Born: February 11, 1926, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Leslie Nielsen was raised in Tulita (formally Fort Norman), Northwest Territories. His father was a Mountie and a strict disciplinarian. His mother was Welsh. 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 has starred in over fifty movies and many more TV films. One of his two brothers became the deputy prime minister of Canada. He is also the nephew of the late actor Jean Hersholt. Leslie says he first honed his acting skills by lying to his father to avoid punishment.

After a year in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Leslie decided to become and actor, and his parents approved.

Leslie trained with future stars like Paul Newman and Marlon Brando in New York at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Actors Studio. By 1950, he was working steadily in live TV dramas. MGM Studios signed him to be in "The Vagabond King" and "Forbidden Planet" in 1956. Then came the leading role in "Tammy And The Bachelor" Through the '60s and '70s, he could be seen in hundreds of TV shows and dozens of movies, usually as the bland guy in charge. In 1980, he was cast in the comedy "Airplane" as the deadpan doctor (don't call me Shirley).

Unbeknownst to anyone including himself, he was a brilliant comedic actor and his career was suddenly reborn. Then came the surprise 1988 hit "Naked Gun" and 2 successful sequels.

He has used his renewed fame to pursue his dream role. He bought the play Clarence Darrow and has toured since 1996 as Darrow, proving there is a serious actor behind the funnyman.

Filmography:

1. 1956 The Vagabond King
2. 1956 Ransom!
3. 1956 The Opposite Sex
4. 1956 Forbidden Planet -- Commander Adams
5. 1957 Hot Summer Night
6. 1957 Tammy and the Bachelor
7. 1958 The Sheepman
8. 1959 Swamp Fox ( TV Series )
9. 1961 The New Breed ( TV Series )
10. 1964 Night Train to Paris
11. 1964 Peyton Place ( TV Series )
12. 1965 Dark Intruder
13. 1965 Harlow
14. 1966 Beau Geste
15. 1966 The Plainsman
16. 1967 The Reluctant Astronaut
17. 1967 Gunfight in Abilene
18. 1968 How to Steal the World
19. 1968 Counterpoint
20. 1968 Dayton's Devils
21. 1968 Rosie!
22. 1969 How to Commit Marriage
23. 1969 Change of Mind
24. 1969 Bracken's World
25. 1972 The Explorers ( TV Series )
26. 1972 The Poseidon Adventure
27. 1972 Kung Fu ( TV Series )
28. 1973 ...And Millions Die!
29. 1976 Grand Jury
30. 1977 Day of the Animals
31. 1977 Sixth and Main
32. 1977 Viva Knievel!
33. 1979 City on Fire
34. 1979 Riel
35. 1980 Airplane!
36. 1980 Project: Kill
37. 1980 Prom Night
38. 1981 The Creature Wasn't Nice
39. 1982 Police Squad! ( TV Series )
40. 1982 Wrong Is Right
41. 1982 Creepshow
42. 1982 Foxfire Light
43. 1984 Shaping Up ( TV Series )
44. 1986 Soul Man
45. 1986 The Patriot
46. 1987 Nuts
47. 1987 Home Is Where the Hart Is
48. 1988 Dangerous Curves
49. 1988 The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!
50. 1990 Repossessed
51. 1991 The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear
52. 1991 All I Want for Christmas
53. 1993 Digger
54. 1993 Surf Ninjas
55. 1994 Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
56. 1995 Rent-a-Kid
57. 1995 Dracula: Dead and Loving It
58. 1996 Spy Hard ( executive producer )
59. 1997 Mr. Magoo
60. 1997 Family Plan
61. 1998 Wrongfully Accused
62. 1999 Camouflage
63. 1999 Pirates: 3D Show
64. 2000 Titanic Too: It Missed the Iceberg
65. 2000 2001: A Space Travesty ( writer & executive producer )

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