Leslie Nielsen, comedic actor famous for his roles in Airplane, The Naked Gun 3 movie Series & in the 1956 space drama The Forbidden Planet dies at the age of 84 due to complications from pneumonia. He died at a hospital near his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. with family near him.

Nielsen was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live TV dramas in New York. His acting career spanned several decades, starting with episodes of series including The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Tales of Tomorrow and encompassing several genres. Moving into film, Nielsen first performed as the king of France in the Paramount operetta The Vagabond King with Kathryn Grayson. The film flopped, but MGM signed him to a seven-year contract and he starred in 1956’s Forbidden Planet for that studio. Although he was known for more serious roles, including that of the doomed captain in The Poseidon Adventure, he became known in later years for his deadpan delivery in comedies featuring absurd situations, including 1980s’ Airplane!

He also starred in a horror movie Prom Night with Jamie Lee Curtis in 1980 but since then has mainly been know for his deadpan humour style in movies such as Naked Gun, a huge hit in 1988 followed by two sequels – Naked Gun 2&1/2 & Naked Gun 33 1/3. Among his movies in the 90s were also Repossessed,  Spy Hard, Dracula : Dead & Loving It, Mr. Magoo & Wrongfully Accused. In the last decade he has acted in Santa Who, Men With Brooms & as President Harris in Scary Movie 3 & 4. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame & Canada’s Walk Of Fame as well as made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Some of my favourite moments of years gone by are watching his movies. We will miss you a lot Lt. Frank Drebin. As a mark of respect to the late funny man, I am going to download a bunch of his movies to watch as a tribute. I could use the laughs.

Leslie William Nielsen, OC (February 11, 1926 – November 28, 2010)