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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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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Slap Shot 3: The Junior League | Mayor of Charlestown | 2008-12-17 |
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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 | 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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Mr. Magoo | Mr. Quincy Magoo | 1997-12-25 |
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Family Plan | Harry Haber | 1997-01-01 |
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Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video | Himself | 1997-01-01 |
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Harvey | Dr. Chumley | 1996-10-19 |
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Spy Hard | Dick Steele | 1996-05-24 |
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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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Rent-a-Kid | Harry Haber | 1995-01-01 |
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Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1994-03-18 |
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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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S.P.Q.R. 2000 e 1/2 anni fa | Lucio Cinico | 1994-12-15 |
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World's Funniest Commercials | 1994-01-01 | |
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Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects | Self | 1994-05-22 |
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WWE SummerSlam 1994 | Himself | 1994-08-29 |
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Digger | Arthur Evrensel | 1993-09-29 |
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Surf Ninjas | Colonel Chi | 1993-08-12 |
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The Unknown Marx Brothers | Self - Narrator | 1993-08-18 |
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Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | Himself | 1993-11-03 |
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The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1991-06-28 |
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All I Want For Christmas | Santa | 1991-11-08 |
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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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Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation | Host | 1989-11-17 |
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The Railway Dragon | Narrator (voice) | 1989-03-17 |
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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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Nightstick | Thad Evans | 1987-09-01 |
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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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Nuts | Allen Green | 1987-11-20 |
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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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Reckless Disregard | Bob Franklin | 1985-03-17 |
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Striker's Mountain | Jim McKay | 1985-11-01 |
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Blade in Hong Kong | Harry Ingersoll | 1985-03-15 |
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Cave-In! | Joe Johnson | 1983-06-19 |
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Spaceship | Capt. Jamieson | 1983-07-01 |
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Creepshow | Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over") | 1982-11-10 |
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Twilight Theatre | 1982-02-13 | |
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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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Airplane! | Dr. Rumack | 1980-06-27 |
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Dive to the Edge of Creation | Self - Narrator | 1980-01-08 |
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OHMS | Governor | 1980-01-02 |
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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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Institute for Revenge | Counselor Hollis Barnes | 1979-01-22 |
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City on Fire | Mayor William Dudley | 1979-07-11 |
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Riel | Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier | 1979-04-11 |
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Little Mo | Nelson Fisher | 1978-09-05 |
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Grand Jury | John Williams | 1977-01-01 |
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Viva Knievel! | Stanley Millard | 1977-06-10 |
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Day of the Animals | Paul Jenson | 1977-05-13 |
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Sixth and Main | John Doe | 1977-01-01 |
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The Amsterdam Kill | Riley Knight | 1977-12-26 |
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The Dawson Patrol | Narrator | 1977-03-25 |
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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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The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave | Narrator | 1975-09-28 |
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King of the Underwater World | Self | 1975-10-17 |
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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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Amanda Fallon | Mr. Cummings | 1973-05-04 |
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The Letters | Derek Childs | 1973-03-06 |
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Snatched | Bill Sutter | 1973-01-31 |
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Journey to the Outer Limits | (voice) | 1973-01-01 |
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...And Millions Die! | Jack Gallagher | 1973-01-01 |
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The Return of Charlie Chan | Alexander Hadrachi | 1973-07-01 |
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The Poseidon Adventure | Captain Harrison | 1972-12-01 |
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They Call It Murder | 1971-12-17 | |
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The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler | Harry Walsh | 1971-11-30 |
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Incident in San Francisco | Lt. Brubaker | 1971-02-28 |
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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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The Aquarians | Official | 1970-10-24 |
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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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Four Rode Out | Mr Brown | 1969-01-01 |
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How to Commit Marriage | Phil Fletcher | 1969-07-07 |
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Trial Run | Jason Harkness | 1969-01-18 |
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Dayton's Devils | Frank Dayton | 1968-10-01 |
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How to Steal the World | General Maximilian Harmon | 1968-09-18 |
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Cocoon | Brent | 1968-09-20 |
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Companions in Nightmare | Dr. Neesden | 1968-11-23 |
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Shadow Over Elveron | Sheriff Verne Drover | 1968-03-05 |
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The Wild Heart | Narrator | 1968-03-10 |
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Rosie! | Cabot Shaw | 1967-11-22 |
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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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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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Harlow | Richard Manley | 1965-06-23 |
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Dark Intruder | Brett Kingsford | 1965-07-25 |
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Night Train to Paris | Alan Holiday | 1964-09-22 |
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See How They Run | Elliot Green | 1964-10-07 |
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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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Hot Summer Night | William Joel Partain | 1957-02-15 |
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Tammy and the Bachelor | Peter Brent | 1957-06-14 |
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The Opposite Sex | Steve Hilliard | 1956-11-15 |
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The Vagabond King | Thibault d'Aussigny | 1956-08-28 |
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Ransom! | Charlie Telfer | 1956-01-24 |
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Forbidden Planet | Commander John J. Adams | 1956-03-23 |
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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 |
