Dr. Rumack: Can you fly this plane, and land it?
Ted Striker: Surely you can’t be serious.
Dr. Rumack: I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.
Dr. Rumack: You’d better tell the Captain we’ve got to land as soon as we can. This woman has to be gotten to a hospital.
Elaine Dickinson: A hospital? What is it?
Dr. Rumack: It’s a big building with patients, but that’s not important right now.
Dr. Rumack: I won’t deceive you, Mr. Striker. We’re running out of time.
Ted Striker: Surely there must be something you can do.
Dr. Rumack: I’m doing everything I can… and stop calling me Shirley!
Airplane!, 1980
He starred in the first science fiction movie my dad made me watch (The Forbidden Planet, 1956) and played the doctor who wasn’t called Shirley in the most hilarious comedy ever made.
His lines had me laughing for many of my childhood years and made my first-ever plane trip the funniest ride I’ve had.
Thank you Mr. Leslie Nielsen.
Isidora Works 