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Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor, comedian and producer. He appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters.

Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and later worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to study theatre at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He made his acting debut in 1950, appearing in 46 live television programs a year. Nielsen made his film debut in 1956, with supporting roles in several drama, Western, and romance films produced between the 1950s and the 1970s.

Although his notable performances in the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him standing as a serious actor, Nielsen later gained enduring recognition for his deadpan comedy roles during the 1980s, after being cast against type for the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedy film Airplane!. In his comedy roles, Nielsen specialized in portraying characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings. Nielsen's performance in Airplane! marked his turning point, which made him "the Olivier of spoofs" according to film critic Roger Ebert, and leading to further success in the genre with The Naked Gun film series, based on the earlier short-lived television series Police Squad!, in which Nielsen also starred. Nielsen received a variety of awards and was inducted into the Canada's Walk of Fame and Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Filmography[]

  • Kung Fu (1972-1975) (TV series) - Vincent Corbino
  • The Streets of San Francisco (1972-1977) (TV series) - Ofc. Joe Landers, Insp. John T. Connor, & Big Jake Wilson
  • Brink's: The Great Robbery (1976) (TV movie) - Agent Norman Houston
  • Viva Knievel! (1977) (film) - Stanley Millard
  • Creepshow (1982) (film) - Richard Vickers ("Something To Tide You Over" segment)
  • The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1983) (TV movie) - Paul Warren
  • Cave-In! (1983) (TV movie) - Joe Johnson
  • Nuts (1987) (film) - Allen Green
  • Repossessed (1990) (film) (New Line Cinema) - Father Jebedaiah Mayii
  • Wrongfully Accused (1998) (film) - Ryan Harrison

Gallery[]

Roles[]

Cameos[]

Trivia[]

External Links[]

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