While Doug Powers at Michelle Malkin’s blog reported on this earlier today, I heard about this last night from my twin brother. It seemed almost unreal that Leslie Nielsen could be gone. Everyone dies but this was a man who I assumed would be around much longer. He made us all laugh for decades with movies like Airplane! and The Naked Gun series, and it seemed as if as long as there was comedy, there would be Nielsen. It does feel, at least to me, that comedy, if not laughter itself, died yesterday.
While he became a Hollywood comedy sensation, Canadians never forgot that he was one of us. Born on February 11, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan, he came from the humblest of Canadian beginnings. He was not only a source of pride for Canadians, but an inspiration for actors on this side of the border. While Canada isn’t a stranger to comedians, many of whom were Second City Television alumni like John Candy and Eugene Levy, Nielsen set himself apart with his unique style of comedy, highlighted by his deadpan delivery which film critic Roger Ebert said made him “the Olivier of spoofs.” He didn’t have to resort to childishness or offensive gags to make us laugh. With his enormous talent, it is no surprise that Nielsen is both a member of the Hollywood and Canada’s Walk of Fame. Suffice to say, he was one of the brightest of our shining stars.
Comedy will go on, but I doubt we will ever see someone like Leslie Nielsen again. He was the comedic equivalent to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and his death ends an era. While many have tried to copy them, there will never be another comedy like Airplane! or The Naked Gun series. Nielsen brought a certain charm to the movies he starred in and no amount of gratuitous humour can replace, let alone replicate it. Nielsen’s death is a great loss, and he will be greatly missed… And I am serious, and don’t call me Shirley…
