Leslie Nielsen
Acting
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
Acting272
movieO.J.: Made in America
2016
Self (archive footage)
movieMel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013
Self (archive footage)
movieStonerville
2011
Producer
movieSpanish Movie
2009
Doctor Nielsen
movieSlap Shot 3: The Junior League
2008
Mayor of Charlestown
movieAn American Carol
2008
Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
movieSuperhero Movie
2008
Uncle Albert Adams
movieFamily Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
2007
Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
movieMusic Within
2007
Bill Austin
movieScary Movie 4
2006
President Baxter Harris
tvRobson Arms
2005
Caldo Vasco
movieNos Bastidores de Hollywood
2005
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Nutcracker and the Mouseking
2004
(Mouseking) (voice)
tvZeroman
2004
Zeroman (voice)
movieNoël Noël
2003
Narrator (english version)
movieScary Movie 3
2003
President Baxter Harris
tvChilly Beach
2003
Santa (voice)
movieMen with Brooms
2002
Gordon Cutter
Liography
2001
Terrence Brynne McKennie
movieCamouflage
2001
Jack Potter
movieChilly Dogs
2001
Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
movieSanta Who?
2000
Santa Claus
movie2001: A Space Travesty
2000
Richard 'Dick' Dix
Harvey
1999
Dr. Chumley
tvFamily Guy
1999
Dr. Rumack (archive footage)
movieWrongfully Accused
1998
Ryan Harrison
movieSafety Patrol!
1998
Mr. Penn
movieMr. Magoo
1997
Mr. Quincy Magoo
movieFamily Plan
1997
Harry Haber
movieHarvey
1996
Dr. Chumley
movieSpy Hard
1996
Dick Steele
movieDracula: Dead and Loving It
1995
Count Dracula
movieRent-a-Kid
1995
Harry Haber
movieS.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
1994
Lucio Cinico
movieAn Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
1994
Self - Audience Member
tvDue South
1994
Sgt. Buck Frobisher
movieWWE SummerSlam 1994
1994
Himself
movieNaked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
Lt. Frank Drebin
movieLeslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
1994
Leslie Nielsen
movieDigger
1993
Arthur Evrensel
movieThe Unknown Marx Brothers
1993
Self - Narrator
movieSurf Ninjas
1993
Colonel Chi
tvKatie and Orbie
1993
Narrator
tvRaw
1993
Leslie Nielsen
movieChance of a Lifetime
1991
Lloyd Dixon
Flesh 'n' Blood
1991
Red Houser
movieThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991
Lt. Frank Drebin
movieRepossessed
1990
Father Jebedaiah Mayii
movieThe Railway Dragon
1989
Narrator (voice)
movieDangerous Curves
1988
Greg Krevske
tvDay by Day
1988
Jack Harper
movieFatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
1987
Senator Erdain
movieNuts
1987
Allen Green
movieNightstick
1987
Thad Evans
movieHome Is Where the Hart Is
1987
Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
Race for the Bomb
1987
Lewis Strauss
movieSoul Man
1986
Mr. Dunbar
movieThe Patriot
1986
Admiral Frazer
movieStriker's Mountain
1985
Jim McKay
tvThe Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
Fantoccini
movieReckless Disregard
1985
Bob Franklin
movieBlade in Hong Kong
1985
Harry Ingersoll
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
David Everett / Captain Daniels
tvFinder of Lost Loves
1984
Matthew Vail
tvHighway to Heaven
1984
Richard R. Benson
Shaping Up
1984
Buddy Fox
movieSpaceship
1983
Capt. Jamieson
movieCave-In!
1983
Joe Johnson
movieCreepshow
1982
Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
movieTwilight Theater II
1982
Self- Host
tvWogan
1982
Self
movieWrong Is Right
1982
Mallory
tvPolice Squad!
1982
Lt. Frank Drebin
movieFoxfire Light
1982
Reece Morgan
tvAloha Paradise
1981
Grant Culberson
movieThe Night the Bridge Fell Down
1980
Paul Warren
movieProm Night
1980
Mr. Hammond
movieAirplane!
1980
Dr. Rumack
movieDive to the Edge of Creation
1980
Self - Narrator
movieOHMS
1980
Governor
tvThe Littlest Hobo
1979
Mayor Chester Montgomery
movieCity on Fire
1979
Mayor William Dudley
movieRiel
1979
Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
tvBackstairs at the White House
1979
Ike Hoover
Institute for Revenge
1979
Counselor Hollis Barnes
movieHalloween
1978
Commander John J. Adams (archive footage)
movieLittle Mo
1978
Nelson Fisher
tvFantasy Island
1978
Doctor Whitfield
movieThe Amsterdam Kill
1977
Riley Knight
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Hank Hardaway / Russ Blanchard / Dan Michaels
movieSixth and Main
1977
John Doe
movieViva Knievel!
1977
Stanley Millard
movieDay of the Animals
1977
Paul Jenson
movieThe Dawson Patrol
1977
Narrator
Grand Jury
1977
John Williams
movieProject: Kill
1976
John Trevor
movieBrinks: The Great Robbery
1976
Agent Norman Houston
tvSaturday Night Live
1975
Self - Host
movieThreshold: The Blue Angels Experience
1975
Self - Narrator (voice)
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieCan Ellen Be Saved?
1974
Arnold Lindsey
tvKojak
1973
Michael Hagar
movieThe Return of Charlie Chan
1973
Alexander Hadrachi
movieAmanda Fallon
1973
Mr. Cummings
movieThe Letters
1973
Derek Childs
movieSnatched
1973
Bill Sutter
tvBarnaby Jones
1973
Edward Brendon
movie...and millions will die!
1973
Jack Gallagher
movieThe Poseidon Adventure
1972
Captain Harrison
tvKung Fu
1972
Vincent Corbino
tvAssignment: Vienna
1972
Floyd Macklin
tvThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
John T. Connor
tvM*A*S*H
1972
Col. Buzz Brighton
movieThey Call It Murder
1971
Frank Antrim
movieThe Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
1971
Harry Walsh
tvMonty Nash
1971
Ross Carter
tvBearcats!
1971
Col. Ted Donovan
tvColumbo
1971
A.J. Henderson / Peter Hamilton
tvCannon
1971
Joe Gilbert / Weller Dane / Erich Strasser
movieIncident in San Francisco
1971
Lt. Brubaker
tvNight Gallery
1970
Col. Dennis Malloy / The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?")
movieHauser's Memory
1970
Joseph Slaughter
movieThe Aquarians
1970
Official
movieNight Slaves
1970
Sheriff Henshaw
movieChange of Mind
1969
Sheriff Webb
tvThe Bold Ones: The Protectors
1969
Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth
tvThe Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969
Mr. Cummings
movieHow to Commit Marriage
1969
Phil Fletcher
movieDeadlock
1969
Lt. Sam Danforth
movieTrial Run
1969
Jason Harkness
movieFour Rode Out
1969
Mr Brown
movieCompanions in Nightmare
1968
Dr. Neesden
movieDayton's Devils
1968
Frank Dayton
tvThe Mod Squad
1968
Rusty Bryson
movieCocoon
1968
Brent
tvHawaii Five-O
1968
Brent
movieHow to Steal the World
1968
General Maximilian Harmon
movieThe Wild Heart
1968
Narrator
movieShadow Over Elveron
1968
Sheriff Verne Drover
tvIt Takes a Thief
1968
SIA Security Man
movieCounterpoint
1967
Victor Rice
movieRosie!
1967
Cabot Shaw
movieThe Reluctant Astronaut
1967
Major Fred Gifford
movieGunfight in Abilene
1967
Grant Evers
movieBeau Geste
1966
Lt. De Ruse
movieThe Plainsman
1966
Col. George Armstrong Custer
tvThe F.B.I.
1965
Hudson
tvThe Wild Wild West
1965
Major General Ball
tvThe Big Valley
1965
Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway
tvNational Geographic Specials
1965
Narrator (voice)
movieDark Intruder
1965
Brett Kingsford
movieHarlow
1965
Richard Manley
movieSee How They Run
1964
Elliot Green
tvDaniel Boone
1964
William Russell
movieNight Train to Paris
1964
Alan Holiday
tvThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
General Maximilian Harmon
tvKraft Suspense Theatre
1963
Dr. David Cord / Paul Maytric
tvChanning
1963
Prof. Paul Stafford
tvThe Fugitive
1963
Harold Cheyney / Martin C. Rowland
tvMiss USA
1963
Self - Judge
tvThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962
Mr. Grainger
tvThe Virginian
1962
John Hagen / Cleve Mason / Harry Lightfoot
tvThe New Breed
1961
Lt. Price Adams
tvDr. Kildare
1961
Walter Burton / Harry Kleber
tvThe Defenders
1961
Bob Garrison
tvThriller
1960
Alan Patterson
tvThe Swamp Fox
1959
Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)
tvBonanza
1959
Sheriff Paul Rowan
movieThe Velvet Alley
1959
Eddie Kirkley
tvRawhide
1959
Eli Becker
tvNaked City
1958
Norman Garry
movieThe Sheepman
1958
Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
tvWagon Train
1957
Brian Conlin / Jeremy Dow
movieTammy and the Bachelor
1957
Peter Brent
movieHot Summer Night
1957
William Joel Partain
movieThe Opposite Sex
1956
Steve Hilliard
tvPlayhouse 90
1956
Ralph Mohr
movieThe Vagabond King
1956
Thibault d'Aussigny
movieForbidden Planet
1956
Commander John J. Adams
movieRansom!
1956
Charlie Telfer
movieThe Battle of Gettysburg
1955
Narrator (voice)
tvAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Lloyd Ashley / Rudy Cox
tvFolio
1955
Biff Loman
tvMGM Parade
1955
Self
tvGunsmoke
1955
Jess Trevor
tvThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
Colonel Francis Marion / Col. Francis Marion
movieDark Possession
1954
Dr. Roger Waring
tvGeneral Electric Theater
1953
Judge Wayne Douglas / Edward Morgan
tvTales of Tomorrow
1951
Harold 'Harry' Mason
tvRobert Montgomery Presents
1950
C. K. Dexter Haven / George / Gates Holden
The Clock
1949
David Kyle
tvSuspense
1949
Serge Soudekine
tvStudio One
1948
Stan Janicek / Chris Jackson / Dr. Clayborn / Dr. Roger Waring / Mac / Edmund / Tallman / Karl
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Host
Production2
movieLeslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
1997
Executive Co-Producer
movieSpy Hard
1996
Executive Producer