Leonard Nimoy RIP

Leonard Nimoy RIP

From The New York Times.com, ((Leonard Nimoy, the sonorous, gaunt-faced actor who won a worshipful global following as Mr. Spock, the resolutely logical human-alien first officer of the Starship Enterprise in the television and movie juggernaut “Star Trek,” died on Friday morning at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. He was 83. ))

This guy had a huge impact on my life, probably more so than Shatner. Nimoy was the guy that went from being a good actor to a successful writer/director/producer. In many ways, he was one of the creative forces that saved Star Trek from the mess that Gene turned the franchise into after the first motion picture. Yes, he was one of the people the that saved Trek.

Keep in mind that Nimoy nearly died in the first movie because they forgot he was in that space suit and he overheated sitting there between takes. This in turn made him not want to be Spock anymore and he wanted them to kill off his character in the second movie. Nimoy came in and also had a strong influence on Star Trek VI too with help in writing and producing that film, which bridged the gap between TOS and TNG. He would later play an important role in the two part TNG episodes Unification 1 and 2. I loved these two episodes. 

 Not only did he play Spock. He went on to direct Star Trek III and IV. He showed that he had a workman's like style to his directing. He also directed the popular comedy 3 Men and a Baby. Plus, the man worked all the way up to his death. He played a role in the third Transformers movie, (he also played the bad guy in the 80s cartoon movie) and he played a character in Kingdom Hearts series as well as a voice in some Disney movies. He had a couple of comic books series he produced as well. The man truly was the godfather of sci-fi.

He wrote two books I am Not Spock and I am Spock. 

  83 is a good run with everything this guy accomplished.

So long Mr. Spock. You meant a lot to me.

-Invasion of the Body Snatchers:I loved his almost too creepy take as a head doctor. He would later play an alien in human form in the second and third acts of the movie. He's great in this movie.

-The Transformers: The Movie : When I saw his name flash across the screen as a little kid, I was very giddy. Two of my favorite franchises crossed over due to his involvement. Galvatron !

-He made a lot of guest appearances on 60s and 70s era shows from spy shows to westerns. After TOS was canceled, he went right to work for Mission: Impossible .

-The Simpsons and Futurama : He played himself on both shows.