Leslie Nielsen

Biography

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Leslie Nielsen built a six-decade screen career that began with live television in 1950 and a film debut in The Vagabond King (1956). He spent years in dramatic and western roles, with Forbidden Planet (1956) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) giving him standing as a serious actor. The Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker parody Airplane! (1980) changed his direction, as his deadpan delivery led critic Roger Ebert to call him the Olivier of spoofs. Nielsen earned an Emmy nomination for Police Squad! (1982), in which he played Lieutenant Frank Drebin, and later revived that role in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994). He continued with spoofs such as Scary Movie 3 (2003) and Scary Movie 4 (2006). Nielsen received stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Canada's Walk of Fame.

84years old at death

Born February 11, 1926Regina
Died November 28, 2010Fort Lauderdale
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Leslie William Nielsen (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 44
Career span: 53 years1956 to 2009

Genres

Comedy68%, 30 films
Drama23%, 10 films
Action20%, 9 films
Horror16%, 7 films
Romance16%, 7 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Nielsen called the studios a Tiffany that had forgotten how to make silver and was unhappy with the films he was offered. He left MGM after trying out for Messala in the 1959 Ben-Hur, a part that went to Stephen Boyd.
First role
Nielsen's first feature film was the Michael Curtiz musical The Vagabond King in 1956, which he nicknamed The Vagabond Turkey.
Early training
While he was studying in Toronto, Nielsen was given a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse. He said he could not refuse it, though coming from the land of the snow goose and the moose to New York felt like bringing hayseed.
Behind the camera
Nielsen produced a series of comedic instructional golf videos, starting with Bad Golf Made Easier in 1993 and followed by two sequels.
Big break
Nielsen had a supporting role as Dr. Rumack in Airplane!, the 1980 film by Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker, and it was a turning point in his career.

Leslie Nielsen movies on Netflix

Stan Helsing2009IMDb rating 3.6as Kay
An American Carol2008IMDb rating 4.0as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
Superhero Movie2008IMDb rating 4.8as Uncle Albert
Family Guy Presents: Blue Harvest2007IMDb rating 8.2as Dr. Rumack
Music Within2007IMDb rating 7.2as Bill Austin
Scary Movie 42006IMDb rating 5.1as President Baxter Harris
Scary Movie 32003IMDb rating 5.6as President Harris
Men with Brooms2002IMDb rating 5.9as Gordon Cutter
Camouflage2001IMDb rating 4.6as Jack Potter
2001: A Space Travesty2000IMDb rating 3.5as Richard 'Dick' Dix
Santa Who?2000IMDb rating 5.4as Santa Claus
Wrongfully Accused1998IMDb rating 6.1as Ryan Harrison
Mr. Magoo1997IMDb rating 4.1as Mr. Magoo
Spy Hard1996IMDb rating 5.3as Dick Steele, Agent WD-40
Dracula: Dead and Loving It1995IMDb rating 5.9as Dracula
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994IMDb rating 6.5as Lt. Frank Drebin
Surf Ninjas1993IMDb rating 5.1as Colonel Chi
All I Want For Christmas1991IMDb rating 5.9as Santa
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991IMDb rating 6.9as Det. Lt. Frank Drebin
Repossessed1990IMDb rating 4.8as Father Jebedaiah Mayii
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988IMDb rating 7.6as Frank Drebin
Nuts1987IMDb rating 6.7as Allen Green
Soul Man1986IMDb rating 5.3as Mr. Dunbar
The Canadian Conspiracy1986IMDb rating 6.8as Himself
Creepshow1982IMDb rating 6.8as Richard Vickers (segment "Something To Tide You Over")
Wrong Is Right1982IMDb rating 5.6as Mallory
Airplane!1980IMDb rating 7.7as Dr. Rumack
Prom Night1980IMDb rating 5.3as Mr. Hammond
City on Fire1979IMDb rating 4.5as Mayor William Dudley
Day of the Animals1977IMDb rating 5.3as Paul Jenson
Viva Knievel!1977IMDb rating 3.7as Stanley Millard
The Poseidon Adventure1972IMDb rating 7.1as Captain Harrison
The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler1971IMDb rating 5.4as Harry Walsh
They Call It Murder1971IMDb rating 5.6as Frank Antrim
Four Rode Out1969IMDb rating 4.5as Mr. Brown
How to Steal the World1968IMDb rating 5.3as General Maximilian Harmon
The Reluctant Astronaut1967IMDb rating 6.3as Major Fred Gifford
Harlow1965IMDb rating 5.5as Richard Manley
The Sheepman1958IMDb rating 6.8as Col. Stephen Bedford
Tammy and the Bachelor1957IMDb rating 6.9as Peter Brent
Forbidden Planet1956IMDb rating 7.5as Commander Adams
Ransom!1956IMDb rating 7.0as Charlie Telfer
The Opposite Sex1956IMDb rating 6.1as Steve Hilliard
The Vagabond King1956IMDb rating 5.2as Thibault d'Aussigny

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988 Comedy, Crimeas Frank Drebin
IMDb rating 7.6226K votes
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991 Comedy, Crimeas Det. Lt. Frank Drebin
IMDb rating 6.9143K votes
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994as Lt. Frank Drebin
IMDb rating 6.5130K votes
Airplane!1980as Dr. Rumack
IMDb rating 7.7293K votes
Dracula: Dead and Loving It1995as Dracula
IMDb rating 5.949K votes
Spy Hard1996as Dick Steele, Agent WD-40
IMDb rating 5.343K votes
Scary Movie 32003as President Harris
IMDb rating 5.6177K votes
Superhero Movie2008as Uncle Albert
IMDb rating 4.886K votes

Most often with

David Zucker directed six of these films, Gordon Douglas two. Eight actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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George Kennedy

Kevin Hart

Regina Hall

Simon Rex

Red Buttons

O.J. Simpson

David ZuckerDirector, 6 films

Gordon DouglasDirector, 2 films

Films together

George Kennedy3 films together, 1988 to 1994
George Kennedy's page
- Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994IMDb rating 6.5Nielsen as Lt. Frank DrebinKennedy as Ed Hocken
- The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991IMDb rating 6.9Nielsen as Det. Lt. Frank DrebinKennedy as Det. Captain Ed Hocken
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988IMDb rating 7.6Nielsen as Frank DrebinKennedy as Ed Hocken
Kevin Hart3 films together, 2003 to 2008
Kevin Hart's page
- Superhero Movie2008IMDb rating 4.8Nielsen as Uncle AlbertHart as Trey
- Scary Movie 42006IMDb rating 5.1Nielsen as President Baxter HarrisHart as CJ
- Scary Movie 32003IMDb rating 5.6Nielsen as President HarrisHart as CJ
Regina Hall3 films together, 2003 to 2008
Regina Hall's page
- Superhero Movie2008IMDb rating 4.8Nielsen as Uncle AlbertHall as Mrs. Xavier
- Scary Movie 42006IMDb rating 5.1Nielsen as President Baxter HarrisHall as Brenda
- Scary Movie 32003IMDb rating 5.6Nielsen as President HarrisHall as Brenda Meeks
Simon Rex3 films together, 2003 to 2008
Simon Rex's page
- Superhero Movie2008IMDb rating 4.8Nielsen as Uncle AlbertRex as The Human Torch
- Scary Movie 42006IMDb rating 5.1Nielsen as President Baxter HarrisRex as George
- Scary Movie 32003IMDb rating 5.6Nielsen as President HarrisRex as George
Red Buttons3 films together, 1965 to 1977
Red Buttons's page
- Viva Knievel!1977IMDb rating 3.7Nielsen as Stanley MillardButtons as Ben Andrews
- The Poseidon Adventure1972IMDb rating 7.1Nielsen as Captain HarrisonButtons as Martin
- Harlow1965IMDb rating 5.5Nielsen as Richard ManleyButtons as Arthur Landau
O.J. Simpson3 films together, 1988 to 1994
O.J. Simpson's page
- Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994IMDb rating 6.5Nielsen as Lt. Frank DrebinSimpson as Nordberg
- The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991IMDb rating 6.9Nielsen as Det. Lt. Frank DrebinSimpson as Det. Nordberg
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988IMDb rating 7.6Nielsen as Frank DrebinSimpson as Nordberg
David ZuckerDirector, 6 films, 1980 to 2008
All films by David Zucker
- An American Carol2008IMDb rating 4.0Nielsen as Osama Bin Nielsen / Grandpa
- Scary Movie 42006IMDb rating 5.1Nielsen as President Baxter Harris
- Scary Movie 32003IMDb rating 5.6Nielsen as President Harris
- The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991IMDb rating 6.9Nielsen as Det. Lt. Frank Drebin
- The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988IMDb rating 7.6Nielsen as Frank Drebin
- Airplane!1980IMDb rating 7.7Nielsen as Dr. Rumack
Gordon DouglasDirector, 2 films, 1965 to 1977
All films by Gordon Douglas
- Viva Knievel!1977IMDb rating 3.7Nielsen as Stanley Millard
- Harlow1965IMDb rating 5.5Nielsen as Richard Manley
Also three films together2 more actors
- Priscilla PresleyNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
- Ed WilliamsNaked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991) and The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Leslie Nielsen's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.3 billion

25 of the 44 films have a worldwide figure.

25Worldwide figure
3US gross only
6Never in cinemas
10Figure not found

Top grosser

Scary Movie 32003President Harris$221 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 83% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Scary Movie 32003as President Harris
$221M16.4% of the total
2
The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear1991as Det. Lt. Frank Drebin
$192M14.2% of the total
3
Scary Movie 42006as President Baxter Harris
$179M13.2% of the total
4
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!1988as Frank Drebin
$152M11.3% of the total
5
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994as Lt. Frank Drebin
$132M9.8% of the total
6
The Poseidon Adventure1972as Captain Harrison
$85M6.3% of the total
7
Airplane!1980as Dr. Rumack
$83M6.2% of the total
8
Mr. Magoo1997as Mr. Magoo
$75M5.6% of the total