Leslie Nielsen
Acting • Born 1926-02-11 – Died 2010-11-28
Biography
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.
Filmography
299 credits
The Poseidon Adventure
Movie • 1972
Captain Harrison
Airplane!
Movie • 1980
Dr. Rumack
Spy Hard
Movie • 1996
Dick Steele
Forbidden Planet
Movie • 1956
Commander John J. Adams
Scary Movie 3
Movie • 2003
President Baxter Harris
Scary Movie 4
Movie • 2006
President Baxter Harris
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
Movie • 1994
Lucio Cinico
Repossessed
Movie • 1990
Father Jebedaiah Mayii
Code Name: Heraclitus
Movie • 1967
Fryer
2001: A Space Travesty
Movie • 2000
Richard 'Dick' Dix
Stan Helsing
Movie • 2009
Kay
Surf Ninjas
Movie • 1993
Colonel Chi
Family Plan
Movie • 1997
Harry Haber
Chilly Dogs
Movie • 2001
Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
Wrong Is Right
Movie • 1982
Mallory
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Movie • 1995
Count Dracula
Wrongfully Accused
Movie • 1998
Ryan Harrison
Mr. Magoo
Movie • 1997
Mr. Quincy Magoo
Soul Man
Movie • 1986
Mr. Dunbar
How to Steal the World
Movie • 1968
General Maximilian Harmon
Men with Brooms
Movie • 2002
Gordon Cutter
Spanish Movie
Movie • 2009
Doctor Nielsen
Nuts
Movie • 1987
Allen Green
An American Carol
Movie • 2008
Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
Spaceship
Movie • 1983
Capt. Jamieson
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Movie • 2013
Self (archive footage)
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Movie • 1994
Lt. Frank Drebin
Prom Night
Movie • 1980
Mr. Hammond
Santa Who?
Movie • 2000
Santa Claus
Rent-a-Kid
Movie • 1995
Harry Haber
The Reluctant Astronaut
Movie • 1967
Major Fred Gifford
Tammy and the Bachelor
Movie • 1957
Peter Brent
The Opposite Sex
Movie • 1956
Steve Hilliard
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Movie • 1988
Frank Drebin
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Movie • 1991
Lt. Frank Drebin
Creepshow
Movie • 1982
Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Day of the Animals
Movie • 1977
Paul Jenson
Camouflage
Movie • 2001
Jack Potter
The Unknown Marx Brothers
Movie • 1993
Self - Narrator
Viva Knievel!
Movie • 1977
Stanley Millard
Dangerous Curves
Movie • 1988
Greg Krevske
The Canadian Conspiracy
Movie • 1986
Self
Dark Intruder
Movie • 1965
Brett Kingsford
Four Rode Out
Movie • 1969
Mr Brown
Hot Summer Night
Movie • 1957
William Joel Partain
Foxfire Light
Movie • 1982
Reece Morgan
The Amsterdam Kill
Movie • 1977
Riley Knight
The Railway Dragon
Movie • 1989
Narrator (voice)
Project: Kill
Movie • 1976
John Trevor
Gunfight in Abilene
Movie • 1967
Grant Evers
City on Fire
Movie • 1979
Mayor William Dudley
How to Commit Marriage
Movie • 1969
Phil Fletcher
Cave-In!
Movie • 1983
Joe Johnson
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Movie • 1997
Himself
Ransom!
Movie • 1956
Charlie Telfer
Harvey
Movie • 1996
Dr. Chumley
Counterpoint
Movie • 1967
Victor Rice
Grand Jury
Movie • 1977
John Williams
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Movie • 1995
Baxter
Beau Geste
Movie • 1966
Lt. De Ruse
Rosie!
Movie • 1967
Cabot Shaw
Twilight Theatre
Movie • 1982
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Movie • 1974
Arnold Lindsey
The Battle of Gettysburg
Movie • 1955
Narrator (voice)
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
Movie • 1971
Harry Walsh
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
Movie • 1980
Paul Warren
Night Train to Paris
Movie • 1964
Alan Holiday
Night Slaves
Movie • 1970
Sheriff Henshaw
See How They Run
Movie • 1964
Elliot Green
Home Is Where the Hart Is
Movie • 1987
Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
The Sheepman
Movie • 1958
Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
Change of Mind
Movie • 1969
Sheriff Webb
Deadlock
Movie • 1969
Lt. Sam Danforth
The Vagabond King
Movie • 1956
Thibault d'Aussigny
Hauser's Memory
Movie • 1970
Joseph Slaughter
Digger
Movie • 1993
Arthur Evrensel
King of the Underwater World
Movie • 1975
Self/Narrator
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
Movie • 1987
Senator Erdain
All I Want For Christmas
Movie • 1991
Santa
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Movie • 1994
Self - Audience Member
Superhero Movie
Movie • 2008
Uncle Albert Adams
The Letters
Movie • 1973
Derek Childs
Blade in Hong Kong
Movie • 1985
Harry Ingersoll
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Movie • 2005
Self (archive footage)
The Patriot
Movie • 1986
Admiral Frazer
O.J.: Made in America
Movie • 2016
Self (archive footage)
Dayton's Devils
Movie • 1968
Frank Dayton
They Call It Murder
Movie • 1971
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
Movie • 1967
Narrator
Companions in Nightmare
Movie • 1968
Dr. Neesden
Little Mo
Movie • 1978
Nelson Fisher
Shadow Over Elveron
Movie • 1968
Sheriff Verne Drover
Snatched
Movie • 1973
Bill Sutter
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
Movie • 1993
Himself
Nightstick
Movie • 1987
Thad Evans
The Wild Heart
Movie • 1968
Narrator
Striker's Mountain
Movie • 1985
Jim McKay
...And Millions Die!
Movie • 1973
Jack Gallagher
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
Movie • 1975
Narrator
Harlow
Movie • 1965
Richard Manley
The Return of Charlie Chan
Movie • 1973
Alexander Hadrachi
The Aquarians
Movie • 1970
Official
The Plainsman
Movie • 1966
Col. George Armstrong Custer
Journey to the Outer Limits
Movie • 1973
(voice)
The Velvet Alley
Movie • 1959
Eddie Kirkley
The Dawson Patrol
Movie • 1977
Narrator
Incident in San Francisco
Movie • 1971
Lt. Brubaker
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
Movie • 1989
Host
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Movie • 2008
Mayor of Charlestown
Dark Possession
Movie • 1954
Dr. Roger Waring
Reckless Disregard
Movie • 1985
Bob Franklin
Sixth and Main
Movie • 1977
John Doe
Music Within
Movie • 2007
Bill Austin
Stonerville
Movie • 2011
Producer
Noël Noël
Movie • 2003
Narrator (english version)
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
Movie • 2008
Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
Movie • 1994
Leslie Nielsen
Safety Patrol!
Movie • 1998
Mr. Penn
Brinks: The Great Robbery
Movie • 1976
Agent Norman Houston
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Movie • 2006
Self
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Movie • 2006
Self
OHMS
Movie • 1980
Governor
Cocoon
Movie • 1968
Brent
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Movie • 1994
Himself
Amanda Fallon
Movie • 1973
Mr. Cummings
Chance of a Lifetime
Movie • 1991
Lloyd Dixon
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
Movie • 2004
(Mouseking) (voice)
Institute for Revenge
Movie • 1979
Counselor Hollis Barnes
Trial Run
Movie • 1969
Jason Harkness
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Movie • 1994
Self
Dive to the Edge of Creation
Movie • 1980
Self - Narrator
World's Funniest Commercials
Movie • 1994
Riel
Movie • 1979
Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Movie • 1975
Self - Narrator (voice)
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
Movie • 1951
Bill
Columbo
TV • 1971
A.J. Henderson
M*A*S*H
TV • 1972
Col. Buzz Brighton
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
TV • 1964
Chilly Beach
TV • 2003
Santa (voice)
Evening Shade
TV • 1990
The Rookies
TV • 1972
Who's the Boss?
TV • 1984
Family Guy
TV • 1999
Dr. Rumack (archive footage)
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Vincent Corbino
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV • 1996
Self
Due South
TV • 1994
Sgt. Buck Frobisher
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV • 1963
Dr. David Cord
The F.B.I.
TV • 1965
Hudson
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Hank Hardaway
Lipshitz Saves the World
TV • 2007
Himself
The Golden Girls
TV • 1985
Lucas
Odd Job Jack
TV • 2003
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Brent
227
TV • 1985
Route 66
TV • 1960
Highway to Heaven
TV • 1984
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Naked City
TV • 1958
Norman Garry
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Harold Cheyney
Kojak
TV • 1973
Michael Hagar
Robson Arms
TV • 2005
Caldo Vasco
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Jess Trevor
Studio One
TV • 1948
The Evil Touch
TV • 1973
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Judge Wayne Douglas
Cannon
TV • 1971
Joe Gilbert
Herman's Head
TV • 1991
God
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Police Squad!
TV • 1982
Lt. Frank Drebin
Backstairs at the White House
TV • 1979
Ike Hoover
Ironside
TV • 1967
Zeroman
TV • 2004
Zeroman (voice)
Tubridy Tonight
TV • 2005
The Swiss Family Robinson
TV • 1975
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Lloyd Ashley
Rawhide
TV • 1959
Eli Becker
Vega$
TV • 1978
Day by Day
TV • 1988
Jack Harper
The Name of the Game
TV • 1968
Cimarron Strip
TV • 1967
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
William Russell
The Fugitive
TV • 1963
Martin C. Rowland
S.W.A.T.
TV • 1975
Liocracy
TV • 2001
Shaping Up
TV • 1984
Buddy Fox
The Virginian
TV • 1962
John Hagen
The Farmer's Daughter
TV • 1963
Lucan
TV • 1977
Convoy
TV • 1965
Sarge
TV • 1971
Goodyear Television Playhouse
TV • 1951
The Defenders
TV • 1961
Bob Garrison
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
The Big Valley
TV • 1965
Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway
Judd for the Defense
TV • 1967
Bracken's World
TV • 1969
Finder of Lost Loves
TV • 1984
Matthew Vail
Assignment: Vienna
TV • 1972
Floyd Macklin
Monty Nash
TV • 1971
Ross Carter
The New Breed
TV • 1961
Lt. Price Adams
Actors Studio
TV • 1948
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV • 1950
C. K. Dexter Haven
Suspense
TV • 1949
The Manhunter
TV • 1974
Life and Times
TV • 1996
The Bold Ones: The Protectors
TV • 1969
Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth
Tales of Tomorrow
TV • 1951
Danger
TV • 1950
Aloha Paradise
TV • 1981
Grant Culberson
The Swamp Fox
TV • 1959
Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)
Wogan
TV • 1982
Self
Lights Out
TV • 1949
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Walter Burton
The Art Linkletter Show
TV • 1963
The Movie Game (US)
TV • 1969
Moment of Fear
TV • 1960
Short Short Dramas
TV • 1952
Sure As Fate
TV • 1950
Out There
TV • 1951
Medallion Theatre
TV • 1953
Love Story
TV • 1954
The Clock
TV • 1949
David Kyle
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
TV • 1999
Self
The Danny Baker Show
TV • 1994
Liography
TV • 2001
Terrence Brynne McKennie
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1997
Mr. Penn
Starlight Theatre
TV • 1950
Stage 13
TV • 1950
Doris Day's Best Friends
TV • 1985
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
TV • 1977
Channing
TV • 1963
Prof. Paul Stafford
Twilight Theater
TV • 1982
The Web
TV • 1950
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Tales of Tomorrow
TV • 1951
Harold 'Harry' Mason
Raw
TV • 1993
Leslie Nielsen
Die Harald Schmidt Show
TV • 1995
Self
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
Col. Dennis Malloy
It Takes a Thief
TV • 1968
SIA Security Man
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?")
Dr. Kildare
TV • 1961
Harry Kleber
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Cleve Mason
The Wild Wild West
TV • 1965
Major General Ball
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953
Edward Morgan
Race for the Bomb
TV • 1987
Lewis Strauss
The Bob Hope Show
TV • 1950
Self
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV • 1950
George
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV • 1950
Gates Holden
Columbo
TV • 1971
Peter Hamilton
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV • 1963
Paul Maytric
Terry Wogan's Friday Night
TV • 1992
Self
Sidestreet
TV • 1975
The Littlest Hobo
TV • 1979
Mayor Chester Montgomery
Folio
TV • 1955
Biff Loman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Rudy Cox
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
Rusty Bryson
Studio One
TV • 1948
Stan Janicek
Cannon
TV • 1971
Weller Dane
Cannon
TV • 1971
Erich Strasser
Studio One
TV • 1948
Chris Jackson
Studio One
TV • 1948
Dr. Clayborn
Studio One
TV • 1948
Dr. Roger Waring
Studio One
TV • 1948
Mac
Studio One
TV • 1948
Edmund
Studio One
TV • 1948
Tallman
Gameshow Marathon
TV • 2006
Bonanza
TV • 1959
Sheriff Paul Rowan
Playhouse 90
TV • 1956
Ralph Mohr
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
John Joslin
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
TV • 1969
Mr. Cummings
Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
TV • 1994
Host
National Geographic Specials
TV • 1965
Narrator (voice)
Prime Times
TV • 1983
Self
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Harry Lightfoot
The Ray Bradbury Theater
TV • 1985
Fantoccini
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Colonel Francis Marion
Katie and Orbie
TV • 1993
Narrator
Suspense
TV • 1949
Serge Soudekine
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Russ Blanchard
The Love Boat
TV • 1977
Dan Michaels
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Col. Francis Marion
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
John T. Connor
Flesh 'n' Blood
TV • 1991
Red Houser
Bearcats!
TV • 1971
Col. Ted Donovan
Barnaby Jones
TV • 1973
Edward Brendon
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
David Everett
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Mr. Grainger
Harvey
TV • 1999
Dr. Chumley
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Captain Daniels
Wagon Train
TV • 1957
Brian Conlin
Miss USA
TV • 1963
Self - Judge
Studio One
TV • 1948
Karl
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Host
Fantasy Island
TV • 1978
Doctor Whitfield
First Performance
TV • 1955
Ted
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
General Maximilian Harmon
Thriller
TV • 1960
Alan Patterson
MGM Parade
TV • 1955
Self