Remembering Leonard Nimoy

The passing of a film icon always hits me hard. Mostly because of the realization that actors are as human as the rest of us; knowing that I’ll never have the chance to meet him in person or see him in another movie.

Leonard Nimoy started his performance career at the age of 20, but did not become truly recognizable until 1966, when his portrayal of the half-human, half-Vulcan science officer on Star Trek put him on the map.  (As an aside, I absolutely love that Wikipedia hosts an entire biography of Spock’s life.)

As a sci-fi enthusiast, I appreciated Mr. Nimoy not only as an actor, but as a fellow nerdy comrade. He embodied Spock and stayed true to the character to the end – always willing to make an appearance wearing his Vulcan ears and flashing the “V” solute. I remember watching the new Star Trek film and thinking how awesome that Leonard Nimoy is still willing to tip his hat to all the fans of the series. There was and will never be an actor as devoted to his character on and off screen.

Honoring Mentions

Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in the more recent J.J. Abrams Star Trek films, wrote an emotional and inspiration piece on his dear friend, in it saying, “Leonard had a way of communicating that was never pedantic — he was never trying to teach, and yet he lived with such completeness that there was wisdom in everything he said.” Read the whole TIME article here.

Star Trek‘s own Captain Kirk also paid tribute to his former costar, opening up to the public on his Twitter account with homages and nobly answering fan’s questions. William Shatner stated in one Tweet, “We never knew how big Star Trek would become. If there ever was an actor to fit an icon role; it was Leonard.”

Jim Parson‘s character, Sheldon, from the popular sit-com The Big Bang Theory has an obsession with Leonard Nimoy and his character, Spock; so much so that he developed an addition to the classic decision-making game, “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock.” In one episode, Nimoy even makes a voice-over appearance as Sheldon’s Spock action figure. At the end of the March 5th episode airing, a photo of Nimoy appeared with the caption, “The impact you had on our show and on our lives is everlasting,” proving his impact on the entire cast and crew.

A Few Notable Appearances and Achievements

Awards:

Honored with a Star on the Walk of Fame at Hollywood Blvd. in 1985.

Life Career Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA in 1987.

Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA in 2009.

Actor:

Twilight Zone – Hansen – A Quality of Mercy (1961)

Star Trek (1966-1986) – Mr. Spock – Earned him three Emmy nominations

In Search of…  (1976) – Host

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – Dr. David Kibner

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) – Spock – and following Star Trek movies

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991) – Spock

Ancient Mysteries (1994) – Host

The Simpsons – Himself – Marge vs. the Monorail (1993) and The Springfield Files (1997)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) – King Kashekim Nedakh (voice)

Fringe (2009-2012) – Dr. William Bell – Won the Saturn Award in 2010 for Best Guest Starring Role on Television

Star Trek (2009) – Spock Prime

Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) – Spock Prime

Writer/Director:

T.J. Hooker – The Decoy (1983)

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

3 Men and a Baby (1987)

Funny About Love (1990)

Photographer:

Leonard Nimoy: Secret Selves (2008) – R. Michelson Galleries in Northampton, Massachusetts

Leonard Nimoy will be missed and fondly remembered for all he left the world.

March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015 (age 83)

How do you remember Leonard Nimoy? Tell us about your favorite episodes/appearances/etc. in the comments.

(top photo credit: unknown)