The passing of Leslie Nielsen was terrible, terrible news at the Casazza home. I was even late to the office today.

Just a tremendous career. He was in some of the funniest films and franchises and a party to a few of the wittiest scripts ever. In addition to the ones in which he starrted, Nielsen was a guest on so many of the great television shoes of his time. Seriously, everything from “227” to “The Love Boat” and from “Murder She Wrote” to “S.W.A.T.”

The man was even the closer in the finale of “The Golden Girls.” He swept Dorothy Zbornak off her feet!

I’m convinced his death had to do with my dog’s histrionics at 12:30 this morning. Then again at 3:30. And 5:30. And 6:45. I will forever regret not being the “Naked Gun Umpire” for Halloween this year. Couldn’t find the proper equipment, but I promise that won’t be the case next year.

“Strike?…Stttriiiike ooooone!“

Mr. Nielsen Frank Drebin Enrico Pallazzo even gave to sports one of the most memorable national anthems of all time. Take that Carl Lewis. And Dennis Hastert.  And this cop.

Long live the locksmith.