R.I.P. LESLIE NIELSEN

Sure the charmingly funny and debonair Leslie Nielsen was famous for big screen hits like “Airplane” and his association with O.J. Simpson in the movie “The Naked Gun”.

But for me, a child born in the early 80′s with minimal children’s programming and few “cool” friends….a nerd if you will. who watched grownup shows etc, he stands out in my hazy childhood memory as 3 personas:



1. The man I often thought was Steve Martin and vice versa despite their age difference. To a five year old, all prematurely white haired comedians look alike.

2. Mona’s temporary suitor on Who’s The Boss, who she stupidly refused to marry despite his wealth, dashing good looks and complete devotion to her; So that her character could continue being a retirement age hussie; Mona being to Blanche Devereaux what Webster was to Gary Coleman.

3. THE MAN WHO DESTROYED GOLDEN GIRLS. That’s right, he played Blanche’s strangely young uncle “Lucas Hollingsworth”, who showed up in the final two episodes and swept Dorothy off her feet, causing her to marry him and leave the bungalow breaking up the greatest female comedy ensemble of all time.