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Leslie Nielsen, the actor known to most for his brilliant comic turns in Airplane and The Naked Gun films has died at the age of 84.

He died in hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from complications arising from Pneumonia.

The son of a Canadian mountie and a Welsh mother, Nielsen began his acting career in the New York theatre, starting out as a serious stage and screen leading man. For many Syfy fans Nielsen will be best remembered for his turn as Commander J.J. Adams in sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet (1956).

But Nielsen’s Hollywood career well and truly sparked into life after the success of air disaster spoof Airplane (1980) in which he played the memorable role of Dr. Rumack, delivering the now legendary line “Don’t call me Shirley”. Airplane led to another spoof, this time poking fun at procedural cop shows in Police Squad. An actor previously associated with serious roles became reborn as a comedy genius and the character of Detective Frank Drebin went on to carry three Naked Gun movies, in which he starred opposite Priscilla Presley.

Nielsen is survived by his wife and two daughters.