In looking over the cast, I was surprised to discover the movie featured one of Leslie Nielsen’s non-comedic roles, as the captain.
IIRC he was doing some drama on tv during the 70s. That small role wasn’t out of the ordinary for him. He was also the captain in Forbidden Planet but that was back in the 50s.
Ironically, Maureen McGovern who sang "The Morning After", appeared in Airplane! as the Singing Nun.
Leslie was a serious actor for many years. He was in the cult classic The Forbidden Planet as a serious actor.
Without looking I’m trying to think who she was.
the ex prostitute wife of the retired cop, played by Ernest Borgnine?
Cause she would have been in her 30s.
Most of Nielson's roles have been non-comedic, over the course of over 100 movies and 150 television appearances.
It's interesting that he's mostly remembered for his comedy.
In looking over the cast, I was surprised to discover the movie featured one of Leslie Nielsen’s non-comedic roles, as the captain.
And surely, you're not serious.
Leslie Nielson had lots of non-comedic roles. Among other things he was in Forbidden Planet. The comedy was sort of a late-career detour, which made him more successful than ever before.
He got killed off early in the Poseidon Adventure, but no one called him Shirley.