Leonard Nimoy Dies At 83
Leonard Nimoy, star of “Star Trek” on the small and big screen, has died at the age of 83.
On September 8, 1966, NBC aired the premiere of Star Trek. That show made Leonard Nimoy, who played the now-iconic Mr. Spock, a star, and his stardom continued onto the big screen for the Star Trek movies.
Speaking to MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Star Trek’s George Takei this afternoon called Nimoy a “gifted director,” and “noble.”Â
In his 1977 biography, Nimoy wrote, “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.â€
The New York Times reports Nimoy’s wife, “Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his death, saying the cause was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
Mr. Nimoy announced last year that he had the disease, which he attributed to years of smoking, a habit he had given up three decades earlier. He had been hospitalized earlier in the week.
His artistic pursuits — poetry, photography and music in addition to acting — ranged far beyond the United Federation of Planets, but it was as Mr. Spock that Mr. Nimoy became a folk hero, bringing to life one of the most indelible characters of the last half century: a cerebral, unflappable, pointy-eared Vulcan with a signature salute and blessing: “Live long and prosper†(from the Vulcan “Dif-tor heh smusmaâ€).
The star’s final tweet:
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015
Â
Image by Melody Joy Kramer via Flickr and a CC license
Â
Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.