Nielsen may have been overshadowed by Robby the Robot and some pretty extraordinary sets in this sci-fi classic, but he was nevertheless grateful for the film's enduring staying power.
As the captain of the doomed luxury liner, the star helped to steer this disaster flick toward box office gold.
While known up until this point as a more dramatic actor, his funny side took flight in the comedy classic.
Despite being canceled after only six episodes, Lt. Frank Drebin wasn't ready to hang up his gun just yet…
Nielsen's Drebin made his way onto the big screen in what would become the first of three films featuring the likes of eventual headline-grabbers O.J. Simpson and Anna Nicole Smith.
Poking fun at Transylvania's most famous vampire, this sendup found Nielsen sinking his teeth into the title role for Young Frankenstein director Mel Brooks.