Leonard Nimoy, the iconic Mr. Spock in the Star Trek TV show and films, died Friday at the age of 83. He had end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, better known as COPD. His wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed the actor’s passing.
More than just an actor, Leonard Nimoy made a name for himself in the many of the art worlds. He excelled at poetry, photography, and music, too. It was his role as Mr. Spock, however, and the phrase he coined while playing that role that remained his biggest claim to fame.
“Live long and prosper,” Spock, a ‘cerebral, unflappable, pointy-eared Vulcan,’ said as he bid his fellow Star Trek characters adieu.
Leonard Nimoy began acting as an eight-year-old boy. Later, he won roles in high school and community college productions. Following the completion of a summer acting course at Boston College, Nimoy headed for Hollywood, where he won small roles in the films Queen for a Day and Rhubarb. Following a stint in the Army, he returned to Hollywood and appeared in small roles on Perry Mason, Wagon Train, and Rawhide. Shortly after that, he became Mr. Spock on Star Trek. The rest, as they say, is history.
That history included two books for Leonard Nimoy. His first, I Am Not Spock, was published in 1977.
“In Spock, I finally found the best of both worlds: to be widely accepted in public approval and yet be able to continue to play the insulated alien through the Vulcan character,” he wrote in his first book.
In 1995, Leonard Nimoy penned I Am Spock.
"Star Trek" star Leonard Nimoy dies at 83 http://t.co/PcF7ZJBy4n pic.twitter.com/OiqlUT7jzx
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) February 27, 2015
William Shatner, Star Trek’s illustrious Captain Kirk, spoke of Leonard Nimoy’s passing via Facebook.
George Takei remembered Nimoy, too.
Leonard Nimoy lived long and he prospered. More than that, he left an indelible mark on the world. He, and his character Spock, won’t soon–if ever–be forgotten.