biography of Leslie Nielsen
biography of Leslie Nielsen
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Nielsen in 1982
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| Born |
Leslie William Nielsen
February 11, 1926 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
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| Died | November 28, 2010 (aged 84) Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
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Resting place |
Evergreen Cemetery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Alma mater | Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts |
| Occupations |
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Years active |
1950–2010 |
| Notable work |
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| Spouses |
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Children |
2 |
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Relatives |
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Military career |
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Allegiance |
 Canada |
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Service |
 Royal Canadian Air Force |
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Years of service |
1943–1945[1][2][3][4] |
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Battles / wars |
World War II |
Leslie William Nielsen
OC (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters.
He made his acting debut in 1950, appearing in 46 live television programs a year. He made his film debut in 1956, with supporting roles in several dramas, westerns and romance films produced from the 1950s to 1970s.
Although his memorable performances in the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him standing as a dramatic actor, Nielsen later gained enduring recognition for his deadpan comedy roles during the 1980s, after being cast for the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedy film Airplane! [7] In his comedy roles, he specialized in portraying characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings. His performance in Airplane! marked a turning point which made him "the Olivier of spoofs", according to film critic Roger Ebert, and led to further success in the genre, starring in The Naked Gun film series, based on his earlier short-lived television series Police Squad!.
He received a variety of awards and was inducted onto Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Early life
Nielsen was born on February 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan. His mother, Mabel Elizabeth (née Davies), was an immigrant from Wales, and his father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen (1900–1975), was a Danish-born constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Poli Nielsen was born the second of two boys to both his parents. His elder brother, Erik Nielsen (1924–2008), was a long-time Canadian Member of Parliament, cabinet minister, and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1986. He also has a half-brother, Gilbert Nielsen, from his father's other relationship.
Nielsen's half-uncle Jean Hersholt was an actor known for his portrayal of Dr. Christian in a radio series of that title, and the subsequent television series and films.[16][17] In a 1994 Boston Globe article, he explained: "I did learn very early that when I would mention my uncle, people would look at me as if I were the biggest liar in the world. Then I would take them home and show them 8-by-10 glossies, and things changed quite drastically. So I began to think that maybe this acting business was not a bad idea, much as I was very shy about it and certainly without courage regarding it. My uncle died not too long after I was in a position to know him. I regret that I had not a chance to know him better."
As a child, Nielsen and his family lived in Fort Norman (now Tulita) in the Northwest Territories, where his father was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. They moved to Edmonton in 1930. His father was an abusive man who beat his wife and sons, and Leslie longed to escape. Following graduation from Victoria High School (later renamed Victoria School of the Arts) in Edmonton, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 17 in 1943 though he was legally deaf (he wore hearing aids most of his life) There he trained as an aerial gunner during World War II but was never sent oversea Upon the war's end, he was discharged and worked briefly as a disc jockey at a Calgary, Alberta, radio station, before enrolling at the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto
While studying in Toronto, Nielsen received a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse. He noted, "I couldn't refuse, but I must say when you come from the land of the snow goose, the moose, and wool to New York, you're bringing every ton of hayseed and country bumpkin that you packed. As long as I didn't open my mouth, I felt a certain security. But I always thought I was going to be unmasked: 'OK, pack your stuff'. 'Well, what's the matter?'. 'We've discovered you have no talent; we're shipping you back to Canada'."
He moved to New York City for his scholarship, studying theatre and music at the Neighborhood Playhouse, while performing in summer stock theatre. Afterward, he attended the Actors Studio, until his first television appearance in 1950 on an episode of Studio One, alongside Charlton Heston, for which he was paid $75 (equivalent to $980 in 2024)
About
Comic actor who starred in the Naked Gun franchise and in Airplane! He was known for his deadpan delivery, which helped make his oblivious characters believable.
Before Fame
He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force at age seventeen and made one of his earliest onscreen appearances in a sci-fi film called Forbidden Planet. He worked as a DJ and won a scholarship to attend the Neighborhood Playhouse.
Trivia
Although he established himself as a comedic actor, he was taken seriously in his role in The Poseidon Adventure. He played more than 200 characters over a prolific television and film career.
Family Life
His brother was Canadian politician Erik Nielsen. He was married to Barbaree Early from 2001 to 2010.
Associated With
He starred alongside Robert Hays and Julie Hagerty in Airplane!
MINI BIO :
Leslie William Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and raised in Tulita (formerly Fort Norman), Northwest Territories. His mother, Mabel Elizabeth (Davies), was Welsh. His father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born Mountie and a strict disciplinarian. Leslie studied at the Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto before moving on to New York's Neighborhood Playhouse. His acting career started at a much earlier age when he was forced to lie to his father in order to avoid severe punishment. Leslie starred in over fifty films and many more television films. One of his two brothers became the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. On October 10, 2002, he was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in recognition of his contributions to the film and television industries. On November 28, 2010, Leslie Nielsen died at age 84 of pneumonia and was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Achievements :
Among his awards, in 1995 Nielsen received UCLA's Jack Benny Award. In 1988, he became the 1,884th personality to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Blvd. In 2001, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame. The following year, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, although he was also a naturalized American citizen.
With Nielsen's American citizenship, he maintained his Canadian heritage: "There's no way you can be a Canadian and think you can lose it ... Canadians are a goodly group. They are very aware of caring and helping." On May 19, 2005, when Queen Elizabeth II visited his native Saskatchewan during the province's centennial gala, she was introduced to Nielsen.
In 1997, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.
On February 20, 2002, Nielsen was named an honorary citizen of West Virginia and an Ambassador of Mountain State Goodwill. Nielsen visited the state many times to speak and visit friends. In 2003, in honour of Nielsen, Grant MacEwan College named its school of communications after him. Also in 2003, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists awarded him the ACTRA Award of Excellence.
Filmography
Bibliography
- 1993: The Naked Truth
- 1995: Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Book with Henry Beard
- 1996: Bad Golf My Way with Henry Beard
Trademarks :
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