Page "Leslie Nielsen" Paragraph 5

His half-uncle, Jean Hersholt, was an actor best known for his portrayal of Dr. Christian in the long-running radio series of the same name and the subsequent television series and films.

In a 1994 Boston Globe article, Nielsen explained, " I did learn very early that when I would mention my uncle, people would look at me as if I were the biggest liar in the world.

Then I would take them home and show them 8-by-10 glossies, and things changed quite drastically.

So I began to think that maybe this acting business was not a bad idea, much as I was very shy about it and certainly without courage regarding it.

My uncle died not too long after I was in a position to know him.

I regret that I had not a chance to know him better.