Actors - Leslie Nielsen

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	Actors - Leslie Nielsen

Leslie William Nielsen, OC (born February 11, 1926) is a Canadian actor and absurdist. Although Nielsen’s acting career crossed a variety of genres in both television and movies, he achieved his greatest success in the comedies Airplane!
and The Naked Gun
series of films. His portrayal of serious characters unaware of their absurd surroundings gave Nielsen a reputation as a comedian. A series of later comedies attempted to emulate the popularity of his prior roles, although his later starring roles failed to match the success of his earlier work.

This paralleled the serious roles of his early career. A lead role in the science fiction classic Forbidden Planet
and as the ship's captain in The Poseidon Adventure
came long before Nielsen considered a turn to comedy. His deadpan delivery as a doctor in 1980’s Airplane! marked a turning point in Nielsen’s career, one that would make him, in the words of movie critic Roger Ebert, "the Olivier of spoofs".

Biography

Early life

Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan to Ingvard Nielsen, a Danish Canadian and Maybelle, who was of Welsh descent; he has two older brothers including Eric Nielsen who was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada during the 1980s. Leslie Nielsen studied at the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto before moving to the United States. Earlier, he attended Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton, Alberta. The school's archives room has his year book photo there for posterity; oddly enough, his future plans say nothing of wanting to act but that he enjoys pipe trades.

Early roles

Nielsen’s career began in dramatic roles, with numerous appearances as a doctor, lawyer, or police officer. His distinct voice narrated several documentaries and commercials. With a handful of exceptions, his early work as a dramatic actor was uneventful. All Movie Guide notes, “much of Nielsen's early work was undistinguished; he was merely a handsome leading man in an industry overstocked with handsome leading men.” .

A notable exception was Forbidden Planet
, the 1956 science fiction classic which was an inspiration for later films. Nielsen played Commander John J. Adams, the lead in the Shakespearian space opera based on The Tempest. Nearly two decades later, Nielsen would have another familiar role as Captain Harrison in The Poseidon Adventure
(1972).

Nielsen claims appearances in over 1,500 television programs. His early television appearances include parts in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Studio One, and Wild, Wild West. Occasionally he landed feature roles. Disney’s The Swamp Fox, a spin-off of the Davy Crockett series with Nielsen as Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion, also featured his singing of the theme song. In 1969, he appeared as a police officer in The Bold Ones: The Protectors. Both shows lasted a single season.

Airplane! and The Naked Gun

Nielsen’s breakthrough came with a supporting role in 1980’s Airplane!, a parody of the popular Airport
series of tragedy films. Nielsen played a doctor aboard an airplane whose crew has been struck with food sickness. His deadpan delivery contrasted with the absurdity surrounding him. When he is asked, “Surely, you can't be serious?”, he responds with a curt, “I am serious. And don't call me Shirley.” The comedic exchange was at #79 on The American Film Institute's list of Top 100 movie quotes.

Critics praised the movie, which proved to be a success with audiences as well. The film’s directors, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker, decided to bring the slapstick style of comedy to television. They asked Nielsen to play the lead role in their new series, Police Squad! The series introduced Nielsen as Frank Drebin, a stereotypical police officer modeled after earlier detective series. Much like Airplane!, Drebin was a serious character whose one-liners appeared accidental next to the pratfalls around him. The show failed, lasting only six episodes after being juggled between time slots.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Leslie Nielsen ]

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