Leslie Nielsen
Acting
Born: February 11, 1926 · Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: November 28, 2010 (aged 84)
Highest Rated
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
Airplane!
1980
Family Guy
1999
Scary Movie 3
2003
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
Scary Movie 4
2006
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
Superhero Movie
2008
Creepshow
1982
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
1995
Forbidden Planet
1956
The Poseidon Adventure
1972
Photos (7)
Movies (118)
Scary Movie 3
President Harris
Airplane!
Dr. Rumack
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
Frank Drebin
Scary Movie 4
President Baxter Harris
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
Lt. Frank Drebin
Superhero Movie
Uncle Albert Adams
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
Lt. Frank Drebin
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Count Dracula
Spy Hard
Dick Steele
Prom Night
Mr. Hammond
Forbidden Planet
Commander John J. Adams
Creepshow
Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
The Poseidon Adventure
Captain Harrison
Wrongfully Accused
Ryan Harrison
2001: A Space Travesty
Marshal Richard "Dick" Dix
Repossessed
Father Jebedaiah Mayii
Mr. Magoo
Mr. Quincy Magoo
Stan Helsing
Kay
Surf Ninjas
Colonel Chi
Rent-a-Kid
Harry Haber
All I Want For Christmas
Santa
Soul Man
Mr. Dunbar
Camouflage
Jack Potter
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
An American Carol
Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
Counterpoint
Victor Rice
Amanda Fallon
Mr. Cummings
Wrong Is Right
Mallory
Tammy and the Bachelor
Peter Brent
Santa Who?
Santa Claus
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Mayor of Charlestown
Spanish Movie
Doctor Nielsen
The Sheepman
Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
...and millions will die!
Jack Gallagher
City on Fire
Mayor William Dudley
The Opposite Sex
Steve Hilliard
Dark Possession
Dr. Roger Waring
Music Within
Bill Austin
Nightstick
Thad Evans
Day of the Animals
Paul Jenson
Men with Brooms
Gordon Cutter
The Vagabond King
Thibault d'Aussigny
The Plainsman
Col. George Armstrong Custer
Nuts
Allen Green
OHMS
Governor
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
(Mouseking) (voice)
Foxfire Light
Reece Morgan
Ransom!
Charlie Telfer
The Amsterdam Kill
Riley Knight
Little Mo
Nelson Fisher
Dangerous Curves
Greg Krevske
Family Plan
Harry Haber
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
Harry Walsh
Chilly Dogs
Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
Harlow
Richard Manley
Viva Knievel!
Stanley Millard
Project: Kill
John Trevor
Safety Patrol!
Mr. Penn
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
Bill
Beau Geste
Lt. De Ruse
Gunfight in Abilene
Grant Evers
The Aquarians
Official
Riel
Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
The Reluctant Astronaut
Major Fred Gifford
Four Rode Out
Mr Brown
Hauser's Memory
Joseph Slaughter
Hot Summer Night
William Joel Partain
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
Lucio Cinico
Snatched
Bill Sutter
Dark Intruder
Brett Kingsford
World's Funniest Commercials
1994
Twilight Theatre
1982
How to Commit Marriage
Phil Fletcher
Trial Run
Jason Harkness
Stonerville
Producer
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
Senator Erdain
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
Paul Warren
Shadow Over Elveron
Sheriff Verne Drover
Rosie!
Cabot Shaw
Spaceship
Capt. Jamieson
They Call It Murder
Frank Antrim
Striker's Mountain
Jim McKay
Incident in San Francisco
Lt. Brubaker
Chance of a Lifetime
Lloyd Dixon
Companions in Nightmare
Dr. Neesden
The Battle of Gettysburg
Narrator (voice)
Cocoon
Brent
Night Slaves
Sheriff Henshaw
The Patriot
Admiral Frazer
The Return of Charlie Chan
Alexander Hadrachi
Dayton's Devils
Frank Dayton
How to Steal the World
General Maximilian Harmon
Harvey
Dr. Chumley
Digger
Arthur Evrensel
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
Host
Night Train to Paris
Alan Holiday
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
Leslie Nielsen
Deadlock
Lt. Sam Danforth
Code Name: Heraclitus
Fryer
Cave-In!
Joe Johnson
Reckless Disregard
Bob Franklin
The Letters
Derek Childs
Brinks: The Great Robbery
Agent Norman Houston
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Arnold Lindsey
Home Is Where the Hart Is
Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
See How They Run
Elliot Green
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Baxter
Noël Noël
Narrator (english version)
The Wild Heart
Narrator
Change of Mind
Sheriff Webb
Journey to the Outer Limits
Narrator (voice)
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
Narrator
Blade in Hong Kong
Harry Ingersoll
Sixth and Main
John Doe
The Velvet Alley
Eddie Kirkley
The Railway Dragon
Narrator (voice)
The Dawson Patrol
Narrator
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
Narrator
TV Shows (123)
Family Guy
Dr. Rumack (archive footage) · 1 eps
Raw
Leslie Nielsen · 3 eps
Columbo
A.J. Henderson · 1 eps
Columbo
Peter Hamilton · 1 eps
The Love Boat
Hank Hardaway · 1 eps
The Love Boat
Russ Blanchard · 1 eps
The Love Boat
Dan Michaels · 1 eps
Ironside
1 eps
Murder, She Wrote
David Everett · 1 eps
Murder, She Wrote
Captain Daniels · 1 eps
Hawaii Five-O
Brent · 1 eps
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Mr. Grainger · 1 eps
Bonanza
Sheriff Paul Rowan · 1 eps
M*A*S*H
Col. Buzz Brighton · 1 eps
The Golden Girls
Lucas · 2 eps
The Fugitive
Harold Cheyney · 1 eps
The Fugitive
Martin C. Rowland · 1 eps
Wagon Train
Brian Conlin · 1 eps
Wagon Train
Jeremy Dow · 1 eps
Robert Montgomery Presents
C. K. Dexter Haven · 1 eps
Robert Montgomery Presents
George · 1 eps
Robert Montgomery Presents
Gates Holden · 1 eps
The Virginian
John Hagen · 1 eps
The Virginian
Cleve Mason · 1 eps
The Virginian
Harry Lightfoot · 1 eps
The Wild Wild West
Major General Ball · 1 eps
Fantasy Island
Doctor Whitfield · 1 eps
Fantasy Island
Victor Conti · 1 eps
Dr. Kildare
Walter Burton · 1 eps
Dr. Kildare
Harry Kleber · 1 eps
Rawhide
Eli Becker · 1 eps
Daniel Boone
William Russell · 1 eps
Cannon
Joe Gilbert · 1 eps
Cannon
Weller Dane · 1 eps
Cannon
Erich Strasser · 1 eps
The Streets of San Francisco
2 eps
The Streets of San Francisco
John T. Connor · 1 eps
Studio One
2 eps
Studio One
Stan Janicek · 1 eps
Studio One
Chris Jackson · 1 eps
Studio One
Dr. Clayborn · 1 eps
Studio One
Dr. Roger Waring · 1 eps
Studio One
Mac · 1 eps
Studio One
Edmund · 1 eps
Studio One
Tallman · 1 eps
Studio One
Karl · 1 eps
The Name of the Game
1 eps
Barnaby Jones
Edward Brendon · 1 eps
Who's the Boss?
1 eps
The Big Valley
Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway · 1 eps
Highway to Heaven
Richard R. Benson · 1 eps
Route 66
1 eps
Due South
Sgt. Buck Frobisher · 4 eps
The F.B.I.
Hudson · 1 eps
Thriller
Alan Patterson · 1 eps
Night Gallery
Col. Dennis Malloy · 1 eps
Night Gallery
The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?") · 1 eps
Gunsmoke
Jess Trevor · 1 eps
Naked City
Norman Garry · 1 eps
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Lloyd Ashley · 1 eps
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Rudy Cox · 1 eps
The Defenders
Bob Garrison · 2 eps
Lights Out
2 eps
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
General Maximilian Harmon · 2 eps
Kojak
Michael Hagar · 1 eps
Suspense
3 eps
Suspense
Serge Soudekine · 1 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
Mr. Penn · 1 eps
The Rookies
1 eps
Tales of Tomorrow
4 eps
Tales of Tomorrow
Harold 'Harry' Mason · 1 eps
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Fantoccini · 1 eps
Vega$
1 eps
Judd, for the Defense
1 eps
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Dr. David Cord · 1 eps
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Paul Maytric · 1 eps
227
1 eps
It Takes a Thief
SIA Security Man · 1 eps
The Littlest Hobo
Mayor Chester Montgomery · 1 eps
Playhouse 90
Ralph Mohr · 1 eps
Herman's Head
God · 1 eps
The Mod Squad
Rusty Bryson · 1 eps
Cimarron Strip
1 eps
Finder of Lost Loves
Matthew Vail · 1 eps
Goodyear Television Playhouse
3 eps
The Farmer's Daughter
1 eps
Evening Shade
1 eps
Police Squad!
Lt. Frank Drebin · 6 eps
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
Mr. Cummings · 1 eps
The New Breed
Lt. Price Adams · 36 eps
S.W.A.T.
2 eps
The Manhunter
1 eps
Folio
Biff Loman · 1 eps
Day by Day
Jack Harper · 1 eps
Robson Arms
Caldo Vasco · 39 eps
National Geographic Specials
Narrator (voice) · 2 eps
Bracken's World
1 eps
Zeroman
Zeroman (voice) · 13 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
Colonel Francis Marion · 3 eps
The Wonderful World of Disney
Col. Francis Marion · 5 eps
Chilly Beach
Santa (voice) · 1 eps
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1 eps
Lucan
1 eps
Sarge
1 eps
Katie and Orbie
Narrator · 78 eps
General Electric Theater
Judge Wayne Douglas · 1 eps
General Electric Theater
Edward Morgan · 1 eps
Monty Nash
Ross Carter · 1 eps
Channing
Prof. Paul Stafford · 1 eps
The Evil Touch
2 eps
Aloha Paradise
Grant Culberson · 1 eps
Bearcats!
Col. Ted Donovan · 1 eps
Backstairs at the White House
Ike Hoover · 4 eps
Odd Job Jack
1 eps
Medallion Theatre
1 eps
The Swiss Family Robinson
1 eps
The Swamp Fox
Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) · 8 eps
Gameshow Marathon
4 eps
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1 eps
Assignment: Vienna
Floyd Macklin · 1 eps
Kung Fu
Vincent Corbino · 4 eps
The Bold Ones: The Protectors
Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth · 6 eps
Self / Appearances (27)
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host · 1 eps
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Host · 1 eps
Die Harald Schmidt Show
Self · 1 eps
Wogan
Self · 4 eps
Dinah!
Self · 1 eps
The Bob Hope Show
Self · 1 eps
Miss USA
Self - Judge · 1 eps
MGM Parade
Self · 1 eps
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Self · 1 eps
Live & Kicking
Self · 1 eps
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self · 2 eps
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Himself
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage)
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
Self
Twilight Theater II
Self- Host
The Unknown Marx Brothers
Self - Narrator
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Self - Narrator (voice)
The Best of So Graham Norton
Self (archive footage)
The Canadian Conspiracy
Self
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Self
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Self
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Self - Audience Member
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Himself
Dive to the Edge of Creation
Self - Narrator
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
Himself