RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed. ·
Nov 29, 2010 at 5:00am
As echoes of war rumble in the seas of Asia, as bombs blast two nuclear scientists in Iran, as fraudulent elections tear Haiti apart--here is one more piece of news that makes the world a less happy place. Comic actor Leslie Nielsen died today at 84 of complications with pneumonia.
I'll never forget the first time I saw Nielsen in a movie. I was around 8 or 9 years old and the Naked Gun movies were playing on television. It may have even been around the holidays. Watching those movies, I had never laughed so hard, or been so delighted by an actor.
So as the world seems to be falling apart around us--during the holiday season, no less--let's remember a man whose career ambition it was to bring joy and laughter and happiness into our hearts.
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May '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
I was only a bit younger than that when I saw him in 'Forbidden Planet.' One of the first times I visited an actual movie theater.
Sep '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
I was a big fan of the "Naked Gun" series. It's sad to see him go. RIP Leslie Nielsen.
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Leslie almost never traveled without his "whoopee cushion." He was a guest on a talk show of mine years ago, and he spent most of the time making noises with it. During a break, I said, "Leslie, you've got to stop. You're a grown man. ." His response? "No I'm not." On an elevator a few years later, I heard that embarrassing sound again, and I looked around to see him with his hand in his his pocket, grinning broadly. He truly reveled in the silly image he had cultivated since Airplane! and the boost it gave his career. He mastered the art of acting funny by acting serious. He did it better than anyone.
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Pat, thanks for sharing that story. Having a younger brother, I'm familiar with more whoopie cushion hijinxs than I'd like to admit.
I think "silly" is the perfect word to describe Nielsen's humor. I was at home with my family this morning, enjoying the last moments of Thanksgiving break, when we heard the news on the radio about Nielsen's death. The radio then played Nielsen's famous "Shirley" clip:
Can you fly this plane and land it
Surely you can't be serious
I am serious...and don't call me Shirley
After the clip finished playing, my dad and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. He said "that's so stupid"--but we both bursted out laughing anyway.
That's the great thing about Nielsen: he was able to ridicule the most inane and serious things with a straight face. He was a fabulous satirist in that way.
Sep '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Truth be told, when I was casting around for a pseudonymous handle Frank Drebin was briefly on the list, but I just couldn't.
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
I haven't seen Forbidden Planet. How does it compare to the Naked Gun movies, or even Spy Hard?
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Oh man--Pseudo, you would've stolen my heart.
Sep '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Oh man--Pseudo, you would've stolen my heart. · Nov 29 at 8:06am
Depending on the surgical assistance, that could have been messy.
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Pseudodionysius
Emily Esfahani Smith, Ed.
Oh man--Pseudo, you would've stolen my heart. · Nov 29 at 8:06am
Depending on the surgical assistance, that could have been messy. · Nov 29 at 8:11am
With jokes like that, you would have made a great Frank Drebin ; )
Nov '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
I must admit a certain level of perverse pride in Leslie Nielson, another erstwhile Canadian.
;-)
Edited on Nov 29, 2010 at 9:09amRe: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Robert Promm: I must admit a certain level of perverse pride in in Leslie Neilson, another erstwhile Canadian.
;-) · Nov 29 at 8:56am
Canada has produced some great ones! Mike Meyers, William Shatner, Dudley Do-Right (does he count?). And, in a different vein, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Mordecai Richler, Rufus Wainwright....
Jul '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
I grew up watching Leslie in movies like Shadow Over Elveron and Change of Mind where in Leslie played characters you didn't quite grow fond of. And his television guest roles were similar to those played by Jack Casady and Clu Gulagar (only mean) meaning you didn't have to guess who the "Bad Guy" was.
Imagine what it was like for me to see him in Airplane. The change in his career was stunning based on the roles I had seen him play for so long.
I'm glad that he was able to spend the last 30 years playing the kind of parts that he'd striven for in the first half of his career.
And Emily, your Classic Movie watching diet lacks Essential Vitamins if you have not taken the time to watch Forbidden Planet. Just the special effects alone (from the 1950's) are reason enough to see the movie.
Nov '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
One of my favorite Drebin scenes is during an episode of Police Squad where he's questioning a witness during a game of pick up basketball (in his suit). He asks him about the case while playing, then as he finishes his questioning, he steals the ball and nails a......oh, duh...youtube...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Ou82xK_28
@9:00
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Jaydee_007:
And Emily, yourClassic Movie watching diet lacks Essential Vitamins if you have not taken the time to watch Forbidden Planet. Just the special effects alone (from the 1950's) are reason enough to see the movie. · Nov 29 at 9:20am
I know I know! It's next up on my list!
May '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
-Surely you can't be serious.
-I am serious, and don't call me Shirley.
May '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
I recall reading some years ago an interview with Nielsen's children where they commented on their father's success as a comedic actor. Apparently, Mr. Nielsen wasn't seen during the first half of his life as a particularly funny person -- not by the studios, who kept casting him in straight, dramatic roles; and not even by his kids.
So when he landed Airplane! (pun not originally intended, but let's go with it), it was a surprise to everyone. Perhaps even to Mr. Nielsen himself.
Aug '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
Little known fact: His brother Eric was the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada in the 1980s.
May '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
One of my favorite exchanges from Airplane! He will be missed
Dr Rumack: Captain, how soon can you land?
Captain Oveur: I can't tell.
Dr. Rumack: You can tell me. I'm a doctor.
Captain Oveur: No. I mean I'm just not sure.
Dr. Rumack: Well, can't you take a guess?
Captain Oveur: Well, not for another two hours.
Dr. Rumack: You can't take a guess for another two hours?
Nov '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
To demonstrate what a Nielsen fan I am, I can recall without researching it that his father was a Royal Canadian Mountie, and the reason he walked a little bow-legged was the vitamin deficiency he suffered as a child growing up in a remote Canadian outpost.
My cohorts and I often adapted some of his bits from "Police Squad" and "Naked Gun" around our office, my favorite being the one where Nielsen is rummaging through a file draw and says, "Hey, it's the missing evidence from the Kelner case. My God--he really WAS innocent", to which a background voice responds, "He went to the chair two years ago, Frank". Nielsen just sheepishly shoves the file back in the draw. That, my friends, is Grade A police humor.
Goodbye, and thanks Lt. Drebin.
Jul '10
Re: RIP, Leslie Nielsen
The first person I can remember writing a fictional autobiography. He was excellent in Airplane sending up the type of over-serious roles he was known for. Emily, Forbidden Planet is a landmark sci fi film where Nielsen played the heroic lead. No silliness, but a great movie nonetheless.