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Prologue: OK, in my last blog I accused someone of being dead that wasn’t, so this time I made sure.
I was saddened to hear about the passing of Leslie Nielsen yesterday. Using his deadpan talent to create unforgettable roles in “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” series, he was one of the last great comedic actors from my youth (so many are now gone, including John Belushi, Richard Pryor, Divine, and Marty Feldman.)
In addition to making the line “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley” a household phrase, Nielsen was a television actor as well, appearing on many westerns, dramas, and sitcoms, including “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and “Night Gallery.”
He also starred as Bea Arthur’s husband-to-be in the last two episodes of “The Golden Girls,” and who can forget his…ahem…. unforgettable appearances in “Scary Movie” 3 and 4.
Although not as well known, Nielsen also continued to appear in serious, dramatic roles throughout his career, and continued to act on the stage, as well. He was one of an elite group that has both a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as being an inductee of Canada’s Walk of Fame. He also was an Officer of the Order of Canada, an Ambassador of Mountain State Goodwill in the state of West Virginia, and a recipient of UCLA’s Jack Benny Award.
One of my favorite memories of Leslie Nielsen was when he was a guest host on Saturday Night Live in the late-80s. He starred as himself in a commercial for “sensitive” products for older people, such as Bung-King hemorrhoidal cream and Dripmaster adult diapers (“It takes the worry out of walking around. In fact, I’m relieving myself….(pause)….right now!”)
Nielsen showed that real comedians aren’t afraid to laugh at themselves and NEVER take themselves too seriously (are you listening, Rosie O’Donnell? Michael Richards?)
Some little-known facts about Nielsen:
He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at the age of 17.
He was a disc jockey.
He made his first television appearance in 1948, acting alongside Charlton Heston.
He starred in a spoof of “The Exorcist” alongside Linda Blair called “Repossessed.”
Due to his enormous success and memorable lines in “Airplane!”, many people to this day still believe he starred in “Airplane II: The Sequel,” as well (he did not).
And, most interesting…(to me, anyway)…
He actually has a small, uncredited role in 1977’s “Kentucky Fried Movie,” a film many consider to be the granddaddy of the satire/spoof genre, with movies like “Airplane!” and “The Naked Gun” being prime examples of the “Kentucky Fried Movie’s undeniable influence.
Nielsen died Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., of complications from pneumonia. He was 84.
