Leslie Nielsen

Leslie William Nielsen OC (11 February 1926 – 28 November 2010) was a Canadian actor, comedian, and producer.[1][2] He appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters.[3]
Nielsen was born in Regina, Saskatchewan. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and later worked as a disc jockey before receiving a scholarship to study theatre at the Neighborhood Playhouse. Making his acting debut in 1950, appearing in 46 live television programs a year. Nielsen made his film debut in 1956, with supporting roles in several drama, Western, and romance films produced between the 1950s and the 1970s.
Although his notable performances in the films Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure gave him standing as a serious actor, Nielsen later gained enduring recognition for his deadpan comedy roles during the 1980s, after being cast against type for the Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker comedy film Airplane!.[4]In his comedy roles, Nielsen specialized in portraying characters oblivious to and complicit in their absurd surroundings.[5] Nielsen's performance in Airplane!marked his turning point, which made him "the Olivier of spoofs" according to film critic Roger Ebert,[6] and leading to further success in the genre with The Naked Gun film series, based on the earlier short-lived television series Police Squad!, in which Nielsen also starred. Nielsen received a variety of awards and was inducted into the Canada's Walk of Fame and Hollywood Walk of Fame.
== Early life ==
Nielsen was born on 11 February 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan.[7] His mother, Mabel Elizabeth (née Davies), was an immigrant from Wales, and his father, Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, was a Danish-born constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[8][9][10] Nielsen had two brothers; the elder, Erik Nielsen (1924–2008), was a long-time Canadian Member of Parliament, cabinet minister, and Deputy Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1986.[11]
Nielsen's half-uncle Jean Hersholt was an actor known for his portrayal of Dr. Christian in a radio series of that name, and the subsequent television series and films.[12][13] In a 1994 Boston Globe article, Nielsen explained, "I did learn very early that when I would mention my uncle, people would look at me as if I were the biggest liar in the world. Then I would take them home and show them 8-by-10 glossies, and things changed quite drastically. So I began to think that maybe this acting business was not a bad idea, much as I was very shy about it and certainly without courage regarding it. My uncle died not too long after I was in a position to know him. I regret that I had not a chance to know him better."[12]
Nielsen lived for several years in Fort Norman (now Tulita) in the Northwest Territories, where his father was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[12][14]His father was an abusive man who beat his wife and sons, and Leslie longed to escape. When he graduated from high school at 17, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force, though he was legally deaf (he wore hearing aids most of his life).[15][16] Following graduation from Victoria School of the Arts in Edmonton, Nielsen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained as an aerial gunner during World War II. He was too young to be fully trained or sent overseas.[17] He worked briefly as a disc jockey at a Calgary, Alberta, radio station, before enrolling at the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto.[12][18] While studying in Toronto, Nielsen received a scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse. He noted, "I couldn't refuse, but I must say when you come from the land of the snow goose, the moose, and wool to New York, you're bringing every ton of hayseed and country bumpkin that you packed. As long as I didn't open my mouth, I felt a certain security. But I always thought I was going to be unmasked: 'OK, pack your stuff.' 'Well, what's the matter?' 'We've discovered you have no talent; we're shipping you back to Canada.'"[12] He moved to New York City for his scholarship,[7] studying theatre and music at the Neighborhood Playhouse, while performing in summer stock theatre.[19]Afterward, he attended the Actors Studio,[20] until his first television appearance in 1950 on an episode of Studio One, alongside Charlton Heston,[21] for which he was paid $75.[12]
== Career ==
=== Early career ===
"It was a strange era, the tail end of the golden age. A time when the Tiffany's of filmmakers was burying its head in the sand and trying to pretend that this new medium (television) was not happening."
Nielsen's career began in dramatic roles on television during "Television's Golden Age",[22]appearing in 46 live programs in 1950 alone.[23] He said there "was very little gold, we only got $75 or $100 per show."[23] He narrated documentaries and commercials and most of his early work as a dramatic actor was uneventful.[24] Hal Erickson of Allmovie noted that "much of Nielsen's early work was undistinguished; he was merely a handsome leading man in an industry overstocked with handsome leading men."[24] In 1956, he made his feature-film debut in the Michael Curtiz-directed musical film The Vagabond King.[25] In the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Nielsen remembered Curtiz as "a sadist, a charming sadist, but a sadist".[21]Nielsen called this film "The Vagabond Turkey".[26] Though the film was not a success, producer Nicholas Nayfack offered him an audition for the science-fiction film Forbidden Planet, resulting in Nielsen's taking a long contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).[21][27]
Forbidden Planet became an instant success,[29] and roles in other MGM films such as Ransom! (1956), The Opposite Sex (1956) and Hot Summer Night (1957) followed.[30] In 1957 he won the lead role opposite Debbie Reynolds in the romantic comedy Tammy and the Bachelor, which, as a Chicago Tribune critic wrote in 1998, made people consider Nielsen a dramatic actor and handsome romantic lead.[31] However, dissatisfied with the films he was offered, calling the studios "a Tiffany, which had forgotten how to make silver", Nielsen left MGM after auditioning for Messala in the 1959 Ben-Hur. Stephen Boyd got the role.[32][33] After leaving the studios, Nielsen landed the lead role in the Disneyminiseries The Swamp Fox, as American Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion.[34] In a 1988 interview, he reflected on the series, saying, "That was a great experience, because the Disney people didn't do their shows like everyone else, knocking out an episode a week. ... We only had to do an episode a month, and the budgets were extremely high for TV at that time. We had location shooting rather than cheap studio backdrops, and very authentic costumes."[35]Eight episodes were produced and aired between 1959 and 1961.[34]
His television appearances include Justice, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Virginian, and The Wild Wild West. In 1961, he was the lead in a Los Angeles police drama called The New Breed. He guest-starred in a 1964 episode of Daniel Boone with Fess Parker in a minor but credited role. In 1968, he had a major role in the pilot for the police series Hawaii Five-O, and appeared in one of the seventh-season episodes. In 1969, he had the leading role as a police officer in The Bold Ones: The Protectors.
In 1972, Nielsen appeared as the ship's captain in The Poseidon Adventure. He also starred in the William Girdler's 1977 action film, Project: Kill. His last dramatic role before mainly comedy roles was the 1979 Canadian disaster film City on Fire, in which he played a corrupt mayor. In 1980, he guest-starred as Sinclair on the CBS miniseries The Chisholms.
=== Airplane! and The Naked Gun ===
Main articles: Airplane! and The Naked Gun
Nielsen's supporting role of Dr. Rumack in Zucker, Abrahams and Zucker's 1980's Airplane! was a turning point in his career. The film, a parody of disaster films such as Zero Hour! and Airport, was based on building a comedy around actors known for dramatic roles. Other stars included Robert Stack, Peter Graves, and Lloyd Bridges. Nielsen's deadpan delivery contrasted with the absurdity surrounding him. When asked, "Surely you can't be serious?", he responded with a curt, "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." In several interviews, he reflected on the line: "I thought it was amusing, but it never occurred to me that it was going to become a trademark. It's such a surprise ... the thing comes out, people say, 'What did he say?!'"[36] Nielsen said he was "pleased and honored that [he] had a chance to deliver that line."[37] As of 2010, the comedic exchange was at number 79 on the American Film Institute's AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes.[38] The American Film Institute included the film in its list of the top-10 comedy films of all time in 2008,[39] and a 2007 survey in the United Kingdom judged it the second-greatest comedy film of all time.[40] In 2012, Empire voted it number one in the 50 Funniest Comedies Ever poll.[41]Critics praised the film, which also proved a long-term success with audiences.[42] In 2010, Airplane! was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.[43][44]
The directors cast Nielsen for his ability to play like "a fish in water", saying "You could have cast funny people and done it with everybody winking, goofing off, and silly ... we wanted people to be oblivious to the comedy."[39] For Nielsen, Airplane! marked a shift from dramatic roles to deadpan comedy. When it was suggested his role in Airplane! was against type, Nielsen protested that he had "always been cast against type before", and that comedy was what he always wanted to do.[45] The same directors cast Nielsen in a similar style, in their TV series Police Squad!. The series introduced Nielsen as Frank Drebin, the stereotypical police officer modelled after serious characters in earlier police series.
Police Squad's opening sequence was based on the 1950s show M Squad, which starred Lee Marvin, and opened with footage of a police car roving through a dark urban setting with a big band playing a jazz song in the background. The Hank Simms voice-over and the show's organization into acts with an epilogue was homage to Quinn Martin police dramas including The Fugitive, The Streets of San Francisco, Barnaby Jones, The F.B.I., and Cannon. Nielsen portrayed a serious character whose one-liners appeared accidental next to the pratfalls and sight gags that were happening around him. Although the show lasted only six episodes, Nielsen received an Emmy Award[46]nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.[47]
Six years after cancellation of Police Squad!, the film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! returned Nielsen to his role as Frank Drebin. It involved a ruthless drug king trying hypnosis to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II. Nielsen did many of his own stunts: "You have an idea of how you're going to do something, and it's your vision ... unless you do it, it really doesn't stand a chance."[36] This movie grossed over $78 million and was well received by critics.[48][49] Ebert's 3½–star review (out of four) noted, "You laugh, and then you laugh at yourself for laughing."[50]
The Naked Gun spawned two sequels: The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear(1991) and Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult (1994). Naked Gun 2½ grossed more than the original, with $86.9 million, while Naked Gun 33⅓ grossed $51.1 million.[51][52] Nielsen remained open to a fourth Naked Gun film, although he doubted that it would be produced — "I don't think so", he said in 2005. "If there hasn't been one by now, I doubt it. I think it would be wonderful."[53]
Nielsen briefly appeared on the World Wrestling Federation program in the summer of 1994 on WWF Monday Night Raw, capitalizing on Frank Drebin. Nielsen (and George Kennedy) were hired as sleuths to unravel the mystery of the Undertaker, who had disappeared at January's Royal Rumble event. At SummerSlam 1994, in a Naked Gun parody, they were hot on the case (in fact, they were standing on a case). Although they did not find the Undertaker, the case had been closed (the literal case had been shut), thus they solved the mystery.[54] In 1990, Nielsen appeared as a Frank Drebin character in advertisements in the United Kingdom for Red Rock Cider.
Noncomedic roles after Airplane! included Prom Night (1980) and Creepshow(1982), both horror films, and as a dramatic and unsympathetic character in the 1986 comedy Soul Man. His last dramatic role was as Allen Green, a violent client of a prostitute killed in self-defense by Barbra Streisand's character, Claudia Draper, in Martin Ritt's courtroom drama Nuts (1987).
=== Later comedies ===
After Airplane! and The Naked Gun, Nielsen portrayed similarly styled roles in a number of other films. These mostly emulated the style of The Naked Gun with varying success and often targeted specific films; many were panned by critics and most performed poorly. Repossessed (1990) and 2001: A Space Travesty(2001) were parodies of The Exorcist and 2001: A Space Odyssey, respectively. Both attempted absurd comedy, but were poorly received.[55][56] Even a leading role in a Mel Brooks comic horror, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, failed to generate much box-office excitement, although it did gain a following in a later release to video. Both 1996's Spy Hard and 1998's Wrongfully Accused, a parody of James Bond films and The Fugitive, were popular on video, but not well received by critics.[57][58]
His attempt at children's comedies met additional criticism. Surf Ninjas (1993) and Mr. Magoo (1997) had scathing reviews. Several critics were disappointed that Nielsen's role in Surf Ninjas was only "an extended cameo" and Chris Hicks recommended that viewers "avoid any comedy that features Leslie Nielsen outside of the Naked Gun series."[59][60] Jeff Miller of the Houston Chroniclepanned Mr. Magoo, a live-action remake of the 1950s cartoon, by saying, "I'm supposed to suggest how the film might be better, but I can't think of anything to say other than to make the film again."[61]
Nielsen's first major success since The Naked Gun came in a supporting role in Scary Movie 3 (2003). His appearance as President Harris led to a second appearance in its sequel, Scary Movie 4 (2006). This was the first time Nielsen had reprised a character since Frank Drebin. In one scene, Nielsen appeared almost nude, and one critic referred to the scene as putting "the 'scary' in Scary Movie 4."[62]
=== Video, stage, and celebrity productions ===
Nielsen also produced instructional golf videos, which were not presented in a serious style, beginning with 1993's Bad Golf Made Easier. The videos combined comedy with golf techniques. The series spawned two additional sequels, Bad Golf My Way (1994) and Stupid Little Golf Video (1997). Nielsen also co-wrote a fictional autobiography titled The Naked Truth. The book portrayed Nielsen as a popular actor with a long history of prestigious films.
In his 80s, Nielsen performed serious roles on screen and stage (such as his one-man theatre show Darrow, in which he played Clarence Darrow), as well as providing voice-overs and appearances for commercials (including spots for a credit union in Arizona, where he owned a secondary residence), cartoons such as Zeroman, where he had the leading role/voice, children's shows, such as Pumper Pups, which he narrated, and comedic film roles. The sibling relationship with his elder brother, the Honourable Erik Nielsen, a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, served as the premise of an HBO mockumentaryentitled The Canadian Conspiracy in which Leslie Nielsen appeared, along with other prominent Canadian-born media personalities. He was a celebrity contestant on CBS's Gameshow Marathon, where he played The Price Is Right, Let's Make a Deal, Beat the Clock, and Press Your Luck for charity.[23]
=== Final acting years ===
Beginning in February 2007, Nielsen began playing a small role as a doctor in the humorous yet educational television show Doctor*Ology. The show chronicles real-life medical techniques and technology, on the Discovery Channel. Nielsen said: "There are any number of things that you think about when you ponder if you hadn't been an actor, what would you be, and I've always said I'd like to be an astronaut or a doctor. I have such admiration for doctors. I just don't know how you go around to thank them enough for coming up with the world's most remarkable new discoveries."[37]
In 2007, Nielsen starred in the drama Music Within. In 2008, he portrayed a version of Uncle Ben for Superhero Movie, a spoof of superhero films. He then appeared in the 2008 parody An American Carol, which David Zucker directed, produced, and co-wrote. He appeared in the 2009 parody Stan Helsing. Nielsen portrayed the doctor in the Spanish horror comedy Spanish Movie,[63] a spoof comedy like Scary Movie, but making fun of popular Spanish films.[64]
Nielsen appeared in more than 100 films and 1,500 television episodes, portraying more than 220 characters.[65][66]
== Personal life ==
"I'm afraid if I don't keep moving, they're going to catch me ... I am 81 years old and I want to see what's around the corner, and I don't see any reason in the world not to keep working. But I am starting to value my down time a great deal because I am realizing there might be other things to do that I am overlooking."
Nielsen married four times: to nightclub singer Monica Boyar(1950–1956), Alisande Ullman (1958–1973), Brooks Oliver (1981–1983), and Barbaree Earl (2001–2010).[67][68] Nielsen had two daughters from his second marriage, Maura and Thea Nielsen.[68]
Nielsen often played golf.[69] He joked, "I have no goals or ambition. I do, however, wish to work enough to maintain whatever celebrity status I have so that they will continue to invite me to golf tournaments."[69] His interest in the sport led him to comedic instructional films.
Nielsen was a practical joker, and known for pranking people with a portable hand-controlled fart machine.[70][71][72][73] His epitaph read: "Let 'er rip", a final reference to his favourite practical joke.
In his later years, Nielsen and his wife Barbaree resided between homes in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Nielsen was legally deaf and wore hearing aids for most of his life.[16] Because of this impairment, he supported the Better Hearing Institute.[74] Later in life, Nielsen had knee osteoarthritis. He participated in an educational video from The Arthritis Research Centre of Canada (ARC), demonstrating the physical examination of a patient with knee osteoarthritis.[75]
== Death ==
In November 2010, Nielsen was admitted to Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with pneumonia. On 28 November, Doug Nielsen, Nielsen's nephew, told the CJOB radio station that 84-year-old Nielsen had died in his sleep from pneumonia around 5:30 pm EST surrounded by family and friends.[76][77][78][79] His body was interred in Fort Lauderdale's Evergreen Cemetery. As a final bit of humor, Nielsen chose "Let 'er rip" as his epitaph.
== Achievements ==
Among his awards, in 1995 Nielsen received UCLA's Jack Benny Award.[47] In 1988, he became the 1,884th personality to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6541 Hollywood Blvd.[80] In 2001 he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.[81] The following year he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, although he was also a naturalized US citizen.[1] With his American status, he maintained his Canadian heritage: "There's no way you can be a Canadian and think you can lose it ... Canadians are a goodly group. They are very aware of caring and helping."[1] On 19 May 2005, during the centennial gala of his birth province, Saskatchewan, Leslie Nielsen was introduced to HM Queen Elizabeth II.[82]
In 1997, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to him.[83]
On 20 February 2002, Nielsen was named an honorary citizen of West Virginiaand an Ambassador of Mountain State Goodwill. Nielsen visited the state many times to speak and visit friends.[84] In 2003, in honour of Nielsen, Grant MacEwan College named its school of communications after him.[85] Also in 2003, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists awarded him the ACTRA Award of Excellence.[85]
== Filmography ==
=== Films ===
Year	Film 	Role 	Other notes
1955	The Battle of Gettysburg 	Narrator 	
1956	Ransom! 	Charlie Telfer 	Film debut, as an actor
1956	Forbidden Planet 	Commander John J. Adams 	First starring role
1956	The Vagabond King 	Thibault 	
1956	The Opposite Sex 	Steve Hilliard 	
1957	Hot Summer Night 	William Joel Partain 	
1957	Tammy and the Bachelor 	Peter Brent 	
1958	The Sheepman 	Col. Stephen Bedford / Johnny Bledsoe	
1964	Night Train to Paris 	Alan Holiday 	
1964	See How They Run 	Elliot Green 	First television movie
1965	Harlow 	Richard Manley 	
1965	Dark Intruder 	Brett Kingsford 	
1966	The Plainsman 	Col. George Armstrong Custer 	
1966	Beau Geste 	Lieutenant De Ruse 	
1967	Code Name: Heraclitus 	Fryer 	
1967	Gunfight in Abilene 	Grant Evers 	
1967	The Reluctant Astronaut 	Major Fred Gifford 	
1967	Counterpoint 	Victor Rice 	
1967	Rosie! 	Cabot Shaw 	
1968	How to Steal the World 	General Maximilian Harmon 	The Man from U.N.C.L.E. film
1968	Dayton's Devils 	Frank Dayton 	
1968	Companions in Nightmare 	Dr. Neesden 	
1969	Deadlock 	Lieutenant Sam Danforth 	
1969	Trial Run 	Jason Harkness 	
1969	How to Commit Marriage 	Phil Fletcher 	
1969	Change of Mind 	Sheriff Webb 	
1970	Four Rode Out 	Mr. Brown 	
1970	Night Slaves 	Sheriff Henshaw 	
1970	The Aquarians 	Official 	
1970	Hauser's Memory 	Joseph Slaughter 	
1971	Incident In San Francisco 	Lieutenant Brubaker 	
1971	The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler 	Harry Walsh 	
1971	They Call It Murder 	Frank Antrim 	
1972	The Poseidon Adventure 	Captain Harrison 	
1973	Snatched 	Bill Sutting 	
1973	Amanda Fallon 	Mr. Cummings 	
1973	The Return of Charlie Chan 	Alexander Hadrachi 	
1973	And Millions Will Die 	Jack Gallagher 	
1975	Can Ellen Be Saved 	Arnold Lindsey 	
1975	Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience 	Narrator 	
1976	Brinks: The Great Robbery 	Agent Norman Houston 	
1976	Project Kill 	Jonathan Trevor 	
1976	Grand Jury 	John Williams 	
1977	The Kentucky Fried Movie 	Man in Feel-O-Rama Movie 	Uncredited cameo; Feel-O-Rama segment.
1977	Day of the Animals 	Paul Jenson 	
1977	Viva Knievel! 	Stanley Millard 	
1977	The Amsterdam Kill 	Riley Knight 	
1977	Sixth and Main 	John Doe 	
1978	Little Mo 	Nelson Fisher 	
1978	The Mad Trapper 	 	
1979	The Albertans 	Don MacIntosh 	
1979	Institute for Revenge 	Counselor Hollis Barnes 	
1979	Riel 	Major Crozier 	
1979	City on Fire 	Mayor William Dudley 	
1980	OHMS 	Governor 	
1980	Airplane! 	Dr. Rumack 	First comedy role.
1980	Prom Night 	Mr. Raymond Hammond 	
1981	A Choice of Two 	Unknown 	
1982	Twilight Theater 	Various Characters 	
1982	Murder Among Friends 	Unknown 	
1982	Creepshow 	Richard Vickers 	"Something To Tide You Over" segment
1982	Wrong Is Right 	Franklin Mallory 	
1982	Foxfire Light 	Reece Morgan 	
1983	Prime Time 	Unknown 	
1983	The Night the Bridge Fell Down 	Paul Warren 	
1983	Cave-In! 	Joseph 'Joe' Johnson 	
1983	The Creature Wasn't Nice (Spaceship) 	Capt. Jamieson 	
1985	Blade in Hong Kong 	Harry Ingersoll 	
1985	Striker's Mountain 	Jim McKay 	
1986	Reckless Disregard 	Bob Franklin 	
1986	The Patriot 	Admiral Frazer 	
1986	Soul Man 	Mr. Dunbar 	
1987	Nightstick 	Thad Evans 	
1987	Home Is Where the Hart Is 	Sheriff Nashville Schwartz 	
1987	Nuts 	Allen Green 	Final non-comedy role
1988	Dangerous Curves 	Greg Krevske 	
1988	The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!	Frank Drebin 	
1989	The Railway Dragon 	Narrator 	First animated film.
1990	Repossessed 	Father Jedediah Mayii 	
1991	The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear 	Frank Drebin 	Nominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss
(shared with Priscilla Presley)
1991	All I Want for Christmas 	Santa Claus 	Family holiday film
1991	Chance of a Lifetime 	Lloyd Dixon 	
1993	Surf Ninjas 	Colonel Chi 	
1993	Digger 	Arthur Evrensel 	
1994	Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult 	Frank Drebin 	
1994	S.P.Q.R.: 2,000 and a Half Years Ago 	Lucio Cinico 	
1995	Rent-a-Kid 	Harry Haber 	
1995	Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree 	Willowby's butler 	
1995	Dracula: Dead and Loving It 	Count Dracula 	
1996	Harvey 	Dr. Chumley 	
1996	Spy Hard 	Dick Steele, Agent WD-40 	
1997	Family Plan 	Harry Haber 	
1997	Mr. Magoo 	Mr. Magoo 	
1998	Safety Patrol 	Mr. Penn 	
1998	Wrongfully Accused 	Ryan Harrison 	
1999	Pirates 4-D 	Captain Lucky 	4D Cinema Show presented at various Busch Gardensamusement parks
2000	Santa Who? 	Santa Claus 	
2000	2001: A Space Travesty 	Marshal Richard 'Dick' Dix 	
2001	Camouflage 	Jack Potter 	
2001	Kevin of the North(Chilly Dogs) 	Clive Thornton 	
2002	Men with Brooms 	Gordon Cutter 	
2003	Scary Movie 3 	President Harris 	
2003	Noël Noël 	English Narrator 	
2006	Scary Movie 4 	President Harris 	
2007	Music Within 	Bill Austin 	
2008	Superhero Movie 	Uncle Albert 	
2008	An American Carol 	Grampa / Osama Bin Laden 	
2008	Slap Shot 3: The Junior League 	Mayor of Charlestown 	
2009	Stan Helsing 	Kay 	
2009	Spanish Movie 	Doctor 	
2011	Stonerville 	Producer 	
=== Television ===
Year 	Title 	Role 	Other Notes
1950-51 	The Web 	 	Home for Christmas [S1,E7]
You Killed Elizabeth [S1,E30]
1952 	Tales Of Tomorrow 	Robbie 	Episode "Appointment On Mars"
1953 	Jukebox Jury 	Himself 	
1958–1961 	Alfred Hitchcock Presents 	Lloyd Ashley & DA Rudolph Cox 	Two episodes
1959 	The Swamp Fox 	Colonel Francis Marion 	
1960 	Thriller 	Alan Patterson (lead role) 	Episode "The Twisted Image"
1960, 1964 	Wagon Train 	Jeremy Dow, Brian Conlin 	Two episodes
1960 	The Untouchables 	Tom Sebring 	Episode "Three Thousand Suspects"
1960 	Route 66 (TV series) 	 	
1961 	The Islanders 	Howard Cavanaugh 	Episode "Willy's Millionaire"
1961 	The New Breed 	Lt. Price Adams 	Regular
1963 	Channing 	Professor Paul Stafford 	Single episode
1963–1965 	Kraft Suspense Theatre 	Dr. David Cord & Paul Maytric 	Two episodes: "One Step Down" & "The Green Felt Jungle"
1963–1964 	The Fugitive (TV series) 	Martin C. Rowland & Harold Cheyney 	Two episodes
1964 	Your First Impression 	As himself 	Single episode
1964 	The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 	Steven Grainger 	Single episode
1964–1969 	The Virginian 	Ben Stratton 	Five episodes
1965 	Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 	Capt. Wayne Adams 	One episode "The Creature"
1965 	Peyton Place 	Vincent and Kenneth Marham (twins) 	19 episodes
1965 	The Wild Wild West 	General Ball 	Single episode
1967 	Bonanza 	Sheriff Paul Rowan 	Episode: "The Unseen Wound"
1968 	The Man from U.N.C.L.E. 	General Maximillian Harmon 	Single episode "The Seven Wonders of the World Affair Pt 1 & 2"
1969 	The Bold Ones: The Protectors 	Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth 	Seven episodes
1969 	The Big Valley 	Sgt. Maj. Earl Conway 	One episode "Town of no Exit"
1969 	Gunsmoke 	Jess Trevor 	Episode: "Time of the Jackals"
1969–1974 	Hawaii Five-O 	Brent & Colonel Faraday 	Two episodes
1970 	Bracken's World 	John Bracken 	Fifteen Bracken's World episodes total
1971 	Columbo: Lady in Waiting 	Peter Hamilton 	Two Columbo episodes total
1971 	Bearcats! 	Col. Ted Donovan 	Episode "The Big Guns"
1971 	Night Gallery 	The Phantom, Col. Dennis Malloy 	Two episodes: "Phantom of What Opera?" and "A Question of Fear"
1973 	M*A*S*H 	Col. Buzz Brighton 	Episode "The Ringbanger"
1973–1974 	The Streets of San Francisco 	Ofc. Joe Landers, Insp. John T. Connor, & Big Jake Wilson	Three episodes
1973–1974 	Cannon 	Gilbert, Elliott Strawn, Weller Dane, Eric Strauss ? 	3x14 Valley Of The Damned, 4x10 The Man who couldn't forget, 5x06 The Man who died twice
1974 	Kojak 	Michael Hagar 	
1974 	Fantasy Island 	Victor Conti 	
1975 	Kung Fu 	Vincent Corbino 	Four episodes[87]
1975 	Columbo: Identity Crisis 	Geronimo 	Two Columbo episodes total
1975–1976 	S.W.A.T. 	Larry Neal/Vince Richie 	Three episodes
1978 	The Love Boat 	Dan 	Episode "Parents Know Best; A Selfless Love; The Nubile Nurse"
1979 	Backstairs at the White House 	Ike Hoover 	Three episodes
1980 	The Littlest Hobo 	Mayor Chester Montgomery 	Episode "Romiet and Julio"
1982 	Police Squad! 	Det. Frank Drebin 	Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
1984 	Shaping Up 	Buddy Fox 	
1985–1986 	Murder, She Wrote 	Captain Daniels & David Everett 	Two episodes
1987 	Highway to Heaven 	Richard R. Benson 	Episode "Gift Of Life"
1988 	Who's the Boss? 	Max 	
1988 	Day By Day 	Jack Harper 	Episode "Harper and Son"
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
1989 	Saturday Night Live 	Himself 	Single episode
1992 	The Golden Girls 	Lucas Hollingsworth 	Series finale
1993 	Herman's Head 	God 	Single episode
1994–1999 	Due South 	Sgt. Buck Frobisher 	Four episodes
1994–1996, 2001–2002	Katie and Orbie 	Narrator 	
1995 	Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree 	Mr. Willowby's Butler, Baxter 	Television Christmas special
2001 	Liocracy 	Terrence Brynne McKennie 	
2002 	Chilly Beach 	Santa Claus 	Single episode
 	This is America with Dennis Wholey	Himself, Panelist 	Single episode
2004 	Zeroman 	Les Mutton / Zeroman 	(Voice actor)
2007 	Doctor*Ology 	Himself, Host 	
2007 	Lipshitz Saves the World 	Lipshitz's mentor 	Pilot
2007 	Robson Arms 	Cado Vasco 	
2007 	Family Guy 	Dr. Barry Rumack 	Episode: "Blue Harvest"
Category:1926 births
Category:2010 deaths