MovieChat Forums > The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) Discussion > Leslie Nielsen typecasted

Leslie Nielsen typecasted

posted 13 years ago by davcar-1
13 replies | jump to latest

I read a couple of interviews with Nielsen and he had regretted that Naked Gun type casted him into comedy/parody roles after Naked Gun was released. He said that he didn’t even have that problem after Flying High was released as he was casted into the drama NUTS with Barbra Streisand. However he said in another interview that Naked Gun had steered him away as he got older into getting type casted into grandfather roles, which he was happy about, so I guess it was not all bad.

[–] savagesteve13 12 years ago

He did a few serious roles in his younger days, but I can't watch them without laughing knowing its Leslie Neilsen. Its just not right now.

[–] MsELLERYqueen2 12 years ago

He was excellent in a serious role in the early 70s mystery-thriller "They Call it Murder". It's been so long since I've seen "The Naked Gun" that I have begun to associate Nielsen with "They Call it Murder" more than "The Naked Gun". That might change if I rewatch the comedy.

By the way, Nielsen graduated from a high school here in Edmonton! I've lived in Edmonton all my life. Nice to know that he was here for a bit as well. He was smart enough to leave this city, though.

~~
Jim Hutton: talented gorgeous hot hunk; adorable as ElleryQueen; SEXIEST ACTOR EVER

[–] jac163 11 years ago

I remember him in The Forbidden Planet from the late 1950's

[–] weird_beard 10 years ago

You'll love the DVD commentary for this movie. They joke about "such and such is a remake of The Tempest" at least three times.

[–] jac163 11 years ago

I remember him in The Forbidden Planet from the late 1950's

[–] MissKateRabbit 11 years ago

:) I watched a "Murder she wrote" with him in it and I couldn't get the Leslie Neilsen "image" out of my head lol

Do the *beep* snow angel, dude. Do the *beep* snow angel!!

[–] ak47wong 10 years ago

Same here. When I watch him in something like Creepshow, I just see Frank Drebin or the doctor from Airplane.

[–] shanayneigh 8 years ago

Good luck. We're all counting on you.

Working in the movie business since -92

[–] redban (5178) 5 years ago

Yeah, I saw Leslie in the movie “Nuts,” a serious courtroom drama. He played the main character’s wife-beater, so he had a serious role.

I couldn’t help but laugh hard when he appeared. Even when he started beating up the lead actress, I found him funny.

[–] Sandman81 (1501) 5 years ago

It probably did bother him at first that he really couldn't do anymore serious dramatic roles at first, but probably made came to some serious realizations later:

A) People LOVED him in these goofball comedic roles
B) He could do these roles for 30 years.
C) No matter what else he did, people would always fondly remember him for these roles, and as an actor that's what you ultimately want.

[–] davebuffalo (3013) 4 years ago

Yeah he's in two COLUMBO episodes and whenever I watch them (Lady in Waiting, Identity Crisis), I keep waiting for him to stumble or say something crazy.

[–] mikethemartian (6061) 2 years ago

He played a ton of serious roles on TV shows in the 60s and 70s.

[–] DoctorThirteen (10197) 2 years ago

I remember him in Day of the Animals. Played a very good nutjob/bad guy.