Star Trek's Beloved Leonard Nimoy Passes Away At 83

Actor, poet, television host and all-around out-of-this-world personality Leonard Nimoy died at his home today in Los Angeles.

His wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his passing at the age of 83 to The New York Times. Nimoy, best known for his role as Mr. Spock in the sci-fi action Star Trek franchise, was beloved by millions around the world. His death has been felt hard by nerds, geeks, science fiction aficionados, and pop culture fans all over.

The star didn't make his illness a secret as he was frequently outspoken about his condition, saying, “[I] just can’t walk distances. Love my life, family, friends and followers,” he wrote on Twitter a week after announcing his end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nimoy was reportedly taken to the hospital earlier this week after suffering a bad bout from his pulmonary disease, and many of his former co-stars, including William Shatner and George Takei, sent public well wishes.

Apart from his role as the USS Enterprise’s science officer, Nimoy also directed Star Trek films such as The Voyage Home and The Search For Spock. An accomplished performer on stage and in the recording booth, Nimoy spent his early years teaching method acting classes in Hollywood and making minor film and television appearances throughout the 1950s. He also served as a voice actor and his distinctive vocals can still be heard in two episodes of The Simpsons, The Pagemaster, Transformers: The Movie, and countless other projects, including video games.

Despite his affinity for playing outside-the-norm characters, Nimoy expressed his ambivalence to playing Mr. Spock in two autobiographies: I Am Not Spock, which was published in 1977, and I Am Spock, published in 1995. A member of the United States Army, Nimoy’s performance garnered him three Emmy Award nominations, a spot on TV Guide’s “50 Greatest TV Characters” list, and an indelible spot in the minds and hearts of pop culture fans around the globe.

His stardom endured through the sunrise and sunset of the famed sci-fi television series. Gene Roddenberry, the creator behind Star Trek, often called Nimoy the “conscience of Star Trek." In 2009, Star Wars director J.J. Abrams was approached to breathe new life in the Star Trek film series, and did so with an all-new cast. This included casting Zachary Quinto in the role of Mr. Spock, but he included a special cameo part for Leonard Nimoy as an older version of the same character.

He would come back to reprise the same role in the 2013 follow-up, Star Trek Into Darkness.

From his voluminous books of photography and poetry to his Twitter page, which was the place he unveiled his diagnosis, Leonard Nimoy was a brilliant creative who endeared himself to fans and bewildered critics. His legacy shall not be forgotten. We here at Tech Times offer condolences to family, friends, and fans who are hurt by the loss, and take time to spotlight a few introspective comments from the Twitterverse.

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Photo: Gage Skidmore | Flickr