‘Airplane!’ Turned Dramatic Actor Leslie Nielson Into a Comedic Legend

It’s unusual, but sometimes an actor known for drama suddenly becomes hilarious, and I find that really interesting. If you want a perfect example, look at Leslie Nielsen – yes, that Leslie Nielsen! Roger Ebert, a critic I really respect, even called him the “Olivier of spoofs.” He actually started out as a serious actor, really dedicated to his craft. So what changed everything for him? A movie from the early 80s that you’ve probably heard of – or at least recognize a famous line from. I’m talking about Airplane!, that brilliantly funny spoof of all those disaster movies.







