Friday, February 27, 2015

Remembering Leonard Nimoy

I am not afraid to admit that got a little choked up when I heard the news that Leonard Simon Nimoy had passed away due to complications from COPD at the age of 83. While I never got the chance to meet him in person--I felt like I knew him through both his portrayal as Star Trek's original Mr. Spock and his accomplished life away from the franchise.


The first piece of Trek I ever saw was 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture with my sister Karen--I was hooked and began watching Star Trek-TOS. Not only did Nimoy deliver Emmy nominated performances throughout it's entire three run but he also created character traits that have been incorporated into the logical alien race ever since...The Vulcan mind meld, Vulcan nerve pinch, and Vulcan salute.

Playing Spock allowed Nimoy to showcase his skills as an actor--while sending us positive messages about the future of humanity. His best moments as Spock came working opposite William Shatner as Kirk and as Dr. Leonard McCoy:





He also directed the third and fourth "Trek" films, 1984's Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and 1986's Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (and the 1987 comedy blockbuster 3 Men and a Baby). Nimoy returned to play Spock Prime for J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" '09 and "Star Trek Into Darkness

Nimoy had guest starring roles in a number of television series. Starting in 1958, he appeared in "Sea Hunt," "Highway Patrol," "Bonanza," "The Untouchables," "Get Smart" and "The Virginian." He also guest starred in an episode of "The Twilight Zone" and would work with his future co-star and friend Shatner in an  episode of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E."

Trek and Nimoy made it cool to be a fanboy long before the blockbuster release of Star Wars in 1977 or The Big Bang Theory of today...Rest easy Sir. Thank you for making my childhood better and adulthood bearable---I have been and always shall be your friend...



Hollywood Mourns 'Star Trek' Star

 'Star Trek' Flashback: Leonard Nimoy Notes 50 Year Anniversary of Original Pilot Shoot

No comments: