Leonard Nimoy, Spock from Star Trek, dead at 83
Leonard Nimoy, best known as Spock to the world, died Friday at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. He was 83.…
Leonard Nimoy & Susan arrives to the “Star Trek Into Darkness” Los Angeles Premiere on May 14, 2013 in Hollywood, CA. Nimoy died at age 83 on Friday (Shutterstock)
Leonard Nimoy, best known as Spock to the world, died Friday at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. He was 83.
His wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his death, saying the cause was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Leonard Nimoy at the “Star Trek” DVD And Blu-Ray Release Party, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, CA. (Shuterstock)
Nimoy revealed a year ago that he had been diagnosed with the disease, attributing it to years of smoking, even though he had given up the habit three decades earlier. He had been hospitalized earlier in the week.
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Although he is known mostly for being a pointy-earred, rational and emotionless alien with the signature salute “live long and prosper”, Nimoy also devoted his time to poetry, photography and music.
He was loved dearly by fans, who will cherish his memory and all the philosophical insights into the true nature of humanity that his character brought us.
He was second in command to William Shatner’s Captain James T. Kirk, a perfect combination of Spock’s calm rationale to Kirk’s fiery and impulsive personality.
“I loved him like a brother,” Shatner said in a statement. “We will all miss his humor, his talent and his capacity to love.”
Word of his death inspired expressions of respect not just from his fellow actors and from “Star Trek” fans but also from NASA.
Star Trek inspired thousands of individuals to dedicate their lives to the exploration of space. (Shutterstock)
Even our President Obama is devastated to hear the news.
“Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy,” President Barack Obama said in a statement. “Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future. I loved Spock.”
Leonard Nimoy at the “Star Trek Into Darkness” Los Angeles Premiere, Dolby Theater, Hollywood, CA. (Shutterstock)
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Born in Boston on March 26, 1931, Leonard Simon Nimoy was the second son of Max and Dora Nimoy, Ukrainian immigrants and Orthodox Jews. His father worked as a barber.
Mr. Nimoys marriage to the actress Sandi Zober ended in divorce.
Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Adam and Julie Nimoy; a stepson, Aaron Bay Schuck; and six grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and an older brother, Melvin.
