Acting · Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada · Born February 11, 1926
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.
MovieO.J.: Made in America
2016
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013
as Self (archive footage)
MovieStonerville
2011
as Producer
MovieSpanish Movie
2009
as Doctor Nielsen
MovieStan Helsing
2009
as Kay
MovieSlap Shot 3: The Junior League
2008
as Mayor of Charlestown
MovieAn American Carol
2008
as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
MovieSuperhero Movie
2008
as Uncle Albert Adams
MovieFamily Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
2007
as Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Lipshitz Saves the World
2007
as Himself
MovieMusic Within
2007
as Bill Austin
MovieAmazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
2006
as Self
MovieRobby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
2006
as Self
TVGameshow Marathon
2006
MovieScary Movie 4
2006
as President Baxter Harris
TVRobson Arms
2005
as Caldo Vasco
Tubridy Tonight
2005
MovieNos Bastidores de Hollywood
2005
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Nutcracker and the Mouseking
2004
as (Mouseking) (voice)
TVZeroman
2004
as Zeroman (voice)
MovieNoël Noël
2003
as Narrator (english version)
MovieScary Movie 3
2003
as President Baxter Harris
TVChilly Beach
2003
as Santa (voice)
TVOdd Job Jack
2003
MovieMen with Brooms
2002
as Gordon Cutter
MovieChilly Dogs
2001
as Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
Liography
2001
as Terrence Brynne McKennie
Liocracy
2001
MovieCamouflage
2001
as Jack Potter
MovieSanta Who?
2000
as Santa Claus
Movie2001: A Space Travesty
2000
as Richard 'Dick' Dix
Harvey
1999
as Dr. Chumley
TVThe Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
1999
as Self
TVFamily Guy
1999
as Dr. Rumack (archive footage)
MovieWrongfully Accused
1998
as Ryan Harrison
MovieSafety Patrol!
1998
as Mr. Penn
MovieMr. Magoo
1997
as Mr. Quincy Magoo
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1997
as Mr. Penn
MovieFamily Plan
1997
as Harry Haber
MovieLeslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
1997
as Himself
MovieHarvey
1996
as Dr. Chumley
Life and Times
1996
TVThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self
MovieSpy Hard
1996
as Dick Steele
MovieDracula: Dead and Loving It
1995
as Count Dracula
MovieMr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
1995
as Baxter
TVDie Harald Schmidt Show
1995
as Self
MovieRent-a-Kid
1995
as Harry Haber
MovieS.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
1994
as Lucio Cinico
Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
1994
as Host
MovieAn Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
1994
as Self - Audience Member
TVDue South
1994
as Sgt. Buck Frobisher
The Danny Baker Show
1994
MovieWWE SummerSlam 1994
1994
as Himself
MovieMasters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
1994
as Self
MovieNaked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
1994
as Lt. Frank Drebin
MovieLeslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
1994
as Leslie Nielsen
MovieWorld's Funniest Commercials
1994
MovieLeslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
1993
as Himself
TVLive & Kicking
1993
as Self
MovieDigger
1993
as Arthur Evrensel
MovieThe Unknown Marx Brothers
1993
as Self - Narrator
MovieSurf Ninjas
1993
as Colonel Chi
TVKatie and Orbie
1993
as Narrator
TVRaw
1993
as Leslie Nielsen
Terry Wogan's Friday Night
1992
as Self
MovieChance of a Lifetime
1991
as Lloyd Dixon
MovieAll I Want For Christmas
1991
as Santa
Flesh 'n' Blood
1991
as Red Houser
TVHerman's Head
1991
as God
MovieThe Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
1991
as Lt. Frank Drebin
TVEvening Shade
1990
MovieRepossessed
1990
as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
MovieBack to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
1989
as Host
MovieThe Railway Dragon
1989
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
1988
as Frank Drebin
MovieDangerous Curves
1988
as Greg Krevske
TVDay by Day
1988
as Jack Harper
MovieFatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
1987
as Senator Erdain
MovieNuts
1987
as Allen Green
MovieNightstick
1987
as Thad Evans
MovieHome Is Where the Hart Is
1987
as Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
Race for the Bomb
1987
as Lewis Strauss
MovieSoul Man
1986
as Mr. Dunbar
MovieThe Patriot
1986
as Admiral Frazer
MovieThe Canadian Conspiracy
1986
as Self
MovieStriker's Mountain
1985
as Jim McKay
TVThe Golden Girls
1985
as Lucas
TV227
1985
Doris Day's Best Friends
1985
TVThe Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
as Fantoccini
MovieReckless Disregard
1985
as Bob Franklin
MovieBlade in Hong Kong
1985
as Harry Ingersoll
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as David Everett
TVFinder of Lost Loves
1984
as Matthew Vail
TVWho's the Boss?
1984
TVHighway to Heaven
1984
as Richard R. Benson
Shaping Up
1984
as Buddy Fox
MovieSpaceship
1983
as Capt. Jamieson
MovieCave-In!
1983
as Joe Johnson
Prime Times
1983
as Self
MovieCreepshow
1982
as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
MovieTwilight Theater II
1982
as Self- Host
TVWogan
1982
as Self
MovieWrong Is Right
1982
as Mallory
TVPolice Squad!
1982
as Lt. Frank Drebin
MovieTwilight Theatre
1982
Twilight Theater
1982
MovieFoxfire Light
1982
as Reece Morgan
TVAloha Paradise
1981
as Grant Culberson
MovieThe Night the Bridge Fell Down
1980
as Paul Warren
MovieProm Night
1980
as Mr. Hammond
MovieAirplane!
1980
as Dr. Rumack
MovieDive to the Edge of Creation
1980
as Self - Narrator
MovieOHMS
1980
as Governor
TVThe Littlest Hobo
1979
as Mayor Chester Montgomery
MovieCity on Fire
1979
as Mayor William Dudley
MovieRiel
1979
as Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
TVBackstairs at the White House
1979
as Ike Hoover
Institute for Revenge
1979
as Counselor Hollis Barnes
MovieHalloween
1978
as Commander John J. Adams (archive footage)
TVVega$
1978
MovieLittle Mo
1978
as Nelson Fisher
TVFantasy Island
1978
as Doctor Whitfield
MovieThe Amsterdam Kill
1977
as Riley Knight
TVWhat Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1977
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Hank Hardaway
TVLucan
1977
MovieSixth and Main
1977
as John Doe
MovieViva Knievel!
1977
as Stanley Millard
MovieDay of the Animals
1977
as Paul Jenson
MovieThe Dawson Patrol
1977
as Narrator
Grand Jury
1977
as John Williams
MovieProject: Kill
1976
as John Trevor
MovieBrinks: The Great Robbery
1976
as Agent Norman Houston
King of the Underwater World
1975
as Self/Narrator
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Host
MovieThe Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
1975
as Narrator
TVThe Swiss Family Robinson
1975
MovieThreshold: The Blue Angels Experience
1975
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TVS.W.A.T.
1975
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
TVThe Manhunter
1974
MovieCan Ellen Be Saved?
1974
as Arnold Lindsey
TVKojak
1973
as Michael Hagar
MovieThe Return of Charlie Chan
1973
as Alexander Hadrachi
TVThe Evil Touch
1973
MovieAmanda Fallon
1973
as Mr. Cummings
MovieThe Letters
1973
as Derek Childs
MovieSnatched
1973
as Bill Sutter
TVBarnaby Jones
1973
as Edward Brendon
Movie...and millions will die!
1973
as Jack Gallagher
MovieJourney to the Outer Limits
1973
as (voice)
MovieThe Poseidon Adventure
1972
as Captain Harrison
TVKung Fu
1972
as Vincent Corbino
TVAssignment: Vienna
1972
as Floyd Macklin
TVThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
TVM*A*S*H
1972
as Col. Buzz Brighton
TVThe Rookies
1972
MovieThey Call It Murder
1971
as Frank Antrim
MovieThe Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
1971
as Harry Walsh
TVSarge
1971
TVMonty Nash
1971
as Ross Carter
TVBearcats!
1971
as Col. Ted Donovan
TVColumbo
1971
as A.J. Henderson
TVCannon
1971
as Joe Gilbert
MovieIncident in San Francisco
1971
as Lt. Brubaker
TVNight Gallery
1970
as Col. Dennis Malloy
MovieHauser's Memory
1970
as Joseph Slaughter
MovieThe Aquarians
1970
as Official
MovieNight Slaves
1970
as Sheriff Henshaw
MovieChange of Mind
1969
as Sheriff Webb
TVThe Bold Ones: The Protectors
1969
as Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth
TVBracken's World
1969
TVThe Bold Ones: The New Doctors
1969
as Mr. Cummings
The Movie Game (US)
1969
MovieHow to Commit Marriage
1969
as Phil Fletcher
MovieDeadlock
1969
as Lt. Sam Danforth
MovieTrial Run
1969
as Jason Harkness
MovieFour Rode Out
1969
as Mr Brown
MovieCompanions in Nightmare
1968
as Dr. Neesden
MovieDayton's Devils
1968
as Frank Dayton
TVThe Mod Squad
1968
as Rusty Bryson
MovieCocoon
1968
as Brent
TVHawaii Five-O
1968
as Brent
TVThe Name of the Game
1968
MovieHow to Steal the World
1968
as General Maximilian Harmon
MovieThe Wild Heart
1968
as Narrator
MovieShadow Over Elveron
1968
as Sheriff Verne Drover
TVIt Takes a Thief
1968
as SIA Security Man
MovieCounterpoint
1967
as Victor Rice
MovieRosie!
1967
as Cabot Shaw
TVJudd, for the Defense
1967
TVCimarron Strip
1967
MovieThe Reluctant Astronaut
1967
as Major Fred Gifford
TVIronside
1967
MovieThe Boy Who Flew with Condors
1967
as Narrator
MovieGunfight in Abilene
1967
as Grant Evers
MovieCode Name: Heraclitus
1967
as Fryer
MovieBeau Geste
1966
as Lt. De Ruse
MovieThe Plainsman
1966
as Col. George Armstrong Custer
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Hudson
Convoy
1965
TVThe Wild Wild West
1965
as Major General Ball
TVThe Big Valley
1965
as Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway
TVNational Geographic Specials
1965
as Narrator (voice)
MovieDark Intruder
1965
as Brett Kingsford
MovieHarlow
1965
as Richard Manley
MovieSee How They Run
1964
as Elliot Green
TVDaniel Boone
1964
as William Russell
MovieNight Train to Paris
1964
as Alan Holiday
TVThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as General Maximilian Harmon
TVVoyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964
TVKraft Suspense Theatre
1963
as Dr. David Cord
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
TVThe Farmer's Daughter
1963
TVChanning
1963
as Prof. Paul Stafford
TVThe Fugitive
1963
as Harold Cheyney
TVMiss USA
1963
as Self - Judge
The Art Linkletter Show
1963
TVThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1962
as Mr. Grainger
TVThe Virginian
1962
as John Hagen
TVThe New Breed
1961
as Lt. Price Adams
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Walter Burton
TVThe Defenders
1961
as Bob Garrison
TVRoute 66
1960
TVThriller
1960
as Alan Patterson
Moment of Fear
1960
TVThe Swamp Fox
1959
as Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)
TVBonanza
1959
as Sheriff Paul Rowan
MovieThe Velvet Alley
1959
as Eddie Kirkley
TVRawhide
1959
as Eli Becker
TVNaked City
1958
as Norman Garry
MovieThe Sheepman
1958
as Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
TVWagon Train
1957
as Brian Conlin
MovieTammy and the Bachelor
1957
as Peter Brent
MovieHot Summer Night
1957
as William Joel Partain
MovieThe Opposite Sex
1956
as Steve Hilliard
TVPlayhouse 90
1956
as Ralph Mohr
MovieThe Vagabond King
1956
as Thibault d'Aussigny
MovieForbidden Planet
1956
as Commander John J. Adams
MovieRansom!
1956
as Charlie Telfer
MovieThe Battle of Gettysburg
1955
as Narrator (voice)
First Performance
1955
as Ted
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Lloyd Ashley
TVFolio
1955
as Biff Loman
TVMGM Parade
1955
as Self
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Jess Trevor
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Colonel Francis Marion
Love Story
1954
MovieDark Possession
1954
as Dr. Roger Waring
TVMedallion Theatre
1953
TVGeneral Electric Theater
1953
as Judge Wayne Douglas
Short Short Dramas
1952
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
Out There
1951
TVGoodyear Television Playhouse
1951
TVTales of Tomorrow
1951
MovieThe Lost Will of Dr. Rant
1951
as Bill
Danger
1950
Sure As Fate
1950
The Web
1950
Stage 13
1950
TVThe Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
Starlight Theatre
1950
TVRobert Montgomery Presents
1950
as C. K. Dexter Haven
TVLights Out
1949
The Clock
1949
as David Kyle
TVSuspense
1949
TVStudio One
1948
Actors Studio
1948
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Host
