The actor best known for starring in such comedies as "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" film franchise died Sunday of complications from pneumonia.
Leslie Nielsen, the actor best known for starring in such comedies as Airplane! and theNaked Gun film franchise, died Sunday of complications from pneumonia at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84.
We are sadden by the passing of beloved actor Leslie Nielsen, probably best remembered as Lt. Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun series of pictures, but who enjoyed a more than 60-year career in motion pictures and television," said a statement from Nielsen's family released through his rep.
Nielsen was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. His acting career spanned several decades, starting in the 1950s with episodes of series including The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Tales of Tomorrow and encompassing several genres. But he became known in later years for his deadpan delivery in comedies featuring absurd situations, including 1980s's Airplane!, a parody of Zero! Hour, Airport and other movies about flying.
After Airplane! became a hit, the film's directors -- Jim Abrahams, David Zucker andJerry Zucker -- wanted to take the film's slapstyle style of comedy to TV. They asked Nielsen to play the lead role in their new series "Police Squad!"
In the show, Nielsen played Frank Drebin, a stereotypical police officer modeled after characters in earlier police TV series. The show lasted only six episodes but earned Nielsen an Emmy nom for lead actor in a comedy series.
Six years later, Nielsen reprised his role for a feature-length version of the show, Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad, as well as two sequels.
In lieu of flowers, Nielsen's family is asking that donations in his name be made "to the charity of your choice."
Aaah, he will be missed. He came to Milwaukee a lot and was a big time local favorite. Our local DJ's Reitman and Mueller always had a blast with him.
Everytime I think of the movie airplane (and actually just three or four days ago I was thinking about this) I think about the first time my Dad & I saw that movie. We had rented the VHS and I don't think there was ever a time that both of us found the same movie so funny. We were laughing out loud almost constantly.
I remember my Mom was on the phone in the kitchen talking to her sister and she kept commenting on how it sounded like we were losing out minds in the living room.
RIP Leslie! You made a lot of people laugh in your lifetime! Your work here was done!
I loved Airplane... and Naked Gun. Very sad.
