Legendary funnyman Leslie Nielsen has passed away at the age of 84. Sad news indeed for an actor who helped make us all laugh extremely hard with his slapstick performances in the classic movies “Airplane” and the “Naked Gun” series. Nielson started out as a serious actor with lead roles in the films “Forbidden Planet” (1956) and “The Poseidon Adventure.” (1972)
But what most of us know Nielsen for is his entrance into comedy films after stealing many scenes in the goofy 1980 comedy “Airplane!” which is easily one of the most quoted films I have ever seen. Nielsen’s ability to deliver comedic lines with a deadpan face helped him win over a new group of fans.
“Airplanes”creators Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker wisely chose Nielsen for their next big project, the “Naked Gun” series. It started first as a little seen TV series and evolved into a film franchise that made Leslie Nielsen a household name as a lead actor in comedy films. He spent most of the 90′s making parody movies in the same manner of the “Naked Gun” series.
Comedic actor Leslie Nielsen, best known as the star of such comedies as “Airplane” and the “Naked Gun” franchise, has died. The Canadian native was 84. His death was confirmed by his nephew Doug Nielsen, who told the Canadian radio station CJOB he passed away in a Ft. Lauderdale hospital on Sunday from complications of pneumonia.
Nielsen is perhaps best known for his role as the bumbling police officer Lt. Frank Drebin in the “Naked Gun” series, a part that came to Nielsen after 35 years as an actor and roughly 1,500 appearances in various films and television shows.
“Airplane!” & “The Naked Gun” Tribute
