Leonard Nimoy dead at 83: ‘Star Trek’ star lived long and prospered

New York Daily News ^ | 02/27/2015 | BY DAVID HINCKLEY

[SeekAndFind]

Leonard Nimoy, who lived long and prospered, died Friday at his Los Angeles home.

The creator of Mr. Spock, television’s most beloved pointy-eared half-Vulcan, was 83 and had suffered for several years from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), which makes it difficult to breathe.

“I quit smoking 30 yrs ago,” he tweeted last week. “Not soon enough. I have COPD. Grandpa says, quit now!! LLAP.”

“LLAP” was Spock’s best-known catch phrase: Live long and prosper.

To many of his fans, Leonard Nimoy was a one-hit wonder.

One hit that lasted half a century.

Nimoy created the beloved Mr. Spock in the 1960s cult TV show “Star Trek” and brought him back to life in movies, sequels, cartoons and spinoffs for the rest of his life.

[traderrob6]

Not his finiest hour...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGF5ROpjRAU

[Robert DeLong]

Chronic smoking would explain his unique rich baritone voice.

Nah, I have smoked for 50 years now and I have neither a rice nor baritone voice.

[aomagrat]

May his Memory be Eternal.

[Biggirl]

I do believe now William Shatner is the last one.

I think the “Priceline” company has kept him young.

[traderrob6]

Takai and Konig are still around aren’t they?

[Raymann]

Nichols, Takai, and Konig are still around.

[RinaseaofDs]

Amen. An early role model. Led me to engineering and science. Complete bad ass.

[Born to Conserve]

What I remember from the Star Trek series is the intense social programming. Human like non human adversary races made people feel more comfortable with the multicolored culture that was being shoved down our throats. Generally lots of deconstructing of the Western Culture.

[xp38]

I would say beyond that working has kept Bill going. I know Nimoy did do some work post Trek but only Shatner really maintained a career beyond Trek of the original cast.

[Raymann]

All the surviving cast members do several conventions a year and I know Nichols and Koenig were just in two independent films. Koenig is to me as much Alfred Bester as he is Chekov.

[Secret Agent Man]

I’d say “normal” Mr. Spock. As opposed to the abnormal, twisted, or perverted one.

[Borges]

Showing human culture as lacking somehow in comparison to some fictional civilization goes back many centuries.

[Biggirl]

I think in his later years Mr. Nimoy I read somewhere worked bar/bat mitzvah productions.

[Nowhere Man]

RIP, Mr. Nimoy. I remember him in “Outer Limits” and “Mission Impossible,” both shows did have Star Trek ties. I know there are others too. LL&P, Mr. Nimoy.

[NormsRevenge]

Is this Beastie part of the tour?

He always had a soft spot for critters. RIP

[mikrofon]

Pre-Trek 'The Man From UNCLE' Season 1 ep ("The Project Strigas Affair") featuring Mr. Spock, Colonel Klink AND Captain Kirk…

[Nowhere Man]

What a perfect blend of actor and role. Nimoy was of Ukranian/Jewish exctraction, and had that asiatic look you’d sometimes see in Soviet leaders like Brezhnev. He frankly looked odd playing westerners and was often cast as a heavy. But Spock, with the ears and calm/placid demeanor fit him like a glove. Nobody looks as much like a Vulcan as Nimoy (save perhaps Mark Lenard, who played Spock’s father). R.I.P., Mr. Nimoy!

I noticed that too, I remember Nimoy "looked Asian enough" where in the episode, "City On The Edge Of Forever," Kirk "explained" Spock's ears to the 1930's era policeman where Spock's "head was caught in a mechanical rice picker" in China. People did get around a lot more than we thought in ancient times to now. Another actor who has an Asiatic look is the one who played Mingo, Ed Ames, is Ukranian IIRC. Ames is pushing 90. I do agree, Nimoy and Lenard were the best looking Vulcans.

[P.O.E.]

RIP.

End of an era.

[PLMerite]

Leonard Nimoy in a small role in Them! (1954), about giant ants.

[Jewbacca]