Actor Leslie Nielsen has died at a hospital in Florida at the age of 84.
The actor, best known for his performances in 'Airplane!' and 'The Naked Gun', was being treated for pneumonia at the time of his death.
The star's nephew Doug Nielsen announced the news on Canadian radio station CJOB yesterday, saying: "Just in this last 48 hours, the infection has gotten too much and today at 5.30am, with his friends and his wife by his side, he just fell asleep and passed away."
Nielsen's agent said that the actor has been in hospital receiving treatment for two weeks prior to his death.
Watch Nielsen in clips from the Naked Gun.
The actor was born in Saskatchewan in Canada, where his father was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He began his career in television in the 1950s, after training at New York's Neighborhood Playhouse.
Earlier in his career he had success playing dramatic role in films such as 'The Poseidon Adventure'. Winning the role of Detective Frank Drebin on 'Police Squad' proved to be a turning point in his career and he later went on to star in the Naked Gun movies.
Nielsen is survived by his fourth wife, Barbaree Lee Neilsen and his two daughters Maura and Thea.
Meanwhile stars have taken to Twitter to express their sadness at the news with former Guns N’ Roses guitarist tweeting "RIP Leslie Nielsen, one of my all-time favourite comedians, and don't call me Shirley."
'American Idol' presenter Ryan Seacrest tweeted "Sad to hear about Leslie Nielsen passing. To this day Airplane! is still one of my favourite comedies ever."
