History Main / LeslieNielsenSyndrome

** The interesting thing is that in Nielsen's case it was at least semi-intentional. He recognized that he was getting to the age wherein he'd almost inevitably end up typecast as people's grandfathers, and idea that did not appeal to him, and he thought that the chance to start doing comedic roles instead would help him avoid this.

* JamieLeeCurtis first established herself as a horror movie scream queen, playing the FinalGirl in films like ''{{Halloween}}'', ''PromNight'' and ''TerrorTrain''. Ever since ''TradingPlaces'', however, she's been best known for comedic films like ''AFishCalledWanda'', ''FierceCreatures'' and ''FreakyFriday''.

** Hell, [[DeadpanSnarker he's at his funniest in his serious roles]].

* Its been a while since you've seen WilliamShatner in a dramatic role. And remember, for all his current reputation as the king of self-parody, the man is a veteran Shakesperean actor.

->''Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.''

[[{{Airplane}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leslie-nielsen.jpg]]
[[caption-width:350:Who knew he was such a funny guy?]]

-->''Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.''

-->''[[TooSoon Dying is easy.]] Comedy is hard.''

** He was in two television series titled "ER"...one a [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108757/ drama]] and the other a [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086704/ comedy]].

* The trope namer is, of course, [[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/nyregion/29nielsen.html?hp the late]] [[MostTriumphantExample great]] LeslieNielsen of ''{{Airplane}}!'' and ''PoliceSquad'' fame. He had a long career as a dramatic leading man, but it had petered out by the 1980s. And then came his appearance in ''Airplane!''. The ironic thing is that, in ''Airplane!'', he's [[UnFunny perfectly deadpan]] and not ''personally'' all that funny at all when compared to the other performances. The same goes for the ''NakedGun'' movies. His ability to act completely serious about ridiculous things was his major strength as a comedic actor.

-->''Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.''

* WilliamShatner is best known for the overly dramatic [[StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Captain Kirk]], as well as his intense performances in several ''TheTwilightZone'' episodes and other serious roles. These days, however, he has made a name for himself as a loveable comedic actor, through things like the iconic Priceline commercials, ''BostonLegal'', and his upcoming new CBS sitcom.

-->''[[FunnyAneurysmMoment Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.]]''

* The trope namer is, of course, [[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/nyregion/29nielsen.html?hp the late]] [[MostTriumphantExample great]] Leslie Nielsen of ''{{Airplane}}!'' and ''PoliceSquad'' fame. He had a long career as a dramatic leading man, but it had petered out by the 1980s. And then came his appearance in ''Airplane!''. The ironic thing is that, in ''Airplane!'', he's [[UnFunny perfectly deadpan]] and not ''personally'' all that funny at all when compared to the other performances. The same goes for the ''NakedGun'' movies. His ability to act completely serious about ridiculous things was his major strength as a comedic actor.
* Lloyd Bridges ended his career better known for his roles in ''Airplane!'', the ''HotShots'' movies and other comedy films than for his earlier dramatic work.

** Lithgow pretty much played anything: A transexual in ''TheWorldAccordingToGarp'', a scientist/father figure in ''TheManhattanProject'', a minister in ''FootLoose'', and comedic villains in ''BuckarooBanzai'' and ''Santa Claus -- The Movie''.
** He breathed new life into {{Dexter}} in the fourth season, after two seasons of misery, with his awesome performance as a serial killer.

* William Shatner is best known for the overly dramatic [[StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Captain Kirk]], as well as his intense performances in several ''TheTwilightZone'' episodes and other serious roles. These days, however, he has made a name for himself as a loveable comedic actor, through things like the iconic Priceline commercials, ''BostonLegal'', and his upcoming new CBS sitcom.
* Joanna Lumley was famous for playing dramatic roles until she played the outrageous Patsy in AbsolutelyFabulous. She commented that her fan mail went from retired colonels telling her she was the perfect EnglishRose to drag queens asking her where she got her clothes.
* John C Reilly was mostly know for serious roles before he got mixed up with Will Ferrell (''TalladegaNights'' and ''Step Brothers'') and Judd Apatow (''WalkHard''). He had a recurring character on ''TimAndEricAwesomeShowGreatJob'' and now has his own spin-off called ''CheckItOutWithDrSteveBrule''.

-->''Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.''

* George Clooney. These days, two out of three of his movies are comedies.

* The trope namer is, of course, [[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/nyregion/29nielsen.html?hp the late]] Leslie Nielsen of ''{{Airplane}}!'' and ''PoliceSquad'' fame. He had a long career as a dramatic leading man, but it had petered out by the 1980s. And then came his appearance in ''Airplane!''. The ironic thing is that, in ''Airplane!'', he's [[UnFunny perfectly deadpan]] and not ''personally'' all that funny at all when compared to the other performances. The same goes for the ''NakedGun'' movies. His ability to act completely serious about ridiculous things was his major strength as a comedic actor.

** Let us remember that he had a fairly small role in "Gangs of New York", for example.

* The trope namer is, of course, [[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/29/nyregion/29nielsen.html?hp the late]] Leslie Nielsen of ''{{Airplane}}!'' and ''PoliceSquad'' fame. He had a long career as a dramatic leading man, but it had petered out by the 1980s. And then came his appearance in ''Airplane!''. The ironic thing is that, in ''Airplane!'', he's [[UnFunny perfectly deadpan]] and not ''personally'' all that funny at all when compared to the other performances. The same goes for the ''NakedGun'' movies. His ability to act completely serious about ridiculous things is his major strength as a comedic actor.

* The trope namer is, of course, Leslie Nielsen of ''{{Airplane}}!'' and ''PoliceSquad'' fame. He had a long career as a dramatic leading man, but it had petered out by the 1980s. And then came his appearance in ''Airplane!''. The ironic thing is that, in ''Airplane!'', he's [[UnFunny perfectly deadpan]] and not ''personally'' all that funny at all when compared to the other performances. The same goes for the ''NakedGun'' movies. His ability to act completely serious about ridiculous things is his major strength as a comedic actor.

-->''Dying is easy. Comedy is hard.''

* Alec Baldwin hasn't been seen near a dramatic work in years. Heck, he's even doing comedy commercials...
** ''TheDeparted'' is a comedy? Why does no one tell me these things!
*** A mobster who is pretending to be a cop and a cop who's pretending to be a mobster. Crazy mix ups and [[HilarityEnsues wacky hijinks ensue]].

** He breathed new life into {{Dexter}} in the fourth season, after two seasons of misery, with his awesome performance [[spoiler:as a serial killer]]

* William Shatner is best known for the overly dramatic Captain Kirk, as well as his intense performances in several Twilight Zone episodes and other serious roles. These days, however, he has made a name for himself as a loveable comedic actor, through things like the iconic Priceline commercials, Boston Legal, and his upcoming new CBS sitcom.

* The trope namer is, of course, Leslie Nielsen of ''{{Airplane}}!'' and ''PoliceSquad'' fame. He had a long career as a dramatic leading man, but it had petered out by the 1980s. And then came his appearance in ''Airplane!''. The ironic thing is that, in ''Airplane!'', he's [[UnFunny perfectly deadpan]] and not ''personally'' all that funny at all when compared to the other performances. The same goes for TheNakedGun movies. His ability to act completely serious about ridiculous things is his major strength as a comedic actor.

[[caption-width:400:Who knew he was such a funny guy?]]