Leslie Nielsen dies at 84

[midget-boyd91]

I honestly believed that this man would live forever..... sad sad day. 

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20101128/leslie-nielsen-dies-101128/

 

[ModlrMike]

From his bio:

At age 17 1/2 enlisted in the Royal Canadian AirForce and trained as an aerial gunner.

 

[PuckChaser]

Truly a great comedian, actor and man.

He'll be missed! 

 

[Occam]

His stuff never failed to get a chuckle out of me.  My wife never understood it.

My favourite?  Easily Leslie Nielsen and Priscilla Presley in "The Naked Gun".  ;D

 

[HavokFour]

Far too soon!

 

[Thompson_JM]

He will be missed!

 

[midget-boyd91]

By far, the sequence that stands out the most in my memory.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVr5AJz2xNo&feature=related

Lets remember by posting your favourites...

 

[NSDreamer]

  The plane has landed safe Mister Neilsen, you can fly on now. RIP.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cehS0phSX0Y

 

[MPwannabe]

I'm not joking, and don't call me Shirley.

RIP

 

[The Bread Guy]

I'm not joking, and don't call me Shirley.

RIP

My fave too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A5t5_O8hdA&feature=related
R.I.P.

- edited to add PM statement -
From the PM's web site:

“Laureen and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Leslie Nielsen today.

“In a career spanning more than six decades, the Regina-born Nielsen was an accomplished actor on stage and screen, in both dramas
and comedies.

“An Officer of the Order of Canada and with a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame, Nielsen is fondly remembered by fans around the world.

“We can be grateful that his most famous performances are preserved on film and will delight audiences for years to come.”

 

[FlyingDutchman]

He's dead, I hope he is loving it.

I think I have to go be sad now.

 

[wildman0101]

RIP Leslie 
You allway's cracked me up
in Police Squad.
Condolences to Comrades,
Family, Friend's and Fan's.
Scoty B
A true proud Canadian. 

 

[mariomike]

I read that he trained as an air gunner in the RCAF. But, I also read that he was legally deaf. I don't know how he could have passed the aircrew medical and training. Air gunners would require normal hearing for the intercom.
http://deafnewstoday.blogspot.com/2010/11/leslie-nielsen-dies.html

His slightly older brother, Erik Nielsen, was awarded the DFC in RCAF Bomber Command ( 101 Squadron ).

 

 

[PMedMoe]

I read that he trained as an air gunner in the RCAF. But, I also read that he was legally deaf. I don't know how he could have passed the aircrew medical and training. Air gunners would require normal hearing for the intercom.

Well, according to Wikipedia:

At the age of seventeen, following his graduation from Victoria Composite High School in Edmonton, Nielsen enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and was trained as an aerial gunner during the latter part of World War II (but was too young to be fully trained or sent overseas).

Considering it was around 1943 and there was a war going on, the aircrew and medical standards may have been lower than they are now.

 

[OldSolduer]

RIP Mr. Nielsen 

 

[mariomike]

Well, according to Wikipedia:

Considering it was around 1943 and there was a war going on, the aircrew and medical standards may have been lower than they are now.

Perhaps his hearing loss was not as profound during the war? Apparently, the war ended before he was sent overseas.

In spite of the pathetic chances of survival, there was never a shortage of volunteers for aircrew. There is a book on the subject: "Selected for Aircrew". One of the attractions may have been an immediate promotion to Flight Sergeant, or a commission. They also lived in relative peace and comfort when not flying. They were well treated on the ground.

Another book on the subject of RCAF aircrew selection: "The Cream of the Crop: Canadian Aircrew, 1939-1945":
http://www.amazon.ca/Cream-Crop-Canadian-Aircrew-1939-1945/dp/0773513981
"describes the development of a uniquely Canadian selection system that attempted to match the aptitudes of aircrew candidates to the duties they would perform and the evolution of the RCAF's training program from a haphazard system with enormous attrition to one that became the model for many modern systems."

I viewed the complete personnel files of five RCAF WW2 aircrew in Ottawa and the selection process seemed very thorough to me.

I listened to this 1991 radio interview: "Leslie and Erik Nielsen laugh it up". They describe how throughout their careers that people were frequently confused as to who was who:
http://archives.cbc.ca/society/family/clips/15497/