Thread: Leonard Nimoy Hangs Up His Spock Ears

By now, you’ve likely heard about the passing of actor Leonard Nimoy, 83, best known for his role as Spock, the Vulcan with a heart, in the cult TV series "Star Trek."

Chances are you first read word of his death on Facebook or Twitter, as tributes trended, including #RIPLeonardNimoy, #livelongandprosper and #LLAP.

Perhaps one of the most touching came from NASA, who thanked him for inspiring their work. Attached was a photo from September 17, 1976, which pictures Nimoy and other members of the "Star Trek" cast in front the Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise, named after the famed U.S.S. Enterprise from the show.

NASA ✔ @NASA

RIP Leonard Nimoy.
So many of us at NASA were inspired by Star Trek.
Boldly go... http://go.nasa.gov/10F4Ci0

11:44 AM - 27 Feb 2015

According to NASA, the ship (the real life one) was supposed to be named the Constitution, but fans started a write-in campaign to the White House to change the name – and they won.

NASA’s Twitter tribute is fitting for an actor who was active on social media himself.

Nimoy died Friday of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his Los Angeles home with family at his side, said his son, Adam Nimoy.

http://www.weather.com/science/space...-tribute-photo

George Takei pays tribute to 'dear friend' Leonard Nimoy - recalls how he stood up for him
Zachary Quinto also mourns the actor who died at the age of 83
27 February 2015 | By Greg Hernandez

Star Trek icon Leonard Nimoy died Friday morning from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 83. Nimoy, who played half-human, half-Vulcan Mr. Spock on the original Star Trek television series and feature films, is being mourned by co-stars and fans. 'My heart is broken,' tweeted Zachary Quinto who co-starred with Nimoy in the Star Trek feature film franchise reboot.

'I love you profoundly,' Quinto added. 'I will miss you every day. May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.'

George Takei, who played Sulu in the original Star Trek TV series and earlier feature film franchise described Nimoy as 'a very dear friend.'

Speaking to CNN on Friday, Takei shared this story: 'One extraordinary thing about him I remember: When Star Trek was going to be done as an animated series, they cast Leonard, Bill Shatner, Majel Barrett and Jimmy Doohan only for the voice acting on that. And when he discovered that Nichelle Nicholls and Walter Koenig and I were not cast because of budgetary considerations, he said, "Star Trek is about diversity, and if the two people that represent diversity to most, Nichelle and George, then I’m not interested in doing it."'

'That was an extraordinary thing for an actor, to give up a gig on behalf of other actors. And because Leonard was so necessary to the project, they cast Nichelle and me and offered Walter an opportunity to write a script. 'He was really an amazing man.'

Takei also took to Facebook and posted this tribute: 'Today, the world lost a great man, and I lost a great friend. We return you now to the stars, Leonard. You taught us to "Live Long And Prosper," and you indeed did, friend. I shall miss you in so many, many ways.'

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/g....PkfcgSya.dpuf

Leonard Nimoy, You Will Be Sorely Missed
#Touching
By Paul Morris



Leonard Nimoy, the beloved, gaunt-faced actor who had gained millions of fans worldwide, died Friday morning in his Los Angeles home. He was 83 years old.

Though the original Star Trek was cancelled after only three seasons, Spock had solidified himself in the public mindset. Millions of fans around the world respected, loved, and even pretended to be the famous Vulcan. Each of those fans will have to face the universe with the sobering knowledge that Spock will no longer be there to be the best first officer in all of Starfleet. Though his time on Earth has ended, his story is not done, and we can all hope that Mr. Spock is happy in whatever realm of existence pleases him the most. His work here is done, but he has many more adventures to be a part of.

Nimoy publicly announced last year that he was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which he attributed to years of smoking. Though he had quit his smoking habit over thirty years ago Nimoy said that the damage had already been done.

Though Nimoy initially had issue with his fame being tied to a science fiction character, as he mentions in his 1977 autobiography, I Am Not Spock. He eventually came to terms with his Star Trek fame in his other autobiography, I Am Spock, published in 1995. Finally realizing that “Spock” belonged to the throng of fans who worshiped the logical Vulcan in ways that very few actors ever get to experience in their lifetimes, Nimoy understood that “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.”

Whether it be fighting off Khan, saving the crew of the Galileo 7, helping to destroy the Doomsday machine, operating on your own brain, fighting off Klingons or trying to stop Tribbles from breeding; every single episode Nimoy was featured in was an absolute treasure.

Captain Kirk, Helmsman Sulu, Lieutenant Uhura, Ensign Chekov, and Spock all inspired generations of dreamers and sparked the imaginations of little boys, girls as well as grown men and women all over the world. From future astronauts to computer effects masters to comedians such as Whoopi Goldberg; all were inspired by the freedom that Star Trek presented the not-so-distant future as being. Peace and prosperity was possible.

Nimoy will be wildly missed, but the world is a better place for having had the half-human, half-Vulcan man. Though he is now traveling to unexplored places beyond the stars, where no person has gone before, we can all appreciate Nimoy’s many contributions both to the acting world and even to our popular culture. Whether you’re a Star Trek fan, a Trekkie, a Trekker or even if you hate everything about Star Trek — everyone can appreciate Spock’s most famous phrase:

“Live long and prosper.”

Video at link http://spock.littlethings.com/spock-...-long-prosper/

DeForest Kelley January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999

James Doohan March 3, 1920 - July 20, 2005


Star Trek’ In Memoriam: [I]Saying Goodbye To The Original Crew




Star Trek has seen better days.


Many who had followed Leonard Nimoy’s battle with COPD on Twitter expected the worst when it was announced a few days ago that he’d been hospitalized with chest pains.

On Friday, the world said goodbye to Mr. Spock for good, and from the sheer mountain of tweets, posts, blogs, and news articles, one can tell that this loss stung more than most when a beloved celebrity dies.

Unfortunately, with Nimoy’s passing, I’m reminded of just how much has changed about the show that I and millions of others fell in love with: Star Trek, the original series.

The core seven crewmen were William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Walter Koenig. Of those, only four remain: Nichols, Koenig, Takei, and Shatner.

And since Doohan and Kelley left us before the days of social media, it’s easy to believe that they didn’t get the fitting tributes they deserved for playing Scotty and Dr. McCoy, respectively.

That’s not true. There are some moving tributes out there to these fine actors, and I will now proceed to right any perceived wrong with a couple of my favorites from the web.

First off, I give you the DeForest Kelley tribute, which features appearances from all those who knew the man behind “Bones” McCoy personally, including Leonard Nimoy. Watching this video is a bittersweet reminder of what culture lost when it said goodbye to this man, who was called the “most talented and experienced” among the members of the original crew.

In spite of McCoy’s quick temper, he had a good heart and a folksy, almost grandfatherly quality. Kelley was also described as one of the most kind-hearted of the original crew. Warning: if you didn’t love this man before, be prepared — because you will after the video.




Next up, there is Doohan. Mr. Scott. If ever there was a guy who seemed to appreciate the importance of Star Trek to his life, it was this man. Doohan faithfully served aboard the Enterprise from the very first episode of the original series to the final film, and even made guest appearances on the spinoffs.

Here he shares an amusing tale of how Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry gave him one line in the first episode, not thinking the engineer of a spaceship would be a major character. That changed in a hurry.



While the world is right to mourn the passing of Leonard Nimoy, now is also a good opportunity to give these two wonderful actors their due. Thank you to all three for giving Star Trek the cultural impact and influence they did

http://www.inquisitr.com/1881169/sta...0mozGUVp0vV.99

Zachary Quinto's Heartfelt Tribute To Leonard Nimoy

By Joseph Baxter 10 hours ago



One of the more interesting things to arise from the moment that J.J. Abrams took over the Star Trek franchise in 2009 was the apparent real life friendship developed between the two Spocks. In the film, extraordinary circumstances created the introspective situation where the younger Spock played by Zachary Quinto and the older Spock, generally referred to as "Spock Prime," reprised by the late Leonard Nimoy would meet in an ultimate payoff of a scene. However, it seems that the paternal friendship dynamic we saw between the two Spocks was mirrored in reality. It’s a concept that is certainly reflected in Quinto’s touching, bittersweet tribute to the late Nimoy.

In his poignant essay to the late Nimoy, Zachary Quinto explains how the guidance of Nimoy, the original Spock, came to define not only his own experiences as Spock, but a calm, dignified outlook on life that he will carry with him throughout his own days. As Quinto notes in his tribute, http://time.com/3729463/zachary-quinto-leonard-nimoy/

I lost my own father when I was very young, so to have this man come into my life and resonate so many qualities to which I aspire, and be such an example of dignity and grace and fulfillment — that was the part of it that so far exceeded any expectations I could have had. And that is the part of me that feels the greatest sense of loss at his death. Leonard had a way of communicating that was never pedantic — he was never trying to teach, and yet he lived with such completeness that there was wisdom in everything he said.

Apropos to the scene from Star Trek (2009) when Quinto’s young Spock first sees the back of the head of Nimoy’s Spock Prime and shouts "father," their friendship also paralleled a paternal dynamic; something driven home by the fact that Quinto was only a child when he lost his own father. While it was a relationship that began with Nimoy simply providing guidance in regards to handling the Spock character, it apparently grew into a mentorship that ran much deeper. According to Quinto, their discussions were diverse, but "very organic," yet managed to achieve "a depth," despite not trying for such poignance.



Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy’s non-Spock chemistry was probably best immortalized in a 2013 Audi commercial in which the two, while clearly friends, compete against each other in a race to further compete in golf. It was a lighthearted bit that managed to convey the idea that the two Spocks were playfully competitive with each other, culminating in a hilarious, Trekkie-pleasing, "who’s your daddy?" moment where Nimoy manages to sneak in a Vulcan nerve pinch, sending Quinto to the pavement.

According to reports, Zachary Quinto quickly flew back to LA to speak at his funeral and concludes his profound tribute with the line, "The world is a better place for having had Leonard Nimoy in it, and I am a better man to be sure."

We couldn't agree more.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Read-...moy-70107.html

Canadians 'Spocking' their currency in tribute to Leonard Nimoy
To honor the memory of iconic "Star Trek" actor Leonard Nimoy, some Canadians are drawing Spock on their $5 bills.
by Anthony Domanico / March 2, 2015 10:40 AM PST

Since Friday, the world has been grieving the passing of Leonard Nimoy, with many touching tributes to the man best known for his role as Spock on "Star Trek" hitting the Internet over the weekend. Perhaps one of our favorites so far is happening in Canada, where Trekkies are "Spocking Fives" by putting images of Nimoy on the country's $5 bill.

Canada's $5 bill features a large image of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier, and the note is a shade of blue that's incredibly close to that of the uniform worn by Spock in "Star Trek." On Friday, Canadian Design Resource, a site for Canadian designers, sent out a tweet urging Canadians to "Spock" their $5 bills by taking a pen and turning the portrait of Sir Wilfrid Laurier into a picture of Spock.

The idea of "Spocking Fives" isn't entirely new, and can be traced back to at least 2008 when the "Spock Your Fives" Facebook group was founded to encourage people to add the Vulcan's face to the $5 banknote. Canada switched from paper to plastic currency at the end of 2013, and the new material made it more difficult to "Spock" the $5 bill, but not impossible, as evidenced by this tweet from pedalpapa.

The practice isn't illegal, but the Bank of Canada noted in 2002 that it strongly objects to the mutilation or defacement of bank notes, an objection it reaffirmed to Quartz on Monday. "Writing on a bank note may interfere with the security features and reduces its lifespan," the Bank of Canada said. "Markings on a note may also prevent it from being accepted in a transaction."

Given how beloved Mr. Nimoy was, we can't help but hope this Spock-ified currency will take a note from the actor himself and live long and prosper.

http://www.cnet.com/news/canadians-s...leonard-nimoy/



Canadians Are 'Spocking' Their $5 Bills, Which Is Both Awesome And Totally Legal
03/04/2015

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — The death of actor Leonard Nimoy last week has inspired people to post photos on social media of marked-up five-dollar Canadian banknotes that show former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier transformed to resemble Spock, Nimoy's famous "Star Trek" character.

For years, Canadians have been wielding pens to draw Spock's pointy Vulcan ears, sharp eyebrows and signature bowl haircut on the fiver's image of Laurier, Canada's first Francophone prime minister.

Canada's central bank said this week it's not illegal to deface or even mutilate banknotes, although there are laws that prohibit reproducing a current bill electronically.

Nonetheless, bank spokeswoman Josianne Menard calls scribbling on bills inappropriate because it defaces a Canadian symbol and source of national pride. Menard says defaced bills may not circulate for as long and risk being rejected.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/0...n_6797490.html

Star Trek's Crew of the Starship Enterprise is what gave birth to the door of the future we wanted. We nurtured those ideals and became more aware of the differences in each of us and we celebrate it.

Let us be able to show this constellation of stars to the future of humankind and tell them "We must strive to be more than we are. To better our lives so that we may know Peace."

"Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate, but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms."

~Gene Roddenberry

Create a constellation for the Crew and Creator of the Enterprise



This petition was originally started to name a star after Leonard Nimoy. After breaking 1000 signatures, as promised, we are changing our request to honor the entire crew of the Enterprise, and the writer who created the universe in which so many of us grew up and found a love of scientific and space exploration.

We would like a star for each of the following in a constellation to be called Enterprise:

Gene Roddenberry
Majel Barret - Voice of the Enterprise
Leonard Nimoy - Spock
William Shatner - Captain Kirk
DeForest Kelley - Leonard McCoy (Bones)
James Doohan - Montgomery Scott (Scotty)
Nichelle Nichols - Nyota Uhura
George Takei - Hikaru Sulu
Walter Koenig - Pavel Chekov

It is my opinion, and apparently the opinion of many others, that there has been no single work of cinematic art that has more encouraged the world to pursue scientific exploration, to pursue space exploration, and to (in every sense of the statement) boldly go where no one has gone before.

Please help us honor the creator and crew of the Enterprise with this constellation.

Thank you.

https://www.change.org/p/nasa-name-a...-leonard-nimoy