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Leslie Nielsen

Leslie NielsenAKA Leslie William Nielsen

Born: 11-Feb-1926
Birthplace: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: 28-Nov-2010
Location of death: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Cause of death: Pneumonia
Remains: Buried, Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Actor

Nationality: Canada
Executive summary: Airplane!

Military service: Royal Canadian Air Force (aerial gunner, WWII)

When Leslie Nielsen was a small child, his father, a Canadian Mountie, moved the family close to the Arctic Circle. Nielsen contracted rickets there, which left him bowlegged. Nielsen was as a disc jockey before he began performing on stage in the late 1940s, and landed his first television appearance -- out of more than 1500 -- in 1950.

During the first 30 years of his acting career, he was frequently cast as an authority figure, and became known for his dramatic roles, including the soap opera Peyton Place, the science fiction epic Forbidden Planet, and the camp classic The Poseidon Adventure. He was also, as in Tammy and the Bachelor opposite Debbie Reynolds, cast as a tall, dark and rather wooden leading man.

He worked steadily, but it wasn't until he got the part of Dr. Rumack in 1980's Airplane! that Nielsen exposed his comedic side. His other comedies include the sitcom Police Squad, three Naked Gun movies, and such severely unfunny attempts as Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Mr. Magoo, and Wrongfully Accused. By his death in 2010, he was better known for his comedies than for the stoic, straight-laced leading man image he spoofed so well.

Brother: Eric Nielsen (former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada)
Brother: Gilbert Nielsen (half brother)
Wife: Monica Boyer (m. 1950, div. 1956)
Wife: Alisande Ullman (m. 1958, div. 1973)
Wife: Brooks Oliver (m. 1981, div. 1983)
Wife: Barbaree Earl (m. 2001)

    High School: Victoria Composite High School, Edmonton, Alberta

    Hollywood Walk of Fame 6541 Hollywood Blvd.
    Canada's Walk of Fame 2001
    Endorsement of Coors (1989-95)
    Endorsement of Domino's Pizza (2004)
    Naturalized US Citizen
    Danish Ancestry Paternal
    Welsh Ancestry Maternal

    TELEVISION
    Robson Arms Caldo Vasco (2007)
    Zeroman Zeroman (2004-05)
    Due South Sgt. Buck Frobisher (1994-99)
    Police Squad! Lt. Frank Drebin (1982)
    Kung Fu Vincent Corbino (1975)
    Bracken's World John Bracken (1970)
    Dr. Kildare Harry Kleber (1965)
    Peyton Place Vincent and Kenneth Markham (1965)
    The New Breed Lt. Price Adams (1961-62)

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    A Futile and Stupid Gesture (24-Jan-2018)
    Stonerville (11-Jan-2011) · Producer
    Spanish Movie (4-Dec-2009)
    Stan Helsing (21-Oct-2009) · Kay
    Slap Shot 3: The Junior League (10-Nov-2008) · Mayor of Charlestown
    An American Carol (3-Oct-2008) · Himself
    Superhero Movie (27-Mar-2008)
    Music Within (5-Jan-2007) · Bill Austin
    Scary Movie 4 (12-Apr-2006)
    Scary Movie 3 (20-Oct-2003) · President Harris
    Men with Brooms (8-Mar-2002)
    Kevin of the North (19-Dec-2001) · Cab Driver
    Camouflage (9-Jan-2001)
    Santa Who? (19-Nov-2000)
    2001: A Space Travesty (31-Oct-2000)
    Wrongfully Accused (23-Jul-1998)
    Safety Patrol (29-Mar-1998)
    Family Plan (12-Mar-1998)
    Harvey (15-Feb-1998)
    Mr. Magoo (25-Dec-1997) · Mr. Magoo
    Spy Hard (24-May-1996) · Dick Steele "Agent WD-40"
    Dracula: Dead and Loving It (22-Dec-1995) · Dracula
    Rent-a-Kid (4-Nov-1995)
    The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (18-Mar-1994) · Lt. Frank Drebin
    Surf Ninjas (12-Aug-1993)
    Digger (1993)
    Chance of a Lifetime (18-Nov-1991) · Lloyd Dixon
    All I Want for Christmas (11-Nov-1991) · Santa
    The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (28-Jun-1991) · Lt. Frank Drebin
    Repossessed (14-Sep-1990)
    The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (2-Dec-1988) · Frank Drebin
    Dangerous Curves (1988) · Greg Krevsky
    Nuts (20-Nov-1987) · Allen Green
    Soul Man (24-Oct-1986)
    The Patriot (25-Jul-1986)
    Creepshow (12-Nov-1982) · Richard Vickers
    Wrong Is Right (16-Apr-1982)
    The Creature Wasn't Nice (1981)
    Prom Night (18-Jul-1980)
    Airplane! (2-Jul-1980) · Dr. Rumack
    City on Fire (24-May-1979)
    Backstairs at the White House (29-Jan-1979)
    Little Mo (5-Sep-1978)
    The Amsterdam Kill (26-Dec-1977)
    Viva Knievel! (15-Jul-1977)
    Day of the Animals (13-May-1977)
    Sixth and Main (1977)
    The Letters (6-Mar-1973)
    ...And Millions Die! (1973)
    The Poseidon Adventure (12-Dec-1972) · The Captain
    Night Slaves (29-Sep-1970)
    Change of Mind (1-Oct-1969)
    How To Commit Marriage (7-Jul-1969) · Phil Fletcher
    Dayton's Devils (2-Oct-1968)
    Counterpoint (19-Jan-1968)
    Rosie! (22-Nov-1967)
    The Reluctant Astronaut (14-Jun-1967) · Maj. Gifford
    Gunfight in Abilene (1967)
    Beau Geste (7-Sep-1966) · De Ruse
    The Plainsman (26-Aug-1966)
    Dark Intruder (21-Jul-1965)
    Harlow (23-Jun-1965)
    The Sheepman (7-May-1958) · Johnny Bledsoe
    Tammy and the Bachelor (14-Jun-1957)
    Hot Summer Night (Feb-1957)
    The Opposite Sex (26-Oct-1956) · Steve Hilliard
    The Vagabond King (29-Aug-1956)
    Forbidden Planet (15-Mar-1956) · Cmdr. Adams
    Ransom! (24-Jan-1956) · Charlie Telfer

Author of books:
The Naked Truth (1993)


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