Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Simon Nimoy(/ˈniːmɔɪ/ NEE-moy; March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor famously known for playing the heavily iconic character of Spock in the Star Trek franchise for nearly 5 decades. His contributions to the franchise included the original Star Trek series in 1966, Star Trek: The Animated Series, the initial six Star Trek films, Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 2009 Star Trek film, and Star Trek Into Darkness. Besides acting, Nimoy also directed films and other forms of media, most notably Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), and Three Men and a Baby (1987). He ventured into other forms of media as well including music videos and video games.

Nimoy's acting career kick-started in his early 20s, with minor roles in television shows and movies. He also offered acting classes in Hollywood during his early days. He served the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, working as a Staff Sergeant in the Special Services. He earned three Emmy Award nominations for his portrayal of Spock. Following his noted autobiography, I Am Not Spock (1975), he published another autobiography, I Am Spock (1995), which encapsulated his dashed inseparability with the character of Spock. His last role as Spock was in the 2013 movie, Star Trek Into Darkness. After retiring from acting, Nimoy continued to be involved in other forms of media production such as voice acting and music.

Nimoy was a dedicated supporter of the arts and promoted education and learning. Despite suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to a smoking habit he had quit 30 years prior, he continued to be active in the Star Trek fan community as well as engaging in poetry, photography, and music until his death in February 2015.