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The Naked Gun Cast: Where Are The Original Stars Now & The Shocking New Reboot Cast For 2025

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The legacy of Lieutenant Frank Drebin is more alive than ever, with breaking news about a major Hollywood reboot set to hit theaters in August 2025, bringing the iconic slapstick humor of *The Naked Gun* back to the big screen. This resurgence has naturally sparked immense curiosity about the original cast—the comedic geniuses and controversial figures who brought the Police Squad! universe to life.

As of December 24, 2025, the story of the original *Naked Gun* cast is a mix of enduring fame, final farewells, and a shocking, high-profile legal update. We dive deep into the lives of Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, and O.J. Simpson, alongside a comprehensive look at the new stars stepping into their impossibly large shoes.

The Original Cast: Final Bows and Current Status (Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, O.J. Simpson)

The core cast of the *Naked Gun* trilogy—*From the Files of Police Squad!* (1988), *The Smell of Fear* (1991), and *The Final Insult* (1994)—created some of cinema’s most enduring comedy. Their careers and lives have taken dramatically different paths since the final film, with some tragic and others highly active.

  • Leslie Nielsen (Lt. Frank Drebin): Born February 11, 1926, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Nielsen began his career as a dramatic actor before reinventing himself as the master of deadpan comedy in the 1980s. He passed away on November 28, 2010, at the age of 84. His final, unreleased film role was a voice part in the animated feature *The Waterman Movie*.
  • Priscilla Presley (Jane Spencer): Born May 24, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York. Best known for her marriage to Elvis Presley, she successfully transitioned to acting with the *Naked Gun* series and a long run on the TV show *Dallas*. She remains highly active in 2025, with a new memoir, *Softly As I Leave You*, scheduled for release. She also continues to host various "An Evening with Priscilla Presley" events globally.
  • George Kennedy (Captain Ed Hocken): Born February 18, 1925, in New York City. An Oscar-winning dramatic actor, Kennedy brought a perfect straight-man energy to the role of Drebin's long-suffering superior. He passed away on February 28, 2016, at the age of 91. His final film appearance was in the 2014 crime drama *The Gambler*.
  • O.J. Simpson (Detective Nordberg): Born July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California. The former NFL star played Drebin’s accident-prone partner, Detective Nordberg. Simpson died at the age of 76 in 2024. In a significant and very recent update, as of November 2025, his estate agreed to a major $57.9 million settlement with the Goldman family, finally resolving a decades-long legal battle.

The original cast’s chemistry, particularly the dry delivery of Nielsen, was the engine that drove the films’ success. The series itself was an expansion of the short-lived but critically acclaimed 1982 television show, *Police Squad!*, which also starred Leslie Nielsen and Alan North as Captain Ed Hocken.

The Genius of ZAZ: Why The Original Naked Gun Endures

To understand the enduring power of *The Naked Gun*, one must understand the comedic minds behind it: Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker (ZAZ). This filmmaking trio—brothers David and Jerry Zucker, and Jim Abrahams—pioneered a specific style of spoof film that revolutionized comedy cinema.

Their distinctive comedic style is characterized by several key elements:

  • Deadpan Delivery: The actors, especially Leslie Nielsen, played the most absurd situations with complete seriousness, making the jokes land harder.
  • Visual Gags and Slapstick: The films are packed with rapid-fire visual jokes, background gags, and classic physical comedy, often happening simultaneously with the dialogue.
  • Parody of Genre: The ZAZ team expertly parodied serious genres, in this case, the police procedural, by adhering strictly to the tropes while injecting them with relentless absurdity.

This commitment to over-the-top, yet seriously delivered, comedy established the films as masterpieces of the genre. The original trilogy’s success paved the way for countless other spoof films, though few have ever matched its perfect balance of wit and utter ridiculousness.

The New Era: Meet The Cast of The Naked Gun (2025 Reboot)

With the original cast members Leslie Nielsen and George Kennedy having passed away, and the controversial legacy of O.J. Simpson, a new generation of actors is tasked with reviving the franchise. Paramount Pictures is set to release the new film, simply titled *The Naked Gun*, on August 1, 2025.

The film is being pitched as a legacy sequel, focusing on the son of the original Lt. Frank Drebin, and features a surprising and high-profile cast that blends serious dramatic chops with proven comedic talent. This new iteration aims to capture the spirit of the original while appealing to a contemporary audience.

Key Cast Members of The Naked Gun (2025)

The new film will focus on the next generation of the police squad, introducing new characters who are related to the originals:

  • Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebin Jr.: The choice of Neeson, an actor known primarily for his intense action and dramatic roles, is a brilliant callback to the casting of Leslie Nielsen, who also began his career in serious cinema. Neeson has a proven, if underutilized, comedic timing that will be essential to pulling off the deadpan humor of the new Frank Drebin.
  • Pamela Anderson as Beth Davenport: The former *Baywatch* star is taking on a major role as Beth Davenport, a new character likely filling the role of Drebin Jr.'s love interest and straight-woman, similar to Priscilla Presley's Jane Spencer in the original films.
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Capt. Ed Hocken Jr.: Hauser, an Emmy-winning actor known for his versatile roles in *Black Bird* and *Richard Jewell*, is set to play the son of Captain Ed Hocken. His casting suggests the new film will lean into his ability to deliver a grounded, yet comedic, performance as Drebin Jr.’s exasperated superior.
  • Other Announced Cast: The film will also feature established actors like Danny Huston and CCH Pounder in supporting roles, further solidifying the blend of serious and comedic talent.

The decision to cast a dramatic actor like Liam Neeson in the lead role is a clear nod to the ZAZ tradition of casting serious actors to play absurd situations straight. The success of the 2025 reboot will hinge entirely on whether Neeson can channel the unique, stone-faced absurdity that Leslie Nielsen perfected decades ago. Fans of the original are eagerly awaiting the return of this iconic spoof film style, hoping the new cast can deliver the same level of slapstick comedy and visual gags that made the original films, and the precursor series *Police Squad!*, timeless classics.

naked gun cast
naked gun cast

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