Associated Press reports the actor passed away from complications from pneumonia at his Fort Lauderdale, Fla. home.
The Canadian-born Nielsen began his career as a journeyman actor in numerous dramas, his biggest early roles being in the 1956 sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet and as Col. Francis Marion in the Disney television series Swamp Fox.
A few years after co-starring in the 1972 disaster classic The Poseidon Adventure, Nielsen would find a whole new career -- and generations of new fans -- as a comedic star when he played Dr. Rumack in Airplane! and its sequel. Nielsen's expert deadpan delivery -- epitomized by his classic line, "I am serious. And don't call me Shirley." -- redefined his identity as actor, and from there the comedy floodgates opened for him.
Although it was a failure when it began as the TV series Police Squad, Nielsen's stint as bumbling cop Lt. Frank Drebin found greater success on the big screen in The Naked Gun film series.
Nielsen played similarly bumbling, befuddled old men in comedies such as Mr. Magoo, Repossessed, Surf Ninjas, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Spy Hard, 2001: A Space Travesty, Scary Movie 3 and 4, Superhero Movie and Stan Helsing.
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