Leslie Nielsen

Cast · Writer

Born

February 11, 1926 · Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Died

November 28, 2010

Birth name

Leslie William Nielsen

“Yes, it's true, I've been called the Laurence Olivier of spoofs. I guess that would make Laurence Olivier the Leslie Nielsen of Shakespeare.” Leslie William Nielsen was a Canadian-born and naturalized American actor and comedian. Over the course of his career, Nielsen appeared in over 100 films and 1,500 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. Before pursuing acting, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and worked as a disc jockey, later receiving a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse. Nielsen made his TV debut in 1948 and quickly became a familiar face with over 50 appearances by 1950. He made his film debut in 1956, playing roles in dramas, westerns, and romance films. His performances in Forbidden Planet (1956) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) were praised for their seriousness, but Nielsen became most famous for his comedic roles. Although his career spanned various genres, Nielsen’s deadpan comedic performance in Airplane! (1980) marked a turning point, earning him the title of "the Olivier of spoofs" from film critic Roger Ebert. He went on to achieve even greater success with The Naked Gun film series (1988–1994), based on the TV series Police Squad! in which he starred. His portrayal of serious characters in absurd situations became his comedic trademark. In the later years of his career, Nielsen appeared in several spoof and parody films that, while often panned by critics, were popular at the box office and on home media. Nielsen was married four times and had two daughters from his second marriage. Throughout his career, he received numerous awards and was inducted into both the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame.