Leonard S. Nimoy, 83, has passed away.
Earlier today, Nimoy's passing was confirmed by his wife, Susan Nimoy. The cause of death was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which blocks airflow to the lungs and results in difficulty breathing.
In 2014, Nimoy announced that he had been suffering from pulmonary disease, likely due to smoking. He was hospitalized earlier in the week, and passed away at his home in Bel-Air on Friday.
It goes without saying that Nimoy was one of the most influential actors in science-fiction history. His portrayal as Mr. Spock could have been nothing special: a cold, calculating alien consumed by logic. However, there was a warmth to his performance, a genuine sincerity that is all too absent from cinema today. What could have been a completely alienating character quickly become one of science fiction's most beloved.
Of course, Nimoy was more than just Mr. Spock: the man began acting at a young age, and soon devoted his life to the art. Throughout the years, Nimoy has expanded his repertoire beyond acting, and became a poet, a photographer and a musician over the course of his life.
He is survived by his wife Susan, his son Adam, his daughter Julie, and six grandchildren among several others.
Truly, Mr. Nimoy was an inspiration to multiple generations. His work on Star Trek may be his most well-known, but the man was an accomplished actor, director and artist throughout his life. Most importantly, he was a wonderful human being.
