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