Leslie Nielsen
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 11, 1926
- Died
- November 28, 2010 (aged 84)
- Birthplace
- Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
O.J.: Made in America
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Stonerville
Movie · as Producer
Stan Helsing
Movie · as Kay
Spanish Movie
Movie · as Doctor Nielsen
An American Carol
Movie · as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
Superhero Movie
Movie · as Uncle Albert Adams
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Movie · as Mayor of Charlestown
Music Within
Movie · as Bill Austin
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
Movie · as Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Lipshitz Saves the World
TV · as Himself · 1 ep
Scary Movie 4
Movie · as President Baxter Harris
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Movie · as Self
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Movie · as Self
Gameshow Marathon
TV · 4 eps
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Robson Arms
TV · as Caldo Vasco · 39 eps
Tubridy Tonight
TV · 1 ep
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
Movie · as (Mouseking) (voice)
The Best of So Graham Norton
Movie · as Self (archive footage)
Zeroman
TV · as Zeroman (voice) · 13 eps
Scary Movie 3
Movie · as President Harris
Noël Noël
Movie · as Narrator (english version)
Chilly Beach
TV · as Santa (voice) · 1 ep
Odd Job Jack
TV · 1 ep
Men with Brooms
Movie · as Gordon Cutter
Chilly Dogs
Movie · as Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
Camouflage
Movie · as Jack Potter
Liography
TV · 13 eps
Liography
TV · as Terrence Brynne McKennie · 16 eps
2001: A Space Travesty
Movie · as Marshal Richard "Dick" Dix
Santa Who?
Movie · as Santa Claus
Family Guy
TV · as Dr. Rumack (archive footage) · 1 ep
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Harvey
TV · as Dr. Chumley · 1 ep
Wrongfully Accused
Movie · as Ryan Harrison
Safety Patrol!
Movie · as Mr. Penn
Family Plan
Movie · as Harry Haber
Mr. Magoo
Movie · as Mr. Quincy Magoo
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Movie · as Himself
Pirates 4-D
Movie · as Captain Lucky
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV · as Mr. Penn · 1 ep
Spy Hard
Movie · as Dick Steele
Harvey
Movie · as Dr. Chumley
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Life and Times
TV · 1 ep
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Movie · as Count Dracula
Rent-a-Kid
Movie · as Harry Haber
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Movie · as Baxter
Die Harald Schmidt Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
Movie · as Lucio Cinico
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Movie · as Lt. Frank Drebin
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Movie · as Self - Audience Member
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
Movie · as Leslie Nielsen
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Movie · as Himself
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Movie · as Self
World's Funniest Commercials
Movie
Due South
TV · as Sgt. Buck Frobisher · 4 eps
The Danny Baker Show
TV · 1 ep
Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
TV · as Host · 1 ep
Surf Ninjas
Movie · as Colonel Chi
The Unknown Marx Brothers
Movie · as Self - Narrator
Digger
Movie · as Arthur Evrensel
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
Movie · as Himself
Raw
TV · as Leslie Nielsen · 3 eps
Katie and Orbie
TV · as Narrator · 78 eps
Live & Kicking
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Terry Wogan's Friday Night
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Movie · as Lt. Frank Drebin
All I Want For Christmas
Movie · as Santa
Chance of a Lifetime
Movie · as Lloyd Dixon
Herman's Head
TV · as God · 1 ep
Flesh 'n' Blood
TV · as Red Houser · 1 ep
Repossessed
Movie · as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
Evening Shade
TV · 1 ep
The Railway Dragon
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
Movie · as Host
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Movie · as Frank Drebin
Dangerous Curves
Movie · as Greg Krevske
Day by Day
TV · as Jack Harper · 1 ep
Nuts
Movie · as Allen Green
Home Is Where the Hart Is
Movie · as Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
Movie · as Senator Erdain
Nightstick
Movie · as Thad Evans
Race for the Bomb
TV · as Lewis Strauss · 3 eps
Soul Man
Movie · as Mr. Dunbar
The Canadian Conspiracy
Movie · as Self
The Patriot
Movie · as Admiral Frazer
Blade in Hong Kong
Movie · as Harry Ingersoll
Striker's Mountain
Movie · as Jim McKay
Reckless Disregard
Movie · as Bob Franklin
The Golden Girls
TV · as Lucas · 2 eps
227
TV · 1 ep
Doris Day's Best Friends
TV · 1 ep
The Ray Bradbury Theater
TV · as Fantoccini · 1 ep
Who's the Boss?
TV · 1 ep
Highway to Heaven
TV · as Richard R. Benson · 1 ep
Shaping Up
TV · as Buddy Fox · 5 eps
Finder of Lost Loves
TV · as Matthew Vail · 1 ep
Murder, She Wrote
TV · as David Everett, Captain Daniels · 1 ep
Spaceship
Movie · as Capt. Jamieson
Cave-In!
Movie · as Joe Johnson
Prime Times
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Wrong Is Right
Movie · as Mallory
Creepshow
Movie · as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Foxfire Light
Movie · as Reece Morgan
Twilight Theatre
Movie
Twilight Theater II
Movie · as Self- Host
Airplane II: The Sequel
Movie · as Dr. Rumack (archive footage) (uncredited)
Police Squad!
TV · as Lt. Frank Drebin · 6 eps
Wogan
TV · as Self · 4 eps
Twilight Theater
TV · 1 ep
Aloha Paradise
TV · as Grant Culberson · 1 ep
Airplane!
Movie · as Dr. Rumack
Prom Night
Movie · as Mr. Hammond
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
Movie · as Paul Warren
OHMS
Movie · as Governor
Dive to the Edge of Creation
Movie · as Self - Narrator
City on Fire
Movie · as Mayor William Dudley
Institute for Revenge
Movie · as Counselor Hollis Barnes
Riel
Movie · as Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
Backstairs at the White House
TV · as Ike Hoover · 4 eps
The Littlest Hobo
TV · as Mayor Chester Montgomery · 1 ep
Little Mo
Movie · as Nelson Fisher
Vega$
TV · 1 ep
Fantasy Island
TV · as Doctor Whitfield, Victor Conti, Emile Bouvier · 1 ep
Day of the Animals
Movie · as Paul Jenson
Viva Knievel!
Movie · as Stanley Millard
The Amsterdam Kill
Movie · as Riley Knight
Grand Jury
Movie · as John Williams
The Dawson Patrol
Movie · as Narrator
Sixth and Main
Movie · as John Doe
The Love Boat
TV · as Hank Hardaway, Russ Blanchard, Dan Michaels · 1 ep
Lucan
TV · 1 ep
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
TV · 1 ep
Project: Kill
Movie · as John Trevor
Brinks: The Great Robbery
Movie · as Agent Norman Houston
King of the Underwater World
Movie · as Self/Narrator
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
Movie · as Narrator
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Movie · as Self - Narrator (voice)
The Swiss Family Robinson
TV · 1 ep
S.W.A.T.
TV · 2 eps
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Host · 1 ep
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Movie · as Arnold Lindsey
The Manhunter
TV · 1 ep
Dinah!
TV · as Self · 1 ep
The Letters
Movie · as Derek Childs
Snatched
Movie · as Bill Sutter
...and millions will die!
Movie · as Jack Gallagher
The Return of Charlie Chan
Movie · as Alexander Hadrachi
Journey to the Outer Limits
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Amanda Fallon
Movie · as Mr. Cummings
Kojak
TV · as Michael Hagar · 1 ep
The Evil Touch
TV · 2 eps
Barnaby Jones
TV · as Edward Brendon · 1 ep
The Poseidon Adventure
Movie · as Captain Harrison
M*A*S*H
TV · as Col. Buzz Brighton · 1 ep
The Rookies
TV · 1 ep
Kung Fu
TV · as Vincent Corbino · 4 eps
The Streets of San Francisco
TV · as John T. Connor · 2 eps
Assignment: Vienna
TV · as Floyd Macklin · 1 ep
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
Movie · as Harry Walsh
They Call It Murder
Movie · as Frank Antrim
Incident in San Francisco
Movie · as Lt. Brubaker
Columbo
TV · as A.J. Henderson, Peter Hamilton · 1 ep
Cannon
TV · as Joe Gilbert, Erich Strasser, Weller Dane · 1 ep
Sarge
TV · 1 ep
Monty Nash
TV · as Ross Carter · 1 ep
Bearcats!
TV · as Col. Ted Donovan · 1 ep
Night Slaves
Movie · as Sheriff Henshaw
Hauser's Memory
Movie · as Joseph Slaughter
The Aquarians
Movie · as Official
Night Gallery
TV · as Col. Dennis Malloy, The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?") · 1 ep
Four Rode Out
Movie · as Mr Brown
How to Commit Marriage
Movie · as Phil Fletcher
Change of Mind
Movie · as Sheriff Webb
Deadlock
Movie · as Lt. Sam Danforth
Trial Run
Movie · as Jason Harkness
Hawaii Five-O
TV · as Brent, Colonel Farraday · 1 ep
Bracken's World
TV · 1 ep
The Bold Ones: The Protectors
TV · as Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth · 6 eps
The Movie Game (US)
TV · 1 ep
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
TV · as Mr. Cummings · 1 ep
How to Steal the World
Movie · as General Maximilian Harmon
Dayton's Devils
Movie · as Frank Dayton
Companions in Nightmare
Movie · as Dr. Neesden
Shadow Over Elveron
Movie · as Sheriff Verne Drover
The Wild Heart
Movie · as Narrator
Cocoon
Movie · as Brent
The Name of the Game
TV · 1 ep
It Takes a Thief
TV · as SIA Security Man · 1 ep
The Mod Squad
TV · as Rusty Bryson · 1 ep
Code Name: Heraclitus
Movie · as Fryer
The Reluctant Astronaut
Movie · as Major Fred Gifford
Gunfight in Abilene
Movie · as Grant Evers
Counterpoint
Movie · as Victor Rice
Rosie!
Movie · as Cabot Shaw
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
Movie · as Narrator
Ironside
TV · 1 ep
Cimarron Strip
TV · 1 ep
Judd, for the Defense
TV · 1 ep
Beau Geste
Movie · as Lt. De Ruse
The Plainsman
Movie · as Col. George Armstrong Custer
Dark Intruder
Movie · as Brett Kingsford
Harlow
Movie · as Richard Manley
The F.B.I.
TV · as Hudson · 1 ep
Convoy
TV · 1 ep
The Big Valley
TV · as Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway · 1 ep
The Wild Wild West
TV · as Major General Ball · 1 ep
National Geographic Specials
TV · as Narrator (voice) · 2 eps
Night Train to Paris
Movie · as Alan Holiday
See How They Run
Movie · as Elliot Green
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
TV · 1 ep
Daniel Boone
TV · as William Russell · 1 ep
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV · as General Maximilian Harmon · 2 eps
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV · as Dr. David Cord, Paul Maytric · 1 ep
The Fugitive
TV · as Harold Cheyney, Martin C. Rowland · 1 ep
The Farmer's Daughter
TV · 1 ep
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV · as John Joslin · 1 ep
The Art Linkletter Show
TV · 1 ep
Channing
TV · as Prof. Paul Stafford · 1 ep
Miss USA
TV · as Self - Judge · 1 ep
The Virginian
TV · as John Hagen, Cleve Mason, Harry Lightfoot · 1 ep
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV · as Mr. Grainger · 1 ep
The Defenders
TV · as Bob Garrison · 2 eps
The New Breed
TV · as Lt. Price Adams · 36 eps
Dr. Kildare
TV · as Walter Burton, Harry Kleber · 2 eps
Route 66
TV · 1 ep
Moment of Fear
TV · 1 ep
Thriller
TV · as Alan Patterson · 1 ep
The Velvet Alley
Movie · as Eddie Kirkley
Rawhide
TV · as Eli Becker · 1 ep
The Swamp Fox
TV · as Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) · 8 eps
Bonanza
TV · as Sheriff Paul Rowan · 1 ep
The Sheepman
Movie · as Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
Naked City
TV · as Norman Garry · 1 ep
Tammy and the Bachelor
Movie · as Peter Brent
Hot Summer Night
Movie · as William Joel Partain
Wagon Train
TV · as Brian Conlin, Jeremy Dow · 1 ep
Forbidden Planet
Movie · as Commander John J. Adams
The Opposite Sex
Movie · as Steve Hilliard
Ransom!
Movie · as Charlie Telfer
The Vagabond King
Movie · as Thibault d'Aussigny
Playhouse 90
TV · as Ralph Mohr · 1 ep
The Battle of Gettysburg
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Gunsmoke
TV · as Jess Trevor · 1 ep
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV · as Lloyd Ashley, Rudy Cox · 1 ep
Folio
TV · as Biff Loman · 1 ep
First Performance
TV · as Ted · 1 ep
MGM Parade
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Dark Possession
Movie · as Dr. Roger Waring
Love Story
TV · 1 ep
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV · as Colonel Francis Marion, Col. Francis Marion · 3 eps
General Electric Theater
TV · as Judge Wayne Douglas, Edward Morgan · 1 ep
Medallion Theatre
TV · 1 ep
Short Short Dramas
TV · 1 ep
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
Movie · as Bill
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV · 1 ep
Goodyear Television Playhouse
TV · 3 eps
Tales of Tomorrow
TV · as Harold 'Harry' Mason · 4 eps
Out There
TV · 1 ep
Robert Montgomery Presents
TV · as C. K. Dexter Haven, George, Gates Holden · 1 ep
Danger
TV · 4 eps
Sure As Fate
TV · 1 ep
Starlight Theatre
TV · 1 ep
Stage 13
TV · 1 ep
The Web
TV · 3 eps
The Bob Hope Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Suspense
TV · as Serge Soudekine · 3 eps
Lights Out
TV · 2 eps
The Clock
TV · as David Kyle · 1 ep
Studio One
TV · as Chris Jackson, Stan Janicek, Dr. Clayborn, Dr. Roger Waring, Mac, Edmund, Tallman, Karl · 2 eps
Actors Studio
TV · 2 eps
Golden Globe Awards
TV · as Self - Host · 1 ep