HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — While he began his career as a serious actor, fans will likely remember Leslie Nielsen for his deadpan delivery in the Airplane! and Naked Gun films.
Nielsen, who died Sunday at age 84, showed off his comedy chops in 1980s Airplane!, when he starred as an incompetent doctor on an ill-fated flight.
"Surely you can't be serious," an airline passenger tells Nielsen in the film.
"I am serious," Nielsen replies. "And don't call me Shirley."
In 1982, the men behind Airplane! — Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker — cast Nielsen as bumbling detective Frank Drebin in the televison comedy Police Squad. The series lasted just six episodes, but it was turned into hit at the movies with 1988's The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, which co-starred George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson and Priscilla Presley. The film's success led to the The Naked Gun 2 1/2 and The Naked Gun 33 1/3.
Here a few classic video clips of Nielsen:
Police Squad - Sally Decker
Airplane! - Don't Call Me Shirley
Airplane! - Don't Eat the Fish
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