Leslie Nielsen 1926-2010

[Van Basten II]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/nyregion/29nielsen.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Edited November 29, 2010 by Van Basten II

[GA Russell]

RIP. He was a favorite of mine.

[Alexander]

I was never a fan, but I am sorry to see him go. It always seemed to me that Nielsen, in his "second career," was never really in on the joke. When he was cast in "Airplane," it wasn't for his comedic genius. It was because he was just the sort of wooden actor who appeared in disaster movies (and Nielsen did plenty of those). The hilarity grew out of his speaking absurd lines with the same fake-gravitas he used in his dramatic parts. For some reason, he kept getting cast in comedies, and the sad part is that he really seemed to believe that he was a comedian. He did seem to understand that they cast him as a hack actor because he WAS a hack actor.

[Harold_Z]

RIP Leslie - he always made me laugh. I remember seeing him on some late night talk shows and he always seemed like a wacky (in the positive sense)character to me.

Going way back - and I may be mistaken here - but was he Mr. Sands on the Ann Southern show?

[Dave James]

Nielson played the lead in one of the two best science fiction films from the '50's, Forbidden Planet. I first saw him in a Disney show called The Swamp Fox. If I'm recalling correctly, It was one of those Spin & Marty, Hardy Boys, White Shadow serialized adjuncts to the Mickey Mouse Club. I'm not sure I've ever laughed as hard as I did the first time I saw Naked Gun. That scene where he knocks out the real umpire and winds up calling the baseball game is classic. That guy was definitely responsible for some good laughs. When it's all said and done, that's not a bad way to be remembered. Goodnight, Frank.

[GA Russell]

Dave, my recollection is that The Swamp Fox was shown on a series called Walt Disney Presents, and alternated with Zorro and The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca (who was Robert Loggia).

[Jazzmoose]

No one could deliver the line "nice beaver" like Neilson.

[Dan Gould]

I was never a fan, but I am sorry to see him go. It always seemed to me that Nielsen, in his "second career," was never really in on the joke. When he was cast in "Airplane," it wasn't for his comedic genius. It was because he was just the sort of wooden actor who appeared in disaster movies (and Nielsen did plenty of those). The hilarity grew out of his speaking absurd lines with the same fake-gravitas he used in his dramatic parts. For some reason, he kept getting cast in comedies, and the sad part is that he really seemed to believe that he was a comedian. He did seem to understand that they cast him as a hack actor because he WAS a hack actor.

No, what is sad is that an amateur like you is taking hacks at someone like Leslie Nielsen.

"For some reason he kept getting cast in comedies"?

Give me a fucking break.

[AllenLowe]

"is this some kind of a bust?"

"yes, it's very nice."

"now that I'm retired, next time I shoot someone I could get into real trouble."

[Guy Berger]

RIP, Enrico Palazzo

(The opening scene of the first "Naked Gun" is among the funniest cinematic sequences I have ever seen... brilliantly lampooned on Family Guy.)

[Randy Twizzle]

My link

[Hardbopjazz]

[Frank seems to look up Jane's skirt as she climbs a ladder right in font of him]

Frank Drebin: Nice beaver!

Jane Spencer: Thanks, I just had it stuffed. [hands him a stuffed beaver]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RIP.

Edited November 29, 2010 by Hardbopjazz

[Larry Kart]

The idea that Nielsen wasn't in on the joke (and Robert Stack and Lloyd Bridges in "Airplane," likewise) is absurd. Not only would these guys have to be unbelievably stupid not to get it, but it would have been unbelievably dangerous for them to be cast in these straight-man-in-the-midst-of-farce roles while keeping them in the dark about the farcical nature of the project.

[Noj]

"I just want to tell you both good luck, we're all counting on you."

RIP

[clifford_thornton]

RIP. He made me laugh. A lot.

[Ted O'Reilly]

"Police Squad", Neilsen's short-lived TV series which introduced the Frank Drebin character, was a spoof of the earlier Lee Marvin show "M Squad", which also had a great Benny Carter theme, played by the Count Basie band (and released on Roulette). Ira Newborn 'ripped it off' in the same spirit as the whole show.

The original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHoisdgnDv8

The spoof:

[gmonahan]

Police Squad and its goofy movie follow-ups are comic masterpieces, thanks in large part to Nielsen's wonderful work. What a *great* second career! RIP.

gregmo

[.:.impossible]

My brother and I watched Airplane countless times as kids on HBO. Then The Naked Gun series. We grew up on that absurd humor. We thought he was great.

Rest in peace.

[Big Al]

The scene in "Naked Gun" where Drebin forgets to turn off his mike before going to the restroom remains for me one of the funniest scenes ever made.

Not in on the joke my ass. He even said so himself when he was hosting Saturday Night Live once. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was along the lines of "People think I'm funny despite the fact that I really don't do or say anything funny. But people think I'm funny." The only person, ONLY person, who did deadpan better than Leslie Nielsen was the great Margaret Dumont, and she was the first to admit she didn't have a clue what was going on around her. Which made her reactions that much more priceless. THAT is called acting.

RIP Leslie Nielsen. Thanks for the many MANY laughs. I guess we can stop calling you Shirley now.

[JSngry]

The guy was a hoot. Much love here.

[Chuck Nessa]

From here too.

edit for thick fingers.

Edited November 30, 2010 by Chuck Nessa

[Tim McG]

"And don't call me Shirley."

One of the all-time best at his craft.

I, for one, will miss him very much.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Nielsen.

[PHILLYQ]

Police Story, Naked Gun,Airplane- the guy cracked me up for years. RIP and many thanks for the great laughs.

[Teasing the Korean]

In Leslie's honor, I will spin the Louis and Bebe Barron soundtrack to "Forbidden Planet" and also the soundtrack to "Naked Gun" by whoever composed that one (I've forgotten).

[Free For All]

In Leslie's honor, I will spin the Louis and Bebe Barron soundtrack to "Forbidden Planet" and also the soundtrack to "Naked Gun" by whoever composed that one (I've forgotten).

Ira Newborn