Last night the great Leslie Nielsen passed away after succumbing to a two week battle with pneumonia. Not only was Mr. Nielsen a fantastic presence on the silver screen (not to mention all his television work) but he was also a beloved Canadian. Leslie has been a Hollywood staple for over 50 years and he continued to work up until his death.

I remember his films to be some of my childhood favourites. When my family would rent movies on the weekends, I would repeatedly ask for Dracula, Dead and Loving It or any one of the Naked Gun films. I was lucky to have parents who thought the young me was smart enough to understand and appreciate the classic humour of Airplane. While other kids my age were watching talking pigs in Babe or the latest instalment in the Land Before Time franchise, I got to experience the brilliance of Leslie’s deadpan delivery and incomparably hilarious one-liners.

I will leave you with some funny quotes, because such a man does not deserve your sadness but rather your laughter.

As Dick Steele in Spy Hard:

Veronique Ukrinsky, Agent 3.14: Have a nice flight, and I wish you adieux.
Dick Steele, Agent WD-40: Thank you, but I am quite satisfied with the do I have.

As Detective Ryan Harrison in Wrongfully Accused:

Ryan Harrison: Your dog sure has a surprised look on his face.
Lauren: That’s because you’re looking at his butt.
Ryan Harrison: Uh, then he’s certainly not going to enjoy that treat I just fed to him.

Ryan Harrison: Your lies are like bananas. They come in big yellow bunches.

As Dr. Rumack in Airplane!:

Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can’t be serious.
Rumack: I am serious … and don’t call me Shirley.

Rumack: You’d better tell the captain we’ve got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.
Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it?
Rumack: It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.

As Lt. Frank Drebin in Naked Gun:

Lt. Frank Drebin: Jane, since I’ve met you, I’ve noticed things that I never knew were there before… birds singing, dew glistening on a newly formed leaf, stoplights.

Lt. Frank Drebin: Like a midget at a urinal, I was going to have to stay on my toes.

And finally,
Lt. Frank Drebin: Cheer up, Ed. This is not goodbye. It’s just I won’t ever see you again.

Rest in peace, Leslie.