RIP Leslie Nielsen, RCAF Veteran

[warbird1]

Sad news, one of the funniest men around has passed away:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101129/ap_ ... ie_nielsen

Does anyone know anything about Leslie Nielsen's background in the Royal Canadian Air Force? I've heard he was trained as a gunner at the end of W.W. II. Anyone know any details?

On a related note - and this is a long shot, I remember seeing a documentary a long time ago, in the 70's, where Leslie Nielsen narrated a film about Guadalcanal. It utilized a lot of color footage and had astounding (at that time) footage of "then and now" shots on Guadalcanal. Even though I was young, I distinctly remember them showing a substantially complete F4F Wildcat on the island as it appeared at the time it was made, apparently left at Henderson field. Anyone know the documentary name, or if it is available on video, DVD, download, anything?

Even though I fly airliners now, I still quote some of Leslie's lines from "Airplane" to my crewmembers. They look at me like I'm strange, but I still get a kick out of that classic movie.

Blue skies, Mr. Nielsen!

[Stearman75972]

He did a TV show called "The Canadian Conspiracy". It was a an enjoyable look at the number of Canadians who are in Hollywood taking it over.

Per Wikipedia

"The Canadian Conspiracy is an HBO/CBC mockumentary from 1985 about the way the Canadian government is subverting the United States by taking over its media."

The Plot

The program features many Canadians famous in the US who do not emphasize their being Canadian. Among them are:

* Lorne Greene, the leader;
* Lorne Michaels, the protege;
* Leslie Nielsen, the Canadian government connection as brother to Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, Erik Nielsen;
* Eugene Levy, the insider who risks his life to bring the conspiracy to light;
* John Candy
* Peter Jennings
* Morley Safer
* William Shatner
* Martin Short

They, and other Canadian-born stars, are hounded by ANN (American News Network) reporters asking them about the Canadian conspiracy, of which they deny all knowledge.

Much is made of Leslie Nielsen's brother Erik, then Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, of the green card being in actuality named after Lorne Greene, and of Lorne Michaels' youth indicating his grooming as Lorne Greene's successor.

If you want to see it, put it in google.com "The Canadian Conspiracy" and you can look at the video. A great laugh and one I look at again to see Leslie Nielsen. Enjoy!!!

[Chris]

Extremely talented actor and funny guy. Surely you can't be serious!

[P51Mstg]

I've met him several times, really super guy. Gonna miss him. Flying the airlines hasn't been the same since Airplane......

Mark H

[Cking]

Sad news indeed RIP
His best work was Forbiden Planet. Un fortunatly I cannot watch it without thinking of Drebben!!

Rgds Cking

[Nathan]

I was watching "The Naked Gun 2 and a half" saturday night! The day before he died! I am so sad about his passing. I really liked him. I was always regretting the day he passed.

[Pat Carry]

The ultimate funny guy and "dont call me Shirley"

[JBoyle]

Anyone who watched a lot of TV in the late 60s and early 70s will remember him in serious roles in lots of guest shots (you name the series and he was in it, including my favorite, Bearcats!) so it was great to see him turn into a great comic actor in Airplane!
Probably the funniest rapid-fire comedy since the Marx Brothers.

RIP...and I am serious, Shirley.

[mustangdriver]

I have the special edition DVD of Airplane!, and in it they directors and producers of the film sound off how the movie studio said that they could make the movie but there were certain things that had to be changes or included. There were certain people that the movie studio said had to make cameos in the film. Kareem Abdul Jabar was one, and Lesile Nielson was another. The movie studio didn't care how they were used. So they made kareem play himself a basketball player, but who was also moonlighting as a co-pilot. Lesile nielson knew he was known for straight laced roles, and came up with the idea of playing it so straight that it would be silly. And it worked.
One of the other fun facts is that the script originally had the whole thing take place on a DC-3. But the movie studio stepped in and saidd no make it a jet airliner as it will appear more timeless. So they did, but in way to get back at the studio, the left the sound effects in for the DC-3.

[The Inspector]

"Nice ankle bracelet" "Oh, did that fall down there again?"

[K5DH]

"We have our clearance, Clarence."
"Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?"

Funny stuff!

[leo]

I remember laughing out loud so hard it hurt at the sound effect, prop noises on a jet. Myself and one other guy in the theatre, most did not get the joke I guess.
He will be missed.

[k5083]

He was a great talent with impeccable comic timing. I fear that we never got to see the best work he was capable of, because he wasn't picky enough about his roles.

August

[Chris Brame]

"I want to wish you both the best of luck. We're all counting on you!"

[Chris Brame]

"I want to wish you both the best of luck. We're all counting on you!"