1956
A SCI_FI CLASSIC
Posted on 11/29/2010 6:45:09 AM PST by Red Badger
He gave the world a lot of laughs, and now many around the world are mourning Leslie Nielsen.
The Regina-born actor who went from serious drama to inspired bumbling in "Airplane!" and the "The Naked Gun" comedies, died yesterday at the age of 84.
He passed away at a hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was being treated for pneumonia.
Nielsen's nephew, Doug Nielsen, says his uncle died in his sleep with his wife Barbaree by his side.
Though his Canadian roots ran deep -- his father was a Mountie and his brother, Erik, a Yukon M-P -- Neilson became a naturalized U-S citizen.
He appeared in more than 100 films, starting in the 50's and played it pretty straight for the first 30 years.
But then came Airplane in 1980 and everything changed.
Lampooning the serious roles he'd made a B-movie career of, Neilson morphed into a comic icon -- a new role that seemed a natural fit.
In more recent years, he appeared on the Canadian TV series "Robson Arms."
"Robson Arms" producer, Brian Hamilton, told The Canadian Press Neilson was a pleasure to work with -- always keeping the atmosphere light with his mischievous sense of humour, which often included his infamous whoopee cushion.
Hamilton says Neilson inspired a generation of comic actors and writers and will be greatly missed.
Nielsen has stars on Hollywood's and Canada's Walk of Fame and was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2002.
(Excerpt) Read more at ottawa.ctv.ca ...
What a shame.
He was hilarious!
I liked him in “Police Squad”
Yeah, my wife was a big fan of his and is depressed by this news.
RIP
He was funny without being vulgar...............mostly.........
He was very active in charity work using both his notoriety as a serious actor among older persons and his widespread fame as a film buffoon among younger persons as a drawing card to events.
1956
A SCI_FI CLASSIC
He was a “Captain Kirk” type in the classic “Forbidden Planet” (1956) Long before Star Trek..........
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049223/
Surely this article is mistaken......
He’s dead, Jim.
And don’t call me Shirley......................
Agreed. R.I.P. Mr. Neilson. Thank you for the laughs.
Vaya con Dios.
I’m never mistaken, and don’t call me Shirley.
RIP
The bathroom scene in “Naked Gun” made me fart and pee, just a little. Go with God, Mr. Neilsen.
I remember when he would play “heavies” on cop and detective shows in the ‘70’s.
He was great no matter what he did.
The late actor, Victor Buono, was once asked why he always played the bad guy in the movies, and he replied, “That’s easy. They always get the best lines!”....................
They forgot “an American Carol”
Also, am I the only one old enough to remember Neilson’s role as the Swamp Fox?
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, tail on his hat,
Nobody knows where the Swamp Fox is at.
Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, ridin’ through the glen,
He’ll ride away to fight again.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Swamp_Fox_%28TV_series%29
We didn’t get ABC in the 60’s. Just CBS and NBC...............
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