‘Airplane’ and ‘Naked Gun’ star Leslie Nielsen has died.
Surely I can’t be serious. Yes, sadly the comedy great passed away Sunday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at the age of 84 after being treated for pneumonia. And, don’t call me Shirley.
It was Leslie’s deadpan delivery of famous lines like “don’t call me Shirley,” that gave the actor an unlikely comedic revival later in life. Starring as a doctor in 1980’s ‘Airplane’ movie critic Roger Ebert called Leslie, “the Olivier of spoofs.” It marked a turning point in his career.
The actor’s agent, John S. Kelly confirmed to PEOPLE Magazine that Leslie had passed away “surrounded by his lovely wife and friends due to complications of pneumonia.”
“Just in this last 48 hours, the infection has gotten too much,” his nephew Doug Nielsen told a Canadian radio station. “He just fell asleep and passed away.”
Watch an ‘Airplane’ and ‘Naked Gun’ tribute below, and share your favorite Leslie Nielsen line in the comments.
R.I.P.
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