1926-02-11 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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.
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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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Superhero Movie | Uncle Albert Adams | 2008-03-28 |
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An American Carol | Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa | 2008-10-03 |
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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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Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest | Dr. Rumack (archive voice) | 2007-09-23 |
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Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon | Self | 2006-11-14 |
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Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet | 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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Scary Movie 3 | President Baxter Harris | 2003-10-24 |
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Noël Noël | Narrator (english version) | 2003-12-13 |
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Men with Brooms | Gordon Cutter | 2002-09-20 |
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Kevin of the North | Clive Thorton / Cab Driver | 2001-01-01 |
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Camouflage | Jack Potter | 2001-01-09 |
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Santa Who? | Santa Claus | 2000-12-03 |
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2001: A Space Travesty | Richard 'Dick' Dix | 2000-10-31 |
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Wrongfully Accused | Ryan Harrison | 1998-07-23 |
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Safety Patrol! | Mr. Penn | 1998-03-29 |
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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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Harvey | Dr. Chumley | 1996-10-19 |
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Spy Hard | Dick Steele | 1996-05-24 |
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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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Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree | Baxter | 1995-12-06 |
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Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way | Leslie Nielsen | 1994-01-01 |
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An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck | Self - Audience Member | 1994-10-22 |
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Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects | Self | 1994-05-22 |
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S.P.Q.R. 2000 e 1/2 anni fa | Lucio Cinico | 1994-12-15 |
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Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult | Lt. Frank Drebin | 1994-03-18 |
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World's Funniest Commercials | 1994-01-01 | |
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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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Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | Himself | 1993-11-03 |
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The Unknown Marx Brothers | Self - Narrator | 1993-08-18 |
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Surf Ninjas | Colonel Chi | 1993-08-12 |
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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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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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Nuts | Allen Green | 1987-11-20 |
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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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Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery | Senator Erdain | 1987-11-30 |
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The Patriot | Admiral Frazer | 1986-07-25 |
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The Canadian Conspiracy | Self | 1986-06-08 |
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Soul Man | Mr. Dunbar | 1986-10-24 |
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Blade in Hong Kong | Harry Ingersoll | 1985-03-15 |
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Striker's Mountain | Jim McKay | 1985-11-01 |
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Reckless Disregard | Bob Franklin | 1985-03-17 |
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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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Foxfire Light | Reece Morgan | 1982-01-01 |
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Twilight Theatre | 1982-02-13 | |
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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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OHMS | Governor | 1980-01-02 |
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Prom Night | Mr. Hammond | 1980-07-18 |
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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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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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Halloween | Commander John J. Adams (archive footage) | 1978-10-24 |
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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 | 1977-09-01 |
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Grand Jury | John Williams | 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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Project: Kill | John Trevor | 1976-10-01 |
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Brinks: The Great Robbery | Agent Norman Houston | 1976-03-26 |
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Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience | Self - Narrator (voice) | 1975-09-01 |
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King of the Underwater World | Self/Narrator | 1975-10-17 |
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The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave | Narrator | 1975-09-28 |
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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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...And Millions Die! | Jack Gallagher | 1973-01-01 |
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Journey to the Outer Limits | (voice) | 1973-01-01 |
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Amanda Fallon | Mr. Cummings | 1973-05-04 |
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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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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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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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Deadlock | Lt. Sam Danforth | 1969-02-22 |
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Change of Mind | Sheriff Webb | 1969-10-08 |
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Trial Run | Jason Harkness | 1969-01-18 |
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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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How to Steal the World | General Maximilian Harmon | 1968-09-18 |
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Shadow Over Elveron | Sheriff Verne Drover | 1968-03-05 |
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Companions in Nightmare | Dr. Neesden | 1968-11-23 |
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Code Name: Heraclitus | Fryer | 1967-01-01 |
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The Reluctant Astronaut | Major Fred Gifford | 1967-09-05 |
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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 |
