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Leslie Nielsen in 1991

STEVE EMBER: Leslie Nielsen’s was a serious actor in television and movies for many years. But using this seriousness to make people laugh changed his career.

Leslie Nielsen was born in Canada and later became an American citizen. After serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he began studying acting in Toronto and New York City.

He worked in theater and television before making his first movie in nineteen fifty-six. He had major roles in movies including “Forbidden Planet,” “Tammy and the Bachelor” and “The Poseidon Adventure.”

By the nineteen sixties, Nielsen’s hair had turned white. He was often chosen to play the serious roles of government and military leaders.

In nineteen eighty, he was chosen to be in a very different kind of film. The movie “Airplane!” was very funny. It is about a plane and its crew and passengers in a difficult situation.

LESLIE NIELSEN: "Can you fly this plane and land it?"

ROBERT HAYS: "Surely you can’t be serious."

LESLIE NEILSEN: "I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley."

“Airplane!” changed Leslie Nielsen’s career. He became famous for his roles in the funny “Naked Gun” movies. He played detective Frank Drebin, a man who does everything wrong.

Nielsen spent the rest of his career playing funny parts in movies including “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” and “Spy Hard.” One reporter said his fans loved him because he seemed to be having a good time while making sure the audience had a good time, too.