Comic actor Leslie Nielsen has died aged 84 after suffering complications of pneumonia.
The Canadian actor and comedian has starred in more than 100 movies and TV programs and is probably best known for his appearances in the films Airplane! and The Naked Gun.
He was known as a serious actor with roles in popular dramas such as The Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure but became internationally famous after turning to comedy in the 1980s.
Film critic Roger Ebert once described him as ‘the Olivier of spoofs’. He was known for his characteristic deadpan delivery.
Thanks Miss Silver
A couple of YouTube videos of clips from movies Nielsen was in.
Nooooooooo!!
Police Squad was the best. Cancelled because ABC execs were concerned that people had to actually watch the show closely to get the humor. I was a young teen and found it hilarious.
I was so happy when Police Squad started as a mid season replacement series (I think). It only lasted a few weeks as I recall. It never caught on. I was really bummed out when it was canceled. Fortunately it came back in the Naked Gun movie series.
surely he will be missed and don’t call me Shirley.
surely he will be missed and don’t call me Shirley.
that was so good the computer thought it needed to be up there twice.
Lmao @ Shirley!
“And I just want you two to know–we are all counting on you.”
He will be missed.
Yeah…he will be missed. Comedy has lost a very funny man.
That is a great shame.
“A hospital? What is it?”
“It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now,”
Cos this news just sucks!
It’s the same old story. Boy finds girl, boy loses girl, girl finds boy, boy forgets girl, boy remembers girl, girls dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Thank you for the countless laughs, Leslie. =( My brother and I enjoyed watching Naked Gun when we were kids; it was on TV all the time, and we laughed out heads off. I called him today to tell him of this sad passing, and he too was pretty bummed out.
You crack ‘em up in heaven, Leslie. Crack ‘em all up till they die again from laughing to death. XD
Bless ya, Leslie Nielsen!
I think my most memorable was Priscilla Presley up a ladder, he looks up and says “nice beaver” as she hands him a stuffed beaver.
I actually watched “Forbidden Planet” just last night, in which Mr. Nielsen starred as Captain JJ Adams. He will be missed. How many of you remember this one- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5egaR4WvLPY
he will indeed be missed I loved police squad and the airplane movies the jive talk scene was too funny
Rumack: Captain, how soon can you land?
Captain Oveur: I can’t tell.
Rumack: You can tell me. I’m a doctor.
Captain Oveur: No. I mean I’m just not sure.
Rumack: Well, can’t you take a guess?
Captain Oveur: Well, not for another two hours.
Rumack: You can’t take a guess for another two hours?
he made every movie worth watching. even stan helsing, surely
Does anyone remember Dracula: Dead and Loving it? My favourite film of him.
More about Police Squad can be found here
More about the Naked Gun films can be found here.
I love the Police Squad.
“Is this some kind of bust?”
“Yes, very impressive.”
- one of my favorites.
Ah yes, Leslie Nielsen and his whoopee cushion. It wouldn’t have been funny if anyone else had done it, but for some reason he made it quite amusing. What a sad loss.
Sad times. My favorite.
“Cuban?” *offers him a cigar*
“No, no, Dutch-Irish…my father was from Wales.”
Someone else wrote the “lines”, it was how he delivered them that made him an iconic comedic actor. Lest we forget, he was a dramatic “leading man” actor for years. Ask any actor and they will tell you that comedy (done right) is the hardest job in the field.
RIP Leslie.