Leslie Nielsen
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 11, 1926
- Died
- November 28, 2010
- Birthplace
- Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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
O.J.: Made in America 2016
as Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise 2013
as Self (archive footage)
Stonerville 2011
as Producer
Spanish Movie 2009
as Doctor Nielsen
Stan Helsing 2009
as Kay
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League 2008
as Mayor of Charlestown
An American Carol 2008
as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
Superhero Movie 2008
as Uncle Albert Adams
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest 2007
as Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Music Within 2007
as Bill Austin
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon 2006
as Self
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet 2006
as Self
Scary Movie 4 2006
as President Baxter Harris
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood 2005
as Self (archive footage)
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking 2004
as (Mouseking) (voice)
The Best of So Graham Norton 2004
as Self (archive footage)
Noël Noël 2003
as Narrator (english version)
Scary Movie 3 2003
as President Harris
Men with Brooms 2002
as Gordon Cutter
Chilly Dogs 2001
as Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
Camouflage 2001
as Jack Potter
Santa Who? 2000
as Santa Claus
2001: A Space Travesty 2000
as Marshal Richard "Dick" Dix
Wrongfully Accused 1998
as Ryan Harrison
Safety Patrol! 1998
as Mr. Penn
Mr. Magoo 1997
as Mr. Quincy Magoo
Pirates 4-D 1997
as Captain Lucky
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video 1997
as Himself, Executive Co-Producer
Family Plan 1997
as Harry Haber
Harvey 1996
as Dr. Chumley
Spy Hard 1996
as Dick Steele, Executive Producer
Dracula: Dead and Loving It 1995
as Count Dracula
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree 1995
as Baxter
Rent-a-Kid 1995
as Harry Haber
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago 1994
as Lucio Cinico
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck 1994
as Self - Audience Member
WWE SummerSlam 1994 1994
as Himself
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects 1994
as Self
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult 1994
as Lt. Frank Drebin
World's Funniest Commercials 1994
Actor
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way 1994
as Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier 1993
as Himself
Digger 1993
as Arthur Evrensel
The Unknown Marx Brothers 1993
as Self - Narrator
Surf Ninjas 1993
as Colonel Chi
Chance of a Lifetime 1991
as Lloyd Dixon
All I Want For Christmas 1991
as Santa
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear 1991
as Lt. Frank Drebin
Repossessed 1990
as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation 1989
as Host
The Railway Dragon 1989
as Narrator (voice)
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! 1988
as Frank Drebin
Dangerous Curves 1988
as Greg Krevske
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery 1987
as Senator Erdain
Nuts 1987
as Allen Green
Nightstick 1987
as Thad Evans
Home Is Where the Hart Is 1987
as Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
Soul Man 1986
as Mr. Dunbar
The Patriot 1986
as Admiral Frazer
The Canadian Conspiracy 1986
as Self
Striker's Mountain 1985
as Jim McKay
Reckless Disregard 1985
as Bob Franklin
Blade in Hong Kong 1985
as Harry Ingersoll
Spaceship 1983
as Capt. Jamieson
Cave-In! 1983
as Joe Johnson
Airplane II: The Sequel 1982
as Dr. Rumack (archive footage) (uncredited)
Creepshow 1982
as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Twilight Theater II 1982
as Self- Host
Wrong Is Right 1982
as Mallory
Twilight Theatre 1982
Actor
Foxfire Light 1982
as Reece Morgan
The Night the Bridge Fell Down 1980
as Paul Warren
Prom Night 1980
as Mr. Hammond
Airplane! 1980
as Dr. Rumack
Dive to the Edge of Creation 1980
as Self - Narrator
OHMS 1980
as Governor
City on Fire 1979
as Mayor William Dudley
Riel 1979
as Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
Institute for Revenge 1979
as Counselor Hollis Barnes
Little Mo 1978
as Nelson Fisher
The Amsterdam Kill 1977
as Riley Knight
Sixth and Main 1977
as John Doe
Viva Knievel! 1977
as Stanley Millard
Day of the Animals 1977
as Paul Jenson
The Dawson Patrol 1977
as Narrator
- Grand Jury
Grand Jury 1977
as John Williams
Project: Kill 1976
as John Trevor
Brinks: The Great Robbery 1976
as Agent Norman Houston
- King of the Underwater World
King of the Underwater World 1975
as Self/Narrator
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave 1975
as Narrator
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience 1975
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Can Ellen Be Saved? 1974
as Arnold Lindsey
The Return of Charlie Chan 1973
as Alexander Hadrachi
Amanda Fallon 1973
as Mr. Cummings
The Letters 1973
as Derek Childs
Snatched 1973
as Bill Sutter
Journey to the Outer Limits 1973
as Narrator (voice)
...and millions will die! 1973
as Jack Gallagher
The Poseidon Adventure 1972
as Captain Harrison
They Call It Murder 1971
as Frank Antrim
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler 1971
as Harry Walsh
Incident in San Francisco 1971
as Lt. Brubaker
Hauser's Memory 1970
as Joseph Slaughter
The Aquarians 1970
as Official
Night Slaves 1970
as Sheriff Henshaw
Change of Mind 1969
as Sheriff Webb
How to Commit Marriage 1969
as Phil Fletcher
Deadlock 1969
as Lt. Sam Danforth
Trial Run 1969
as Jason Harkness
Four Rode Out 1969
as Mr Brown
Companions in Nightmare 1968
as Dr. Neesden
Dayton's Devils 1968
as Frank Dayton
Cocoon 1968
as Brent
How to Steal the World 1968
as General Maximilian Harmon
The Wild Heart 1968
as Narrator
Shadow Over Elveron 1968
as Sheriff Verne Drover
Counterpoint 1967
as Victor Rice
Rosie! 1967
as Cabot Shaw
The Reluctant Astronaut 1967
as Major Fred Gifford
The Boy Who Flew with Condors 1967
as Narrator
Gunfight in Abilene 1967
as Grant Evers
Code Name: Heraclitus 1967
as Fryer
Beau Geste 1966
as Lt. De Ruse
The Plainsman 1966
as Col. George Armstrong Custer
Dark Intruder 1965
as Brett Kingsford
Harlow 1965
as Richard Manley
See How They Run 1964
as Elliot Green
Night Train to Paris 1964
as Alan Holiday
The Velvet Alley 1959
as Eddie Kirkley
The Sheepman 1958
as Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
Tammy and the Bachelor 1957
as Peter Brent
Hot Summer Night 1957
as William Joel Partain
The Opposite Sex 1956
as Steve Hilliard
The Vagabond King 1956
as Thibault d'Aussigny
Forbidden Planet 1956
as Commander John J. Adams
Ransom! 1956
as Charlie Telfer
The Battle of Gettysburg 1955
as Narrator (voice)
Dark Possession 1954
as Dr. Roger Waring
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant 1951
as Bill
Credits from TMDB.