Leslie William Nielsen, OC, was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters. 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.
Nephew of the late actors Jean Hersholt and Via Hersholt.
Older brother was a high-ranking Canadian politician. Erik Nielsen was a Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (1957-87) for the Yukon Territory. He served as Leader of the Opposition and later rose to become the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1984-86). He died from a massive heart attack on September 4, 2008 in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
His father was Danish and his mother was Welsh.
While in Winnipeg, Canada, to promote their movie Men with Brooms , he and co-star Paul Gross received Honorary Citizenships from Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray at the Granite Curling Club.
Became a naturalized United States citizen on November 16, 1958.
Attended and graduated from Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton, Alberta.
Had one half-brother: Gilbert Nielsen who currently resides in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Was made an "Honorary West Virginian and Ambassador of Mountain State Goodwill" on February 20, 2002, by then-Secretary of State of West Virginia Joe Manchin III , now junior United States Senator for West Virginia (elected 2010) after having served as West Virginia Governor since 2004.
In fall 2003, the Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada opened the Leslie Nielsen School of Communications, with the actor on hand for the ceremony.
He was awarded the OC (Officer of the Order of Canada) by the Governor General of Canada on October 10, 2002 for his services to entertainment.
Had two daughters: Maura Nielsen Kaplan and Thea Nielsen Disney.
At age 17, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained as an aerial gunner.
Auditioned for the role of Messala in Ben-Hur , which went to Stephen Boyd.
Film critic Roger Ebert once called him "the Laurence Olivier of spoofs".
He was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , which went to Johnny Depp.
His father, Ingvard Nielsen , was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer for Northwest Territory and Saskatchewan.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on December 9, 1988.
Attended the Chiller Theater Expo in Parsippany, New Jersey along with actress Jamie Luner of "Profiler" , John Schneider , Angie Dickinson , Brian OHalloran , Danny Woodburn , David Hedison , Erik Estrada , Audra Lynn and Barry Williams on October 24, 2008.
May have been the first "Trekkie". According to "Star Trek" story editor and screenwriter D.C. Fontana , Nielsen called the production office the morning after the first episode and offered high praise. Star Trek was partially inspired by Nielsens classic Forbidden Planet .
He was considered for the role of Jack Torrance in Stanley Kubrick s The Shining , which went to Jack Nicholson.
Cousin of Jean Hersholt Jr. and Allan Hersholt.
Director/producer Wendy Dent presented Leslie Nielsen with the final award of his career, a Lifetime Achievement Award, at the star-studded 2005 Palm Beach International Film Festival Gala at the ritzy Boca Raton Resort. The black-tie affair was attended also by Woody Harrelson , Salma Hayek and tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams , but Nielsen was the talk of the night, accepting the award from Wendy Dent with a gentlemanly flirtatiousness after he first walked the red carpet armed with a flatulence-maker in his tuxedo pocket.
He was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in Palm Springs, California on December 4, 1997.
He was awarded a star on Canadas Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario in 2001.
Leslie Nielsen passed away only eight months after his Airplane co-star Peter Graves (who was also only a month younger than him).
Following his death, he was interred at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As a final piece of humor, he chose "Let er rip" as his epitaph.
[on using his famous "farting machine"] You have to have some body,movement, some wiggling of legs and hips in rhythm with the sound of,breaking wind. Actually in the north, in Fort Norman, that used to be,the way we said goodnight, although, of course, then we did it,naturally.
