Profile Text
Nielsen in 2009, photo by s_bukley /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Leslie William Nielsen
Date of Birth: 11 February, 1926
Place of Birth: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Date of Death: November 28, 2010
Place of Death: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – Danish, some Swedish, distant German * mother – Welsh
Leslie Nielsen was a Canadian actor, comedian, and producer. He also became a U.S. citizen.
Leslie was the son of Mabel Elizabeth (Davies) and Ingvard Eversen Nielsen, a constable in the RCMP. His father was Danish, from Esbjerg. His mother was a British immigrant, of Welsh descent. His brother, Erik Nielsen (Erik Hersholt Nielsen), was a Canadian politician, who was Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, from September 17, 1984 to June 30, 1986, and Minister of National Defence, from February 27, 1985 to June 29, 1986.
Leslie was married to Barbaree Earl, until his death. He had two children with his former wife Alisande Ullman.
Leslie’s half-aunt, Petra/Via, his father’s older half-sister, was the wife of prominent Danish actor Jean Hersholt (Jean Pierre Hersholt).
Leslie’s paternal grandfather was Hans Nielsen (the son of Mads Nielsen and Ingri Pehrsdotter). Hans was born in Hegedal, Fjellerup, Djurs Nørre, Denmark. Mads was born in Fjellerup, the son of Niels Jensen and Stine Marie Madsdatter. Ingri was born in Sweden.
Leslie’s paternal grandmother was Ane Marie Petersen (the daughter of Peter Andersen and Ane Marie Nielsen). Leslie’s grandmother Ane Marie was born in Tustrup, Nørager, Denmark. Peter was born in Glatved, Hoed, the son of Anders Rasmussen and Ane Marie Jørgensdatter. Leslie’s great-grandmother Ane Marie was born in Villersø, Djurs Nørre, the daughter of Niels Eskildsen and Mette Kathrine Clausdatter.
Leslie’s maternal grandfather likely was named Llewellyn Alfred Davies. Llewellyn was born in Croydon, Surrey, England, of Welsh descent.
Sources: Genealogies of Leslie Nielsen – http://www.geni.com https://www.wikitree.com
Leslie’s father on the 1911 Denmark Census – https://www.familysearch.org