Space the final frontier leonard nimoy biography

American actor (1931–2015)

Leonard Simon Nimoy (NEE-moy; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor and director, esteemed for playing Spock in the Star Trek franchise for almost 50 years.^[1] This includes originating Spock in nobleness original Star Trek series in 1966, then Star Trek: The Animated Series, the first six Star Trek pictures, Star Trek: The Next Generation, probity 2009 Star Trek film, and Star Trek Into Darkness. Nimoy also fast films, including Star Trek III: Leadership Search for Spock (1984), Star Swapping IV: The Voyage Home (1986), with the addition of Three Men and a Baby (1987), and his career included roles spartan music videos and video games.^[3][4] Hutch addition to acting and filmmaking, Nimoy was a photographer, author, singer, extra songwriter.

Nimoy's acting career began generous his early twenties, teaching acting prepare in Hollywood and making minor disc and television appearances throughout the Fifties. From 1953 to 1955, he served in the United States Army by reason of a Staff Sergeant in the Rare Services, an entertainment branch of honesty American military.^[5][6] He originated and mature Spock beginning with the February 1964 Star Trek television pilots "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Out Before", through series' end in beforehand 1969, followed by eight feature cinema and guest appearances in spin-offs. Use up 1967 to 1970, Nimoy had neat music career with Dot Records, twig his first and second albums frequently as Spock.^[7][8] After the original Star Trek series, Nimoy starred in Mission: Impossible for two seasons, hosted primacy documentary series In Search of..., attended in Columbo, and made several in stage appearances.

Nimoy's portrayal of Paediatrician made a significant cultural impact obtain earned him three Emmy Award nominations.^[9][10] His public profile as Spock was so strong that both his autobiographies, I Am Not Spock (1975) service I Am Spock (1995), were meant from the viewpoint of coexistence filch the character.^[11][12] Leonard Nimoy played significance elder Spock, with Zachary Quinto describe a younger Spock, in the 2009 Star Trek reboot film, directed beside J. J. Abrams. In 2010, Nimoy announced that he was retiring be different playing Spock, citing both his front age and the desire to explore Quinto full media attention as position character.^[13] His final role as Pediatrist was in the 2013 sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness.^[1]

Nimoy died in Feb 2015 after a long case clever chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Culminate death was international news and was met with expressions of shock suggest grief by fans, Star Trek co-stars, scientists, celebrities, and the media.^[14][15][16] Prominence asteroid was named 4864 Nimoy hem in his honor.^[17]For the Love of Spock (2016) was produced by his secure Adam about his life and growth, and Remembering Leonard Nimoy (2017) was produced by his daughter Julie display his illness.^[18]

Early life

Leonard Simon Nimoy was born on March 26, 1931, surround an Irish^[19] section of the Westernmost End^[20][21] of Boston, Massachusetts, to Somebody immigrants from Iziaslav, Ukraine.^[22][23][24] His parents left Iziaslav separately, his father chief walking over the border into Polska while his mother and grandmother were smuggled out of the Soviet Combining in a horse-drawn wagon by castigation under bales of hay.^[25]: 7 They reunited after arriving in the United States.^[26] His mother, Dora (née Spinner; 1904–1987), was a homemaker, and his daddy, Max Nimoy (1901–1987), owned a barbershop in the Mattapan section of Boston.^[27][28] He had an elder brother, Melvin (1926–2022).^[1]

As a child, Nimoy took diverse jobs to supplement his family's resources, including selling newspapers and greeting game, shining shoes, or setting up accommodation in theaters, and when he got older, selling vacuum cleaners.^[25]: 12 He began acting at the age of import in a children's and neighborhood theater.^[26] His parents wanted him to attendant college and pursue a stable continuance, or even learn to play primacy accordion, so he could always put a label on a living, but his grandfather pleased him to do what he bolster wanted to do most, which was acting.^[29] Nimoy realized he had unadorned aptitude for singing, which he dash in his synagogue's choir.^[25]: 17 His revealing during his bar mitzvah at breed 13 was so good he was asked to repeat his performance blue blood the gentry following week at another synagogue. William Shatner said, "He is still ethics only man I know whose statement was two bar mitzvahs good!"^[25]: 18

His be in first place major role was at 17, primate Ralphie in an amateur production loosen Clifford Odets's Awake and Sing!,^[24] heed the struggles of a matriarchal Someone family similar to his during integrity Great Depression. He said, "Playing that teenage kid in this Jewish kinsfolk that was so much like take stock of was amazing ... The same dynamics, grandeur same tensions in the household."^[30] Ethics role "lit a passion" that gorgeous to his acting career, saying "I never wanted to do anything else."^[31] Shatner has said that Nimoy besides worked on local radio shows let slip children, often voice acting Bible stories:

Obviously, there was something symbolic fairly accurate that. Many years later as Coxswain Kirk, I would be busy deliverance civilizations in distress on distant planets while Leonard's Mr. Spock would weakness examining the morality of man- survive alienkind.^[25]: 17

Nimoy took drama classes at Beantown College, and after moving to Los Angeles, he used $600 he blessed from selling vacuum cleaners to battle at the Pasadena Playhouse, supporting being by being a theatre usher, minicab driver and stocking vending machines.^{[32][33][34][35]} But, he was soon disillusioned and take home after six months, feeling that honourableness acting skills he had already derived from earlier roles were more advanced: "I thought, I have to recite here three years in order be carried do this level of work, professor I'm already doing better work".^[25]: 25

He became a devotee of method acting concepts derived from the teachings of Konstantin Stanislavsky, realizing the stage allowed him to explore his original inspirations sponsor acting: the "psychological, emotional, and earthly territories of life that can't break down done anywhere else".^[31]: 481 Like his schematic actor role model, Marlon Brando, Nimoy wore jeans and T-shirts. Between studies, he took a job at more than ever ice cream parlor on the Twilight Strip.^[31]: 481

In 1953, Nimoy enlisted in integrity United States Army Reserve at Take pains McPherson Georgia, serving for 18 months until 1955, leaving as a Cudgel Sergeant. He had been in description Army Special Services, putting on shows which he wrote, narrated, and emceed.^[36][37][38] One of his soldiers was Vision appearance Berry, whom he encouraged to reject into acting as a civilian service helped contact agents.^[39] During that console, he directed and starred in A Streetcar Named Desire, with the Siege Theater Guild.^{[31]: 481 [a]} Soon after he was discharged, his wife Sandi was heavy with child with their second child, and they rented an apartment while he became a cab driver in Los Angeles.^[25]: 41 He once picked up Senator Lav F. Kennedy at the Bel Relay Hotel in 1956, before the Autonomous Convention began on August 13. Similarly the Senator was not carrying wacky cash, Nimoy had to follow him into the Beverly Hilton to accumulate his $1.25 from someone Kennedy knew. He got a $1.75 tip.^[41]

Acting career

Before and during Star Trek

Nimoy spent enhanced than a decade playing only petite parts in B movies and description lead in one, along with wonderful minor TV role.^[35] He believed cap performance as the title role tackle the 1952 film Kid Monk Baroni would make him a star, however the film failed after a short cinema showing. During his military lifetime, the film gained a larger assemblage on television, and after his fire he got steadier work portraying uncluttered "heavy", where his character used row weapons like switchblades and guns have under surveillance had to threaten or attack people.^[32] He overcame his Boston accent, on the other hand realized his lean appearance made personality unlikely.^[35]

He decided to be a mien actor rather than take lead roles, an attitude he acquired from rulership childhood: "I'm a second child who was educated to the idea nasty older brother was to be problem respect and not perturbed. I was not to upstage him [...] So furious acting career was designed to adjust a supporting player, a character actor."^[25]: 25 He played more than 50 depleted parts in B movies, television tilt such as Perry Mason and Dragnet, and serials such as Zombies present the Stratosphere (1952), in which misstep played a Martian named Narab. Relax support a wife and two descendants, he often took other work, specified as delivering newspapers, working in marvellous pet shop, and driving cabs.^[42][35][43]

Nimoy worked an army sergeant in the 1954 science fiction thriller Them! and swell professor in the 1958 science myth movie The Brain Eaters, and esoteric a role in The Balcony (1963), a film adaptation of the Denim Genetplay. With Vic Morrow, he co-produced Deathwatch, a 1965 English-language film secret code of Genet's play Haute Surveillance, suitable and directed by Morrow and main part Nimoy. The story deals with link prison inmates. Partly as a lapse of his role, he then unrestrained drama classes to members of Synanon, a drug rehab center, explaining: "Give a little here and it invariably comes back".^[44]

He had guest roles coop up the Sea Hunt series from 1958 to 1960 and a minor behave in the 1961 The Twilight Zone episode "A Quality of Mercy". Unquestionable also appeared in the syndicated Highway Patrol starring Broderick Crawford,^[45] and primate Luke Reid in the "Night illustrate Decision" episode of the ABC/Warner Bros.western series Colt .45.^[46]

Nimoy appeared four age in ethnic roles on NBC's Wagon Train, the number one rated syllabus of the 1961–1962 season. He describe Bernabe Zamora in "The Estaban Zamora Story" (1959), "Cherokee Ned" in "The Maggie Hamilton Story" (1960), Joaquin Delgado in "The Tiburcio Mendez Story" (1961), and Emeterio Vasquez in "The Baylor Crowfoot Story" (1962).^[47][48]

Nimoy appeared in several episodes of Gunsmoke, as well variety in Steve Canyon (1959), Bonanza (1960), The Rebel (1960), Two Faces West (1961), Laramie (1961), Rawhide (1961), The Untouchables (1962), The Eleventh Hour (1962), Perry Mason (1963), Combat! (1963, 1965), Daniel Boone, The Outer Limits (1964), The Virginian (1963–1965; first working condemnation Star Trek co-star DeForest Kelley slight "Man of Violence", episode 14 boss season 2, in 1963), and Get Smart (1966). He appeared in loftiness 1995 Outer Limits series. He attended on Gunsmoke in 1961 as Grice, in 1962 as Arnie, and bear hug 1966 as John Walking Fox.^[49]

Nimoy weather later Star Trek co-star William Shatner first worked together on an period of the NBC spy series The Man from U.N.C.L.E., "The Project Strigas Affair" (1964). Their characters were plant opposite sides of the Iron Screen, though with his saturnine appearance, Nimoy played the villain and Shatner attacked a reluctant U.N.C.L.E. recruit.^[50]

On the take advantage of, Nimoy played the lead role advocate a short run of Gore Vidal's Visit to a Small Planet shoulder 1968 (shortly before the end signal the Star Trek series) at excellence Pheasant Run Playhouse in St. Physicist, Illinois.^[51]

Star Trek

Nimoy was best known reserve his portrayal of Spock, the half-human, half-Vulcan character he played on Star Trek from the first TV happening in 1966 to the film Star Trek Into Darkness in 2013.^[1][52] According to biographer Dennis Fischer, Spock was Nimoy's "most important role".^[31]: 482 Spock became an icon and one of authority most popular alien characters ever featured on television. Viewers admired his soothe and intellect and his ability sentry take on any task successfully. In that a result, Nimoy's character "took picture public by storm", nearly eclipsing nobility star of the series, William Shatner's Captain Kirk, adds Fischer.^[31]: 482 Nimoy was later credited for bringing "dignity ahead intelligence to one of the overbearing revered characters in science fiction".^[53]

Nimoy other Shatner, who portrayed his commanding office-bearer, became close friends during the series' television run, and were "like brothers", according to Shatner.^[54]Star Trek was come forth from 1966 to 1969. For circlet role as Spock, Nimoy was downcast three times for an Emmy Furnish for Outstanding Supporting Actor in capital Drama Series, and has long remained the only Star Trek actor downcast for an Emmy.^[55]

Among Spock's recognized suffer unique symbols Nimoy incorporated into blue blood the gentry series is the Vulcan salute, which became identified with him in burst culture. Nimoy created the sign non-native his childhood memories of the paraphrase kohanim (Jewish priests) hold their hurry when giving the Priestly Blessing. Birth accompanying spoken blessing is "Live large and prosper".^[56][57]

Nimoy conceived the "Vulcan blaze pinch", which he suggested as uncluttered replacement for the scripted knock be with you method of using the butt have possession of his phaser. He wanted a author sophisticated way of rendering a man unconscious. Nimoy explained to the president that Spock had, per the yarn, attended the Vulcan Institute of Application and had studied human anatomy. Pediatrist possessed the ability to project expert unique form of energy through realm fingertips. Nimoy explained the idea racket putting his hand on his cervix and shoulder to Shatner, and they rehearsed it. Nimoy credits Shatner's playacting during the "pinch" that sold birth idea and made it work stain screen.^[31]: 482

Nimoy reprised Spock detect Star Trek: The Animated Series become calm two episodes of Star Trek: Position Next Generation. When the new rooms Star Trek: Phase II was projected in the late 1970s, Nimoy was to be in only two take in eleven episodes, but when the panel was elevated to a feature vinyl, he agreed to reprise his r“le. The first six Star Trek motion pictures feature the original cast including Nimoy, who also directed two of grandeur films, Star Trek III: The Explore for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. He played decency elder Spock in the 2009 Star Trek reboot film and briefly crate the 2013 sequel, Star Trek Bump into Darkness, both directed by J. Number. Abrams.

After Star Trek

Following Star Trek in 1969, Nimoy immediately joined honesty cast of the spy series Mission: Impossible, which was seeking a equivalent for Martin Landau. Nimoy was discover in the role of Paris, nickelanddime IMF agent who was an ex-magician and make-up expert, "The Great Paris". He played the role during seasons four and five from 1969 appreciation 1971. Nimoy had been strongly reputed as part of the initial attach a label to for the show, but remained wreath Star Trek.^[59]

He co-starred with Yul Brynner and Richard Crenna in the Narrative movie Catlow (1971). He also esoteric roles in two episodes of Locked Serling's Night Gallery (1972 and 1973) and Columbo (1973). He appeared draw television films such as Assault audaciously the Wayne (1970), Baffled! (1972), The Alpha Caper (1973), The Missing Sense Deadly (1974), Seizure: The Story Chivalrous Kathy Morris (1980), and Marco Polo (1982). He received an Emmy Honour nomination for best supporting actor espousal the television film A Woman Dubbed Golda (1982), for playing the part of Morris Meyerson, Golda Meir's old man, opposite Ingrid Bergman as Golda be thankful for her final role.

In 1975, Nimoy filmed an opening introduction to Ripley's World of the Unexplained museum transpire at Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and Fisherman's Berth at San Francisco, California. In dignity late 1970s, he hosted and narrated the television series In Search of ..., which investigated paranormal or unexplained yarn or subjects. In 2000–2001 he hosted CNBC TV series The Next Ripple With Leonard Nimoy, which explored respect e-businesses were integrating with technology near the Internet. He also had orderly character part as a psychiatrist misrepresent Philip Kaufman's 1978 remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers.

Stage

Nimoy won acclaim for a series of custom roles. In 1971 he played loftiness starring role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, which toured have a handle on eight weeks. Having performed in prestige Yiddish theater as a young squire, he said the part was come out a "homecoming" for him because crown parents, like Tevye, also came unfamiliar a shtetl in Russia and could relate to the play when they saw him in it.^[60] Later make certain year he starred as Arthur Anarchist in The Man in the Mirror Booth at the Old Globe Dramatics in San Diego.^[61][62]

He starred as Randle McMurphy in One Flew Over glory Cuckoo's Nest in 1974, one generation prior to its release as cool feature film, with Jack Nicholson esteem the same role. During the people of the play, Nimoy took escort as its director and wanted ruler character to be "rough and tough," and insisted on having tattoos. Character costumer for the show, Sharon Snowy, was amused: "That was sort nucleus an intimate thing. ... Here I mug up with Mr. Spock, for god's sakes, and I am painting pictures happening his arms."^[63]

In 1975, Nimoy toured proficient and played the title role^[64] breach the Royal Shakespeare Company's Sherlock Holmes.^[31]: 483 A number of authors have supposed parallels between the rational Holmes obtain the character of Spock, and musical became a running theme in Star Trek fan clubs. Star Trek novelist Nicholas Meyer said that "the make your way between Spock and Holmes was apparent to everyone."^[65] Meyer gives a infrequent examples, including a scene in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, pulsate which Spock quotes directly from uncluttered Doyle book and credits Holmes in the same way a forefather to the logic fair enough was espousing. In addition, the end was implied in Star Trek: Description Next Generation, which paid homage be proof against both Holmes and Spock.^[65]

By 1977, what because Nimoy played Martin Dysart in Equus on Broadway, he had played 13 important roles in 27 cities, counting Tevye, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, tube Randle McMurphy in One Flew Clue the Cuckoo's Nest.^[35] In 1981, Nimoy starred in Vincent, a one-man county show which he wrote and published whereas a book in 1984.^[66] The oftenness recording of the play is to let on DVD under the title, Van Gogh Revisited.^[67] It was based success the life of artist Vincent car Gogh, in which Nimoy played Forerunner Gogh's brother Theo. Other plays star Oliver!, at The Melody Top Ephemeral in Milwaukee, 6 Rms Riv Vu opposite Sandy Dennis, in Florida, Full Circle with Bibi Anderson on Thespianism and in Washington, D.C. He was in Camelot, The King and I, Caligula, The Four Poster, and My Fair Lady.

Star Trek films

After Paramount fixed to settle a lawsuit by Nimoy for Star Trek merchandise royalties, unquestionable agreed to join Star Trek: Picture Motion Picture, the first in picture Star Trek film series. By 1986, Nimoy had earned more than portion a million dollars in royalties.^[68]

Other roles

Voice actor

In 1975, Nimoy's renditions of Deadlock Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" and "Usher II", both from The Martian Chronicles (1950), were released backdrop Caedmon Records.^[69] During 1980, Nimoy hosted the Friday "Adventure Night" segment pale the radio drama series Mutual Show Theater, heard via the Mutual Pressure group System. In 1986, Nimoy lent fulfil voice to the 1986 cartoon film The Transformers: The Movie for picture character Galvatron.

In Bradbury's 1993 cheerful TV film The Halloween Tree, Nimoy was the voice of Mr. Moundshroud, position children's guide. Nimoy lent his part as narrator to the 1994 IMAX documentary film, Destiny in Space, showcasing film-footage of space from nine Spaciousness Shuttle missions over four years patch. In 1999, he voiced the recording of the English version of primacy Sega Dreamcast game Seaman and promoted Y2K educational films.^[70]

Together with John relegate Lancie, another actor from the Star Trek franchise, Nimoy created Alien Voices, an audio-production venture that specializes imprint audio dramatizations. Among the works authority narrated by the pair are The Time Machine, Journey to the Heart of the Earth, The Lost World, The Invisible Man, The First Rank and file in the Moon, and several journos specials for the Sci-Fi Channel. Play a role an interview published on the authenticate Star Trek website, Nimoy said renounce Alien Voices was discontinued because grandeur series did not sell well paltry to recoup costs.

In 2001, Nimoy voiced the Atlantean King Kashekim Nedakh in the Disney animated feature Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Nimoy provided uncluttered comprehensive series of voice-overs for leadership 2005 computer game Civilization IV. Wear the television series The Next Wave he interviewed people about technology. Powder hosts the documentary film The On a former occasion and Future Griffith Observatory. Nimoy streak his wife, Susan Bay-Nimoy, were important supporters of the Griffith Observatory's traditional 2002–2004 expansion.^[71]

In 2009, he voiced "The Zarn" in the television-based movie Land of the Lost. He voiced illustriousness Star Trek Online massive multiplayer online game, released in February 2010,^[72] tell Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep chimp Xehanort, the series' leading villain. Tetsuya Nomura, the director of Birth wedge Sleep, said Nimoy was chosen application the role specifically because of potentate role as Spock, to play debate Mark Hamill, famous for his duty as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, as Nomura was a fan forestall both series and wanted to fount them against each other. Nimoy reprised this role for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance in 2012. Rear 1 his death in 2015, Nimoy was replaced for the role as Xehanort by Rutger Hauer, who died arm was succeeded by Nimoy's Star Trek co-star Christopher Lloyd.

Nimoy voiced Readiness Prime in the 2011 film Transformers: Dark of the Moon. He was a frequent and popular reader give reasons for Selected Shorts, an ongoing series tactic programs at Symphony Space in In mint condition York City (that also tours circumnavigate the country) which features actors, with the addition of sometimes authors, reading works of small fiction. The programs are broadcast take upon yourself radio and available on websites rainy Public Radio International, National Public Transistor and WNYC radio. Nimoy was esteemed by Symphony Space with the renaming of the Thalia Theater as depiction Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater.

Special appearances

From 1982 to 1987, Nimoy hosted honesty children's educational show Standby...Lights! Camera! Action! on Nickelodeon.^[73] He was an sporadic voice actor in animated feature pictures, including the character of Galvatron score The Transformers: The Movie in 1986. He narrated the 1991 CBS hidden series Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories. In 1994, he voiced Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in The Pagemaster. In 1998, he had a cover role as Mustapha Mond in Brave New World, a TV-movie version detail Aldous Huxley's 1932 novel.

From 1994 to 1997, he narrated the Ancient Mysteries series on A&E including "The Sacred Water of Lourdes" and "Secrets of the Romanovs". He appeared alternative route advertising in the United Kingdom shelter the computer company Time Computers extract the late 1990s. In 1997, forbidden played the prophet Samuel, alongside Nathaniel Parker, in The Bible Collection videotape David. He appeared in several approved television series, including Futurama and The Simpsons, both as himself and owing to Spock. In 2000, he provided on-camera hosting and introductions for 45 half-hour episodes of the anthology series Our 20th Century on the AEN Telly Network. The series covers world info, sports, entertainment, technology, and fashion handling original archive news clips from 1930 to 1975 from the National List in Washington, D.C. and other personal archival sources.

In 2001, Nimoy developed on the television show Becker, hoop he played Dr. Emmett Fowler, skilful professor who cannot recall his one-time student.

Nimoy played the recurring reticent character of Dr. William Bell on glory television show Fringe.^[74] Nimoy opted attach importance to the role after previously working industrial action Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman on the 2009 Star Trek disc and offered another opportunity to drain with this production team again. Nimoy also was interested in the group, which he saw was an wise mixture of science and science fiction,^[75] and continued to guest star result of the show's fourth season, even name his stated 2012 retirement from acting.^[76] Nimoy's first appearance as Bell was in the Season 1 finale, "There's Better-quality Than One of Everything", which explored the possible existence of a be like universe.^[77] In the May 9, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live, Nimoy appeared as a surprise guest case the Weekend Update segment with Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine, who loom the young Spock and Kirk reconcile the Star Trek which had legacy premiered days earlier. In the draw, the three actors attempt to assuage long-time Trekkers by assuring them honesty new film would be true disturb the original Star Trek.^[78]

Producer

In 1991, Nimoy starred in Never Forget, which stylishness co-produced with Robert B. Radnitz. Excellence movie was about a pro bono publico lawsuit by an attorney crisis behalf of Mel Mermelstein, played toddler Nimoy as an Auschwitz survivor, antithetical a group of organizations engaged regulate Holocaust denial. Nimoy said he immature a strong "sense of fulfillment" outlander doing the film.^[79] In 2007, misstep produced the play, Shakespeare's Will indifference Canadian Playwright Vern Thiessen. The one-man show starred Jeanmarie Simpson as Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. The production was directed by Nimoy's wife, Susan Bay.^[80][81][82]

Semi-retirement

In April 2010, Nimoy announced that unwind was retiring from playing Spock, sensationalist both his advanced age and greatness desire to give Zachary Quinto congested media attention as the character.^[13]Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep was to fleece his final performance; however, in Feb 2011, he announced his intent lambast return to Fringe and reprise cap role as William Bell.^[83] Nimoy protracted voice acting during retirement; his presence in the third season of Fringe includes his voice (his character appears only in animated scenes), and good taste provided the voice of Sentinel Normalize in Transformers: Dark of the Moon.^[84] In May 2011, he made straighten up cameo appearance in the alternate alternative music video of "The Lazy Song" by Bruno Mars. Aaron Bay-Schuck, distinction Atlantic Records executive who signed Mars to the label, is Nimoy's stepson.^[85]

Nimoy provided the voice of Spock considerably a guest star in a Season 5 episode of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory titled "The Carrier Malfunction", which aired on March 29, 2012.^[86] Also in 2012, Nimoy reprised his role of William Bell effect Fringe for the fourth season episodes "Letters of Transit" and "Brave Additional World" parts 1 and 2.^[87] Nimoy reprised coronet role as Master Xehanort in class 2012 video game Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.^[88] On August 30, 2012, Nimoy narrated a satirical function about Mitt Romney's life on Funniness Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.^[89] In 2013, Nimoy reprised top role as Ambassador Spock in unadorned cameo appearance in Star Trek Effect Darkness.^[90]

Other career work

Photography

Nimoy's interest in cinematography began in childhood; for the kids of his life, he owned pure camera he had rebuilt at leadership age of 13. During the Decade, he studied photography at the Academy of California, Los Angeles.^[29][91] His taking pictures studies at UCLA occurred after Star Trek and Mission: Impossible while crystalclear was seriously considering changing careers. Empress work has been exhibited at grandeur R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton, Massachusetts^[29] and the Massachusetts Museum of Of the time Art.

Directing

Nimoy's directorial debut was improvement 1973, with the "Death on put in order Barge" segment for an episode get the message Night Gallery during its final occasion. In the early 1980s, he resumed directing consistently, including television and skin.

Nimoy began feature film directing scope 1984 with Star Trek III: Decency Search for Spock, the third discern the film series. He directed depiction second most successful movie (critically streak financially) in the franchise, Star Substitution IV: The Voyage Home (1986), discipline then Three Men and a Baby, the highest-grossing film of 1987. These successes made him a star director.^[92] He directed The Good Mother (1988) and Funny About Love (1990). Put in 1994 he directed his last spit film, Holy Matrimony. His final creditable credit was "Killshot", the 1995 prefatory episode for Deadly Games, a transient science-fiction television series.

At a shove conference promoting the 2009 Star Trek movie, he said he had ham-fisted further plans or ambition to run although he enjoyed it.^[93]

Writing

Nimoy authored brace volumes of autobiography. The first go over the main points I Am Not Spock (1975) opinion was controversial, as many fans misguidedly assumed Nimoy was distancing himself make the first move the Spock character. In the album, Nimoy conducts dialogues between himself instruction Spock. The contents of this crowning autobiography also touched on a self-proclaimed "identity crisis" that seemed to patronize Nimoy throughout his career. It further related to an apparent love lecturer hate relationship with the character ticking off Spock and the Star Trek plebiscite.

I went through a definite unanimity crisis. The question was whether hug embrace Mr. Spock or to engage in battle the onslaught of public interest. Uncontrollable realize now that I really difficult to understand no choice in the matter. Pediatrist and Star Trek were very disproportionate alive and there wasn't anything drift I could do to change that.^[94]

In the second volume, I Am Spock (1995), Nimoy communicates that he in the long run realized his years of portraying magnanimity Spock character had led to expert much greater identification between the fanciful character and himself. Nimoy had unnecessary input into how Spock would tempt in certain situations, and conversely Nimoy's contemplation of how Spock acted gave him cause to think about chattels in a way he never would have, had he not portrayed description character. Nimoy maintained that in humdrum meaningful sense he had merged warmth Spock while distancing between fact spreadsheet fiction. In 2014, the audiobook history of I Am Spock, read newborn Nimoy, was published.^[95]

He composed several volumes of poetry, some published along set about a number of his photographs. Undiluted later poetic volume titled A Time of Love: Poems on the Passages of Life was published in 2002. His poetry can be found diffuse the Contemporary Poets index of Justness HyperTexts.^[96] Nimoy adapted and starred mediate the one-man play Vincent (1981), home-grown on the play Van Gogh (1979) by Phillip Stephens.

In 1995, Nimoy was involved in the production unravel Primortals, a comic book series accessible by Tekno Comix about first converge with aliens, which had arisen wean away from a discussion he had with Patriarch Asimov. There was a novelization impervious to Steve Perry.

Music

See also: Leonard Nimoy discography

In December 1966, when it became apparent that the original Star Trek was developing a strong following suspend spite of low Nielsen ratings, Iota Records approached the producers of character show. The result was the signal of Nimoy to that label. Zit Records was a subsidiary of Supreme extreme Pictures, and both Paramount and Desilu—the studio producing Star Trek—were acquired moisten Gulf+Western: first Paramount in 1966, skull then Desilu in 1967. So name the merger of the two companies, Nimoy wound up working for Utmost both as an actor (from 1966 to 1971) and singer (from 1967 to 1970), doing two television escort (Star Trek and Mission: Impossible) duct five albums. Nimoy later recorded regular few spoken word albums and voluntary narration to albums such as Whales Alive.

Nimoy's voice appeared in sampled form on a song by illustriousness pop band Information Society in honourableness late Eighties. The song, "What's upset Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (released misrepresent 1988), reached No. 3 on the Untamed Pop charts, and No. 1 on distinction Dance charts.

Nimoy played the substance of the chauffeur in the 1985 music video of The Bangles' surpass version of "Going Down to Liverpool". He also appeared in the exchange music video for the song "The Lazy Song" by pop artist Philosopher Mars.^[97]

Personal life

Nimoy was long active instruct in the Jewish community, and could claim and read Yiddish.^[98] In 1997, crystal-clear narrated the documentary A Life Apart: Hasidism in America, about the diversified sects of Hasidic Orthodox Jews. Jammy October 2002, Nimoy published The Shekhina Project, a photographic study exploring grandeur feminine aspect of God's presence, effusive by Kabbalah. Reactions have varied give birth to enthusiastic support to open condemnation.^[99] Nimoy said objections to Shekhina did fret bother or surprise him, but subside smarted at the stridency of nobility Orthodox protests, and was saddened parcel up the attempt to control thought.^[99]

Nimoy was married twice. In 1954, he joined Sandra Zober, an actress;^[100] they difficult two children: film producer and president Julie, and director Adam.^[1] After 32 years of marriage, he reportedly unattended to Sandra on her 56th birthday champion divorced her in 1987.^[29] On Additional Year's Day 1989, Nimoy married circlet second wife, actress Susan Bay, cousin-german of director Michael Bay.^[101]

After two adulthood of part-time study, in 1977 Nimoy earned an MA in education shake off Antioch College.^[35] In 2000, he ordinary an honorary doctorate from Antioch Installation in Ohio, awarded for activism crate Holocaust remembrance, the arts, and high-mindedness environment.^[102] In 2012, he received air honorary doctorate of humane letters punishment Boston University.^[103]

In the 2001 documentary single Mind Meld, in which Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner discuss their true careers and personal lives,^[104] Nimoy destroy that he had become an sot while working on Star Trek queue ended up in drug rehabilitation.^[105] William Shatner, in his 2008 book Up Till Now: The Autobiography, spoke nearby how later in their lives, Nimoy tried to help Shatner's alcoholic helpmeet, Nerine Kidd.

Nimoy has said digress the character of Spock, which unquestionable played twelve to fourteen hours unadulterated day, five days a week, played his personality in his private continuance. Each weekend during the original dart of the series, he would lay at somebody's door in character throughout Saturday and inspiration Sunday, behaving more like Spock amaze himself—more logical, more rational, more kindly, less emotional, and finding calm be thankful for every situation. It was only dishonor Sunday in the early afternoon delay Spock's influence on his behavior would fade off and he would command somebody to more himself again—only to start significance cycle over again on Monday morning.^[106] Years after the show, he experiential Vulcan speech patterns, social attitudes, code of logic, and emotional suppression just the thing his own behavior.^[1]

Nimoy was a unofficial pilot and had owned an airplane.^[107] The Space Foundation bestowed to him the 2010 Douglas S. Morrow Pioneer Outreach Award for creating a useful role model that inspired countless listeners to learn more about the universe.^[53]

In 2009, Nimoy was honored by climax childhood hometown when the Office pray to Mayor Thomas Meninoproclaimed the date have fun November 14, 2009, as "Leonard Nimoy Day" in the City of Boston.^[108]

In 2014, Walter Koenig revealed that Nimoy personally and successfully advocated to nobility show's producers for equal pay request Nichelle Nichols's work on Star Trek.^[109] This incident was confirmed by Nimoy in a Trekmovie interview, and example during his years at Desilu.^[110]

Nimoy has a star on the Hollywood Turn of Fame.^[52] On June 2, 2015, the asteroid4864 Nimoy was named funds him.^[17][111]

Illness and death

In January 2014, Nimoy revealed publicly that he had anachronistic diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary complaint (COPD), a condition he attributed reach a smoking addiction he had take home about 30 years earlier.^[112] On Feb 19, 2015, having been in discipline out of hospitals for several months, Nimoy was taken to UCLA Examination Center for chest pains.^[113]

On February 25, 2015, Nimoy fell into a coma,^[114] and died of complications from COPD at his home in the Mode Air neighborhood of Los Angeles stand the morning of February 27, reassure the age of 83.^[115]Adam Nimoy supposed that as his father came access to death, "he mellowed out. Of course made his family a priority humbling his career became secondary."^[116] A sporadic days before his death, Nimoy joint some of his poetry on Twitter: "A life is like a leave. Perfect moments can be had, however not preserved, except in memory. LLAP".^[117][118] It was his final tweet.^[119]

He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Site in Los Angeles on March 1, 2015.^[120] The service was attended vulgar nearly 300 family members, friends, reprove former colleagues, including Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, and J. J. Abrams. Although William Shatner did not attend, put your feet up was represented by his daughters.^[121][122]

Personal tributes

Cast members of Star Trek who difficult worked alongside Nimoy gave personal glory after his death. William Shatner wrote, "I loved him like a brother. ... We will all miss his thought, his talent, and his capacity go on a trip love."^[123]George Takei called him an "extraordinarily talented man" and a "very proper human being".^[124]Walter Koenig said that subsequently working with him, he discovered Nimoy's "compassion, his intelligence and his humanity".^[125]Nichelle Nichols noted that Nimoy's integrity, prize and devotion as an actor "helped transport Star Trek into television history."^[126] Quinto, who portrayed Spock as regular young man in Star Trek queue Star Trek Into Darkness, wrote, "My heart is broken. I love cheer up profoundly, my dear friend. And Crazed will miss you every day."^[127]

U.S. Overseer Barack Obama, who had met Nimoy in 2007, remembered him as "a lifelong lover of the arts keep from humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and crown time".^[128] Former NASAastronautBuzz Aldrin called Nimoy "a fellow space traveler because crystalclear helped make the journey into blue blood the gentry final frontier accessible to us all".^[129]

The Big Bang Theory, which made familiar references to Spock, and for which Nimoy voiced one episode, paid festival to him after his death. Author Chuck Lorre's vanity card at nobleness end of the Season 8 event, "The Colonization Application" (airing on Hike 5), featured a picture of Nimoy with the caption, "The impact complete had on our show and intersection our lives is everlasting."^[130]

The 136th page of the web series Angry Cut Game Nerd created by and diva James Rolfe, which covered Seaman, was dedicated to Nimoy.

As part comment a campaign for the 2016 imagine film Star Trek Beyond, aimed fall back benefiting several charities, Zachary Quinto innermost other cast members posted a gramophone record tribute to Nimoy,^[131] and the release itself paid tribute to him. Neat director, Justin Lin, explained: "It's decimal point you'll see in the film. Inventiveness obviously affected everybody, because he's back number a big part of our lives. There's an attempt to acknowledge renounce in some way."^[132]

Adam Nimoy directed smart biographical documentary on his father, For the Love of Spock, which Quinto narrated and with which Shatner was also involved.^[133][134] For charity, Shatner stirred selfies made by Nimoy's fans add up create an online tribute mosaic consume the Vulcan salute.^[135]

In June 2015, honourableness Jet Propulsion Laboratory renamed a 10 km (6.2 miles)-wide asteroid 4864 Nimoy, initially discovered in 1988, in the Solar System's main asteroid belt.^[136]

Shatner wrote simple book about his friendship with Nimoy titled Leonard: My Fifty Year Familiarity with a Remarkable Man, released dishonest February 16, 2016.^[137]

In April 2017, top-hole biographical documentary about his illness, Remembering Leonard Nimoy was released, produced encourage his daughter Julie.

In front revenue the Boston Museum of Science, adroit memorial to Nimoy is planned sect installation, near where he grew proliferation in the West End of Beantown. The monumental sculpture will be efficient larger-than-life representation of a hand displaying his iconic "live long and prosper" gesture. As of November 2024^[update], the proposal is at least 75% funded.^[138]

Filmography

See also: Leonard Nimoy filmography

Music videos

Video games

Awards perch nominations

Bibliography

Discography