Leonard Nimoy at the Premiere of Paramount Pictures’ “”Star Trek Into Darkness” held at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood. Photo © 2013 Joe Martinez/ Picturelux – All Rights Reserved.
Actor Leonard Nimoy, best known for playing Mr. Spock on “Star Trek” television and films, has died at the age of 83, his wife Susan Bay Nimoy confirmed to The New York Times. Susan Nimoy told The Times that the cause of death was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and according to The Times, “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.”
Nimoy’s show business career spanned more than six decades as a stage actor, television guest star, series regular and movie veteran. He went on to direct a number of films, including the box-office hit “Three Men and a Baby” in 1987. He was also a recording artist, a published poet and an accomplished photographer.
But he will best be remembered as Mr. Spock, a Vulcan whose pointed ears, deadpan unemotional manner and frequently uttered catch phrases “fascinating” and “Live long and prosper,” endeared him to millions and cemented his place as a pop culture icon.
According to CNN, His “Star Trek” co-stars, including William Shatner and George Takei, expressed sadness at his death. “I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love.” -William Shatner
“We return you now to the stars, Leonard. You taught us to ‘Live Long And Prosper,’ and you indeed did, friend,” Takei wrote.
Nimoy married his wife, Susan Bay, in 1989. She survives him, as do his two children by his first wife, Sandra Zober.
Leonard Nimoy Trivia per IMDB:
- Born in Boston to Ukrainian Jewish immigrants.
- Was the only actor to appear in every episode of the original Star Trek (1966) series.
- The “Vulcan nerve pinch” concept on Star Trek (1966) was invented by Nimoy when he and the series’ writers were trying to figure out how an unarmed Spock could overpower an adversary without resorting to violence.
- Was William Shatner’s best man at his third wedding to Nerine Kidd.
- Hit #121 on the Billboard Singles Chart in 1967 with “Visit to a Sad Planet”
- Was an accomplished photographer (specializing in black and white images) and has given exhibitions of his works.
- Had a pet store in Canoga Park, California during the 1960s.
- Was the only actor to appear in both pilots of the original Star Trek (1966) series.
His father had a barber shop in Boston, where one of the more popular haircuts given was the “Spock cut”. - Along with Majel Barrett, he is one of only two actors to appear in both the first and last episodes of the original Star Trek (1966) series.
- Appeared in episodes of six different series with William Shatner: The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964), Mission: Impossible (1966), Star Trek (1966), Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973), T.J. Hooker (1982) and Futurama (1999).
- Was born only four days after his Star Trek (1966) co-star William Shatner.
- Suffered from tinnitus (ringing in the ears), along with Star Trek (1966) co-star William Shatner. Nimoy’s right ear and Shatner’s left ear are affected. Their hearing was apparently damaged during the filming of the episode Star Trek: Arena (1967), when they were both close to a special effects explosion.
- Along with David McCallum, Cliff Robertson, Barbara Rush and Peter Breck, he is one of only five actors to appear in both The Outer Limits (1963) and The Outer Limits (1995).
- Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6651 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on January 16, 1985.