Leonard Nimoy, the actor who notoriously portrayed Mr. Spock from Star Trek on television and film, has died at 83 according to The New York Times.
His wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his death, saying the cause was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Nimoy was hospitalized earlier this week. The disease was a result of smoking although he had given up the habit decades ago.
Nimoy debuted as the Vulcan, Spock, in Star Trek’s premiere on September 8, 1966 and the character became one of science fiction’s and pop culture’s most iconic. Spock, who was also half human, was a stoic figure with the highest value on all things logical. His supreme intelligence allowed him to contrast the values of passion and emotion exemplified by William Shatner’s Captain Kirk. Their juxtaposition was used in numerous plots to portray the dilemma and perspective of morality.
Nimoy went on to reprise his role as Mr. Spock in six Star Trek films, directing two of them, and in the later series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Nimoy most recently appeared again as Spock in the J.J. Abrams directed reboot Star Trek appearing as an older version of Spock from the original series and films (the reboot takes place in an alternate universe and thus does not entirely void all previous Star Trek canon).
It was the character Mr. Spock that gave birth to the popular Star Trek expression, “Live long and prosper.” Leonard Nimoy certainly did.
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