The actor played dozens of straight-laced roles on live TV in New York before heading to Hollywood to play…well, more of the same. Despite some good parts now and then, Nielson's career took a complete left turn following his hilarious performance in Airplane! as a doctor who really would prefer that you stop calling him Shirley. More great—and some not so great—comic spoofs followed and kicked off what had to be one of the best second acts in movie history.