Leslie William Nielsen OC (11 February 1926 â€" 28 November 2010) was
a Canadian actor, comedian and producer. He appeared in more than 100
films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220
characters.Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in
the Royal Canadian Air Force and later worked as a disc jockey before
receiving a scholarship to study theatre at the Neighborhood
Playhouse. He made his acting debut in 1950, appearing in 46 live
television programs a year. Nielsen made his film debut in 1956, with
supporting roles in several drama, Western, and romance films produced
between the 1950s and the 1970s.Although his notable performances in
the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him
standing as a serious actor, Nielsen later gained enduring recognition
for his deadpan comedy roles during the 1980s, after being cast
against type for the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedy film
Airplane!. In his comedy roles, Nielsen specialized in portraying
characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings.
Nielsen's performance in Airplane! marked his turning point, which
made him "the Olivier of spoofs" according to film critic Roger Ebert,
and leading to further success in the genre with The Naked Gun film
series, based on the earlier short-lived television series Police
Squad!, in which Nielsen also starred. Nielsen received a variety of
awards and was inducted into the Canada's Walk of Fame and Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
a Canadian actor, comedian and producer. He appeared in more than 100
films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220
characters.Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in
the Royal Canadian Air Force and later worked as a disc jockey before
receiving a scholarship to study theatre at the Neighborhood
Playhouse. He made his acting debut in 1950, appearing in 46 live
television programs a year. Nielsen made his film debut in 1956, with
supporting roles in several drama, Western, and romance films produced
between the 1950s and the 1970s.Although his notable performances in
the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him
standing as a serious actor, Nielsen later gained enduring recognition
for his deadpan comedy roles during the 1980s, after being cast
against type for the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedy film
Airplane!. In his comedy roles, Nielsen specialized in portraying
characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings.
Nielsen's performance in Airplane! marked his turning point, which
made him "the Olivier of spoofs" according to film critic Roger Ebert,
and leading to further success in the genre with The Naked Gun film
series, based on the earlier short-lived television series Police
Squad!, in which Nielsen also starred. Nielsen received a variety of
awards and was inducted into the Canada's Walk of Fame and Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
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