Leslie Nielsen was raised in Tulita (formally Fort Norman), Northwest Territories. His father was a mountie and a strict disciplinarian. His mother was Welsh. Leslie studied at the Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto before moving on to New York's Neighborhood Playhouse. His acting career started at a much earlier age when he was forced to lie to his father in order to avoid severe punishment. Leslie has starred in over fifty movies and many more TV films. One of his two brothers became the deputy prime minister of Canada.
Nephew of the late actor Jean Hersholt. Born at 5:00am-MST Brother was a high ranking Canadian politician. Eric Nielsen was the Government Leader of the Yukon Territory before becoming a Member of Parliment and the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. His grandfather on father's side was Danish. While in Winnipeg, Canada to promote their movie "Men With Brooms", he and fellow co-star Paul Gross received Honorary Citizenships from Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray at the Granite Curling Club. Naturalized U.S. citizen. Went to High School in Edmonton, Alberta, at Victoria Composite High School. He has a half brother named Gilbert Nielsen who lives in Hobbs, New Mexico. Was made an "Honorary West Virginian and Ambassador of Mountain State Goodwill" on February 20, 2002 by then Secretary of State, now Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia. In the Fall of 2003, the Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada opened the Leslie Nielsen School of Communications, with the actor on hand for the ceremony. Is an Officer of the Order of Canada Has two daughters: Maura Nielsen Kaplan and Thea Nielsen Disney. At age 17 1/2 enlisted in the Royal Canadian AirForce and trained as a serial gunner. Tested for the role of "Messala" in "Ben Hur". Film critic Roger Ebert once called him "the Laurence Olivier of spoofs." Was considered for the role of Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).