BORN ON THIS DAY:
Leslie Nielsen (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor, comedian, and producer. He appeared in more than 100 films and 150 TV programs. He worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to study theatre at the Neighborhood Playhouse. He made his acting debut in 1950.
His performances in the films include Forbidden Planet, The Poseidon Adventure, Creepshow, Airplane!, Dracula - Dead and Loving It, The Naked Gun film series, plus many others. Nielsen received a variety of awards and was inducted into the Canada and Hollywood Walks of Fame.
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
Although his notable performances in the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him standing as a serious 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! In his comedy roles, Nielsen specialized in portraying characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings. Nielsen's performance in Airplane! marked his turning point, which made him "the Olivier of spoofs" according to film critic Roger Ebert, and leading to further success in the genre with The Naked Gun film series, based on the earlier short-lived television series Police Squad!, in which Nielsen also starred. Nielsen received a variety of awards and was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As Francis Marion in THE SWAMP FOX (1959)
THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE (1972)
CREEPSHOW (1982)
AIRPLANE! (1980)
Nielsen passed away on November 28, 2010 at age 84. His body was interred in Fort Lauderdale's Evergreen Cemetery. As a final bit of humour, Nielsen chose "Let 'er rip" as his epitaph.
