Leslie Nielsen

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

Family Guy

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

Columbo

Columbo

Raw

Saturday Night Live

Murder, She Wrote

All Movies (137)

• O.J.: Made in America2016 · as Self (archive footage)
• Mel Brooks: Make a Noise2013 · as Self (archive footage)
• Stonerville2011 · as Producer
• Spanish Movie2009 · as Doctor Nielsen
• Stan Helsing2009 · as Kay
• Slap Shot 3: The Junior League2008 · as Mayor of Charlestown
• An American Carol2008 · as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
• Superhero Movie2008 · as Uncle Albert Adams
• Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest2007 · as Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
• Music Within2007 · as Bill Austin
• Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet2006 · as Self
• Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon2006 · as Self
• Scary Movie 42006 · as President Baxter Harris
• Nos Bastidores de Hollywood2005 · as Self (archive footage)
• The Nutcracker and the Mouseking2004 · as (Mouseking) (voice)
• Noël Noël2003 · as Narrator (english version)
• Scary Movie 32003 · as President Baxter Harris
• Men with Brooms2002 · as Gordon Cutter
• Camouflage2001 · as Jack Potter
• Chilly Dogs2001 · as Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
• Santa Who?2000 · as Santa Claus
• 2001: A Space Travesty2000 · as Richard 'Dick' Dix
• Wrongfully Accused1998 · as Ryan Harrison
• Safety Patrol!1998 · as Mr. Penn
• Mr. Magoo1997 · as Mr. Quincy Magoo
• Family Plan1997 · as Harry Haber
• Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video1997 · as Himself
• Harvey1996 · as Dr. Chumley
• Spy Hard1996 · as Dick Steele
• Dracula: Dead and Loving It1995 · as Count Dracula
• Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree1995 · as Baxter
• Rent-a-Kid1995 · as Harry Haber
• S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago1994 · as Lucio Cinico
• An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck1994 · as Self - Audience Member
• WWE SummerSlam 19941994 · as Himself
• Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects1994 · as Self
• Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult1994 · as Lt. Frank Drebin
• Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way1994 · as Leslie Nielsen
• World's Funniest Commercials1994
• Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier1993 · as Himself
• Digger1993 · as Arthur Evrensel
• The Unknown Marx Brothers1993 · as Self - Narrator
• Surf Ninjas1993 · as Colonel Chi
• Chance of a Lifetime1991 · as Lloyd Dixon
• All I Want For Christmas1991 · as Santa
• The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991 · as Lt. Frank Drebin
• Repossessed1990 · as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
• Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation1989 · as Host
• The Railway Dragon1989 · as Narrator (voice)
• The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988 · as Frank Drebin
• Dangerous Curves1988 · as Greg Krevske
• Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery1987 · as Senator Erdain
• Nuts1987 · as Allen Green
• Nightstick1987 · as Thad Evans
• Home Is Where the Hart Is1987 · as Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
• Soul Man1986 · as Mr. Dunbar
• The Patriot1986 · as Admiral Frazer
• The Canadian Conspiracy1986 · as Self
• Striker's Mountain1985 · as Jim McKay
• Reckless Disregard1985 · as Bob Franklin
• Blade in Hong Kong1985 · as Harry Ingersoll
• Spaceship1983 · as Capt. Jamieson
• Cave-In!1983 · as Joe Johnson
• Creepshow1982 · as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
• Twilight Theater II1982 · as Self- Host
• Wrong Is Right1982 · as Mallory
• Twilight Theatre1982
• Foxfire Light1982 · as Reece Morgan
• The Night the Bridge Fell Down1980 · as Paul Warren
• Prom Night1980 · as Mr. Hammond
• Airplane!1980 · as Dr. Rumack
• Dive to the Edge of Creation1980 · as Self - Narrator
• OHMS1980 · as Governor
• City on Fire1979 · as Mayor William Dudley
• Riel1979 · as Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
• Institute for Revenge1979 · as Counselor Hollis Barnes
• Halloween1978 · as Commander John J. Adams (archive footage)
• Little Mo1978 · as Nelson Fisher
• The Amsterdam Kill1977 · as Riley Knight
• Sixth and Main1977 · as John Doe
• Viva Knievel!1977 · as Stanley Millard
• Day of the Animals1977 · as Paul Jenson
• The Dawson Patrol1977 · as Narrator
• Grand Jury1977 · as John Williams
• Project: Kill1976 · as John Trevor
• Brinks: The Great Robbery1976 · as Agent Norman Houston
• King of the Underwater World1975 · as Self/Narrator
• The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave1975 · as Narrator
• Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience1975 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Can Ellen Be Saved?1974 · as Arnold Lindsey
• The Return of Charlie Chan1973 · as Alexander Hadrachi
• Amanda Fallon1973 · as Mr. Cummings
• The Letters1973 · as Derek Childs
• Snatched1973 · as Bill Sutter
• ...and millions will die!1973 · as Jack Gallagher
• Journey to the Outer Limits1973 · as (voice)
• The Poseidon Adventure1972 · as Captain Harrison
• They Call It Murder1971 · as Frank Antrim
• The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler1971 · as Harry Walsh
• Incident in San Francisco1971 · as Lt. Brubaker
• Hauser's Memory1970 · as Joseph Slaughter
• The Aquarians1970 · as Official
• Night Slaves1970 · as Sheriff Henshaw
• Change of Mind1969 · as Sheriff Webb
• How to Commit Marriage1969 · as Phil Fletcher
• Deadlock1969 · as Lt. Sam Danforth
• Trial Run1969 · as Jason Harkness
• Four Rode Out1969 · as Mr Brown
• Companions in Nightmare1968 · as Dr. Neesden
• Dayton's Devils1968 · as Frank Dayton
• Cocoon1968 · as Brent
• How to Steal the World1968 · as General Maximilian Harmon
• The Wild Heart1968 · as Narrator
• Shadow Over Elveron1968 · as Sheriff Verne Drover
• Counterpoint1967 · as Victor Rice
• Rosie!1967 · as Cabot Shaw
• The Reluctant Astronaut1967 · as Major Fred Gifford
• The Boy Who Flew with Condors1967 · as Narrator
• Gunfight in Abilene1967 · as Grant Evers
• Code Name: Heraclitus1967 · as Fryer
• Beau Geste1966 · as Lt. De Ruse
• The Plainsman1966 · as Col. George Armstrong Custer
• Dark Intruder1965 · as Brett Kingsford
• Harlow1965 · as Richard Manley
• See How They Run1964 · as Elliot Green
• Night Train to Paris1964 · as Alan Holiday
• The Velvet Alley1959 · as Eddie Kirkley
• The Sheepman1958 · as Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
• Tammy and the Bachelor1957 · as Peter Brent
• Hot Summer Night1957 · as William Joel Partain
• The Opposite Sex1956 · as Steve Hilliard
• The Vagabond King1956 · as Thibault d'Aussigny
• Forbidden Planet1956 · as Commander John J. Adams
• Ransom!1956 · as Charlie Telfer
• The Battle of Gettysburg1955 · as Narrator (voice)
• Dark Possession1954 · as Dr. Roger Waring
• The Lost Will of Dr. Rant1951 · as Bill

All TV Shows (165)

• Lipshitz Saves the World2007 · as Himself
• Gameshow Marathon2006
• Robson Arms2005 · as Caldo Vasco
• Tubridy Tonight2005
• Zeroman2004 · as Zeroman (voice)
• Chilly Beach2003 · as Santa (voice)
• Odd Job Jack2003
• Liography2001 · as Terrence Brynne McKennie
• Liocracy2001
• Harvey1999 · as Dr. Chumley
• The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn1999 · as Self
• Family Guy1999 · as Dr. Rumack (archive footage)
• The Wonderful World of Disney1997 · as Mr. Penn
• Life and Times1996
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self
• Die Harald Schmidt Show1995 · as Self
• Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards1994 · as Host
• Due South1994 · as Sgt. Buck Frobisher
• The Danny Baker Show1994
• Live & Kicking1993 · as Self
• Katie and Orbie1993 · as Narrator
• Raw1993 · as Leslie Nielsen
• Terry Wogan's Friday Night1992 · as Self
• Flesh 'n' Blood1991 · as Red Houser
• Herman's Head1991 · as God
• Evening Shade1990
• Day by Day1988 · as Jack Harper
• Race for the Bomb1987 · as Lewis Strauss
• The Golden Girls1985 · as Lucas
• 2271985
• Doris Day's Best Friends1985
• The Ray Bradbury Theater1985 · as Fantoccini
• Murder, She Wrote1984 · as David Everett
• Murder, She Wrote1984 · as Captain Daniels
• Finder of Lost Loves1984 · as Matthew Vail
• Who's the Boss?1984
• Highway to Heaven1984 · as Richard R. Benson
• Shaping Up1984 · as Buddy Fox
• Prime Times1983 · as Self
• Wogan1982 · as Self
• Police Squad!1982 · as Lt. Frank Drebin
• Twilight Theater1982
• Aloha Paradise1981 · as Grant Culberson
• The Littlest Hobo1979 · as Mayor Chester Montgomery
• Backstairs at the White House1979 · as Ike Hoover
• Vega$1978
• Fantasy Island1978 · as Doctor Whitfield
• What Really Happened to the Class of '65?1977
• The Love Boat1977 · as Hank Hardaway
• The Love Boat1977 · as Russ Blanchard
• The Love Boat1977 · as Dan Michaels
• Lucan1977
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Host
• The Swiss Family Robinson1975
• S.W.A.T.1975
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• The Manhunter1974
• Kojak1973 · as Michael Hagar
• The Evil Touch1973
• Barnaby Jones1973 · as Edward Brendon
• Kung Fu1972 · as Vincent Corbino
• Assignment: Vienna1972 · as Floyd Macklin
• The Streets of San Francisco1972
• The Streets of San Francisco1972 · as John T. Connor
• M*A*S*H1972 · as Col. Buzz Brighton
• The Rookies1972
• Sarge1971
• Monty Nash1971 · as Ross Carter
• Bearcats!1971 · as Col. Ted Donovan
• Columbo1971 · as A.J. Henderson
• Columbo1971 · as Peter Hamilton
• Cannon1971 · as Joe Gilbert
• Cannon1971 · as Weller Dane
• Cannon1971 · as Erich Strasser
• Night Gallery1970 · as Col. Dennis Malloy
• Night Gallery1970 · as The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?")
• The Bold Ones: The Protectors1969 · as Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth
• Bracken's World1969
• The Bold Ones: The New Doctors1969 · as Mr. Cummings
• The Movie Game (US)1969
• The Mod Squad1968 · as Rusty Bryson
• Hawaii Five-O1968 · as Brent
• The Name of the Game1968
• It Takes a Thief1968 · as SIA Security Man
• Judd, for the Defense1967
• Cimarron Strip1967
• Ironside1967
• The F.B.I.1965 · as Hudson
• Convoy1965
• The Wild Wild West1965 · as Major General Ball
• The Big Valley1965 · as Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway
• National Geographic Specials1965 · as Narrator (voice)
• Daniel Boone1964 · as William Russell
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E.1964 · as General Maximilian Harmon
• Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea1964
• Kraft Suspense Theatre1963 · as Dr. David Cord
• Kraft Suspense Theatre1963 · as Paul Maytric
• Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1963
• Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre1963 · as John Joslin
• The Farmer's Daughter1963
• Channing1963 · as Prof. Paul Stafford
• The Fugitive1963 · as Harold Cheyney
• The Fugitive1963 · as Martin C. Rowland
• Miss USA1963 · as Self - Judge
• The Art Linkletter Show1963
• The Alfred Hitchcock Hour1962 · as Mr. Grainger
• The Virginian1962 · as John Hagen
• The Virginian1962 · as Cleve Mason
• The Virginian1962 · as Harry Lightfoot
• The New Breed1961 · as Lt. Price Adams
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Walter Burton
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Harry Kleber
• The Defenders1961 · as Bob Garrison
• Route 661960
• Thriller1960 · as Alan Patterson
• Moment of Fear1960
• The Swamp Fox1959 · as Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)
• Bonanza1959 · as Sheriff Paul Rowan
• Rawhide1959 · as Eli Becker
• Naked City1958 · as Norman Garry
• Wagon Train1957 · as Brian Conlin
• Wagon Train1957 · as Jeremy Dow
• Playhouse 901956 · as Ralph Mohr
• First Performance1955 · as Ted
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents1955 · as Lloyd Ashley
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents1955 · as Rudy Cox
• Folio1955 · as Biff Loman
• MGM Parade1955 · as Self
• Gunsmoke1955 · as Jess Trevor
• The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Colonel Francis Marion
• The Wonderful World of Disney1954 · as Col. Francis Marion
• Love Story1954
• Medallion Theatre1953
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Judge Wayne Douglas
• General Electric Theater1953 · as Edward Morgan
• Short Short Dramas1952
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951
• Out There1951
• Goodyear Television Playhouse1951
• Tales of Tomorrow1951
• Tales of Tomorrow1951 · as Harold 'Harry' Mason
• Danger1950
• Sure As Fate1950
• The Web1950
• Stage 131950
• The Bob Hope Show1950 · as Self
• Starlight Theatre1950
• Robert Montgomery Presents1950 · as C. K. Dexter Haven
• Robert Montgomery Presents1950 · as George
• Robert Montgomery Presents1950 · as Gates Holden
• Lights Out1949
• The Clock1949 · as David Kyle
• Suspense1949
• Suspense1949 · as Serge Soudekine
• Studio One1948
• Studio One1948 · as Stan Janicek
• Studio One1948 · as Chris Jackson
• Studio One1948 · as Dr. Clayborn
• Studio One1948 · as Dr. Roger Waring
• Studio One1948 · as Mac
• Studio One1948 · as Edmund
• Studio One1948 · as Tallman
• Studio One1948 · as Karl
• Actors Studio1948
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Host