Leonard Nimoy
The actor who created and played Spock for more than 40 years.
Leonard Simon Nimoy (March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor and director, famous for playing Spock in the Star Trek franchise for over 40 years: in the original series from 1966, The Animated Series, the first six films, The Next Generation, the 2009 Star Trek film and Star Trek Into Darkness.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Leonard Simon Nimoy
- Born
- 26 March 1931
- Birthplace
- Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Died
- 27 February 2015
- Place of death
- Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- Resting place
- Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery
- Occupation
- Actor
- author
- director
- photographer
- singer
- Years active
- 1950–2015
Lore & Background
Nimoy originated Spock in the 1965 pilot "The Cage" and in 1966's "Where No Man Has Gone Before", and played him until the series ended in early 1969, then in eight feature films and guest appearances in spin-offs. He directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), as well as Three Men and a Baby (1987).
Reader's Guide
Outside Star Trek, Nimoy starred in Mission: Impossible for two seasons, hosted In Search of..., appeared in Columbo, recorded albums with Dot Records from 1967 to 1970, and was also a photographer, author and songwriter.
His portrayal of Spock earned three Emmy nominations, and his two autobiographies, I Am Not Spock (1975) and I Am Spock (1995), were written from the viewpoint of living alongside the character. He played the elder Spock opposite Zachary Quinto in the 2009 film and announced in 2010 that he was retiring from the role.
More in People & Notable Figures
Elsewhere in Star Trek
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