Leslie Nielsen

Leslie Nielsen was an Canadian-American actor, who portrayed Frank Drebin the main character of the series and the films. He also appeared in other ZAZ projects including Airplane! and Scary Movie 3. Currently he's known as a comedic actor but he started his career as a serious actor, acting in Academy Award nominated films such as Forbidden Planet and The Poseidon Adventure. After appearing in Airplane! Nielsen became more famous as a comedian, and so he build his career acting in comedies such as Dracula: Dead and Loving it, Spy Hard and Wrongfully Accused. Famous film critic Roger Ebert Stated in a review on Scary Moive 3 that Nielsen is the Laurence Olivier of spoofs. During his career Nielsen got two Emmy Award nominations and has a star on the hollywood walk of fame. Nielsen died on November 28, 2010 at age 84.

Role on Police Squad!
In 1982 Nielsen made his first appearence as Detective Frank Drebin in Police Squad!, according to tv.com this role was written especially for him, since the ZAZ already worked with him in The Kentucky Fried Movie and Airplane, in an interview Nielsen stated that the reason this part was written for him was because the ZAZ had detected the same humor they had in him. Even though the series only ran for six episodes, Nielsen got an Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal. In 1988 (six years after the shows cancellation) the first Naked Gun film was released, wich was a big success. Frank Drebin is one of the rare Police Squad! characters, that had only one portrayer through the series, films and any other appearances.

Video

 * 1993: Bad Golf Made Easier
 * 1994: Bad Golf My Way
 * 1997: Stupid Little Golf Video
 * 1997: National Geographic Video: The Savage Garden
 * Nielsen also appeared in a promotional video for Layman Allen's mathematics game called "Equations" and in the Seaworld San Antonio Summer Nights 4-D show "Pirates 4-D".