1926-02-11 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a European-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.
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O.J.: Made in America | Self (archive footage) | 2016-05-20 |
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Mel Brooks: Make a Noise | Self (archive footage) | 2013-05-20 |
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Stonerville | Producer | 2011-01-11 |
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Stan Helsing | Kay | 2009-10-23 |
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Spanish Movie | Doctor Nielsen | 2009-12-03 |
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Slap Shot 3: The Junior League | Mayor of Charlestown | 2008-12-17 |
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An American Carol | Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa | 2008-10-03 |
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Superhero Movie | Uncle Albert Adams | 2008-03-28 |
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Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest | Dr. Rumack (archive voice) | 2008-01-21 |
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Music Within | Bill Austin | 2007-01-05 |
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Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet | Self | 2006-11-14 |
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Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon | Self | 2006-11-14 |
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Scary Movie 4 | President Baxter Harris | 2006-04-12 |
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Nos Bastidores de Hollywood | Self (archive footage) | 2005-03-01 |
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The Nutcracker and the Mouseking | (Mouseking) (voice) | 2004-10-12 |
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Noël Noël | Narrator (english version) | 2003-12-13 |
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Scary Movie 3 | President Baxter Harris | 2003-10-24 |
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Men with Brooms | Gordon Cutter | 2002-09-20 |
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Camouflage | Jack Potter | 2001-01-09 |
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Kevin of the North | Clive Thorton / Cab Driver | 2001-01-01 |
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2001: A Space Travesty | Richard 'Dick' Dix | 2000-10-31 |
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Santa Who? | Santa Claus | 2000-12-03 |
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Safety Patrol! | Mr. Penn | 1998-03-29 |
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Wrongfully Accused | Ryan Harrison | 1998-07-23 |
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Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video | Himself | 1997-01-01 |
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Family Plan | Harry Haber | 1997-01-01 |
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Mr. Magoo | Mr. Quincy Magoo | 1997-12-25 |
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Spy Hard | Dick Steele | 1996-05-24 |
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Harvey | Dr. Chumley | 1996-10-19 |
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Rent-a-Kid | Harry Haber | 1995-01-01 |
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Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree | Baxter | 1995-12-06 |
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Dracula: Dead and Loving It | Count Dracula | 1995-12-22 |
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An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck | Self - Audience Member | 1994-10-22 |
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Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way | Leslie Nielsen | 1994-01-01 |
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WWE SummerSlam 1994 | Himself | 1994-08-29 |
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Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1994-03-18 |
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S.P.Q.R. 2000 e 1/2 anni fa | Lucio Cinico | 1994-12-15 |
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Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects | Self | 1994-05-22 |
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World's Funniest Commercials | 1994-01-01 | |
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Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | Himself | 1993-11-03 |
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Surf Ninjas | Colonel Chi | 1993-08-12 |
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Digger | Arthur Evrensel | 1993-09-29 |
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The Unknown Marx Brothers | Self - Narrator | 1993-08-18 |
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All I Want For Christmas | Santa | 1991-11-08 |
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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1991-06-28 |
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Chance of a Lifetime | Lloyd Dixon | 1991-11-18 |
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Repossessed | Father Jebedaiah Mayii | 1990-09-14 |
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The Railway Dragon | Narrator (voice) | 1989-03-17 |
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Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation | Host | 1989-11-17 |
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Dangerous Curves | Greg Krevske | 1988-09-23 |
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The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! | Frank Drebin | 1988-12-02 |
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Nuts | Allen Green | 1987-11-20 |
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Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Senator Erdain | 1987-11-30 |
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Home Is Where the Hart Is | Sheriff Nashville Schwartz | 1987-06-13 |
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Nightstick | Thad Evans | 1987-09-01 |
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The Patriot | Admiral Frazer | 1986-07-25 |
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Soul Man | Mr. Dunbar | 1986-10-24 |
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The Canadian Conspiracy | Self | 1986-06-08 |
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Blade in Hong Kong | Harry Ingersoll | 1985-03-15 |
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Reckless Disregard | Bob Franklin | 1985-03-17 |
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Striker's Mountain | Jim McKay | 1985-11-01 |
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Spaceship | Capt. Jamieson | 1983-07-01 |
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Cave-In! | Joe Johnson | 1983-06-19 |
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Creepshow | Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over") | 1982-11-10 |
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Wrong Is Right | Mallory | 1982-04-16 |
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Foxfire Light | Reece Morgan | 1982-01-01 |
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Twilight Theatre | 1982-02-13 | |
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Prom Night | Mr. Hammond | 1980-07-18 |
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The Night the Bridge Fell Down | Paul Warren | 1980-09-06 |
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OHMS | Governor | 1980-01-02 |
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Dive to the Edge of Creation | Self - Narrator | 1980-01-08 |
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Airplane! | Dr. Rumack | 1980-06-27 |
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Riel | Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier | 1979-04-11 |
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City on Fire | Mayor William Dudley | 1979-07-11 |
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Institute for Revenge | Counselor Hollis Barnes | 1979-01-22 |
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Little Mo | Nelson Fisher | 1978-09-05 |
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Viva Knievel! | Stanley Millard | 1977-06-10 |
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Sixth and Main | John Doe | 1977-09-01 |
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The Dawson Patrol | Narrator | 1977-03-25 |
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Day of the Animals | Paul Jenson | 1977-05-13 |
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The Amsterdam Kill | Riley Knight | 1977-12-26 |
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Grand Jury | John Williams | 1977-01-01 |
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Brinks: The Great Robbery | Agent Norman Houston | 1976-03-26 |
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Project: Kill | John Trevor | 1976-10-01 |
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King of the Underwater World | Self | 1975-10-17 |
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The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave | Narrator | 1975-09-28 |
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Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience | Self - Narrator (voice) | 1975-09-01 |
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Can Ellen Be Saved? | Arnold Lindsey | 1974-02-05 |
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Snatched | Bill Sutter | 1973-01-31 |
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Amanda Fallon | Mr. Cummings | 1973-05-04 |
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Journey to the Outer Limits | (voice) | 1973-01-01 |
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The Return of Charlie Chan | Alexander Hadrachi | 1973-07-01 |
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The Letters | Derek Childs | 1973-03-06 |
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...And Millions Die! | Jack Gallagher | 1973-01-01 |
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The Poseidon Adventure | Captain Harrison | 1972-12-01 |
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The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler | Harry Walsh | 1971-11-30 |
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They Call It Murder | 1971-12-17 | |
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Incident in San Francisco | Lt. Brubaker | 1971-02-28 |
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The Aquarians | Official | 1970-10-24 |
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Night Slaves | Sheriff Henshaw | 1970-09-29 |
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Hauser's Memory | Joseph Slaughter | 1970-11-24 |
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Four Rode Out | Mr Brown | 1969-01-01 |
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Trial Run | Jason Harkness | 1969-01-18 |
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Deadlock | Lt. Sam Danforth | 1969-02-22 |
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Change of Mind | Sheriff Webb | 1969-10-08 |
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How to Commit Marriage | Phil Fletcher | 1969-07-07 |
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Cocoon | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
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Dayton's Devils | Frank Dayton | 1968-10-01 |
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The Wild Heart | Narrator | 1968-03-10 |
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Shadow Over Elveron | Sheriff Verne Drover | 1968-03-05 |
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How to Steal the World | General Maximilian Harmon | 1968-09-18 |
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Companions in Nightmare | Dr. Neesden | 1968-11-23 |
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The Reluctant Astronaut | Major Fred Gifford | 1967-09-05 |
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Code Name: Heraclitus | Fryer | 1967-01-01 |
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Gunfight in Abilene | Grant Evers | 1967-02-03 |
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Counterpoint | Victor Rice | 1967-12-22 |
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Rosie! | Cabot Shaw | 1967-11-22 |
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The Boy Who Flew with Condors | Narrator | 1967-02-19 |
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The Plainsman | Col. George Armstrong Custer | 1966-08-01 |
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Beau Geste | Lt. De Ruse | 1966-09-02 |
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Dark Intruder | Brett Kingsford | 1965-07-25 |
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Harlow | Richard Manley | 1965-06-23 |
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See How They Run | Elliot Green | 1964-10-07 |
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Night Train to Paris | Alan Holiday | 1964-09-22 |
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The Velvet Alley | Eddie Kirkley | 1959-01-22 |
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The Sheepman | Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe | 1958-05-01 |
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Tammy and the Bachelor | Peter Brent | 1957-06-14 |
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Hot Summer Night | William Joel Partain | 1957-02-15 |
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Forbidden Planet | Commander John J. Adams | 1956-03-23 |
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The Vagabond King | Thibault d'Aussigny | 1956-08-28 |
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The Opposite Sex | Steve Hilliard | 1956-11-15 |
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Ransom! | Charlie Telfer | 1956-01-24 |
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The Battle of Gettysburg | Narrator (voice) | 1955-12-01 |
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Dark Possession | Dr. Roger Waring | 1954-02-15 |
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The Lost Will of Dr. Rant | Bill | 1951-05-07 |
