Leonard Nimoy Turns 80

ZosX writes "Leonard Nimoy, whom we all fondly remember as Spock, has turned 80 today. StarTrek.com has posted a three-part interview with Nimoy. He talks about shooting the original series ('it was explained to me that they were concerned that the character looked devilish'), moving to the silver screen ('The feeling was, after that first movie, there was something to be done with Star Trek, that the first movie hadn't done what was available to be done'), and passing the torch to the new rebooted cast ('I think the alternate universe was necessary.') Thanks for the memories, Mr. Nimoy! May you live long and prosper!"

Comments

First Shatner, now this??

[Kell Bengal]

What is it with the cast of Star Trek all celebrating birthdays? It's like it's an annual occurrence or something!

Thanks Leo

[spliffington]

For being the face of Vulcans, All those groovy spaced out 60's go go records and for all that voiceover work through the years. Especially Civ4. Thanks for doing what you do!

Re:Live Long

[Anonymous Coward]

"...character way too seriously!"

Responses:

1. So did we, that's why he's where he is.

1. And we put him there. So what does that make us?

Re:Leonard who?

[DataDiddler]

Wrote it? I only knew that he sang it.

Re:Bizarre Coincidence

[dingen]

Spooky.

Or... Spocky!

He's a photographer now....I'm even more of a fan

[ZosX]

As a semi-professional photographer I find it interesting that nimoy took up photography and directing. You guys should really google for some of his work. Its pretty interesting to say the least. He does have an online gallery:

http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Pages/Nimoy/pages/Leonard-Nimoy-Gallery.html

Oh and thanks soulskill for filling out the summary a bit.

Re:Live Long

[Khith]

Don't forget the third in the series! - I Am Also Scotty

you mean the Mysteries of the Bible guy?

[decora]

i didnt realize he had done other work. this 'star trek' certainly sounds a little outside my normal fare, but i am willing to do a trial run.

Re:you mean the Mysteries of the Bible guy?

[Skater]

He was in an episode of Get Smart, too.

Don't forget his other 70's TV series

[Slacker]

He wrote and hosted the series "In Search Of..." from 1976-1982

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074007/

" Lost civilizations, extraterrestrials, myths and monsters, missing persons, magic and witchcraft, unexplained phenomena. "In Search Of..." cameras are traveling the world, seeking out these great mysteries. This program was the result of the work of scientists, researchers and a group of highly-skilled technicians."

Many of these episodes were pure awesome for us kids that grew up just missing the first run of OST, but still getting to hear him wax poetic about alien visitors and way off the beaten path "science".

Nimoy's okay, but...

[KingSkippus]

Nimoy's okay, but I miss James "Scotty" Doohan. I saw Nimoy in person back in 1988 when he did a talk in Alabama. It was an interesting talk, but he didn't do autographs or anything, which was a bit disappointing. I saw Jimmy Doohan a few years later, and not only did he have an autograph session, but he actually scheduled a second impromptu one for people who couldn't make the first one, and was telling us stories the whole time. It was awesome. One of my prize possessions is an autographed copy of Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise. Not so much because the signature, but because of the memories that go along with what was happening at the time I got it.

Jimmy Doohan also happens to be a genuine war hero. He took part in the Normandy invasion at Juno Beach. He took out two snipers. He also took six bullets from friendly fire, including one in the chest and one that blew off a finger.

Photography schmotography. Know what Jimmy Doohan was doing when he was 80 years old? Having a baby girl (Sarah Doohan), that's what. If Leonard Nimoy could duplicate that feat, his family would have a boy with a great great aunt that's younger than he is.

Re:Nimoy's okay, but...

[Frosty Piss]

I know people are *not* going to like this... I worked at the Seattle Sheraton back in 1998 - 1999, and Doohan came in to eat at our lower end restaurant, at that time called Pike Place Cafe. I was the Pastry Chef at the time. As a manager, on occasion I had to go out and deal with customer "issues". Doohan was drunk off his ass and one of the rudest customers I've ever had to deal with. Very abrasive with the wait staff, and if it where not for the fact that he got up and left on his own, I would have had to call Security to escort him out. I think he was staying in the hotel, but I'm not sure, just that he was highly inebriated and rude and abusive to our staff.

Sorry to burst anyone's bubble, but it's a true story.

Re:Nimoy made OST

[MobileTatsu-NJG]

Shatner might have received/stolen most of the credit and glory, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who believes Leonard Nimoy was the true star of the OST franchise. Among everyone trekkie'ish I know, Zachary Quinto's performance as the new Spock is the thing that has attracted the most attention in the rebooted Star Trek. I haven't heard any concern for the new Kirk.

I'm all for giving credit where credit is due, but the problem with what you're saying is that Star Trek didn't have a 'star'. It had Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. Remove any of those characters and you don't have a show anymore.

Re:Star Trek IV

[PotatoHead]

It was just fun.

I think the idea that there are good people in the world, who care, who would risk their lives, and have fun is a great idea to muse upon. Lots of things are not fun right now, and there are a lot of not so good people, who don't care, risking our lives instead of theirs, and that sucks.

On some low fantasy level, I think it would be just fine to have a Kirk and crew, or even SG-1 and crew, swoop in and solve some problems.

Other things were the characters in that movie. They lit up. I enjoyed that, because I think they enjoyed doing it. That does not always come through on film, and on that movie, it did.