The son of an RCMP officer, spent much of his early in the Northwest Territories community of Fort Norman, now Tulita. When Nielsen was four, the family travelled south so his older brother Eric, who later served as government leader of the Yukon Territory and Deputy Prime Minister as a Conservative member of Parliament, could attend school in Edmonton. Nielsen signed on as an aerial gunner in the RCAF in his late teens.
After WWII, Nielsen settled in Calgary and made his show business debut at a local radio station as a radio engineer, announcer and DJ. Eager to study acting, Nielsen moved to Toronto to attend Lorne Greene’s Academy of Radio Arts, then earned a scholarship to the famed Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York City. Sanford Meisner taught him to act, Martha Graham taught him to dance, he polished his skills at the legendary Actors’ Studio, and summer stock paid the bills.
In 1950, Nielsen made his television debut on the prestigious Studio One anthology series, playing opposite another newcomer Charlton Heston. That year alone, he appeared in 46 live TV programs. Hollywood beckoned in 1954, and Nielsen launched his movie career with the lead role in 1956’s The Vagabond King. He went on to appear in Forbidden Planet, Tammy And The Bachelor, The Poseidon Adventure, Peyton Place, Bracken’s World and Due South.
Along the way, he found time to guest star on just about every hit drama series going, including The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare, Bonanza, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Hawaii 5-0, The Streets Of San Francisco, Ironside, Kojak, M*A*S*H, The Golden Girls and many more.
In the 1980s, Nielson was cast as Lt. Frank Drebin in Airplane, and a whole new generation of fans discovered his impeccable comic timing. The Emmy-nominated superstar received many accolades – top among them was his 1995 UCLA Jack Benny Award, a prize reserved for only the best and brightest names in comedy.
