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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
February 11, 1926
Died
November 28, 2010
Place of Birth
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Also Known As
- Leslie William Nielsen
- Лесли Нилсен
- لزلی نیلسن
Leslie Nielsen
4.6 Popularity
Biography
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.
Known For
8.4
Self (archive footage)
O.J.: Made in America
2016
8.2
Self (archive footage)
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
2013
2.9
Producer
Stonerville
2011
5.0
Doctor Nielsen
Spanish Movie
2009
4.2
Kay
Stan Helsing
2009
5.0
Mayor of Charlestown
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
2008
4.2
Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
An American Carol
2008
5.3
Uncle Albert Adams
Superhero Movie
2008
7.4
Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
2008
🎬
1.0
Himself
Lipshitz Saves the World
2007
Credits
O.J.: Made in America
as Self (archive footage)
2016
8.4
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
as Self (archive footage)
2013
8.2
Stonerville
as Producer
2011
2.9
Spanish Movie
as Doctor Nielsen
2009
5.0
Stan Helsing
as Kay
2009
4.2
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
as Mayor of Charlestown
2008
5.0
An American Carol
as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
2008
4.2
Superhero Movie
as Uncle Albert Adams
2008
5.3
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
as Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
2008
7.4
🎬
Lipshitz Saves the World
as Himself
2007
1.0
Music Within
as Bill Austin
2007
6.4
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
as Self
2006
7.0
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
as Self
2006
4.5
Gameshow Marathon
2006
0.0
Scary Movie 4
as President Baxter Harris
2006
5.5
Robson Arms
as Caldo Vasco
2005
4.6
🎬
Tubridy Tonight
2005
0.0
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
2005
10.0
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
as (Mouseking) (voice)
2004
6.1
Zeroman
as Zeroman (voice)
2004
5.2
Noël Noël
as Narrator (english version)
2003
6.5
Scary Movie 3
as President Baxter Harris
2003
6.0
Chilly Beach
as Santa (voice)
2003
5.5
Odd Job Jack
2003
2.0
Men with Brooms
as Gordon Cutter
2002
5.2
🎬
Liography
as Terrence Brynne McKennie
2001
0.0
🎬
Liocracy
2001
0.0
Camouflage
as Jack Potter
2001
4.3
Chilly Dogs
as Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
2001
5.3
Santa Who?
as Santa Claus
2000
5.5
2001: A Space Travesty
as Richard 'Dick' Dix
2000
4.3
🎬
Harvey
as Dr. Chumley
1999
0.0
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
as Self
1999
4.6
Family Guy
as Dr. Rumack (archive footage)
1999
7.4
Wrongfully Accused
as Ryan Harrison
1998
6.0
Safety Patrol!
as Mr. Penn
1998
4.4
Mr. Magoo
as Mr. Quincy Magoo
1997
4.5
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Mr. Penn
1997
6.7
Family Plan
as Harry Haber
1997
5.2
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
as Himself
1997
5.6
Harvey
as Dr. Chumley
1996
4.2
🎬
Life and Times
1996
3.5
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
as Self
1996
3.9
Spy Hard
as Dick Steele
1996
5.4
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
as Count Dracula
1995
6.1
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
as Baxter
1995
5.9
Die Harald Schmidt Show
as Self
1995
7.1
Rent-a-Kid
as Harry Haber
1995
5.6
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
as Lucio Cinico
1994
4.8
🎬
Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
as Host
1994
0.0
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
as Self - Audience Member
1994
0.0
Due South
as Sgt. Buck Frobisher
1994
7.6
🎬
The Danny Baker Show
1994
0.0
WWE SummerSlam 1994
as Himself
1994
5.7
Masters of Illusion: The Wizards of Special Effects
as Self
1994
0.0
Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult
as Lt. Frank Drebin
1994
6.5
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
as Leslie Nielsen
1994
2.7
World's Funniest Commercials
1994
0.0
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
as Himself
1993
6.5
Digger
as Arthur Evrensel
1993
6.4
The Unknown Marx Brothers
as Self - Narrator
1993
5.4
Surf Ninjas
as Colonel Chi
1993
5.0
Katie and Orbie
as Narrator
1993
0.0
Raw
as Leslie Nielsen
1993
6.8
🎬
Terry Wogan's Friday Night
as Self
1992
5.0
Chance of a Lifetime
as Lloyd Dixon
1991
5.2
All I Want For Christmas
as Santa
1991
5.6
🎬
Flesh 'n' Blood
as Red Houser
1991
6.0
Herman's Head
as God
1991
6.7
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear
as Lt. Frank Drebin
1991
6.8
Evening Shade
1990
5.6
Repossessed
as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
1990
5.2
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
as Host
1989
7.7
The Railway Dragon
as Narrator (voice)
1989
1.0
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
as Frank Drebin
1988
7.3
Dangerous Curves
as Greg Krevske
1988
2.8
Day by Day
1988
6.0
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
as Senator Erdain
1987
8.0
Nuts
as Allen Green
1987
6.3
Nightstick
as Thad Evans
1987
2.8
Home Is Where the Hart Is
as Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
1987
5.2
🎬
Race for the Bomb
as Lewis Strauss
1987
0.0
Soul Man
as Mr. Dunbar
1986
5.3
The Patriot
as Admiral Frazer
1986
3.2
The Canadian Conspiracy
as Self
1986
5.0
Striker's Mountain
as Jim McKay
1985
1.0
The Golden Girls
as Lucas
1985
7.6
227
1985
6.7
🎬
Doris Day's Best Friends
1985
0.0
The Ray Bradbury Theater
as Fantoccini
1985
6.8
Reckless Disregard
as Bob Franklin
1985
0.0
Blade in Hong Kong
as Harry Ingersoll
1985
0.0
Murder, She Wrote
as David Everett
1984
7.5
Murder, She Wrote
as Captain Daniels
1984
7.5
Finder of Lost Loves
as Matthew Vail
1984
5.7
Who's the Boss?
1984
7.4
Highway to Heaven
1984
7.4
🎬
Shaping Up
as Buddy Fox
1984
5.0
Spaceship
as Capt. Jamieson
1983
3.7
Cave-In!
as Joe Johnson
1983
3.8
🎬
Prime Times
as Self
1983
0.0
Creepshow
as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
1982
6.9
Wogan
as Self
1982
4.5
Wrong Is Right
as Mallory
1982
5.5
Police Squad!
as Lt. Frank Drebin
1982
7.9
Twilight Theatre
1982
0.0
🎬
Twilight Theater
1982
1.0
Foxfire Light
as Reece Morgan
1982
3.5
Aloha Paradise
as Grant Culberson
1981
5.0
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
as Paul Warren
1980
6.1
Prom Night
as Mr. Hammond
1980
5.7
Airplane!
as Dr. Rumack
1980
7.3
Dive to the Edge of Creation
as Self - Narrator
1980
0.0
OHMS
as Governor
1980
5.0
The Littlest Hobo
as Mayor Chester Montgomery
1979
7.3
City on Fire
as Mayor William Dudley
1979
5.0
Riel
as Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
1979
6.0
Backstairs at the White House
as Ike Hoover
1979
5.9
🎬
Institute for Revenge
as Counselor Hollis Barnes
1979
5.0
Vega$
1978
7.0
Little Mo
as Nelson Fisher
1978
7.5
Fantasy Island
as Doctor Whitfield
1978
6.4
The Amsterdam Kill
as Riley Knight
1977
4.7
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1977
4.5
The Love Boat
as Hank Hardaway
1977
6.3
The Love Boat
as Russ Blanchard
1977
6.3
The Love Boat
as Dan Michaels
1977
6.3
Lucan
1977
6.0
Sixth and Main
as John Doe
1977
0.0
Viva Knievel!
as Stanley Millard
1977
3.6
Day of the Animals
as Paul Jenson
1977
5.2
The Dawson Patrol
as Narrator
1977
0.0
🎬
Grand Jury
as John Williams
1977
2.0
Project: Kill
as John Trevor
1976
4.6
Brinks: The Great Robbery
as Agent Norman Houston
1976
0.0
🎬
King of the Underwater World
as Self
1975
0.0
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
1975
7.0
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
as Narrator
1975
0.0
The Swiss Family Robinson
1975
6.2
Sidestreet
1975
5.0
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
as Self - Narrator (voice)
1975
0.0
S.W.A.T.
1975
7.0
Dinah!
as Self
1974
6.7
The Manhunter
1974
5.0
Can Ellen Be Saved?
as Arnold Lindsey
1974
3.8
Kojak
as Michael Hagar
1973
7.0
The Return of Charlie Chan
as Alexander Hadrachi
1973
4.8
The Evil Touch
1973
5.5
Amanda Fallon
as Mr. Cummings
1973
0.0
The Letters
as Derek Childs
1973
6.2
Snatched
as Bill Sutter
1973
5.2
Barnaby Jones
as Edward Brendon
1973
6.9
Journey to the Outer Limits
as (voice)
1973
6.2
...And Millions Die!
as Jack Gallagher
1973
4.0
The Poseidon Adventure
as Captain Harrison
1972
7.1
Kung Fu
as Vincent Corbino
1972
7.7
Assignment: Vienna
as Floyd Macklin
1972
0.0
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
7.0
The Streets of San Francisco
as John T. Connor
1972
7.0
M*A*S*H
as Col. Buzz Brighton
1972
7.9
The Rookies
1972
6.8
They Call It Murder
1971
5.4
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler
as Harry Walsh
1971
5.4
Sarge
1971
5.0
🎬
Monty Nash
as Ross Carter
1971
5.5
Bearcats!
as Col. Ted Donovan
1971
6.2
Columbo
as A.J. Henderson
1971
8.1
Columbo
as Peter Hamilton
1971
8.1
Cannon
as Joe Gilbert
1971
6.6
Cannon
as Erich Strasser
1971
6.6
Cannon
as Weller Dane
1971
6.6
Incident in San Francisco
as Lt. Brubaker
1971
3.5
Night Gallery
as Col. Dennis Malloy
1970
7.8
Night Gallery
as The Phantom (segment "Phantom of What Opera?")
1970
7.8
Hauser's Memory
as Joseph Slaughter
1970
6.2
The Aquarians
as Official
1970
6.0
Night Slaves
as Sheriff Henshaw
1970
5.8
Change of Mind
as Sheriff Webb
1969
4.8
The Bold Ones: The Protectors
as Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth
1969
3.0
Bracken's World
1969
5.0
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors
as Mr. Cummings
1969
4.0
🎬
The Movie Game (US)
1969
0.0
How to Commit Marriage
as Phil Fletcher
1969
4.8
Deadlock
as Lt. Sam Danforth
1969
0.0
Trial Run
as Jason Harkness
1969
1.0
Four Rode Out
as Mr Brown
1969
3.6
Companions in Nightmare
as Dr. Neesden
1968
4.0
🎬
Dayton's Devils
as Frank Dayton
1968
1.0
The Mod Squad
as Rusty Bryson
1968
6.2
Hawaii Five-O
as Brent
1968
7.1
The Name of the Game
1968
6.8
Cocoon
as Brent
1968
8.0
How to Steal the World
as General Maximilian Harmon
1968
5.2
The Wild Heart
as Narrator
1968
0.0
Shadow Over Elveron
as Sheriff Verne Drover
1968
6.5
It Takes a Thief
as SIA Security Man
1968
7.2
Counterpoint
as Victor Rice
1967
6.0
Rosie!
as Cabot Shaw
1967
0.0
Judd for the Defense
1967
7.5
Cimarron Strip
1967
5.5
The Reluctant Astronaut
as Major Fred Gifford
1967
6.0
Ironside
1967
6.8
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
as Narrator
1967
6.0
Gunfight in Abilene
as Grant Evers
1967
6.5
Code Name: Heraclitus
as Fryer
1967
0.0
Beau Geste
as Lt. De Ruse
1966
5.3
The Plainsman
as Col. George Armstrong Custer
1966
4.8
The F.B.I.
as Hudson
1965
5.4
The Wild Wild West
as Major General Ball
1965
7.6
🎬
Convoy
1965
6.5
The Big Valley
as Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway
1965
6.1
National Geographic Specials
as Narrator (voice)
1965
6.9
Dark Intruder
as Brett Kingsford
1965
6.2
Harlow
as Richard Manley
1965
5.4
See How They Run
as Elliot Green
1964
4.0
Daniel Boone
as William Russell
1964
7.0
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
as General Maximilian Harmon
1964
7.1
Night Train to Paris
as Alan Holiday
1964
5.8
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1964
7.7
Kraft Suspense Theatre
as Dr. David Cord
1963
5.3
Kraft Suspense Theatre
as Paul Maytric
1963
5.3
🎬
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
5.7
🎬
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
as John Joslin
1963
5.7
The Farmer's Daughter
1963
5.0
Channing
as Prof. Paul Stafford
1963
7.0
The Fugitive
as Harold Cheyney
1963
7.2
The Fugitive
as Martin C. Rowland
1963
7.2
Miss USA
as Self - Judge
1963
6.0
🎬
The Art Linkletter Show
1963
0.0
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
as Mr. Grainger
1962
7.8
The Virginian
as John Hagen
1962
6.4
The Virginian
as Cleve Mason
1962
6.4
The Virginian
as Harry Lightfoot
1962
6.4
The New Breed
as Lt. Price Adams
1961
7.0
Dr. Kildare
as Walter Burton
1961
5.5
Dr. Kildare
as Harry Kleber
1961
5.5
The Defenders
as Bob Garrison
1961
5.9
Route 66
1960
6.3
Thriller
as Alan Patterson
1960
6.6
🎬
Moment of Fear
1960
0.0
The Swamp Fox
as Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox)
1959
6.7
Bonanza
as Sheriff Paul Rowan
1959
7.5
The Velvet Alley
as Eddie Kirkley
1959
0.0
Rawhide
as Eli Becker
1959
7.2
Naked City
as Norman Garry
1958
5.5
The Sheepman
as Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
1958
6.9
Wagon Train
as Brian Conlin
1957
6.6
Tammy and the Bachelor
as Peter Brent
1957
7.0
Hot Summer Night
as William Joel Partain
1957
5.6
The Opposite Sex
as Steve Hilliard
1956
5.2
Playhouse 90
as Ralph Mohr
1956
7.6
The Vagabond King
as Thibault d'Aussigny
1956
5.7
Forbidden Planet
as Commander John J. Adams
1956
7.3
Ransom!
as Charlie Telfer
1956
7.2
The Battle of Gettysburg
as Narrator (voice)
1955
5.8
🎬
First Performance
as Ted
1955
0.0
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Lloyd Ashley
1955
7.8
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
as Rudy Cox
1955
7.8
Folio
as Biff Loman
1955
0.0
Gunsmoke
as Jess Trevor
1955
6.6
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Colonel Francis Marion
1954
7.8
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Col. Francis Marion
1954
7.8
🎬
Love Story
1954
0.0
Dark Possession
as Dr. Roger Waring
1954
0.0
Medallion Theatre
1953
0.0
General Electric Theater
as Judge Wayne Douglas
1953
6.4
General Electric Theater
as Edward Morgan
1953
6.4
🎬
Short Short Dramas
1952
0.0
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951
8.6
🎬
Out There
1951
0.0
Goodyear Television Playhouse
1951
5.2
Tales of Tomorrow
1951
6.0
Tales of Tomorrow
as Harold 'Harry' Mason
1951
6.0
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
as Bill
1951
0.0
🎬
Danger
1950
8.0
🎬
The Web
1950
6.7
🎬
Sure As Fate
1950
6.0
🎬
Stage 13
1950
0.0
The Bob Hope Show
as Self
1950
7.0
🎬
Starlight Theatre
1950
0.0
Robert Montgomery Presents
as C. K. Dexter Haven
1950
5.6
Robert Montgomery Presents
as George
1950
5.6
Robert Montgomery Presents
as Gates Holden
1950
5.6
Lights Out
1949
5.8
🎬
The Clock
as David Kyle
1949
0.0
Suspense
1949
4.9
Suspense
as Serge Soudekine
1949
4.9
Studio One
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Chris Jackson
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Stan Janicek
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Dr. Clayborn
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Mac
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Dr. Roger Waring
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Edmund
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Tallman
1948
5.0
Studio One
as Karl
1948
5.0
🎬
Actors Studio
1948
7.6
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Host
1944
7.2