Leslie Nielsen (1926-2010)

Serious character actor Leslie Nielsen became a comic star when he spoofed his image in “Airplane!” (“… and don’t call me Shirley”) and as bumbling Det. Frank Drebin in the television series “Police Squad!” and the successful “Naked Gun” movies.

imdb.com | The Washington Post | Los Angeles Times
“Airplane” | Det. Frank Drebin | Three strikes

Airplane! (1980)

A spoof of disasters films, specifically the “Airport” movies and “Zero Hour” (1957), this comedy standard is sophomoric and really funny. Robert Stack, Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves and Leslie Nielsen are outstanding, satirizing dramatic versions of themselves.

d: Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker | imdb.com | trailer
Don’t call me Shirley. | I speak jive. | Rex Kramer | Johnny