RIP Leslie Nielsen

[HappyGilmore]

Sad news to report.  Leslie Nielsen, star of films such as Airplane!, The Naked Gun Series, Spy Hard and countless others dating back to the '50s, has passed away today at 84, from complications with Pneumonia.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/28/entertainment/main7097909.shtml

I grew up knowing him strictly from his comedic roles, but found out his career had numerous, numerous 'serious' roles, including in some horror roles and flicks like The Poseidon Adventure. But, I hadn't seen anything UNTIL he'd done the comedy. Great, brilliantly funny guy.  Sad to hear it.

[Flick James]

The first Airplane! had a lot of success with taking serious actors who were great straight men from the past or had some camp factor to them and just let them do what they do best: play it straight. That was what worked so well. Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack. Those were the guys who really made that movie work. They weren't even trying to be funny, them playing it straight and delivering the lines, or pulling off a pair of sunglasses only to have another pair underneath while delivering a deadpan serious line was hilarious. Leslie really stood out in that regard.

Then came Naked Gun, which was tailor-made for the man. The second two NG films were good too, but the first one was pure magic from beginning to end, all because of Leslie playing it all straight in the midst of such whimsy. Amazing.

I didn't much care for some of the other work he did because he decided to try and be funny, and it always worked best when he wasn't trying to be funny. But oh well, I understand.

He will be missed.

[Chainsawmidget]

He died in his sleep, surrounded by loved ones at a ripe old age.  All in all, not a bad way to go.  Still, I feel a bit sad knowing we're not going to see anymore work from him.  Even his "bad" stuff could always get a chuckle outta me. 

[Couchtr26]

He will be missed.  He was rather enjoyable to watch all around.  Though, he has left us quite a few memories. 

[HappyGilmore]

The first Airplane! had a lot of success with taking serious actors who were great straight men from the past or had some camp factor to them and just let them do what they do best: play it straight. That was what worked so well. Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack. Those were the guys who really made that movie work. They weren't even trying to be funny, them playing it straight and delivering the lines, or pulling off a pair of sunglasses only to have another pair underneath while delivering a deadpan serious line was hilarious. Leslie really stood out in that regard.

Then came Naked Gun, which was tailor-made for the man. The second two NG films were good too, but the first one was pure magic from beginning to end, all because of Leslie playing it all straight in the midst of such whimsy. Amazing.

I didn't much care for some of the other work he did because he decided to try and be funny, and it always worked best when he wasn't trying to be funny. But oh well, I understand.

He will be missed.

Airplane worked well in the regard you mentioned.  All were great in it, Bridges, Stack, Nielsen and even Peter Graves. 

Nielsen's later works, like Spy Hard, Wrongfully Accused, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, not as great, but I liked them for what they were, mainly just for getting to watch him as opposed to the writing itself. 

I guess it worked out well that Police Squad was cancelled.  If anything, it gave us 3 great movies.

[Flick James]

The first Airplane! had a lot of success with taking serious actors who were great straight men from the past or had some camp factor to them and just let them do what they do best: play it straight. That was what worked so well. Leslie Nielsen, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack. Those were the guys who really made that movie work. They weren't even trying to be funny, them playing it straight and delivering the lines, or pulling off a pair of sunglasses only to have another pair underneath while delivering a deadpan serious line was hilarious. Leslie really stood out in that regard.

Then came Naked Gun, which was tailor-made for the man. The second two NG films were good too, but the first one was pure magic from beginning to end, all because of Leslie playing it all straight in the midst of such whimsy. Amazing.

I didn't much care for some of the other work he did because he decided to try and be funny, and it always worked best when he wasn't trying to be funny. But oh well, I understand.

He will be missed.

Airplane worked well in the regard you mentioned.  All were great in it, Bridges, Stack, Nielsen and even Peter Graves. 

Nielsen's later works, like Spy Hard, Wrongfully Accused, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, not as great, but I liked them for what they were, mainly just for getting to watch him as opposed to the writing itself. 

I guess it worked out well that Police Squad was cancelled.  If anything, it gave us 3 great movies.

PETER GRAVES!  I knew there was someone I missed. 

[HappyGilmore]

PETER GRAVES!  I knew there was someone I missed. 

"Have you ever seen a grown man naked, Billy?"  Dude was great in it, and it was just a completely oddball part to play.  

[Leah]

PETER GRAVES!  I knew there was someone I missed. 

"Have you ever seen a grown man naked, Billy?"  Dude was great in it, and it was just a completely oddball part to play.  

"Joey, do you like movies about Gladiators?" Happy, not being mad or a smart ass, but the kid's name was Joey, not Billy 

[HappyGilmore]

PETER GRAVES!  I knew there was someone I missed. 

"Have you ever seen a grown man naked, Billy?"  Dude was great in it, and it was just a completely oddball part to play.  

"Joey, do you like movies about Gladiators?" Happy, not being mad or a smart ass, but the kid's name was Joey, not Billy 

Yeah, that's it.  I thought something was off.  I keep forgetting his name.

[RCMerchant]

A great actor....from FORBIDDEN PLANET,DARK INTRUDER and CREEPSHOW to his reinvntion as a comedian in AIRPLANE and NAKED GUN....a cvlassic,iconic personality, God bless em.

Heres a clip from DARK INTRUDER.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CoDB3uj1hk

You will be missed ,sir.

[ChaosTheory]

My great-uncle passed away from pneumonia-related difficulties; it can take a pretty rough toll on the elderly.    My heart goes out to Nielsen's family.  He left us a lot of great memories.