“Airplane” Icon Dies at 84

Actor Leslie Nielson Dies

A comedy legend and something of an icon has passed away at the age of 84. Actor Leslie Nielson, best known for his roles in the 1980 movie Airplane, and the Naked Gun series of movies, died in a Ft. Lauderdale hospital on Sunday. Nielson was being treated for pneumonia at the time of his death.

“Pilots all across the country feel a sense of loss today.” said a Continental Express Airlines pilot, Bob Curry. “One-liners from Airplane are used as banter on almost a daily basis in the cockpit. Most of all we will miss the occasional opportunity to actually fly him as a passenger.” According to Curry, “(Neilson) would actually stick his head in the cockpit during boarding and say, ‘I just want you to know, we are all counting on you.’” – just one of the many classic lines from Airplane. 

In addition to his landmark roles in these two movies, Nielson also leaves us with more than one hundred movies and TV shows in which we can enjoy his artistry.