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 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Frank Drebin (archive footage) (uncredited) | 2020-02-12 |
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 | Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest | Dr. Rumack (archive voice) | 2008-01-21 |
Movie | Superhero Movie | Uncle Albert Adams | 2008-03-28 |
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 | Music Within | Bill Austin | 2007-01-05 |
Series | Lipshitz Saves the World | Himself | 2007-03-01 |
Movie | Scary Movie 4 | President Baxter Harris | 2006-04-12 |
Series | Gameshow Marathon | Unknown | 2006-05-31 |
Movie | Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet | Self | 2006-11-14 |
Movie | Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon | Self | 2006-11-14 |
Movie | Nos Bastidores de Hollywood | Self | 2005-03-01 |
Series | Robson Arms | Caldo Vasco | 2005-06-17 |
Series | Tubridy Tonight | Unknown | 2005-03-12 |
Series | Zeroman | Zeroman (voice) | 2004-09-11 |
Movie | The Nutcracker and the Mouseking | (Mouseking) (voice) | 2004-10-12 |
Series | Odd Job Jack | Unknown | 2003-03-05 |
Series | Chilly Beach | Unknown | 2003-09-03 |
Movie | Noël Noël | Narrator (english version) | 2003-12-13 |
Movie | Scary Movie 3 | President Baxter Harris | 2003-10-24 |
Movie | Men with Brooms | Gordon Cutter | 2002-09-20 |
Movie | Camouflage | Jack Potter | 2001-01-09 |
Movie | Chilly Dogs | Clive Thorton / Cab Driver | 2001-01-01 |
Series | Liocracy | 2001-04-01 | |
Series | Liography | Terrence Brynne McKennie | 2001-04-21 |
Movie | 2001: A Space Travesty | Richard 'Dick' Dix | 2000-10-31 |
Movie | Santa Who? | Santa Claus | 2000-12-03 |
Series | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | Self | 1999-03-30 |
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 |
Movie | Safety Patrol! | Mr. Penn | 1998-03-29 |
Movie | Wrongfully Accused | Ryan Harrison | 1998-07-23 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video | Himself | 1997-01-01 |
Movie | Family Plan | Harry Haber | 1997-01-01 |
Movie | Mr. Magoo | Mr. Quincy Magoo | 1997-12-25 |
Series | The Wonderful World of Disney | Mr. Penn | 1997-09-28 |
Series | The Rosie O'Donnell Show | Self | 1996-06-10 |
Movie | Spy Hard | Dick Steele | 1996-05-24 |
Series | Life and Times | Unknown | 1996-10-04 |
Movie | Harvey | Dr. Chumley | 1996-10-19 |
Series | Die Harald Schmidt Show | Self | 1995-12-05 |
Movie | Rent-a-Kid | Harry Haber | 1995-01-01 |
Movie | Dracula: Dead and Loving It | Count Dracula | 1995-12-22 |
Movie | Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree | Willowby's butler | 1995-12-06 |
Movie | WWE SummerSlam 1994 | Himself | 1994-08-29 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way | Leslie Nielsen | 1994-01-01 |
Series | The Danny Baker Show | Unknown | 1994-09-17 |
Movie | Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1994-03-18 |
Movie | An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck | Self - Audience Member | 1994-10-22 |
Series | Due South | Sgt. Buck Frobisher | 1994-09-22 |
Movie | S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago | Lucio Cinico | 1994-12-15 |
Series | Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards | Host | 1994-11-05 |
Movie | Surf Ninjas | Colonel Chi | 1993-08-12 |
Movie | The Unknown Marx Brothers | Self - Narrator | 1993-08-18 |
Series | WWE Raw | Leslie Nielsen | 1993-01-11 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | Himself | 1993-11-03 |
Movie | Digger | Arthur Evrensel | 1993-09-29 |
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 |
Series | Herman's Head | God | 1991-09-08 |
Movie | Chance of a Lifetime | Lloyd Dixon | 1991-11-18 |
Movie | All I Want for Christmas | Santa | 1991-11-08 |
Movie | Repossessed | Father Jebedaiah Mayii | 1990-09-14 |
Series | Evening Shade | Unknown | 1990-09-21 |
Series | Father Dowling Mysteries | Senator Erdain | 1989-01-20 |
Movie | The Railway Dragon | Narrator (voice) | 1989-03-17 |
Movie | Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation | Host | 1989-11-17 |
Series | Day by Day | Unknown | 1988-02-29 |
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 | Race for the Bomb | Lewis Strauss | 1987-02-01 |
Movie | Home Is Where the Hart Is | Sheriff Nashville Schwartz | 1987-06-13 |
Movie | Nuts | Allen Green | 1987-11-20 |
Movie | Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Senator Erdain | 1987-11-30 |
Movie | Nightstick | Thad Evans | 1987-09-01 |
Movie | The Patriot | Admiral Frazer | 1986-07-25 |
Movie | Soul Man | Mr. Dunbar | 1986-10-24 |
Movie | Reckless Disregard | Bob Franklin | 1985-03-17 |
Movie | Blade in Hong Kong | Harry Ingersoll | 1985-03-15 |
Movie | The Canadian Conspiracy | 1985-01-01 | |
Series | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Fantoccini | 1985-05-21 |
Series | Doris Day's Best Friends | Unknown | 1985-07-16 |
Series | 227 | Unknown | 1985-09-14 |
Movie | Striker's Mountain | Jim McKay | 1985-11-01 |
Series | The Golden Girls | Lucas | 1985-09-14 |
Series | Highway to Heaven | Unknown | 1984-09-19 |
Series | Shaping Up | Buddy Fox | 1984-03-20 |
Series | Who's the Boss? | Unknown | 1984-09-20 |
Series | Murder, She Wrote | Captain Daniels | 1984-09-30 |
Series | Finder of Lost Loves | Matthew Vail | 1984-09-22 |
Series | Showbiz Today | Unknown | 1984-10-29 |
Series | Prime Times | Self | 1983-04-04 |
Movie | The Night the Bridge Fell Down | Paul Warren | 1983-02-28 |
Movie | Spaceship | Capt. Jamieson | 1983-07-01 |
Series | Police Squad! | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1982-03-04 |
Series | Twilight Theater | 1982-02-13 | |
Movie | Foxfire Light | Reece Morgan | 1982-01-01 |
Movie | Wrong Is Right | Mallory | 1982-04-16 |
Movie | Twilight Theatre | Unknown | 1982-07-01 |
Movie | Airplane II: The Sequel | Dr. Rumack (archive footage) | 1982-12-10 |
Series | Wogan | Self | 1982-05-04 |
Movie | Creepshow | Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over") | 1982-11-10 |
Series | Aloha Paradise | Grant Culberson | 1981-02-25 |
Movie | OHMS | Governor | 1980-01-02 |
Movie | Cave-In! | Joe Johnson | 1980-04-12 |
Movie | Prom Night | Mr. Hammond | 1980-07-18 |
Movie | Airplane! | Dr. Rumack | 1980-07-02 |
Movie | Institute for Revenge | Counselor Hollis Barnes | 1979-01-22 |
Series | Backstairs at the White House | Ike Hoover | 1979-01-29 |
Series | The Chisholms | Unknown | 1979-03-29 |
Series | The Littlest Hobo | Mayor Chester Montgomery | 1979-10-11 |
Movie | City on Fire | Mayor William Dudley | 1979-07-11 |
Movie | Little Mo | Nelson Fisher | 1978-09-05 |
Movie | Halloween | Commander John J. Adams (archive footage) | 1978-10-24 |
Series | Vega$ | Unknown | 1978-09-20 |
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 | Viva Knievel! | Stanley Millard | 1977-06-10 |
Movie | Grand Jury | John Williams | 1977-01-01 |
Series | Lucan | Unknown | 1977-09-12 |
Series | What Really Happened To the Class Of '65? | Unknown | 1977-12-08 |
Movie | The Amsterdam Kill | Riley Knight | 1977-12-26 |
Series | The Love Boat | Dan Michaels | 1977-09-24 |
Movie | Brinks: The Great Robbery | Agent Norman Houston | 1976-03-26 |
Movie | Project: Kill | John Trevor | 1976-10-01 |
Series | S.W.A.T. | Unknown | 1975-02-24 |
Series | Sidestreet | Unknown | 1975-09-14 |
Series | The Swiss Family Robinson | Unknown | 1975-09-14 |
Movie | King of the Underwater World | Self | 1975-10-17 |
Series | Saturday Night Live | Self - Host | 1975-10-11 |
Series | Celebrity Sweepstakes | Unknown | 1974-04-01 |
Movie | Can Ellen Be Saved? | Arnold Lindsey | 1974-02-05 |
Series | The Manhunter | Unknown | 1974-09-11 |
Series | Barnaby Jones | Edward Brendon | 1973-01-28 |
Movie | ...And Millions Die! | Jack Gallagher | 1973-01-01 |
Movie | Journey to the Outer Limits | (voice) | 1973-01-01 |
Movie | Snatched | Bill Sutter | 1973-01-31 |
Movie | The Return of Charlie Chan | Alexander Hadrachi | 1973-07-01 |
Movie | The Letters | Derek Childs | 1973-03-03 |
Series | The Evil Touch | Unknown | 1973-06-19 |
Series | Kojak | Michael Hagar | 1973-10-24 |
Movie | Amanda Fallon | Mr. Cummings | 1973-05-04 |
Series | M*A*S*H | Col. Buzz Brighton | 1972-09-17 |
Series | The Rookies | Unknown | 1972-09-11 |
Series | The Streets of San Francisco | John T. Connor | 1972-09-23 |
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 |
Series | Cannon | Erich Strasser | 1971-09-14 |
Series | Columbo | Peter Hamilton | 1971-09-15 |
Movie | Incident in San Francisco | Lt. Brubaker | 1971-02-28 |
Movie | The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler | Harry Walsh | 1971-11-30 |
Series | Monty Nash | Ross Carter | 1971-09-17 |
Movie | They Call It Murder | Unknown | 1971-12-17 |
Series | Sarge | Unknown | 1971-09-21 |
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 | Deadlock | Lt. Sam Danforth | 1969-02-22 |
Movie | How to Commit Marriage | Phil Fletcher | 1969-07-07 |
Movie | Four Rode Out | Mr Brown | 1969-01-01 |
Series | The Movie Game (US) | Unknown | 1969-09-08 |
Movie | Trial Run | Jason Harkness | 1969-01-18 |
Series | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Mr. Cummings | 1969-09-14 |
Series | The Bold Ones: The Protectors | Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth | 1969-09-28 |
Movie | Change of Mind | Sheriff Webb | 1969-10-08 |
Series | Bracken's World | Unknown | 1969-09-19 |
Movie | Cocoon | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
Movie | How to Steal the World | General Maximilian Harmon | 1968-09-18 |
Movie | Shadow Over Elveron | Sheriff Verne Drover | 1968-03-05 |
Series | It Takes a Thief | S.I.A. Security Man | 1968-01-09 |
Series | The Name of the Game | Unknown | 1968-09-20 |
Series | Hawaii Five-O | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
Movie | Dayton's Devils | Frank Dayton | 1968-10-01 |
Movie | Companions in Nightmare | Dr. Neesden | 1968-11-23 |
Series | The Mod Squad | Rusty Bryson | 1968-09-24 |
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 | The Reluctant Astronaut | Major Fred Gifford | 1967-09-05 |
Movie | Code Name: Heraclitus | Fryer | 1967-01-01 |
Series | Cimarron Strip | Unknown | 1967-09-07 |
Movie | Rosie! | Cabot Shaw | 1967-11-22 |
Movie | Counterpoint | Victor Rice | 1967-12-22 |
Series | Judd for the Defense | Unknown | 1967-09-08 |
Movie | The Plainsman | Col. George Armstrong Custer | 1966-08-01 |
Movie | Beau Geste | Lt. De Ruse | 1966-09-02 |
Movie | Harlow | Richard Manley | 1965-06-23 |
Movie | Dark Intruder | Brett Kingsford | 1965-07-25 |
Series | The Big Valley | Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway | 1965-09-15 |
Series | The F.B.I. | Hudson | 1965-09-19 |
Series | Convoy | Unknown | 1965-09-17 |
Series | The Wild Wild West | Major General Ball | 1965-09-17 |
Series | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Unknown | 1964-09-14 |
Series | Peyton Place | Kenneth Markham | 1964-09-15 |
Movie | Night Train to Paris | Alan Holiday | 1964-09-22 |
Series | Daniel Boone | William Russell | 1964-09-24 |
Movie | See How They Run | Elliot Green | 1964-10-07 |
Series | The Fugitive | Harold Cheyney | 1963-09-17 |
Series | The Art Linkletter Show | Unknown | 1963-02-18 |
Series | Channing | Prof. Paul Stafford | 1963-09-18 |
Series | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Paul Maytric | 1963-10-10 |
Series | The Farmer's Daughter | Unknown | 1963-09-20 |
Series | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | John Joslin | 1963-10-04 |
Series | Your First Impression | Unknown | 1962-01-02 |
Series | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Mr. Grainger | 1962-09-20 |
Series | The Virginian | Cleve Mason | 1962-09-19 |
Series | Dr. Kildare | Harry Kleber | 1961-09-27 |
Series | The Defenders | Bob Garrison | 1961-09-16 |
Series | The New Breed | Lt. Price Adams | 1961-10-03 |
Series | Moment of Fear | Unknown | 1960-07-01 |
Series | Route 66 | Unknown | 1960-10-07 |
Series | Rawhide | Eli Becker | 1959-01-09 |
Movie | The Velvet Alley | Eddie Kirkley | 1959-01-22 |
Series | The Swamp Fox | Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) | 1959-10-23 |
Series | Bonanza | Sheriff Paul Rowan | 1959-09-12 |
Movie | The Sheepman | Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe | 1958-05-01 |
Series | Naked City | Norman Garry | 1958-09-30 |
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 | The Vagabond King | Thibault d'Aussigny | 1956-08-28 |
Movie | Ransom! | Charlie Telfer | 1956-01-24 |
Series | First Performance | Unknown | 1956-10-03 |
Movie | The Opposite Sex | Steve Hilliard | 1956-11-15 |
Series | Playhouse 90 | Ralph Mohr | 1956-10-04 |
Series | Gunsmoke | Jess Trevor | 1955-09-10 |
Series | Folio | Biff Loman | 1955-09-25 |
Series | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Rudy Cox | 1955-10-02 |
Movie | The Battle of Gettysburg | Narrator (voice) | 1955-12-01 |
Movie | Dark Possession | Dr. Roger Waring | 1954-02-15 |
Series | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Col. Francis Marion | 1954-10-27 |
Series | Love Story | Unknown | 1954-04-20 |
Series | General Electric Theater | Edward Morgan | 1953-02-01 |
Series | Medallion Theatre | Unknown | 1953-07-11 |
Series | Short Short Dramas | Unknown | 1952-09-30 |
Series | Tales of Tomorrow | Harold 'Harry' Mason | 1951-08-03 |
Series | Goodyear Television Playhouse | Unknown | 1951-10-14 |
Series | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Unknown | 1951-12-24 |
Series | Out There | Unknown | 1951-10-28 |
Series | Starlight Theatre | Unknown | 1950-04-02 |
Series | Robert Montgomery Presents | Gates Holden | 1950-01-30 |
Series | The Bob Hope Show | Self | 1950-04-09 |
Series | Sure As Fate | Unknown | 1950-07-04 |
Series | Stage 13 | Unknown | 1950-05-03 |
Series | Danger | Unknown | 1950-09-26 |
Series | The Web | Unknown | 1950-07-04 |
Series | Suspense | Serge Soudekine | 1949-01-06 |
Series | Lights Out | Unknown | 1949-07-19 |
Series | The Clock | Unknown | 1949-05-16 |
Series | Actors Studio | Unknown | 1948-09-26 |
Series | Studio One | Tallman | 1948-11-07 |