-01-01 |
Movie | The Letters | Derek Childs | 1973-03-03 |
Series | The Evil Touch | Unknown | 1973-06-19 |
Movie | The Return of Charlie Chan | Alexander Hadrachi | 1973-07-01 |
Series | Kojak | Michael Hagar | 1973-10-24 |
Movie | Amanda Fallon | Mr. Cummings | 1973-05-04 |
Series | The Streets of San Francisco | John T. Connor | 1972-09-23 |
Series | The Rookies | Unknown | 1972-09-11 |
Series | M*A*S*H | Col. Buzz Brighton | 1972-09-17 |
Series | Assignment: Vienna | Floyd Macklin | 1972-09-28 |
Series | Kung Fu | Vincent Corbino | 1972-10-14 |
Movie | The Poseidon Adventure | Captain Harrison | 1972-12-13 |
Movie | They Call It Murder | Unknown | 1971-12-17 |
Movie | The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler | Harry Walsh | 1971-11-30 |
Series | Sarge | Unknown | 1971-09-21 |
Series | Monty Nash | Ross Carter | 1971-09-17 |
Series | Columbo | Peter Hamilton | 1971-09-15 |
Series | Cannon | Weller Dane | 1971-09-14 |
Movie | Incident in San Francisco | Lt. Brubaker | 1971-02-28 |
Movie | Night Slaves | Sheriff Henshaw | 1970-09-29 |
Movie | The Aquarians | Official | 1970-10-24 |
Series | Night Gallery | The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?") | 1970-12-16 |
Movie | Hauser's Memory | Joseph Slaughter | 1970-11-24 |
Movie | Change of Mind | Sheriff Webb | 1969-10-08 |
Series | The Bold Ones: The Protectors | Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth | 1969-09-28 |
Series | Bracken's World | Unknown | 1969-09-19 |
Series | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Mr. Cummings | 1969-09-14 |
Series | The Movie Game (US) | Unknown | 1969-09-08 |
Movie | How to Commit Marriage | Phil Fletcher | 1969-07-07 |
Movie | Deadlock | Lt. Sam Danforth | 1969-02-22 |
Movie | Trial Run | Jason Harkness | 1969-01-18 |
Movie | Four Rode Out | Mr Brown | 1969-01-01 |
Movie | How to Steal the World | General Maximilian Harmon | 1968-09-18 |
Series | It Takes a Thief | S.I.A. Security Man | 1968-01-09 |
Movie | Shadow Over Elveron | Sheriff Verne Drover | 1968-03-05 |
Movie | Cocoon | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
Series | The Name of the Game | Unknown | 1968-09-20 |
Series | Hawaii Five-O | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
Series | The Mod Squad | Rusty Bryson | 1968-09-24 |
Movie | Dayton's Devils | Frank Dayton | 1968-10-01 |
Movie | Companions in Nightmare | Dr. Neesden | 1968-11-23 |
Movie | Counterpoint | Victor Rice | 1967-12-22 |
Movie | Rosie! | Cabot Shaw | 1967-11-22 |
Series | Judd for the Defense | Unknown | 1967-09-08 |
Series | Cimarron Strip | Unknown | 1967-09-07 |
Movie | The Reluctant Astronaut | Major Fred Gifford | 1967-09-05 |
Series | Ironside | Unknown | 1967-03-28 |
Movie | The Boy Who Flew with Condors | Narrator | 1967-02-19 |
Movie | Gunfight in Abilene | Grant Evers | 1967-02-03 |
Movie | Code Name: Heraclitus | Fryer | 1967-01-01 |
Movie | Beau Geste | Lt. De Ruse | 1966-09-02 |
Movie | The Plainsman | Col. George Armstrong Custer | 1966-08-01 |
Series | National Geographic Specials | Narrator (voice) | 1965-09-10 |
Movie | Harlow | Richard Manley | 1965-06-23 |
Movie | Dark Intruder | Brett Kingsford | 1965-07-25 |
Series | The Wild Wild West | Major General Ball | 1965-09-17 |
Series | The Big Valley | Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway | 1965-09-15 |
Series | Convoy | Unknown | 1965-09-17 |
Series | The F.B.I. | Hudson | 1965-09-19 |
Movie | See How They Run | Elliot Green | 1964-10-07 |
Series | Daniel Boone | William Russell | 1964-09-24 |
Movie | Night Train to Paris | Alan Holiday | 1964-09-22 |
Series | Peyton Place | Kenneth Markham | 1964-09-15 |
Series | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Unknown | 1964-09-14 |
Series | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Paul Maytric | 1963-10-10 |
Series | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | John Joslin | 1963-10-04 |
Series | The Farmer's Daughter | Unknown | 1963-09-20 |
Series | Channing | Prof. Paul Stafford | 1963-09-18 |
Series | The Fugitive | Harold Cheyney | 1963-09-17 |
Series | The Art Linkletter Show | Unknown | 1963-02-18 |
Series | Your First Impression | Unknown | 1962-01-02 |
Series | The Virginian | Harry Lightfoot | 1962-09-19 |
Series | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Mr. Grainger | 1962-09-20 |
Series | The Defenders | Bob Garrison | 1961-09-16 |
Series | The New Breed | Lt. Price Adams | 1961-10-03 |
Series | Dr. Kildare | Harry Kleber | 1961-09-27 |
Series | Route 66 | Unknown | 1960-10-07 |
Series | Moment of Fear | Unknown | 1960-07-01 |
Series | The Swamp Fox | Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) | 1959-10-23 |
Movie | The Velvet Alley | Eddie Kirkley | 1959-01-22 |
Series | Rawhide | Eli Becker | 1959-01-09 |
Series | Bonanza | Sheriff Paul Rowan | 1959-09-12 |
Series | Naked City | Norman Garry | 1958-09-30 |
Movie | The Sheepman | Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe | 1958-05-01 |
Movie | Tammy and the Bachelor | Peter Brent | 1957-06-14 |
Movie | Hot Summer Night | William Joel Partain | 1957-02-15 |
Movie | Forbidden Planet | Commander John J. Adams | 1956-03-23 |
Movie | Ransom! | Charlie Telfer | 1956-01-24 |
Series | Playhouse 90 | Ralph Mohr | 1956-10-04 |
Movie | The Vagabond King | Thibault d'Aussigny | 1956-08-28 |
Series | First Performance | Unknown | 1956-10-03 |
Movie | The Opposite Sex | Steve Hilliard | 1956-11-15 |
Movie | The Battle of Gettysburg | Narrator (voice) | 1955-12-01 |
Series | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Rudy Cox | 1955-10-02 |
Series | Folio | Biff Loman | 1955-09-25 |
Series | Gunsmoke | Jess Trevor | 1955-09-10 |
Series | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Col. Francis Marion | 1954-10-27 |
Series | Love Story | Unknown | 1954-04-20 |
Movie | Dark Possession | Dr. Roger Waring | 1954-02-15 |
Series | Medallion Theatre | Unknown | 1953-07-11 |
Series | General Electric Theater | Edward Morgan | 1953-02-01 |
Series | Short Short Dramas | Unknown | 1952-09-30 |
Series | Tales of Tomorrow | Harold 'Harry' Mason | 1951-08-03 |
Series | Out There | Unknown | 1951-10-28 |
Series | Goodyear Television Playhouse | Unknown | 1951-10-14 |
Series | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Unknown | 1951-12-24 |
Series | Danger | Unknown | 1950-09-26 |
Series | Sure As Fate | Unknown | 1950-07-04 |
Series | The Web | Unknown | 1950-07-04 |
Series | Stage 13 | Unknown | 1950-05-03 |
Series | The Bob Hope Show | Self | 1950-04-09 |
Series | Starlight Theatre | Unknown | 1950-04-02 |
Series | Robert Montgomery Presents | Gates Holden | 1950-01-30 |
Series | Lights Out | Unknown | 1949-07-19 |
Series | The Clock | Unknown | 1949-05-16 |
Series | Suspense | Serge Soudekine | 1949-01-06 |
Series | Studio One | Tallman | 1948-11-07 |
Series | Actors Studio | Unknown | 1948-09-26 |