Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

'Naked Gun' star Leslie Nielsen, dead at 84

Afp
Monday 29 November 2010 01:00 GMT
Comments

Veteran TV and movie actor Leslie Nielsen, whose dead-pan humor was immortalized in "Naked Gun" and "Airplane," died from pneumonia, TMZ celebrity website said Sunday.

Nielsen, a Canadian by birth, died Sunday in hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, his agent told TMZ.

Nielsen's nephew, Doug Nielsen, told Canada's CJOB radio station, in Winnipeg, that his uncle died Sunday "with his friends and his wife by his side, he just fell asleep and passed away."

Born in 1926 in Canada's rugged Saskatchewan and spent part of his childhood in a fort in Canada's Northwest Territories when his Danish-born father was a constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

He studied acting in Toronto and New York, where he appeared in several live television shows in the 1950s and narrated several documentaries and commercials, using his distinctive voice.

He acted in serious roles in several films from the 1950s onward, including "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972), but it took his role as a clueless doctor aboard a troubled passenger jet in "Airplane" (1980) to launch his successful career as a comedic actor.

The "Naked Gun" series of three movies in 1988, 1991 and 1994 cemented Nielsen's popularity, who followed it up with other starring roles in spoofs including "Repossessed" (1990) and "2001: A Space Travesty" (2000).

Lately, Nielsen starred as the wacky US president in "Scary Movie 3" (2003) and "Scary Movie 4" (2006).

In his 1993 autobiography "The Naked Truth," Nielsen lampoons himself by making up events in his life like winning two Oscars for best actor and having an affair with Elizabeth Taylor.

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Apple TV+ logo

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day

New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Twice nominated to Emmy Awards, in 1982 for his roles in the television comedy series "Police Squad" and in 1988 for his guest work in "Day by Day" television sitcom.

He is survived by his wife of nine years and two daughters.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in