Spent his boyhood living near the Arctic Circle

Served in Canadian Air Force during WWII

Worked as a disc jockey and announcer on Canadian radio; also was a radio engineer

Moved to NYC

Made TV debut in the "Studio One" production "Battleship Bismarck"

Moved to Hollywood when put under contract by Paramount

Played the ship's commander in the cult sci-fi movie "Forbidden Planet"

Starred opposite Debbie Reynolds in "Tammy and the Bachelor"

Cast as Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion in "Swamp Fox", a limited series aired on "Walt Disney" (ABC)

Headlined the ABC police drama series "The New Breed"

Portrayed Dr Vincent Markham on the ABC primetime serial "Peyton Place"

Co-starred in the big screen remake of "Beau Geste"

Played George Armstrong Custer in "The Plainsman"

Headlined the NBC rotating series "The Protectors"

Cast as the head of a motion picture studio in "Bracken's World" (NBC)

Was the ship's captain in the "disaster" film "The Poseidon Adventure"

Hosted the syndicated documentary series "The Explorers"

Toured USA in one-man stage show, "Darrow"

Portrayed the chief usher of the White House staff in the NBC miniseries "Backstairs at the White House"

First collaboration with the Zucker brothers, "Airplane!"

Starred as bumbling detective Frank Drebin in the cult ABC sitcom "Police Squad!"; only six episodes aired

Had featured role in the horror anthology film "Creepshow"

Had lead role of an aging health club owner in the short-lived ABC sitcom "Shaping Up"

Played recurring role of Max Muldoon, Mona's beau, on "Who's the Boss?" (ABC)

Co-starred as Barbra Streisand's murder victim in "Nuts"

Reprised TV role of Frank Drebin in the big screen comedy "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!"

Once again played Drebin in the sequel "Naked Gun 2-1/2: The Smell of Fear"

Played the man who won the heart of Dorothy (Beatrice Arthur) in the finale of the NBC sitcom "The Golden Girls"

Published a fake "autobiography", "Leslie Nielsen The Naked Truth"

Had yet another turn as Frank Drebin in "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult"

Originated part of Mountie Buck Frobisher in an episode of the CBS series "Due South"; reprised role in 1996 episode

Played title role in Mel Brooks' "Dracula: Dead and Loving It"

Starred in the spoof "Spy Hard"

Had title role in live-action version of "Mr. Magoo"

Played lead in the broad comedy "Wrongfully Accused"

Appeared as Dr Chumley in the small screen remake of "Harvey"

Toured USA and Great Britain in one-person stage show "Leslie Nielsen as Clarence Darrow"

Co-wrote and starred in "2001: A Space Travesty" (lensed 1999)

Portrayed an amnesiac Kris Kringle in "Santa Who?", a presentation of "The Wonderful World of Disney" (ABC)

Had featured role in "Men with Brooms"

Played President Harris in the comedy "Scary Movie 4"

Starred in the comedy film, "Christmas in Wonderland"