Highest rated as cast or director
Leslie Nielsen's 6 titles from the 1980s have a median Balasaur Score of 72, led by Police Squad! (82) and Airplane! (81), against 47 for those from the 1990s.
Biography
Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a Canadian American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in over one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying over 220 characters. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, 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.
Acted in 203
2010s
- 2011
Stonerville
Producer
2000s
- 2009
Spanish Movie
Doctor Nielsen
- 2008
Slap Shot 3: The Junior League
Mayor of Charlestown
- 2007
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest
Dr. Rumack (archive voice)
- 2006
Gameshow Marathon
TV
- 2005
- 2004
The Nutcracker and the Mouseking
(Mouseking) (voice)
Zeroman
Zeroman (voice) · 13 episodes
- 2003
Chilly Beach
Santa (voice) · 1 episode
Odd Job Jack
TV
- 2002
- 2001
Chilly Dogs
Clive Thorton / Cab Driver
- 2000
Santa Who?
Santa Claus
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
Safety Patrol!
Mr. Penn
- 1997
Pirates 4-D
Captain Lucky
- 1996
Harvey
Dr. Chumley
- 1995
Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree
Baxter
Rent-a-Kid
Harry Haber
- 1994
S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago
Lucio Cinico
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf My Way
Leslie Nielsen
World's Funniest Commercials
Movie
- 1993
Digger
Arthur Evrensel
- 1991
All I Want For Christmas
Santa
- 1990
1980s
- 1988
Dangerous Curves
Greg Krevske
- 1987
Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery
Senator Erdain
Nuts
Allen Green
Home Is Where the Hart Is
Sheriff Nashville Schwartz
- 1986
The Patriot
Admiral Frazer
- 1985
Striker's Mountain
Jim McKay
Reckless Disregard
Bob Franklin
Blade in Hong Kong
Harry Ingersoll
- 1984
- 1983
Spaceship
Capt. Jamieson
Cave-In!
Joe Johnson
- 1982
Wrong Is Right
Mallory
Twilight Theatre
Movie
- 1981
Aloha Paradise
Grant Culberson · 1 episode
- 1980
The Night the Bridge Fell Down
Paul Warren
OHMS
Governor
1970s
- 1979
Riel
Major Leif Newry Fitzroy Crozier
Backstairs at the White House
Ike Hoover · 4 episodes
Institute for Revenge
Counselor Hollis Barnes
- 1978
Little Mo
Nelson Fisher
- 1977
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
TV
Lucan
TV
Sixth and Main
John Doe
- 1976
Brinks: The Great Robbery
Agent Norman Houston
- 1975
The Swiss Family Robinson
TV
- 1974
Can Ellen Be Saved?
Arnold Lindsey
- 1973
The Return of Charlie Chan
Alexander Hadrachi
The Evil Touch
TV
The Letters
Derek Childs
Snatched
Bill Sutter
...and millions will die!
Jack Gallagher
- 1972
Kung Fu
Vincent Corbino · 4 episodes
Assignment: Vienna
Floyd Macklin · 1 episode
- 1971
Monty Nash
Ross Carter · 1 episode
Bearcats!
Col. Ted Donovan · 1 episode
Incident in San Francisco
Lt. Brubaker
Sarge
TV
- 1970
Hauser's Memory
Joseph Slaughter
The Aquarians
Official
Night Slaves
Sheriff Henshaw
1960s
- 1969
Change of Mind
Sheriff Webb
The Bold Ones: The Protectors
Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth · 6 episodes
Bracken's World
TV
How to Commit Marriage
Phil Fletcher
Deadlock
Lt. Sam Danforth
Trial Run
Jason Harkness
- 1968
Companions in Nightmare
Dr. Neesden
Dayton's Devils
Frank Dayton
Cocoon
Brent
How to Steal the World
General Maximilian Harmon
Shadow Over Elveron
Sheriff Verne Drover
- 1967
Rosie!
Cabot Shaw
The Reluctant Astronaut
Major Fred Gifford
Gunfight in Abilene
Grant Evers
Code Name: Heraclitus
Fryer
- 1966
Beau Geste
Lt. De Ruse
- 1965
Dark Intruder
Brett Kingsford
Harlow
Richard Manley
- 1964
See How They Run
Elliot Green
Night Train to Paris
Alan Holiday
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
- 1960
1950s
- 1959
The Swamp Fox
Francis Marion (The Swamp Fox) · 8 episodes
The Velvet Alley
Eddie Kirkley
- 1958
The Sheepman
Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe
- 1957
Hot Summer Night
William Joel Partain
- 1956
The Vagabond King
Thibault d'Aussigny
Ransom!
Charlie Telfer
- 1955
- 1954
Dark Possession
Dr. Roger Waring
- 1953
General Electric Theater
Judge Wayne Douglas, Edward Morgan · 1 episode
- 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV
The Lost Will of Dr. Rant
Bill
- 1950
Produced 2
1990s
- 1997
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Executive Co-Producer
- 1996
Appearances39
2010s
- 2016
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage)
- 2013
Mel Brooks: Make a Noise
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2006
Amazing! Exploring the Far Reaches of Forbidden Planet
Self
Robby the Robot: Engineering a Sci-Fi Icon
Self
- 2005
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
- 2004
The Best of So Graham Norton
Self (archive footage)
- 2003
Noël Noël
Narrator (english version)
1990s
- 1999
- 1997
Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video
Himself
- 1996
- 1995
- 1994
Cybermania '94 - The Ultimate Gamer Awards
Host · 1 episode
An Audience with Jimmy Tarbuck
Self - Audience Member
WWE SummerSlam 1994
Himself
- 1993
Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier
Himself
The Unknown Marx Brothers
Self - Narrator
Katie and Orbie
Narrator · 78 episodes
1980s
- 1989
Back to the Future (Part II): Behind-the-Scenes Special Presentation
Host
The Railway Dragon
Narrator (voice)
- 1986
The Canadian Conspiracy
Self
- 1982
Twilight Theater II
Self- Host
- 1980
Dive to the Edge of Creation
Self - Narrator
1970s
- 1977
The Dawson Patrol
Narrator
- 1975
The Outlaw Cats of Colossal Cave
Narrator
Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience
Self - Narrator (voice)
- 1974
- 1973
Journey to the Outer Limits
Narrator (voice)
1960s
- 1968
The Wild Heart
Narrator
- 1967
The Boy Who Flew with Condors
Narrator
- 1965
- 1963
1950s
- 1955
- 1950
