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
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 | Spanish Movie | Doctor Nielsen | 2009-12-03 |
Movie | Stan Helsing | Kay | 2009-10-23 |
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 | Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon | Self | 2006-11-14 |
Movie | Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet | Self | 2006-11-14 |
Movie | Nos Bastidores de Hollywood | Self | 2005-03-01 |
Series | Robson Arms | Caldo Vasco | 2005-06-17 |
Series | Tubridy Tonight | Unknown | 2005-03-12 |
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 |
Series | Liography | Terrence Brynne McKennie | 2001-04-21 |
Movie | Camouflage | Jack Potter | 2001-01-09 |
Movie | Chilly Dogs | Clive Thorton / Cab Driver | 2001-01-01 |
Series | Liocracy | 2001-04-01 | |
Movie | 2001: A Space Travesty | Richard 'Dick' Dix | 2000-10-31 |
Movie | Santa Who? | Santa Claus | 2000-12-03 |
Series | Family Guy | Dr. Rumack (archive footage) | 1999-01-31 |
Series | The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn | Self | 1999-03-30 |
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 |
Movie | Mr. Magoo | Mr. Quincy Magoo | 1997-12-25 |
Series | The Wonderful World of Disney | Mr. Penn | 1997-09-28 |
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 |
Movie | Rent-a-Kid | Harry Haber | 1995-01-01 |
Series | Die Harald Schmidt Show | Self | 1995-12-05 |
Movie | Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree | Baxter | 1995-12-06 |
Movie | Dracula: Dead and Loving It | Count Dracula | 1995-12-22 |
Movie | Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects | Self | 1994-05-22 |
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 |
Movie | WWE SummerSlam 1994 | Himself | 1994-08-29 |
Series | Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards | Host | 1994-11-05 |
Series | The Danny Baker Show | Unknown | 1994-09-17 |
Movie | An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck | Self - Audience Member | 1994-10-22 |
Movie | S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago | Lucio Cinico | 1994-12-15 |
Series | Due South | Sgt. Buck Frobisher | 1994-09-22 |
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 | The Unknown Marx Brothers | Self - Narrator | 1993-08-18 |
Movie | Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | Himself | 1993-11-03 |
Movie | Digger | Arthur Evrensel | 1993-09-29 |
Series | Terry Wogan's Friday Night | Self | 1992-10-09 |
Movie | The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1991-06-28 |
Series | Herman's Head | God | 1991-09-08 |
Movie | Chance of a Lifetime | Lloyd Dixon | 1991-11-18 |
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 | The Railway Dragon | Narrator (voice) | 1989-03-17 |
Movie | Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation | Host | 1989-11-17 |
Series | Day by Day | Unknown | 1988-02-29 |
Movie | The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Frank Drebin | 1988-12-02 |
Movie | Dangerous Curves | Greg Krevske | 1988-09-23 |
Movie | Home Is Where the Hart Is | Sheriff Nashville Schwartz | 1987-06-13 |
Series | Race for the Bomb | Lewis Strauss | 1987-02-01 |
Movie | Nightstick | Thad Evans | 1987-09-01 |
Movie | Nuts | Allen Green | 1987-11-20 |
Movie | Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Senator Erdain | 1987-11-30 |
Movie | The Canadian Conspiracy | 1986-06-08 | |
Movie | Soul Man | Mr. Dunbar | 1986-10-24 |
Movie | The Patriot | Admiral Frazer | 1986-07-25 |
Series | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Fantoccini | 1985-05-21 |
Movie | Reckless Disregard | Bob Franklin | 1985-03-17 |
Series | Doris Day's Best Friends | Unknown | 1985-07-16 |
Movie | Blade in Hong Kong | Harry Ingersoll | 1985-03-15 |
Series | The Golden Girls | Lucas | 1985-09-14 |
Movie | Striker's Mountain | Jim McKay | 1985-11-01 |
Series | 227 | Unknown | 1985-09-14 |
Series | Highway to Heaven | Unknown | 1984-09-19 |
Series | Shaping Up | Buddy Fox | 1984-03-20 |
Series | Who's the Boss? | Unknown | 1984-09-20 |
Series | Murder, She Wrote | Captain Daniels | 1984-09-30 |
Series | Finder of Lost Loves | Matthew Vail | 1984-09-22 |
Series | Showbiz Today | Unknown | 1984-10-29 |
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 | 1982-02-13 | |
Series | Police Squad! | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1982-03-04 |
Movie | Foxfire Light | Reece Morgan | 1982-01-01 |
Movie | Wrong Is Right | Mallory | 1982-04-16 |
Movie | Creepshow | Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over") | 1982-11-10 |
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 | Dive to the Edge of Creation | Self - Narrator | 1980-01-08 |
Movie | The Night the Bridge Fell Down | Paul Warren | 1980-09-06 |
Movie | Airplane! | Dr. Rumack | 1980-07-02 |
Movie | Prom Night | Mr. Hammond | 1980-07-18 |
Movie | Institute for Revenge | Counselor Hollis Barnes | 1979-01-22 |
Series | Backstairs at the White House | Ike Hoover | 1979-01-29 |
Series | The Littlest Hobo | Mayor Chester Montgomery | 1979-10-11 |
Series | The Chisholms | Unknown | 1979-03-29 |
Movie | City on Fire | Mayor William Dudley | 1979-07-11 |
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 | Day of the Animals | Paul Jenson | 1977-05-13 |
Movie | Grand Jury | John Williams | 1977-01-01 |
Series | What Really Happened To the Class Of '65? | Unknown | 1977-12-08 |
Movie | The Amsterdam Kill | Riley Knight | 1977-12-26 |
Series | The Love Boat | Dan Michaels | 1977-09-24 |
Series | Lucan | Unknown | 1977-09-12 |
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 |
Movie | Snatched | Bill Sutter | 1973-01-31 |
Movie | ...And Millions Die! | Jack Gallagher | 1973-01-01 |
Movie | Journey to the Outer Limits | (voice) | 1973-01-01 |
Movie | The Letters | Derek Childs | 1973-03-03 |
Series | Barnaby Jones | Edward Brendon | 1973-01-28 |
Movie | Amanda Fallon | Mr. Cummings | 1973-05-04 |
Movie | The Return of Charlie Chan | Alexander Hadrachi | 1973-07-01 |
Series | The Evil Touch | Unknown | 1973-06-19 |
Series | Kojak | Michael Hagar | 1973-10-24 |
Series | M*A*S*H | Col. Buzz Brighton | 1972-09-17 |
Series | The Streets of San Francisco | John T. Connor | 1972-09-23 |
Series | The Rookies | Unknown | 1972-09-11 |
Series | Assignment: Vienna | Floyd Macklin | 1972-09-28 |
Movie | The Poseidon Adventure | Captain Harrison | 1972-12-01 |
Series | Kung Fu | Vincent Corbino | 1972-10-14 |
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 | Weller Dane | 1971-09-14 |
Series | Monty Nash | Ross Carter | 1971-09-17 |
Series | Sarge | Unknown | 1971-09-21 |
Movie | They Call It Murder | 1971-12-17 | |
Movie | The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler | Harry Walsh | 1971-11-30 |
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 |
Series | The Movie Game (US) | Unknown | 1969-09-08 |
Movie | How to Commit Marriage | Phil Fletcher | 1969-07-07 |
Movie | Change of Mind | Sheriff Webb | 1969-10-08 |
Series | Bracken's World | Unknown | 1969-09-19 |
Series | The Bold Ones: The Protectors | Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth | 1969-09-28 |
Series | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Mr. Cummings | 1969-09-14 |
Movie | The Wild Heart | Narrator | 1968-03-10 |
Movie | Shadow Over Elveron | Sheriff Verne Drover | 1968-03-05 |
Series | It Takes a Thief | S.I.A. Security Man | 1968-01-09 |
Movie | Cocoon | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
Movie | How to Steal the World | General Maximilian Harmon | 1968-09-18 |
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 | Companions in Nightmare | Dr. Neesden | 1968-11-23 |
Series | Ironside | Unknown | 1967-03-28 |
Movie | The Boy Who Flew with Condors | Narrator | 1967-02-19 |
Movie | Code Name: Heraclitus | Fryer | 1967-01-01 |
Movie | Gunfight in Abilene | Grant Evers | 1967-02-03 |
Movie | The Reluctant Astronaut | Major Fred Gifford | 1967-09-05 |
Series | Cimarron Strip | Unknown | 1967-09-07 |
Movie | Counterpoint | Victor Rice | 1967-12-22 |
Movie | Rosie! | Cabot Shaw | 1967-11-22 |
Series | Judd for the Defense | Unknown | 1967-09-08 |
Movie | The Plainsman | Col. George Armstrong Custer | 1966-08-01 |
Movie | Beau Geste | Lt. De Ruse | 1966-09-02 |
Movie | Dark Intruder | Brett Kingsford | 1965-07-25 |
Movie | Harlow | Richard Manley | 1965-06-23 |
Series | National Geographic Specials | Narrator (voice) | 1965-09-10 |
Series | The F.B.I. | Hudson | 1965-09-19 |
Series | The Big Valley | Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway | 1965-09-15 |
Series | The Wild Wild West | Major General Ball | 1965-09-17 |
Series | Convoy | Unknown | 1965-09-17 |
Series | Peyton Place | Kenneth Markham | 1964-09-15 |
Movie | Night Train to Paris | Alan Holiday | 1964-09-22 |
Series | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Unknown | 1964-09-14 |
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 | The Art Linkletter Show | Unknown | 1963-02-18 |
Series | The Fugitive | Martin C. Rowland | 1963-09-17 |
Series | The Farmer's Daughter | Unknown | 1963-09-20 |
Series | Kraft Suspense Theatre | Paul Maytric | 1963-10-10 |
Series | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre | John Joslin | 1963-10-04 |
Series | Channing | Prof. Paul Stafford | 1963-09-18 |
Series | The Virginian | Harry Lightfoot | 1962-09-19 |
Series | Your First Impression | Unknown | 1962-01-02 |
Series | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Mr. Grainger | 1962-09-20 |
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 | The Swamp Fox | Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) | 1959-10-23 |
Series | Bonanza | Sheriff Paul Rowan | 1959-09-12 |
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 | Forbidden Planet | Commander John J. Adams | 1956-03-23 |
Movie | The Vagabond King | Thibault d'Aussigny | 1956-08-28 |
Movie | Ransom! | Charlie Telfer | 1956-01-24 |
Movie | The Opposite Sex | Steve Hilliard | 1956-11-15 |
Series | First Performance | Unknown | 1956-10-03 |
Series | Playhouse 90 | Ralph Mohr | 1956-10-04 |
Series | Gunsmoke | Jess Trevor | 1955-09-10 |
Series | Folio | Biff Loman | 1955-09-25 |
Series | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Rudy Cox | 1955-10-02 |
Movie | The Battle of Gettysburg | Narrator (voice) | 1955-12-01 |
Movie | Dark Possession | Dr. Roger Waring | 1954-02-15 |
Series | The Wonderful World of Disney | Col. Francis Marion | 1954-10-27 |
Series | Love Story | Unknown | 1954-04-20 |
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 | Tales of Tomorrow | Harold 'Harry' Mason | 1951-08-03 |
Series | Goodyear Television Playhouse | Unknown | 1951-10-14 |
Series | Out There | Unknown | 1951-10-28 |
Series | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Unknown | 1951-12-24 |
Series | The Bob Hope Show | Self | 1950-04-09 |
Series | Robert Montgomery Presents | Gates Holden | 1950-01-30 |
Series | Stage 13 | Unknown | 1950-05-03 |
Series | Starlight Theatre | Unknown | 1950-04-02 |
Series | Danger | Unknown | 1950-09-26 |
Series | The Web | Unknown | 1950-07-04 |
Series | Sure As Fate | Unknown | 1950-07-04 |
Series | Suspense | Serge Soudekine | 1949-01-06 |
Series | The Clock | Unknown | 1949-05-16 |
Series | Lights Out | Unknown | 1949-07-19 |
Series | Actors Studio | Unknown | 1948-09-26 |
Series | Studio One | Karl | 1948-11-07 |
Series | Golden Globe Awards | Self - Host | 1944-01-20 |