The iconic deadpan delivery and unforgettable roles of Leslie Nielsen made him a comedy legend. But behind the public persona of Frank Drebin and Dr. Rumack lay a rich and complex personal life, marked by several significant relationships. While fans knew him for his hilarious on-screen antics, the story of Leslie Nielsen's spouse and partners reveals a more intimate portrait of the man.
The Four Marriages of a Comedy Icon
Over the course of his life, the Canadian-American actor was married four times. His journey in matrimony began early in his career and continued into his later years.
His first union was with Monica Boyar, a Dominican-American fashion designer and singer known for calypso music. They married on 28 December 1950, but the marriage lasted only six years, ending in 1956 without any children.
Nielsen then found a longer-lasting partnership with his second wife, Alisande Ullman. They wed on 10 September 1958 and shared a life for nearly 15 years before divorcing in July 1974. This marriage was particularly significant as it gave Nielsen his two daughters, Maura Nielsen Kaplan and Thea Nielsen Disney, both of whom followed their father into the film industry.
Later Unions and Final Chapter
Following his divorce from Ullman, Nielsen's third marriage was to Brooks Oliver in 1981. This relationship was short-lived, ending in divorce just two years later in 1983. The actor later humorously referenced the breakup in interviews, joking about infidelity.
The final and most enduring chapter of his romantic life was with his fourth wife, Barbaree Earl. Nielsen married Earl in 2001, and she was by his side until his passing. They divided their time between homes in Florida and Arizona. Although they had no children together, Barbaree became a stepmother to Nielsen's two daughters. She was his spouse at the time of his death from pneumonia on 28 November 2010.
A Rumoured Mid-70s Romance
Between his second and third marriages, Nielsen was reportedly in a relationship with Kandi Rhodes in the mid-1970s. The pair were spotted at public events, and their relationship gained wider attention when they appeared together as a couple on the popular game show Tattletales in 1976.
Leslie Nielsen's legacy is firmly rooted in comedy, but his personal life—marked by four marriages, two children, and a rumoured romance—paints a fuller picture of the man behind the legendary straight face. His longest marriage was to Alisande Ullman, but it was with Barbaree Earl that he spent his final, nearly decade-long chapter.
