
Leslie Nielsen
Department: Acting
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

The Poseidon Adventure
1972

Airplane!
1980

Spy Hard
1996

Forbidden Planet
1956

Scary Movie 3
2003

Scary Movie 4
2006

S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
1994

Repossessed
1990

Code Name: Heraclitus
1967

2001: A Space Travesty
2000

Stan Helsing
2009

Surf Ninjas
1993

Family Plan
1997

Chilly Dogs
2001

Wrong Is Right
1982

Dracula: Dead and Loving It
1995

Wrongfully Accused
1998

Mr. Magoo
1997

Soul Man
1986

How to Steal the World
1968

Men with Brooms
2002

Spanish Movie
2009

Nuts
1987

An American Carol
2008

Spaceship
1983

Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013

Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994

Prom Night
1980

Santa Who?
2000

Rent-a-Kid
1995

The Reluctant Astronaut
1967

Tammy and the Bachelor
1957

The Opposite Sex
1956

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988

The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991

Creepshow
1982

Day of the Animals
1977

Camouflage
2001

The Unknown Marx Brothers
1993

Viva Knievel!
1977

Dangerous Curves
1988

The Canadian Conspiracy
1986

Dark Intruder
1965

Four Rode Out
1969

Hot Summer Night
1957

Foxfire Light
1982

The Amsterdam Kill
1977

The Railway Dragon
1989

Project: Kill
1976

Gunfight in Abilene
1967

City on Fire
1979

How to Commit Marriage
1969

Cave-In!
1983

Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
1997

Ransom!
1956

Harvey
1996

Counterpoint
1967

Grand Jury
1977

Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
1995

Beau Geste
1966

Rosie!
1967

Twilight Theatre
1982

Can Ellen Be Saved?
1974

The Battle of Gettysburg
1955

The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
1971

The Night the Bridge Fell Down
1980

Night Train to Paris
1964

Night Slaves
1970

See How They Run
1964

Home Is Where the Hart Is
1987

The Sheepman
1958

Change of Mind
1969

Deadlock
1969

The Vagabond King
1956

Hauser's Memory
1970

Digger
1993

King of the Underwater World
1975

Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
1987

All I Want For Christmas
1991

An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
1994

Superhero Movie
2008

The Letters
1973

Blade in Hong Kong
1985

Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
2005

The Patriot
1986

O.J.: Made in America
2016

Dayton's Devils
1968

They Call It Murder
1971

The Boy Who Flew with Condors
1967

Companions in Nightmare
1968

Little Mo
1978

Shadow Over Elveron
1968

Snatched
1973

Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
1993

Nightstick
1987

The Wild Heart
1968

Striker's Mountain
1985

...And Millions Die!
1973

The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
1975

Harlow
1965

The Return of Charlie Chan
1973

The Aquarians
1970

The Plainsman
1966

Journey to the Outer Limits
1973

The Velvet Alley
1959

The Dawson Patrol
1977

Incident in San Francisco
1971

Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
1989

Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
2008

Dark Possession
1954

Reckless Disregard
1985

Sixth and Main
1977

Music Within
2007

Stonerville
2011

Noël Noël
2003

Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
2008

Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
1994

Safety Patrol!
1998

Brinks: The Great Robbery
1976

Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006

Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006

OHMS
1980

Cocoon
1968

WWE SummerSlam 1994
1994

Amanda Fallon
1973

Chance of a Lifetime
1991

The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
2004

Institute for Revenge
1979

Trial Run
1969

Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
1994

Dive to the Edge of Creation
1980

World's Funniest Commercials
1994

Riel
1979

Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
1975

The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
1951

Halloween
1978

Police Squad!
1982

Columbo
1971

M*A*S*H
1972

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964

Chilly Beach
2003

Evening Shade
1990

The Rookies
1972

Who's the Boss?
1984

Family Guy
1999

Kung Fu
1972

The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996

Due South
1994

Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963

The F.B.I.
1965

The Love Boat
1977

Lipshitz Saves the World
2007

The Golden Girls
1985

Odd Job Jack
2003

Hawaii Five-O
1968

227
1985

Route 66
1960

Highway to Heaven
1984

The Streets of San Francisco
1972

Naked City
1958

The Fugitive
1963

Kojak
1973

Robson Arms
2005

Gunsmoke
1955

Studio One
1948

The Evil Touch
1973

General Electric Theater
1953

Cannon
1971

Herman's Head
1991

Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951

Police Squad!
1982

Backstairs at the White House
1979

Ironside
1967

Zeroman
2004

Tubridy Tonight
2005

The Swiss Family Robinson
1975

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955

Rawhide
1959

Vega$
1978

Day by Day
1988

The Name of the Game
1968

Cimarron Strip
1967

Daniel Boone
1964

The Fugitive
1963

Shaping Up
1984

Liocracy
2001

S.W.A.T.
1975

The Virginian
1962

The Farmer's Daughter
1963

Convoy
1965

Lucan
1977

Sarge
1971

Goodyear Television Playhouse
1951

The Defenders
1961

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963

The Big Valley
1965

Judd for the Defense
1967

Bracken's World
1969

Finder of Lost Loves
1984

Assignment: Vienna
1972

Monty Nash
1971

The New Breed
1961

Actors Studio
1948

Suspense
1949

Robert Montgomery Presents
1950

The Manhunter
1974

Life and Times
1996

The Bold Ones: The Protectors
1969

Tales of Tomorrow
1951

Danger
1950

Aloha Paradise
1981

The Swamp Fox
1959

Wogan
1982

Lights Out
1949

Dr. Kildare
1961

The Art Linkletter Show
1963

The Movie Game (US)
1969

Moment of Fear
1960

Short Short Dramas
1952

Sure As Fate
1950

Out There
1951

Medallion Theatre
1953

Love Story
1954

The Clock
1949

The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999

The Danny Baker Show
1994

Liography
2001

Starlight Theatre
1950

The Wonderful World of Disney
1997

Stage 13
1950

Doris Day's Best Friends
1985

What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1977

Channing
1963

Twilight Theater
1982

The Web
1950

Saturday Night Live
1975

Tales of Tomorrow
1951

Raw
1993

Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995

Night Gallery
1970

It Takes a Thief
1968

Night Gallery
1970

Dr. Kildare
1961

The Virginian
1962

The Wild Wild West
1965

General Electric Theater
1953

The Bob Hope Show
1950

Race for the Bomb
1987

Robert Montgomery Presents
1950

Robert Montgomery Presents
1950

Columbo
1971

Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963

Terry Wogan's Friday Night
1992

Sidestreet
1975

The Littlest Hobo
1979

Folio
1955

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955

The Mod Squad
1968

Studio One
1948

Cannon
1971

Cannon
1971

Studio One
1948

Studio One
1948

Studio One
1948

Studio One
1948

Studio One
1948

Studio One
1948

Gameshow Marathon
2006

Bonanza
1959

Playhouse 90
1956

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963

Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
1994

National Geographic Specials
1965

Prime Times
1983

The Virginian
1962

The Ray Bradbury Theater
1985

The Wonderful World of Disney
1954

Katie and Orbie
1993

Suspense
1949

The Love Boat
1977

The Love Boat
1977

Dinah!
1974

The Wonderful World of Disney
1954

The Streets of San Francisco
1972

Flesh 'n' Blood
1991

Bearcats!
1971

Barnaby Jones
1973

Murder, She Wrote
1984

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962

Harvey
1999

Murder, She Wrote
1984

Wagon Train
1957

Miss USA
1963

Studio One
1948

Golden Globe Awards
1944

Fantasy Island
1978

First Performance
1955

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964

Thriller
1960

MGM Parade
1955