Leonard Nimoy Dies at Age 83

It has been a somber start to the weekend for sci-fi fans everywhere. Leonard Nimoy, best known for portraying Spock in the original Star Trek television series and associated films, has passed away at age 83.

Whether or not you liked The Next Generation more, or are a Star Wars fan, you can’t deny that Spock has had an massive influence on our very culture. I often speak of Nimoy in character this way, because so much of Spock was built from pieces of himself. His autobiographies ‘I Am Not Spock’ (1975) and ‘I Am Spock’ (1995) were written as though he and the character both existed at once. The good-willed Vulcan always had a logical, but helpful way of solving the issues between alien life and humanity. Such demeanor was carried by Nimoy himself.

After the end of Star Trek, Nimoy went on to star in Mission: Impossible (the television series that inspired the the Tom Cruise franchise), numerous other shows, and also acted for the stage. He had a personal interest in photography from a young age, and his work has been displayed in the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art.

When the Star Trek franchise was rebooted in 2009 with J.J. Abrams’ aptly titled Star Trek, Nimoy reprised his role as Spock, coming from a different timeline (canon with the television series). The character stayed for it’s sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), though in a more limited capacity. Though fan reaction to Zachary Quinto’s portrayal of the young Spock was positive, seeing Nimoy on screen again sent audiences cheering.

Part of Mr. Nimoy’s elegance may have been the way he graciously dealt with the show’s notoriously devoted fanbase. His embracement of the people who made Star Trek so popular earned him a spot with the most beloved entertainment icons of the century. He will be sorely missed. “Live long and prosper.”

 

His 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

---