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12 times Leslie Nielsen guest-starred in our favorite shows
The hilarious actor was a veteran of Westerns and Sci-Fi
CBS Television Distribution
"I am serious... and don't call me Shirley."
Before he was Dr. Rumack in Airplane! or Lt. Frank Dreblin in The Naked Gun, Leslie Nielsen was a bona fide acting workhorse. The guy showed up in... everything! That's what made him such a great comedic actor. He was a great actor actor, first and foremost. His skill set as a thespian grounded his comedy work in reality, and he was able to elevate the material with real gravitas.
So, let's take a look back on these twelve times Leslie Nielsen popped up in some of our favorite TV series. See if you can remember the mall, and be sure to share your favorite in the comments section below!
Watch Alfred Hitchcock Presents on MeTV!
Weeknights at 1 AM & 1:30 AM
*available in most MeTV markets1. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1958 - "The $2,000,000 Defense"
The fate of accused killer Lloyd Ashley depends on whether or not his lawyer Mark Robeson can prove that a gun can fire accidentally, even with the safety catch on.
2. Rawhide
1959 - "Incident Below the Brazos"
Favor and crew drive the herd into an area populated by farmers who have previously waged a range war against cattlemen. A group of farmers warns Favor to keep his men and cattle off the farmland, but a thunderstorm causes some of the horses to stampede and a farmer is killed. The man's death threatens to start a war between the farmers and the drovers.
3. Wagon Train
1960 - "The Jeremy Dow Story"
When the wagon train passes through town, habitually drunk Jeremy Dow finds that his past has caught up with him. His choices: continue running, or face the demons from his past when he is confronted with this wife and son on the train.
4. Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1961 - "Ambition"
A DA's ambition for higher office may interfere with the plans of a crime boss, who saved his life during the war, to go straight.
5. The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
1964 - "The Magic Shop"
After a little boy vanishes in a magic shop, he comes back later with supernatural powers and evil intentions.
6. Wagon Train
1964 - "The Brian Conlin Story"
The wagon train crew helps a group of Irish immigrants who have been mistreated.
7. Gunsmoke
1969 - "Time of the Jackals"
Matt and Festus shoot it out with an outlaw who was a member of the infamous Jess Trevor gang, particularly notorious for murder and mayhem.
8. The Big Valley
1969 - "Town of No Exit"
Heath arrives in a dying desert town, only to find himself a visitor in a madhouse. His hosts are five deranged people who play bizarre and deadly games with their infrequent guests. Heath's role in their hellish fantasy: the accused.
9. M*A*S*H
1973 - "The Ringbanger"
Hawkeye and Trapper hit it off with a wounded Colonel, but when they discover his combat zeal is costing lives, they conspire to keep him from returning to the front line.
10. Barnaby Jones
1973 - "The Killing Defense"
Barnaby Jones investigates the disappearance of a man he believes was involved in the theft of one million dollars in precious jewels. It isn't long before Barnaby suspects the man met with foul play and that the wife and defense lawyer of the man are involved.
11. Cannon
1974 - "The Man Who Died Twice"
Cannon teams up with former officers who were on the force the same time he was. Their task is to find another colleague who they believed was dead for the past eight years, but now suspected of killing those he was involved with in crime.
12. The Love Boat
1978 - "A Selfless Love/The Nubile Nurse/Parents Know Best"
Bruce's parents Harry and Phyllis want him to date women on the cruise and not settle for his girl back home. New nurse Dawn frustrates Adam by rejecting him. Dan has second thoughts about marrying young Laura.
