Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor born on February 11, 1926. He is best known for his roles in comedy films, particularly in the Airplane! and Naked Gun series, where his deadpan delivery and timing made him a beloved figure in comedy. Nielsen had a long and successful career in film and television, appearing in both serious and comedic roles. He passed away on November 28, 2010, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and entertainment that continues to be appreciated by audiences around the world.
"I really have to keep an eye on myself, because sometimes I think I might say something important."
"I played a lot of leaders, autocratic sorts; perhaps it was my Canadian accent."
"Yes, it's true, I've been called the Laurence Olivier of spoofs. I guess that would make Laurence Olivier the Leslie Nielsen of Shakespeare."
"You know it's very difficult to be an actor, and to have people depending on you to say the right line, at the right time, and to not be able to hear your cues! I can't tell you how many times I would've had to have said What? if I didn't have my hearing aids. So my hearing aids are a life saver, and they allow me to practice my craft."
"I've always been part of comedy. One of the things about our family was that if we were reasonably funny with each other, particularly my two brothers and myself, when my father was upset with something you'd want to make sure in some way you made him laugh. Because when he didn't laugh, you were in trouble!"
"I had to weave and play around with a honey bear, you know, and I could wrestle with him a little bit, but there's no way you can even wrestle a honey bear, let alone a grizzly bear that's standing ten feet to eleven feet tall! Can you imagine? But it was fascinating to work that close to that kind of animal."