Image of Leslie Nielsen

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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Leslie Nielsen, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia


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Born:
Feb 11, 1926 In Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Movie/TV Credits:
271
First Appeared:
In the series Actors Studio 1948-09-26
Latest Project:
Movie Sonic the Hedgehog 2020-02-12
Known For
Filmography
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 The Horrors of Hamilton High: The Making of Prom Night Self (archive footage) 2014-09-09
Movie Mel Brooks: Make a Noise Self (archive footage) 2013-05-20
Movie Stonerville Producer 2011-01-11
Movie Stan Helsing Kay 2009-10-23
Movie Spanish Movie Doctor Nielsen 2009-12-03
Movie Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest Dr. Rumack (archive voice) 2008-01-21
Movie Superhero Movie Uncle Albert Adams 2008-03-28
Movie An American Carol Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa 2008-10-03
Movie Slap Shot 3: The Junior League Mayor of Charlestown 2008-12-17
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
Series Tubridy Tonight Unknown 2005-03-12
Movie Nos Bastidores de Hollywood Self 2005-03-01
Series Robson Arms Caldo Vasco 2005-06-17
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 Chilly Dogs Clive Thorton / Cab Driver 2001-01-01
Movie Camouflage Jack Potter 2001-01-09
Series Liography Terrence Brynne McKennie 2001-04-21
Series Liocracy Unknown 2001-04-01
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
Series The Wonderful World of Disney Mr. Penn 1997-09-28
Movie Mr. Magoo Mr. Quincy Magoo 1997-12-25
Movie Spy Hard Dick Steele 1996-05-24
Series The Rosie O'Donnell Show Self 1996-06-10
Movie Harvey Dr. Chumley 1996-10-19
Series Life and Times Unknown 1996-10-04
Series Die Harald Schmidt Show Self 1995-12-05
Movie Rent-a-Kid Harry Haber 1995-01-01
Movie Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree Baxter 1995-12-06
Movie Dracula: Dead and Loving It Count Dracula 1995-12-22
Movie WWE SummerSlam 1994 Himself 1994-08-29
Movie Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult Lt. Frank Drebin 1994-03-18
Movie Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way Leslie Nielsen 1994-01-01
Series The Danny Baker Show Unknown 1994-09-17
Movie Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects Self 1994-05-22
Series Due South Sgt. Buck Frobisher 1994-09-22
Series Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards Host 1994-11-05
Movie S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago Lucio Cinico 1994-12-15
Movie An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck Self - Audience Member 1994-10-22
Series Katie and Orbie Narrator 1993-05-03
Series WWE Raw Leslie Nielsen 1993-01-11
Movie Surf Ninjas Colonel Chi 1993-08-12
Movie Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier Himself 1993-11-03
Movie Digger Arthur Evrensel 1993-09-29
Movie The Unknown Marx Brothers Self - Narrator 1993-08-18
Series Terry Wogan's Friday Night Self 1992-10-09
Movie Chance of a Lifetime Lloyd Dixon 1991-11-18
Movie The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear Lt. Frank Drebin 1991-06-28
Series Herman's Head God 1991-09-08
Movie All I Want for Christmas Santa 1991-11-08
Series Flesh 'n' Blood Red Houser 1991-09-19
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 Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation Host 1989-11-17
Movie The Railway Dragon Narrator (voice) 1989-03-17
Series Day by Day Unknown 1988-02-29
Movie Dangerous Curves Greg Krevske 1988-09-23
Movie The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! Frank Drebin 1988-12-02
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 Nightstick Thad Evans 1987-09-01
Movie Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery Senator Erdain 1987-11-30
Movie The Canadian Conspiracy Unknown 1986-06-08
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
Series The Ray Bradbury Theater Fantoccini 1985-05-21
Series 227 Unknown 1985-09-14
Series Doris Day's Best Friends Unknown 1985-07-16
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 Who's the Boss? Unknown 1984-09-20
Series Shaping Up Buddy Fox 1984-03-20
Series Finder of Lost Loves Matthew Vail 1984-09-22
Series Showbiz Today Unknown 1984-10-29
Series Murder, She Wrote Captain Daniels 1984-09-30
Series Prime Times Self 1983-04-04
Movie Cave-In! Joe Johnson 1983-06-19
Movie Spaceship Capt. Jamieson 1983-07-01
Series Twilight Theater Unknown 1982-02-13
Movie Twilight Theatre Unknown 1982-02-13
Series Police Squad! Lt. Frank Drebin 1982-03-04
Movie Foxfire Light Reece Morgan 1982-01-01
Movie Creepshow Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over") 1982-11-10
Movie Wrong Is Right Mallory 1982-04-16
Movie Airplane II: The Sequel Dr. Rumack (archive footage) (uncredited) 1982-12-10
Series Wogan Self 1982-05-04
Series Aloha Paradise Grant Culberson 1981-02-25
Movie OHMS Governor 1980-01-02
Movie Airplane! Dr. Rumack 1980-07-02
Movie Prom Night Mr. Hammond 1980-07-18
Movie The Night the Bridge Fell Down Paul Warren 1980-09-06
Movie Institute for Revenge Counselor Hollis Barnes 1979-01-22
Series Backstairs at the White House Ike Hoover 1979-01-29
Movie City on Fire Mayor William Dudley 1979-07-11
Series The Chisholms Unknown 1979-03-29
Series The Littlest Hobo Mayor Chester Montgomery 1979-10-11
Series Vega$ Unknown 1978-09-20
Movie Little Mo Nelson Fisher 1978-09-05
Movie Halloween Commander John J. Adams (archive footage) 1978-10-24
Movie The Dawson Patrol Narrator 1977-03-25
Movie Sixth and Main John Doe 1977-01-01
Movie Grand Jury John Williams 1977-01-01
Movie Day of the Animals Paul Jenson 1977-05-13
Series Lucan Unknown 1977-09-12
Movie The Amsterdam Kill Riley Knight 1977-12-26
Series What Really Happened To the Class Of '65? Unknown 1977-12-08
Series The Love Boat Dan Michaels 1977-09-24
Movie Viva Knievel! Stanley Millard 1977-06-10
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
Movie The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave Narrator 1975-09-28
Movie Can Ellen Be Saved? Arnold Lindsey 1974-02-05
Series Celebrity Sweepstakes Unknown 1974-04-01
Series Dinah! Self 1974-10-21
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 Amanda Fallon Mr. Cummings 1973-05-04
Movie The Letters Derek Childs 1973-03-03
Series The Evil Touch Unknown 1973-06-19
Movie The Return of Charlie Chan Alexander Hadrachi 1973-07-01
Series Kojak Michael Hagar 1973-10-24
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 1972-12-01
Series Columbo Peter Hamilton 1971-09-15
Movie Incident in San Francisco Lt. Brubaker 1971-02-28
Series Bearcats! Col. Ted Donovan 1971-09-16
Series Cannon Erich Strasser 1971-09-14
Series Monty Nash Ross Carter 1971-09-17
Movie They Call It Murder Unknown 1971-12-17
Movie The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler Harry Walsh 1971-11-30
Series Sarge Unknown 1971-09-21
Movie Night Slaves Sheriff Henshaw 1970-09-29
Movie The Aquarians Official 1970-10-24
Movie Hauser's Memory Joseph Slaughter 1970-11-24
Series Night Gallery The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?") 1970-12-16
Movie Deadlock Lt. Sam Danforth 1969-02-22
Movie Trial Run Jason Harkness 1969-01-18
Movie Four Rode Out Mr Brown 1969-01-01
Movie How to Commit Marriage Phil Fletcher 1969-07-07
Series Bracken's World Unknown 1969-09-19
Series The Movie Game (US) Unknown 1969-09-08
Series The Bold Ones: The Protectors Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth 1969-09-28
Movie Change of Mind Sheriff Webb 1969-10-08
Series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors Mr. Cummings 1969-09-14
Movie How to Steal the World General Maximilian Harmon 1968-09-18
Movie The Wild Heart Narrator 1968-03-10
Series It Takes a Thief S.I.A. Security Man 1968-01-09
Movie Cocoon Brent 1968-09-20
Movie Shadow Over Elveron Sheriff Verne Drover 1968-03-05
Movie Companions in Nightmare Dr. Neesden 1968-11-23
Series The Name of the Game Unknown 1968-09-20
Series The Mod Squad Rusty Bryson 1968-09-24
Movie Dayton's Devils Frank Dayton 1968-10-01
Series Hawaii Five-O Brent 1968-09-20
Movie The Boy Who Flew with Condors Narrator 1967-02-19
Movie Gunfight in Abilene Grant Evers 1967-02-03
Movie Code Name: Heraclitus Fryer 1967-01-01
Series Ironside Unknown 1967-03-28
Series Judd for the Defense Unknown 1967-09-08
Movie Counterpoint Victor Rice 1967-12-22
Movie Rosie! Cabot Shaw 1967-11-22
Series Cimarron Strip Unknown 1967-09-07
Movie The Reluctant Astronaut Major Fred Gifford 1967-09-05
Movie The Plainsman Col. George Armstrong Custer 1966-08-01
Movie Beau Geste Lt. De Ruse 1966-09-02
Series National Geographic Specials Narrator (voice) 1965-09-10
Movie Dark Intruder Brett Kingsford 1965-07-25
Series The Big Valley Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway 1965-09-15
Movie Harlow Richard Manley 1965-06-23
Series Convoy Unknown 1965-09-17
Series The F.B.I. Hudson 1965-09-19
Series The Wild Wild West Major General Ball 1965-09-17
Series Peyton Place Kenneth Markham 1964-09-15
Series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Unknown 1964-09-14
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 Miss USA Judge 1963-07-17
Series Channing Prof. Paul Stafford 1963-09-18
Series The Art Linkletter Show Unknown 1963-02-18
Series The Fugitive Martin C. Rowland 1963-09-17
Series Kraft Suspense Theatre Paul Maytric 1963-10-10
Series Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre John Joslin 1963-10-04
Series The Farmer's Daughter Unknown 1963-09-20
Series Your First Impression Unknown 1962-01-02
Series The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Mr. Grainger 1962-09-20
Series The Virginian Harry Lightfoot 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 Bonanza Sheriff Paul Rowan 1959-09-12
Series The Swamp Fox Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) 1959-10-23
Movie The Sheepman Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe 1958-05-01
Series Naked City Norman Garry 1958-09-30
Movie Hot Summer Night William Joel Partain 1957-02-15
Series Wagon Train Brian Conlin 1957-09-18
Movie Tammy and the Bachelor Peter Brent 1957-06-14
Movie Ransom! Charlie Telfer 1956-01-24
Movie Forbidden Planet Commander John J. Adams 1956-03-23
Movie The Vagabond King Thibault d'Aussigny 1956-08-28
Movie The Opposite Sex Steve Hilliard 1956-11-15
Series Playhouse 90 Ralph Mohr 1956-10-04
Series First Performance Unknown 1956-10-03
Series Gunsmoke Jess Trevor 1955-09-10
Series Folio Biff Loman 1955-09-25
Movie The Battle of Gettysburg Narrator (voice) 1955-12-01
Series Alfred Hitchcock Presents Rudy Cox 1955-10-02
Movie Dark Possession Dr. Roger Waring 1954-02-15
Series Love Story Unknown 1954-04-20
Series The Wonderful World of Disney Col. Francis Marion 1954-10-27
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 Hallmark Hall of Fame Unknown 1951-12-24
Series Goodyear Television Playhouse Unknown 1951-10-14
Series Tales of Tomorrow Harold 'Harry' Mason 1951-08-03
Series Out There Unknown 1951-10-28
Series The Bob Hope Show Self 1950-04-09
Series Robert Montgomery Presents Gates Holden 1950-01-30
Series Starlight Theatre Unknown 1950-04-02
Series Stage 13 Unknown 1950-05-03
Series Sure As Fate Unknown 1950-07-04
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 Karl 1948-11-07