Acting
Leslie Nielsen
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
Film · 2016
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Film · 2013
Stonerville
Film · 2011
Stan Helsing
Film · 2009
Spanish Movie
Film · 2009
An American Carol
Film · 2008
Superhero Movie
Film · 2008
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Film · 2008
Music Within
Film · 2007
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
Film · 2007
Lipshitz Saves the World
Series · 2007
Scary Movie 4
Film · 2006
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Film · 2006
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Film · 2006
Gameshow Marathon
Series · 2006
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Film · 2005
Robson Arms
Series · 2005
Tubridy Tonight
Series · 2005
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
Film · 2004
The Best of So Graham Norton
Film · 2004
Zeroman
Series · 2004
Scary Movie 3
Film · 2003
Noël Noël
Film · 2003
Chilly Beach
Series · 2003
Odd Job Jack
Series · 2003
Men with Brooms
Film · 2002
Chilly Dogs
Film · 2001
Camouflage
Film · 2001
Liography
Series · 2001
Liography
Series · 2001
2001: A Space Travesty
Film · 2000
Santa Who?
Film · 2000
Family Guy
Series · 1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Series · 1999
Harvey
Series · 1999
Wrongfully Accused
Film · 1998
Safety Patrol!
Film · 1998
Family Plan
Film · 1997
Mr. Magoo
Film · 1997
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Film · 1997
Pirates 4-D
Film · 1997
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1997
Spy Hard
Film · 1996
Harvey
Film · 1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Series · 1996
Life and Times
Series · 1996
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Film · 1995
Rent-a-Kid
Film · 1995
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Film · 1995
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Series · 1995
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
Film · 1994
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Film · 1994
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Film · 1994
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
Film · 1994
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Film · 1994
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Film · 1994
World's Funniest Commercials
Film · 1994
Due South
Series · 1994
The Danny Baker Show
Series · 1994
Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
Series · 1994
Surf Ninjas
Film · 1993
The Unknown Marx Brothers
Film · 1993
Digger
Film · 1993
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
Film · 1993
Raw
Series · 1993
Katie and Orbie
Series · 1993
Live & Kicking
Series · 1993
Terry Wogan's Friday Night
Series · 1992
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Film · 1991
All I Want For Christmas
Film · 1991
Chance of a Lifetime
Film · 1991
Herman's Head
Series · 1991
Flesh 'n' Blood
Series · 1991
Repossessed
Film · 1990
Evening Shade
Series · 1990
The Railway Dragon
Film · 1989
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
Film · 1989
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Film · 1988
Dangerous Curves
Film · 1988
Day by Day
Series · 1988
Nuts
Film · 1987
Home Is Where the Hart Is
Film · 1987
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
Film · 1987
Nightstick
Film · 1987
Race for the Bomb
Series · 1987
Soul Man
Film · 1986
The Canadian Conspiracy
Film · 1986
The Patriot
Film · 1986
Blade in Hong Kong
Film · 1985
Striker's Mountain
Film · 1985
Reckless Disregard
Film · 1985
The Golden Girls
Series · 1985
227
Series · 1985
Doris Day's Best Friends
Series · 1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Series · 1985
Who's the Boss?
Series · 1984
Highway to Heaven
Series · 1984
Shaping Up
Series · 1984
Finder of Lost Loves
Series · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Murder, She Wrote
Series · 1984
Spaceship
Film · 1983
Cave-In!
Film · 1983
Prime Times
Series · 1983
Wrong Is Right
Film · 1982
Creepshow
Film · 1982
Foxfire Light
Film · 1982
Twilight Theatre
Film · 1982
Twilight Theater II
Film · 1982
Airplane II: The Sequel
Film · 1982
Police Squad!
Series · 1982
Wogan
Series · 1982
Twilight Theater
Series · 1982
Aloha Paradise
Series · 1981
Airplane!
Film · 1980
Prom Night
Film · 1980
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
Film · 1980
OHMS
Film · 1980
Dive to the Edge of Creation
Film · 1980
City on Fire
Film · 1979
Institute for Revenge
Film · 1979
Riel
Film · 1979
Backstairs at the White House
Series · 1979
The Littlest Hobo
Series · 1979
Little Mo
Film · 1978
Vega$
Series · 1978
Fantasy Island
Series · 1978
Fantasy Island
Series · 1978
Day of the Animals
Film · 1977
Viva Knievel!
Film · 1977
The Amsterdam Kill
Film · 1977
Grand Jury
Film · 1977
The Dawson Patrol
Film · 1977
Sixth and Main
Film · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
Lucan
Series · 1977
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
Series · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
The Love Boat
Series · 1977
Project: Kill
Film · 1976
Brinks: The Great Robbery
Film · 1976
King of the Underwater World
Film · 1975
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
Film · 1975
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Film · 1975
The Swiss Family Robinson
Series · 1975
S.W.A.T.
Series · 1975
Saturday Night Live
Series · 1975
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Film · 1974
The Manhunter
Series · 1974
Dinah!
Series · 1974
The Letters
Film · 1973
Snatched
Film · 1973
...and millions will die!
Film · 1973
The Return of Charlie Chan
Film · 1973
Journey to the Outer Limits
Film · 1973
Amanda Fallon
Film · 1973
Kojak
Series · 1973
The Evil Touch
Series · 1973
Barnaby Jones
Series · 1973
The Poseidon Adventure
Film · 1972
M*A*S*H
Series · 1972
The Rookies
Series · 1972
Kung Fu
Series · 1972
The Streets of San Francisco
Series · 1972
Assignment: Vienna
Series · 1972
The Streets of San Francisco
Series · 1972
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
Film · 1971
They Call It Murder
Film · 1971
Incident in San Francisco
Film · 1971
Columbo
Series · 1971
Cannon
Series · 1971
Sarge
Series · 1971
Monty Nash
Series · 1971
Columbo
Series · 1971
Cannon
Series · 1971
Cannon
Series · 1971
Bearcats!
Series · 1971
Night Slaves
Film · 1970
Hauser's Memory
Film · 1970
The Aquarians
Film · 1970
Night Gallery
Series · 1970
Night Gallery
Series · 1970
Four Rode Out
Film · 1969
How to Commit Marriage
Film · 1969
Change of Mind
Film · 1969
Deadlock
Film · 1969
Trial Run
Film · 1969
Hawaii Five-O
Series · 1969
Bracken's World
Series · 1969
The Bold Ones: The Protectors
Series · 1969
The Movie Game (US)
Series · 1969
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Series · 1969
Hawaii Five-O
Series · 1969
How to Steal the World
Film · 1968
Dayton's Devils
Film · 1968
Companions in Nightmare
Film · 1968
Shadow Over Elveron
Film · 1968
The Wild Heart
Film · 1968
Cocoon
Film · 1968
The Name of the Game
Series · 1968
It Takes a Thief
Series · 1968
The Mod Squad
Series · 1968
Code Name: Heraclitus
Film · 1967
The Reluctant Astronaut
Film · 1967
Gunfight in Abilene
Film · 1967
Counterpoint
Film · 1967
Rosie!
Film · 1967
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
Film · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Cimarron Strip
Series · 1967
Judd, for the Defense
Series · 1967
Beau Geste
Film · 1966
The Plainsman
Film · 1966
Dark Intruder
Film · 1965
Harlow
Film · 1965
The F.B.I.
Series · 1965
Convoy
Series · 1965
The Big Valley
Series · 1965
The Wild Wild West
Series · 1965
National Geographic Specials
Series · 1965
Night Train to Paris
Film · 1964
See How They Run
Film · 1964
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
Series · 1964
Daniel Boone
Series · 1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Series · 1964
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Series · 1963
The Fugitive
Series · 1963
The Fugitive
Series · 1963
The Farmer's Daughter
Series · 1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Series · 1963
The Art Linkletter Show
Series · 1963
Channing
Series · 1963
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Series · 1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Series · 1963
Miss USA
Series · 1963
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Series · 1962
The Defenders
Series · 1961
The New Breed
Series · 1961
Dr. Kildare
Series · 1961
Dr. Kildare
Series · 1961
Route 66
Series · 1960
Moment of Fear
Series · 1960
Thriller
Series · 1960
The Velvet Alley
Film · 1959
Rawhide
Series · 1959
The Swamp Fox
Series · 1959
Bonanza
Series · 1959
The Sheepman
Film · 1958
Naked City
Series · 1958
Tammy and the Bachelor
Film · 1957
Hot Summer Night
Film · 1957
Wagon Train
Series · 1957
Wagon Train
Series · 1957
Forbidden Planet
Film · 1956
The Opposite Sex
Film · 1956
Ransom!
Film · 1956
The Vagabond King
Film · 1956
Playhouse 90
Series · 1956
The Battle of Gettysburg
Film · 1955
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
Folio
Series · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
First Performance
Series · 1955
MGM Parade
Series · 1955
Dark Possession
Film · 1954
Love Story
Series · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Medallion Theatre
Series · 1953
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Short Short Dramas
Series · 1952
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
Film · 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951
Goodyear Television Playhouse
Series · 1951
Tales of Tomorrow
Series · 1951
Out There
Series · 1951
Tales of Tomorrow
Series · 1951
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
Danger
Series · 1950
Sure As Fate
Series · 1950
Starlight Theatre
Series · 1950
Stage 13
Series · 1950
The Web
Series · 1950
The Bob Hope Show
Series · 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
Suspense
Series · 1949
Lights Out
Series · 1949
The Clock
Series · 1949
Suspense
Series · 1949
Studio One
Series · 1948
Actors Studio
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Golden Globe Awards
Series · 1944