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.
137 movies · 135 shows
O.J.: Made in America
2016·8.4
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013·8.2
Stonerville
2011·2.9
Spanish Movie
2009·5.0
Stan Helsing
2009·4.2
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
2008·5.0
An American Carol
2008·4.2
Superhero Movie
2008·5.3
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
2007·7.5
Music Within
2007·6.5
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006·4.5
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006·7.0
Scary Movie 4
2006·5.5
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
2005·10.0
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
2004·6.3
The Best of So Graham Norton
2004·0.0
Noël Noël
2003·6.7
Scary Movie 3
2003·6.0
Men with Brooms
2002·5.3
Chilly Dogs
2001·5.4
Camouflage
2001·4.4
Santa Who?
2000·5.5
2001: A Space Travesty
2000·4.3
Wrongfully Accused
1998·6.0
Safety Patrol!
1998·4.8
Mr. Magoo
1997·4.5
Family Plan
1997·5.4
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
1997·5.8
Harvey
1996·5.2
Spy Hard
1996·5.4
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
1995·6.1
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
1995·6.2
Rent-a-Kid
1995·5.6
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
1994·4.9
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
1994·10.0
WWE SummerSlam 1994
1994·6.7
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
1994·9.0
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994·6.5
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
1994·3.8
World's Funniest Commercials
1994·0.0
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
1993·7.0
Digger
1993·6.5
The Unknown Marx Brothers
1993·5.7
Surf Ninjas
1993·5.0
Chance of a Lifetime
1991·5.4
All I Want For Christmas
1991·5.7
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991·6.8
Repossessed
1990·5.3
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
1989·7.6
The Railway Dragon
1989·1.0
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988·7.3
Dangerous Curves
1988·3.2
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
1987·7.5
Nuts
1987·6.3
Nightstick
1987·3.5
Home Is Where the Hart Is
1987·6.2
Soul Man
1986·5.3
The Patriot
1986·4.2
The Canadian Conspiracy
1986·5.5
Striker's Mountain
1985·5.5
Reckless Disregard
1985·8.0
Blade in Hong Kong
1985·9.0
Spaceship
1983·3.9
Cave-In!
1983·4.6
Creepshow
1982·6.9
Twilight Theater II
1982·0.0
Wrong Is Right
1982·5.6
Twilight Theatre
1982·0.0
Foxfire Light
1982·6.8
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
1980·6.2
Prom Night
1980·5.7
Airplane!
1980·7.3
Dive to the Edge of Creation
1980·0.0
OHMS
1980·7.5
City on Fire
1979·5.1
Riel
1979·6.0
Institute for Revenge
1979·6.7
Little Mo
1978·7.3
The Amsterdam Kill
1977·5.2
Sixth and Main
1977·8.0
Viva Knievel!
1977·4.0
Day of the Animals
1977·5.2
The Dawson Patrol
1977·10.0
Grand Jury
1977·4.3
Project: Kill
1976·5.1
Brinks: The Great Robbery
1976·10.0
King of the Underwater World
1975·0.0
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
1975·0.0
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
1975·8.0
Can Ellen Be Saved?
1974·4.6
The Return of Charlie Chan
1973·5.5
Amanda Fallon
1973·8.0
The Letters
1973·6.8
Snatched
1973·5.8
...and millions will die!
1973·5.2
Journey to the Outer Limits
1973·7.0
The Poseidon Adventure
1972·7.2
They Call It Murder
1971·6.3
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
1971·5.9
Incident in San Francisco
1971·5.7
Hauser's Memory
1970·6.8
The Aquarians
1970·6.5
Night Slaves
1970·5.9
Change of Mind
1969·5.8
How to Commit Marriage
1969·5.8
Deadlock
1969·9.0
Trial Run
1969·5.0
Four Rode Out
1969·4.4
Companions in Nightmare
1968·5.3
Dayton's Devils
1968·4.0
Cocoon
1968·8.5
How to Steal the World
1968·5.4
The Wild Heart
1968·0.0
Shadow Over Elveron
1968·6.6
Counterpoint
1967·6.2
Rosie!
1967·10.0
The Reluctant Astronaut
1967·6.0
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
1967·6.0
Gunfight in Abilene
1967·6.5
Code Name: Heraclitus
1967·9.0
Beau Geste
1966·5.6
The Plainsman
1966·5.6
Dark Intruder
1965·6.3
Harlow
1965·5.6
See How They Run
1964·6.0
Night Train to Paris
1964·6.0
The Velvet Alley
1959·7.0
The Sheepman
1958·6.9
Tammy and the Bachelor
1957·7.0
Hot Summer Night
1957·5.7
The Opposite Sex
1956·5.4
The Vagabond King
1956·6.1
Forbidden Planet
1956·7.2
Ransom!
1956·7.2
The Battle of Gettysburg
1955·6.1
Dark Possession
1954·0.0
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
1951·0.0