Legendary comic actor Leslie Nielsen has passed away at the age of 84.
The Canadian actor, best known for his madcap performances in The Naked Gun and Airplane!, died in a Florida hospital after suffering from pneumonia.
Initially a serious actor, Nielsen became a star in the world of comedy thanks to his brilliantly deadpan performance as Dr Rumack in 1980 spoof Airplane! and as the error-strewn police detective Frank Drebin in The Naked Gun trilogy.
Nielsen’s nephew Doug announced the news on Canadian radio station CJOB, saying: “Just in this last 48 hours, the infection has gotten too much and today at 5.30am, with his friends and his wife by his side, he just fell asleep and passed away.”
In a career spanning over 60 years, Nielsen appeared in more than 100 films and was nominated twice for an Emmy thanks to performances in Police Squad and Day by Day.
Video: Leslie Nielsen’s most famous line from the 1980 comedy Airplane
