It’s always a sad day when a brilliant comedic actor like Leslie Nielsen dies. This is the man who has brought so much innocent and clean joy to film lovers around the world specifically with his hysterical roles in The Naked Gun trilogy and Airplane!, the film that truly launched his comedy career. Hit more for details and a tribute to the man they call Shirley.
According to TMZ, his death, at the ripe old age of 84 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, was due to complications with Pneumonia. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he happened to say to the doctor, “surely you can cure me,” and the doctor responded with “we’ll try, but don’t call me Shirley.” A classic play on a classic line from a classic movie. Airplane! Is one of the greatest spoofs to date and if it wasn’t for Nielson it would have never have become the great comedy that we all know and love.
Mr. Nielsen started off his life as a serious actor who enjoyed playing roles in films like the cult favorite, Forbidden Planet, and a western entitled The Plainsman. Like myself, you may not have known that he was actually the captain in the original 1972 cruise vessel disaster film, The Poseidon Adventure. Yes Leslie could diversify his roles but after striking gold with Airplane! and sticking with comedy his career quickly skyrocketed and then slowly went downhill. Although I loved Mr. Magoo as a kid I can understand why his career took a turn and why he ended up as the bumbling President of the United States in the Scary Movie films. His slapstick humor and play on words never grew old and is the reason why he is such a beloved figure in cinematic history. With a career spanning 50 years and 100+ films all I can now say to Mr. Nielsen is” good luck [up there,] we’re all counting on you.”
Below you will find a nice little tribute video which showcases some of Nielsen’s funniest moments from his films The Naked Gun and Airplane!
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