“Live long and prosper”: Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy dies at 83
Leonard Nimoy, the icon portrayer of Mr. Spock, the sole alien and first officer aboard the Starship Enterprise in the globally popular television and movie franchise “Star Trek,” died Friday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 83.
According to the New York times, his wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to years of smoking that he had stopped 30 years ago.
Although Mr. Nimoy had many other pursuits – poetry, music and photography, it was his role as Mr. Spock that made him a worldwide phenomenon and hero – popularizing a pointy-eared Vulcan and the instantly recognizable phrase: “Live long and prosper.”
“I always liked his Spock because of his logic and analytical sense and how he was trying to learn emotions, with him being half vulcan and half human (on the show),” said Dr. Mathenson, head principal.
“Star Trek,” which had its premiere on NBC in 1968 was originally pitched as a “wagon train to the stars,” according to the creator Gene Roddenberry. Roddenberry had called him “the conscience of Star Trek.”
His popularity never waned, spawning conventions and costume wearing Trekkers to this day.
“Whenever there would be an older Star Trek marathon, or a new movie would come out, or an old episode came on TV, my family would all sit down and watch it and we would just talk about everyone on the show,” said Nick Koval, Junior.
Mr. Nimoy continued his relationship with the franchise well into his later years when he appeared in a cameo for the rebooted “Star Trek” film as an older version of his character to his younger self played by Zachary Quinto. Mr Nimoy also appeared in the 2013 follow-up, “Star Trek Into Darkness.”
Quinto later told via instagram, “My heart is broken. I love you profoundly my dear friend, and I will miss you every day. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
In addition, he continued to be frequent visitor to the many Star Trek Conventions around the world.
“He helped a lot of people my age (when he was younger) think about things and develop thoughts about how you feel, how you get along with people, logic, racism, and all kinds of stuff.” said Mr. Kane, speech and debate teacher.
To many people today and their parents, Mr. Nimoy’s Mr. Spock will forever be part of cultural memory. To paraphrase the title of his second biography, he will always be Spock.
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Lindsay Selman, sophmore, is a staff reporter for the Messenger. She enjoys playing lacrosse and field hockey and reading comic books in her free time....
