Leslie Nielsen, the veteran Canadian-born actor and star of the Naked Gun series, died Sunday in hospital near his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The 84-year-old died of complications related to pneumonia, his agent told TMZ celebrity website.
Nielsen’s nephew, Doug Nielsen, told Canada’s CJOB radio station in Winnipeg that his uncle died Sunday “with his friends and his wife by his side, he just fell asleep and passed away,” according to AFP.
Nielsen enjoyed a successful movie and television career spanning more than 60 years.
For the first half of his career he built his credentials playing serious roles such as the captain of the ill-fated cruise ship in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), but in later years was best known for his “deadpan” comic roles in Airplane (1980) and the Naked Gun series of three movies in 1988, 1991 and 1994.
More recent acting roles included the 2003 Hollywood spoof Scary Movie 3 and its sequel in 2006.
Nielsen was recognized with a variety of awards throughout his career and was inducted into both the Canada and Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of nine years and two daughters.
Tributes to Nielsen’s work poured in after news of his death.
Mason Willis from Adelaide, Australia, left this comment on the BBC News website: “Nielsen was a comedy landmark. He turned seemingly simple jokes and movements into belly laughter moments. His facial expressions and reactions were the joke—a classic. He will be missed. In the words of Lt. Frank Drebin: ‘Looks like the cows have come home to roost.’”
Many of the tweets quoted popular lines from Nielsen’s movies.
DominicPeppiatt tweets: “Surely you can’t be serious!” “I’m always serious... and don’t call me Shirley!” RIP Leslie Nielsen - I always say that quote on board planes.
Copyblogger tweets: “A hospital? What is it?” “It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.” R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen.
DScottFritchen tweets: “Doing nothing is very hard to do... you never know when you’re finished.” Leslie Nielsen.
Nielsen’s nephew, Doug Nielsen, told Canada’s CJOB radio station in Winnipeg that his uncle died Sunday “with his friends and his wife by his side, he just fell asleep and passed away,” according to AFP.
Nielsen enjoyed a successful movie and television career spanning more than 60 years.
For the first half of his career he built his credentials playing serious roles such as the captain of the ill-fated cruise ship in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), but in later years was best known for his “deadpan” comic roles in Airplane (1980) and the Naked Gun series of three movies in 1988, 1991 and 1994.
More recent acting roles included the 2003 Hollywood spoof Scary Movie 3 and its sequel in 2006.
Nielsen was recognized with a variety of awards throughout his career and was inducted into both the Canada and Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He is survived by his wife of nine years and two daughters.
Tributes to Nielsen’s work poured in after news of his death.
Mason Willis from Adelaide, Australia, left this comment on the BBC News website: “Nielsen was a comedy landmark. He turned seemingly simple jokes and movements into belly laughter moments. His facial expressions and reactions were the joke—a classic. He will be missed. In the words of Lt. Frank Drebin: ‘Looks like the cows have come home to roost.’”
Many of the tweets quoted popular lines from Nielsen’s movies.
DominicPeppiatt tweets: “Surely you can’t be serious!” “I’m always serious... and don’t call me Shirley!” RIP Leslie Nielsen - I always say that quote on board planes.
Copyblogger tweets: “A hospital? What is it?” “It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.” R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen.
DScottFritchen tweets: “Doing nothing is very hard to do... you never know when you’re finished.” Leslie Nielsen.
