Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)
G'day, this is RadDingo. If you have or have not watched Star Trek. I have sad news to inform you that the actor Leonard Nimoy, known for film and television roles, such as Captain Kirk's faithful half-Vulcan, half-human companion Mr. Spock, passed away on February 27th, 2015, at age 83. It has been tragic that someone who is very recognisable to portray a character without emotion has now gone above the stars.
Before working on Star Trek, Leonard began his acting career in 1951, where he was in 50 of the minor parts he played in old B-grade movies before scoring a huge role in a film called "Kid Monk Baroni". When playing the title role, Leonard Nimoy believed it would cement him into becoming Hollywood's most desired, and this never proved true for Leonard until years later. He then went on to star in a 12-part science-fiction serial and through television in supporting and guest appearances, notably, these shows are "Bonanza", "Perry Mason", "Dragnet", "The Twilight Zone", and "Get Smart", among the various others that he chose to appear. In 1965, Leonard came to play the Human/Vulcan hybrid of an officer on an upcoming science-fiction show instead of a role on a soap opera, which offered him to join. However, the famous character of Spock and the show "Star Trek" didn't air until 1966, when it happened. During the show's production, Leonard formed a long brotherly-like relationship with his co-star and actor who played Captain James T. Kirk, William Shatner, whom he first met when he guest-starred in an episode of "The Man From U.N.C.L.E".
In 1969, after "Star Trek" got cancelled in its third season, Leonard joined the cast of the "Mission: Impossible" show, replacing the lead character portrayed by Martin Landau and his tenure lasted until the sixth season. He continues to make roles in cinema and on television as he co-stars with Yul Brynner and Richard Crenna in "Catlow". Leonard reprised his role of Spock in the animated series and again in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". With Robert Wise and Nicholas Meyer directing the first two films, it allowed Leonard not only as Mr. Spock but also to be the director the third instalment. He becomes the first Trek actor to appoint himself as the director, resorting to films in not just one but two chapters like "The Search for Spock" and "The Voyage Home". This newfound gift of Leonard as a director paved the way for him to direct four more movies, including the notable heart-warming comedy "Three Men and a Baby".
Leonard occasionally done a lot of voice work in animated features, most notably as Megatron's upgraded counterpart Galvatron in a film based on "The Transformers" (click here) and voiced himself in two episodes of the prime-time animation "The Simpsons". After eight years in film and 18 years of retiring from the role of Spock, Leonard eventually returned to play once again, only he plays the older version of his character in the J.J. Abrams' reboot of "Star Trek". He would return as Spock Prime in a cameo of "Star Trek Into Darkness", the last time he played Mr. Spock.
Leonard, wherever you are now, I don't care if your performance as Spock or the show that featured your character got appreciated by everyone else. All I can say is... I have always been a fan of your work. My final words to you are... live long and prosper!
Remember not to forget to look at two YouTube clips of Leonard's great field of movie performances, highlighted below.
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