“I just want to wish you both good luck. We’re all counting on you.”
Comedy legend Leslie Nielsen died today after a two-week battle with pneumonia. He was 84. MSNBC reports:
Nielsen came to Hollywood in the mid-1950s after performing in 150 live television dramas in New York. With a craggily handsome face, blond hair and 6-foot-2 height, he seemed ideal for a movie leading man.
He quickly became known as a serious actor, although behind the camera he was a prankster. That was an aspect of his personality never exploited, however, until “Airplane!” was released in 1980 and became a huge hit.
While this obviously wasn’t the note I wanted to come back on, there’s no way I couldn’t acknowledge an actor whose work I obsessively grew up on and recited line for line. From Airplane! to Police Squad to The Naked Gun, there was one constant force of impeccable timing and delivery that made them instant classics, and with probably the most audible collective gasp I’ve seen in all my years on this job, he’s gone now.
Rest in Peace, Leslie.
not cool :(
also not first
Very funny guy. He will be missed. RIP.
TRULY an original. He is the reason why there’s a Scary Movie 3 poster on my wall. I was really excited for The Naked Gun 4. RIP
~ And by the way.. I faked every orgasm.~ RIP Leslie.
So super depressed about this. I was the same as you Fish, I grew up on his movies. He was an absolute legend.
RIP Leslie.
A true legend, his legacy will without doubt live on for years to come. Don’t forget, we’re all counting on you.
I think mayor adam west will be next :(
I fear for Mel Brooks… one by one, my comedy gods fall.
I know! I thought the same thing. I will be devastated when he goes. Cloris Leachman as well.
dear lord, what happened to comedy?!?
late 70′s through early 90′s comedy is hysterical! conan seems to be the only funny man around these days. snl needs to be put down, they’re lucky if just one sketch gets a smirk out of people.
No there are alot of good comedians out there, they just do stand up comedy
The problem is that hollywood executives are missing a brain, either that or they are retarded, so they hire the most mediocre and lame comedians for their movies, hoping that, a dumb down stupid comedian will get as much of the general population as they can, it seems the smarter the comedian the less fans he has,
I personally love LOVE bill maher
another good one is Louis C.K. he is just so freaking awesome
Lewis Black
Stephen Colbert, VERY funny guys,
but, odds are most people have no idea who i am talking about, yet fucking Adam sandler still making Shit movies
“Nice beaver!” Godspeed Mr. Nielsen.
LT Frank Drebin taught O.J. everything he needed to know to get away with murder…
Fish – I must say, if I had to hear this awful news from anyone, I’m glad it was you :’( It certainly is a sad day in Hollywood.
“Is that right, Mr. Poopy Pants?”
He surely will be missed.
…and don’t call me Shirley.
:-(
Beat me to it!
RIP Leslie.
RIP, funny guy =(
So sad. He was part of my childhood with Naked Gun. RIP Leslie.
I remember watching the old reruns of The Swamp Fox when I was a kid. I loved that show. It was only later that I found irony in the fact that a Canadian was playing a hero of the American Revolution. Oh, and there was also his role in the sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet, a precursor to James T. Kirk (played by another Canadian) and Star Trek.
not sure which would be the most outstanding, Forbidden planet or Airplane.
anyway R.I.P. Leslie
I will never forget “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” for it’s absurd humour – a total WIN with the Mel Brooks/Leslie Nielsen combo!
Thank you for mentioning Dracula! One of my all-time favorites since I was a kid!
“It’s Enrico Palazzo!”
In his best roles, he was funny because he was willing to be the only one who wasn’t in on the joke. Most actors aren’t that brave or humble. Godspeed.
The single funniest line I have ever heard in a movie, I think was the founding moment for LOL.
“..and don’t call me Shirley.” Classic.
Thank you for the laughs Mr. Nielsen. “Airplane” will always be one of my favorite childhood memories.
“The Naked Gun” is another favorite of mine.
R.I.P.
looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines
I guess it’s now time to finally stop calling him Shirley.
LEGEND.
Good guy, brought funny back until Seinfeld and Friends killed it.
“There was one constant force of impeccable timing and delivery”. That should be engraved on his headstone…
.
*Is this a bust? Yes, that’s quite impressive*
RIP And why wouldn’t he be?
I was very saddened to hear this.
RIP Mr. Nielsen.
Sad news… Leslie will be missed…
Let’s not forget Forbidden Planet – possibly the best Sci-Fi movie of all time.
I continue to recite his lines verbatim after 15 years of watching his movies until the tape and then the DVD wore out. This fucking sucks.
The man was awesome. Lost a very good one.
Rest in peace.
R.I.P. Leslie, thoughts and prayers out to your family………. We have truly lost a legend.
Leslie Nielson was a true genius in a crowd of wannabe’s.His ability to play the absurd as real and honest was at once funny to watch and easy to admire for anyone with a background in acting and the theater. So great was his ability to make you believe his character that people often felt that he was truly like the characters he portrayed.
Few people around today probably remember one of his other ground breaking TV roles as the family patriarch on Peyton Place where he was a stand out amongst very talented people like Mia Farrow, Ryan O’Neil and others.
His gift of bringing laughter to his audience will be solely missed by all who cherish really good comedy
This is sad news indeed. As indicated, he was a very serious actor, who also managed to crack wise between takes of whatever project he was on; co-actors somehow always found whoopee cushions on their chairs, etc. Finally, someone in a movie he was in, who couldn’t stop laughing at his antics, suggested that he try comedy as a lark; look what that suggestion brought about. I remember when I first saw “Police Squad!”, and was floored by how hilarious he was as a straight man with perfect timing. Then he followed it up with “Airplane!” and the Naked Gun movies, and I laughed uproariously during all of them.
I usually post FU! comments about all the stupid braindead attention whoring celebrities on this site, but no snark in this post. This was one of the good guys; an old school actor who got by on his talent, who was a true comedy genius and will be missed greatly. RIP, Leslie; have a good time making everyone in heaven laugh with your antics…
We can all shirley admit he’s a fucking legend.
Yes, but out of respect, I still won’t call him Shirley.
After a long life all what’s left to hear is R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen.
R.I.P. Leslie Nielsen. I guess humor can extend your life!
Very sad, will miss you
Nooo Leslie Nielsen was a bro, I loved all the Naked Gun movies.
Who cares about old people?
When it’s Leslie Nielsen, we do.
WE ALL CARE ABOUT A TREMELOUSLY TALENTED HUMAN BEING WHO LEFT THIS EARTH WAY TO SOON……RIP………..U WILL BE MISSED FOR SURE..!!!!!!!! ;-(
I can smell pieces of troll shit (namely Rupert) miles away. Hence why I am Poopy.
Rupert, too fat.And first of all u trolling like shit, ok ?
I’m so sad about this :(
Rest in peace Leslie Nielsen, you will be missed.
The World just got less funny……RIP Leslie, you made my life a little bit better by just being you…..
Very sad way to start the week. Back in 1982, he joined the Brewers baseball broadcast team for a game on Milwaukee radio. Leslie Nielsen and Bob Uecker – together – for an hour. So efing funny listening to them playing off each other. Like listening to a live performance of “Police Squad”. He was awesome. RIP, Lt. Frank Drummond.
The world did get a lot less funny. RIP Leslie & condolences to his family.
In Day of the Animals Leslie Nielson wrestled a grizzly bear. Well, first he pointed at a girl and said “and right now I want that!” and then wrestled a grizzly bear.
Day of the Animals was a bad movie. But Leslie Nielson wrestled a grizzly bear. And that made it all right.
Maybe tonight I’ll pick up something at one of those all night wicker stores.
“A hospital, what is it?”
“It’s a building with lots of windows and doctors, but that’s not important right now.”
Apparently, it was important. RIP, Lt. Frank Drebin.
God, that guy could deliver a line.
RIP Leslie…..
.
Shirley he will be missed
He will be missed. And don’t call me Shirley.
now I’m sad :(
The man could make me laugh just eating a sandwich. So very sad he had to leave before we could thank him.
RIP good sir.
This is the only time I will accept a comment from Randal. RIP Leslie, you made my childhood awesome!
I would have never thought of Leslie and Mel Brooks in the same light, but couldn’t agree more, two comedic geniuses. RIP Leslie, the world is definitely less humorous today.
Nice beaver……… Thanks, I just had it stuffed!! too funny,,,,
RIP Leslie.!!