Nielsen dies aged 84

Comic actor passes away after illness...

10:05 29 November 2010

Canadian actor Leslie Nielsen, best known for his comedic stints in Airplane! and The Naked Gun, has died at the age of 84.

The actor, who had been suffering from pneumonia for almost two weeks, passed away last night after failing to recover from the illness.

He had been in hospital surrounded by friends and family when he died.

Nielsen had had a long career in acting, but it was his role in Airplane! which first alerted the world to his excellent comedic timing.

He then went on to star in The Naked Gun trilogy, in which he played a hapless cop.

Married four times, the actor has two children from his second marriage; Maura and Thea Nielsen.