Leslie Nielsen passed away Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 84. A serious actor who became a comedian with his career-changing parts in "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" comedies. He died of complications from pneumonia at a hospital close his home, enclosed by his wife, Barbaree, and friends, his agent, John S. Kelly, said in a statement.
Nielsen was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan. His father was a Royal Canadian mounted police officer and among his brothers became a deputy prime minister of Canada. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force after graduating from high school and after the service studied at a Toronto radio school operated by Lorne Greene — who would become a TV star with the series "Bonanza"— before moving to New York to start working in television.
Nielsen's later movies included "All I Want for Christmas" in 1991, "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" in 1995, "Spy Hard" in 1996 and "Mr. Magoo" in 1997. He also toured with his one-man show on the life of defense lawyer Clarence Darrow.
Nielsen was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan. His father was a Royal Canadian mounted police officer and among his brothers became a deputy prime minister of Canada. He joined the Royal Canadian Air Force after graduating from high school and after the service studied at a Toronto radio school operated by Lorne Greene — who would become a TV star with the series "Bonanza"— before moving to New York to start working in television.
Nielsen's later movies included "All I Want for Christmas" in 1991, "Dracula: Dead and Loving It" in 1995, "Spy Hard" in 1996 and "Mr. Magoo" in 1997. He also toured with his one-man show on the life of defense lawyer Clarence Darrow.
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