Leonard Nimoy Leonard Simon Nimoy was the actor who is best known for his Emmy Award - nominated portrayal of Spock , the half Human , half Vulcan first officer and science officer aboard the . Originating the role on " , " he went on to play him again on " , " the first six " Star Trek " motion pictures , and the episodes and . He also left his mark on the " Star Trek " franchise as a director , writer , and producer . Footage of Nimoy ' s role from the TOS episode was reused for the episode . Nimoy also voiced Spock in the video games " " , " " , " " and " Star Trek Online . " Nimoy returned to the role of Spock in ; it was the first time he played the character since and was his first live - action film role since . He made a further cameo appearance as Spock in the sequel , making him the only principal cast member of any " Star Trek " series to appear in eight of the films and ( technically ) the longest - serving of all " Star Trek " cast members , having played the role on and off over a period of forty - nine years , from to 2013 . His image also appeared in , in two photographs that were among Spock ' s possessions bequeathed to . Biography . Leonard Nimoy was born in Boston , Massachusetts , just four days after his " Star Trek " co - star William Shatner . Like Shatner , he was of Ukrainian - Jewish ancestry ( his family name means " person who cannot speak " in Russian ) . He entered Boston College on a dramatic scholarship , but dropped out and headed for the West Coast , knowing that , there , he would find more lucrative opportunities in the acting business . In 1954 , he married Sandi Zober , with whom he had two children – Adam and Julie . In a hospital scene in , a voice can be heard paging " Dr . Sandi Zober . " His second wife , Susan Bay , starred in two episodes of , as Admiral Rollman in and . In the early 1950s , Nimoy served as a member of the . He served for eighteen months in Special Services at Ft . McPherson in Georgia and received a discharge in 1955 as a . Unfortunately , Nimoy ' s Army personnel file was destroyed in , during a major fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St . Louis , Missouri . In December 2002 , Nimoy announced his retirement from acting and his plans to spend his retirement as a photographer . He came out of retirement to play Spock in J . J . Abrams ' . Regardless , Nimoy thereafter enjoyed a new career in his senior years as a professional photographer showing his prints all over the United States and throughout the world . Nimoy , after being seen at New York City ' s John F . Kennedy Airport being pushed in a wheelchair with an oxygen cylinder , disclosed in a tweet on that he had . He stated that it was due to his many years of being an " Olympic champion smoker " and , though he quit around the time he filmed , the damage was done . Nimoy appeared on CNN ' s Piers Morgan Live on to discuss his condition . Nimoy passed away on , as a result of his illness at the age of eighty - three . On 2 June 2015 , NASA honored Nimoy when they named an asteroid after him , 4864 Nimoy . His legacy continued through a documentary film created by his daughter , Julie , son , Adam , and narrated by John de Lancie , titled " Remembering Leonard Nimoy " , designed to raise awareness of . Early career . Nimoy began his Hollywood career with small roles in the 1951 films " Queen for a Day " and Paramount Pictures ' " Rhubarb . " Nimoy then played the title role in the boxing drama " Kid Monk Baroni " and played the Martian invader Narab in the science fiction serial " Zombies of the Stratosphere " ( later edited and released as a feature , " Satan ' s Satellites " ) , both released in 1952 . In 1954 , he made an uncredited appearance in the classic science fiction film " Them ! " , as did Richard Bellis , Lawrence Dobkin , and William Schallert . Four years later , he had a supporting role in another science fiction film , " The Brain Eaters . " In the mid - 1950s , Nimoy began appearing in various television guest shots , with his first being a 1954 episode of " Dragnet . " ( He would make a second appearance on this series four years later , with his co - star Celia Lovsky . ) Between 1958 and 1960 alone , Nimoy was seen on such classic television shows as " Sea Hunt , " " Wagon Train " ( working with future " Trek " co - stars Roy Jenson , Susan Oliver , and Phillip Pine , as well as Nehemiah Persoff ) , " The Tall Man " ( two episodes , including one with Marianna Hill and Charles Seel , with a story credit by D . C . Fontana ) , " Outlaws " ( in an episode with Alfred Ryder ) , " The Rebel " ( with Arlene Martel ) , and " Bonanza " ( in an episode written by Gene L . Coon ) . Nimoy ' s subsequent TV credits include a 1961 episode of " Rawhide " and a 1963 episode of " Perry Mason " with Arthur Batanides , a 1961 episode of with Dean Stockwell ( and concocted by Sam Rolfe ) , a 1962 episode of " Laramie " with Michael Forest , and a 1962 episode of " Sam Benedict " with Paul Carr and Joanne Linville , as well as numerous episodes of the classic western series " Gunsmoke , " including one in 1963 with Bill Zuckert and another in 1966 with Richard Webb . He was also seen in a 1962 episode of " The Untouchables , " which , like " Star Trek , " was produced by Desilu before it became part of Paramount . In 1964 , he appeared in two episodes of the classic sci - fi anthology series , " The Outer Limits " – " The Production and Decay of Strange Particles " with Joseph Ruskin , Barry Russo , Rudy Solari , Robert Fortier and Willard Sage ; and " I , Robot " with Peter Brocco , Marianna Hill , and John Hoyt . He also co - starred with Sally Kellerman in a 1966 episode of " A Man Called Shenandoah . " His feature film credits during the 1960s consisted of a supporting role in the 1963 drama " The Balcony " ( with Peter Brocco ) , an uncredited appearance in the acclaimed thriller " Seven Days in May , " and a role alongside Michael Forest and Robert Ellenstein in the 1966 drama " Deathwatch " ( featuring music by Gerald Fried ) . Nimoy also produced the latter film . Nimoy first worked with his future " Trek " co - star DeForest Kelley ( Doctor Leonard " Bones " McCoy ) in a 1959 episode of " 26 Men " entitled " Trail of Revenge . " Prior to " Star Trek , " he again worked with Kelley in a 1963 episode of " The Virginian . " Nimoy also appeared in two 1965 episodes of " The Virginian , " working with Michael Ansara , Hal Baylor , Richard Beymer , Rex Holman , Sherry Jackson , and Ken Lynch . In 1964 , Nimoy and his soon - to - be " Star Trek " co - star William Shatner worked together for the first time . This occasion occurs in the Joseph Sargent - directed episode of " The Man from U . N . C . L . E . " entitled " The Project Strigas Affair . " In this episode , Nimoy and Shatner are on opposite sides , with Nimoy playing the right - hand - man of a diplomat attempting to initiate a war between the United States and the Soviet Union and Shatner playing the reluctant U . N . C . L . E . recruit who must help foil the diplomat ' s plot . In one climatic scene Nimoy pulls a gun on Shatner . Nimoy and Shatner began working together on " Star Trek " just two years later . The " Star Trek " years . Late in 1963 , Nimoy landed a guest role on " The Lieutenant , " a series starring Gary Lockwood and created by Gene Roddenberry . The episode he appeared in , entitled " In the Highest Tradition , " co - starred Roddenberry ' s future wife , Majel Barrett . Roddenberry was also developing a science fiction series at the time and thought Nimoy would be perfect for it . Although he was initially up for the role of the ship ' s chief medical officer , Nimoy accepted the role as a half - Vulcan / half - Human named Spock on Roddenberry ' s series , entitled " Star Trek , " which made his career and changed his life . Nimoy along with Majel Barrett had his first day for " The Cage " at the Desilu Culver Stage 15 on , performing color makeup tests inside the Menagerie set . The first " Star Trek " pilot , , was filmed in November and December of . Although the pilot was rejected by NBC , the studio allowed Roddenberry to produce a second pilot , which became . Many cast changes were made between the first pilot and the second , and Nimoy was the only principal cast member from " The Cage " to return for the second pilot . Following this pilot , " Star Trek " was picked up as a series . During his time on " Star Trek , " Nimoy was responsible for many traits which have become associated with Spock or Vulcans in general , including the Vulcan salute and the Vulcan nerve pinch . For his supporting role as Spock , Nimoy was nominated for an Emmy Award for each of the show ' s three years . Despite this , it was while working on " Star Trek " that Nimoy became an alcoholic . He never drank during the day or during work , but the moment work was done , he would desperately want a drink ; because of that , he also became suicidal and depressed . Fortunately , Nimoy was able to attain remissions of these illnesses and continue his acting career . Low ratings led to " Star Trek " s cancellation in . Including the two pilots , Nimoy appeared in all 79 episodes of the series , the only actor to do so . After " Star Trek " . After the cancellation of " Star Trek " , Nimoy moved on to another Desilu / Paramount series , , playing the regular character of Paris for two seasons ( 1969 – 1971 ) . He joined the series as a replacement for the departing Martin Landau , who , ironically , was up for the role of Spock before Nimoy got the part . Lee Meriwether had a recurring role during Nimoy ' s first season on " Mission : Impossible . " Brooke Bundy and Alfred Ryder had roles in " The Controllers " , the first episode shot with Nimoy . Many other past and future " Star Trek " actors appeared with Nimoy during his two seasons on " Mission : Impossible , " including Arlene Martel and David Opatoshu in the episode " Terror . " After " Mission : Impossible , " Nimoy starred with Lloyd Haynes , Malachi Throne , William Windom , and John Winston in the ABC Movie of the Week " Assault on the Wayne " ( for Paramount Television ) and co - starred with , , and TOS guest actor Jeff Corey in the western film " Catlow , " both released in 1971 . He then starred in three 1973 TV movies : an unsold pilot titled " Baffled ! " ( as a race car driver who has visions of people dying ) , " Columbo : A Stitch in Crime " ( as a murderous doctor ) , and " The Alpha Caper " ( co - starring James B . Sikking , Paul Sorenson , Vic Tayback , and Kenneth Tobey , and executive produced by Harve Bennett ) . In 1973 , Nimoy was hired by Gene Roddenberry to star in the title role of his science fiction pilot ( and possibly series ) " The Questor Tapes " , however he got replaced by Robert Foxworth . Nimoy didn ' t receive a word from Roddenberry about him being dumped , and only found it out when he accidentally met Foxworth on the studio lot . Nimoy made his directorial debut with a 1973 episode of " Night Gallery " entitled " Death on a Barge , " which featured one - time TOS guest actor Lou Antonio and future TNG guest actress Brooke Bundy . Nimoy cast Lesley Ann Warren , one of his " Mission : Impossible " castmates , in the lead role in this episode . He also appeared as an actor on " Night Gallery , " in a segment entitled " She ' ll Be Company For You , " alongside Kathryn Hays , and directed by TOS cinematographer Gerald Perry Finnerman . Finnerman also photographed the aforementioned episode directed by Nimoy . Also in 1973 , Nimoy made his Broadway debut in a revival of the play " Full Circle , " working with future guest star Peter Weller . In 1976 , Nimoy began hosting a television series called " In Search Of . . . " , a syndicated documentary program dealing with topics such as Bigfoot and other monsters , Atlantis , Stonehenge , Jack the Ripper , and other unsolved mysteries . Although the series ended in 1982 , the A & E Network and later A & E ' s The History Channel aired " In Search Of . . . " throughout the 1990s and the early 2000s . Return to " Star Trek " . In 1973 Nimoy reprised the role of Spock for the first time since 1969 , voicing the character in " Star Trek : The Animated Series " for Filmation . He only agreed to reprise the role after his demand that George Takei and Nichelle Nichols be hired back on the series were met . Although this series ended in after only 22 episodes , a new live - action series , " , " began production shortly thereafter . Nimoy , however , opted out of this series after learning that his role would be essentially a part - time one , and his character was replaced by a young Vulcan named Xon , who would have been played by David Gautreaux . While Paramount was busy bringing " Phase II " to fruition , Nimoy moved on , continuing to host " In Search Of . . . " , appearing in the Broadway production of " Equus , " and starring in the 1978 remake of " Invasion Of The Body Snatchers , " earning a Saturn Award nomination from the Academy of Science Fiction , Fantasy & Horror Films for his work on the latter . By this time , production on " Phase II " had ceased and the pilot for that series was being turned into the first " Star Trek " film , . Nimoy was ultimately persuaded to reprise Spock for " The Motion Picture " , after Robert Wise , on the urgings of his wife Millicent , had made it a prerogative for him to accept the director ' s position on that movie . ( " Star Trek Movie Memories " , 1995 , pp . 87 - 88 ) As a consequence , Nimoy in turn replaced Gautreaux as the principal Vulcan character for the movie . The Movie debuted in the United States on and marked the beginning of a new era for " Star Trek " and for Nimoy . Nimoy received a Saturn Award nomination for his portrayal of Spock in " The Motion Picture " . He went on to play Spock in , although he was at first reluctant to do so . Spock seemingly perished at the end of " Wrath of Khan , " but Nimoy returned to the role for four more films : , , , and . He also directed and co - wrote the stories for " The Search for Spock " and " The Voyage Home " and executive produced and co - wrote the story for " The Undiscovered Country . " He earned Saturn Award nominations for directing " The Search for Spock " and for his performance in and direction of " The Voyage Home . " In late - , Nimoy was asked by Paramount Pictures chairman of the board to produce the " Star Trek " planned to be launched by the studio the following year , however Nimoy refused the offer . In Nimoy reprised his role as Spock for the episodes and . Due to his schedule , the second part was filmed prior to the first part as most of his appearance were in the second part . A few additional scenes of the first part were filmed during principal photography of the second part . Nimoy filmed his scenes for both episodes between Monday and Friday on Paramount Stage 8 , 9 , and 16 . The call sheet for Tuesday advised the transportation department to pick up Nimoy at his hotel at 5 : 10 am because of his makeup call at 5 : 40 am . In , Nimoy was asked to appear as Spock in , the seventh " Star Trek " feature and the first to feature the crew of " Star Trek : The Next Generation . " The film ' s script originally had a role for Nimoy , but it was not to Nimoy ' s satisfaction and he declined the offer . Explaining his reason for turning down the film , Nimoy remarked : Several costumes and costume pieces worn by Nimoy were sold off on the It ' s A Wrap ! sale and auction on eBay , including his headband from . Other film and television works . Between his work on the " Star Trek " films , Nimoy worked on numerous television projects . In 1981 , he directed and starred in his own television adaptation of the one - man play " Vincent , " portraying Vincent van Gogh ' s brother , Theo . In 1982 , he received his fourth Emmy nomination for his supporting role in the telefilm " A Woman Called Golda " and appeared in the mini - series " Marco Polo , " starring Kenneth Marshall in the title role and co - starring F . Murray Abraham and David Warner . Also during this time , Nimoy directed an episode of William Shatner ' s new series , " T . J . Hooker , " reportedly in preparation for directing " Star Trek III : The Search for Spock . " ( " " special features ) He later guest - starred on the series , which also starred performer James Darren . Nimoy later appeared in the James Goldstone - directed TV movie " The Sun Also Rises , " based on the Ernest Hemingway novel . He then worked with director Tim Burton to play the villain in the " Faerie Tale Theatre " production of " Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp . " Nimoy also lent his voice to the role of Galvatron in " The Transformers : The Movie , " the 1986 film based on the animated series . Among the others who voiced characters in the movie are Michael Bell , Roger C . Carmel , Walker Edmiston , Clive Revill , Frank Welker , and Orson Welles . In 1987 , Nimoy directed the hit comedy " 3 Men and a Baby , " his first non - " Star Trek " feature film . Subsequent films he directed were " The Good Mother " ( 1988 ) , " Funny About Love " ( 1990 , featuring Michael Bofshever and Celeste Yarnall ) , and " Holy Matrimony " ( 1994 , starring Jeffrey Nordling and John Schuck ) ; frequent " Trek " editor Peter E . Berger edited all three of these films . Nimoy ' s latest directorial effort was a 1995 episode of the short - lived UPN series " Deadly Games , " starring Christopher Lloyd . Nimoy starred in the 1991 television drama " Never Forget , " directed by Joseph Sargent , and voiced the mysterious Mr . Moundshroud in the 1993 animated movie " The Halloween Tree . " In addition , he voiced Dr . Jekyll and Mr . Hyde in the 1994 live - action / animated fantasy " The Pagemaster , " which also featured the voices of Patrick Stewart , Whoopi Goldberg , Frank Welker , George Hearn , Robert Picardo , and Christopher Lloyd . In 1995 , Nimoy appeared on " The Outer Limits " under the direction of his son , Adam ; a remake of the 1964 episode " I , Robot " ( although Nimoy played a different character than he had in the original ) . As a director , Nimoy was very much invested with the actors he directed , having been one himself , as was clearly evidenced by David Gautreaux , Nimoy had replaced as the principal Vulcan character on " The Motion Picture " , " Leonard and I had a meeting once when he called and asked me to down to Paramount . I thought it was because of " Star Trek III " . He had many roles to cast , and he wanted to meet with me . We had a nice long conversation , which is on videotape , because he recorded all of his conversations ; it helps him remember actors . We chit - chatted for a good period of time , and then he came in with what I call the slider , which was , " How did you feel . . . how did it affect you . . . essentially , what did it do to your life when I came back and played Mr . Spock , thus removing your character ? " I looked at him , wondering if he was trying to purge himself of something he had felt all this time . I asked him what he meant by that , and he said , " Well , you were a young man and this was a very big moment in your life . Did I remove that moment ? " I looked at him , with a thousand thoughts running through my mind . My response was , " Look , I was young , but I wasn ' t brand new . I had been in this business , primarily in theater , for a good long time . For me Xon and " Star Trek " were like a play that opened and closed on opening night , which happens all the time in theater . I had , and continue to have , another life outside whatever Xon was or was not to be . He said , " That ' s very good . I was hoping you would say something like that . " I had no idea that he put that much investment and thought into the belief that he had upset my life . " ( " " , issue 139 , p . 14 ) Later projects . In 1996 , Nimoy co - founded Alien Voices with John de Lancie and writer - producer Nat Segaloff . The audio production company / troupe produced several science fiction audio productions ( including the two " Spock Vs . Q " audios ) and a few televised specials for the Sci - Fi Channel : " The First Men in the Moon " in 1997 and " The Lost World " in 1998 . Nimoy appeared in both of these films along with de Lancie , Ethan Phillips , and Dwight Schultz . William Shatner also starred in the first project ; Roxann Dawson and Armin Shimerman had roles in the second . In 1997 , Nimoy played the Biblical prophet " Samuel . " His partner in the TNT movie was TNG guest star Maurice Roëves . In 1998 , Nimoy appeared in a made - for - TV adaptation of Aldous Huxley ' s book , " Brave New World , " along with Miguel Ferrer , Daniel Dae Kim , and Aron Eisenberg . He then voiced a trio of characters in the 2000 CGI - animated film " Sinbad : Beyond the Veil of Mists , " along with John Rhys - Davies . After voicing the role of the King of Atlantis in ' s 2001 film " Atlantis : The Lost Empire " ( along with Phil Morris and David Ogden Stiers ) , Nimoy announced his retirement from acting , deciding instead to focus on photography . Despite his retirement , Nimoy made appearances with William Shatner in several commercials for Priceline . com in 2005 and 2006 . Also in 2006 , Nimoy did commercials for the arthritis pain medication , Aleve , in which Nimoy was concerned that his arthritis would prevent him from delivering the Vulcan salute to his fans at a convention . In 2007 , it was announced that Nimoy would come out of retirement to play Spock in the 2009 " Star Trek " feature being produced and directed by J . J . Abrams . When proclaiming his reasons for accepting the role , he stated it was because the film has " a great director " ( Abrams ) , " a wonderful actor playing the young Spock " ( Zachary Quinto ) , and " a fabulous script " ( written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman ) . He summed up his decision by stating " it was logical . " In a July 2007 interview with Anthony Pascale of , Nimoy gave three reasons for coming out of retirement to play Spock for the new film . His first reason was that it was " Star Trek " and that he owed it to the franchise to give his attention to the project . The second reason was his admiration for producer / director J . J . Abrams , and the third was that Spock had an " essential " and " interesting " role in the script . Production on " Star Trek " began on . Nimoy began filming his scenes the following month . Shooting wrapped in March 2008 . Nimoy can be heard reciting the famous line " Space . . . the final frontier " in the teaser trailer for the new " Star Trek " film , which debuted . According to the film ' s co - writer , Roberto Orci , the line is a new recording which Nimoy made on the film ' s set in - between takes . Following his work on " Star Trek " completed , Nimoy began appearing on " Fringe , " the science fiction television series created and produced by three members of " Star Trek " s creative team : J . J . Abrams , Alex Kurtzman , and Roberto Orci . On the show , Nimoy plays the recurring role of the enigmatic founder of Massive Dynamics , William Bell , a character which had previously been referenced but never seen . Nimoy voiced the role for the episode " Bad Dreams , " which was written and directed by Akiva Goldsman and made his first on - camera appearance in the first season finale aired 12 May 2009 . Nimoy returned for an extended arc that fall . " Fringe " was Nimoy ' s first foray into episodic television since appearing on " Becker " in 2001 . For his role on " Fringe , " Nimoy received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Guest Starring Role on Television in 2010 . Fellow " Trek " actors Michelle Forbes and Raymond Cruz are also nominated in this category . Nimoy also received a Boston Society of Film Critics Award in 2009 and a Critic ' s Choice Award nomination at the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award in 2010 as part of the " Star Trek " ensemble . His face was used for card # 103 " Ambassador Spock " of the virtual collectible card battle game " " . On 19 April 2010 , Nimoy announced his decision to again retire from acting . In explaining his decision to " The Toronto Star , " Nimoy stated , " " I ' ve been doing this professionally for 60 years . I love the idea of going out on a positive note . I ' ve had a great , great time . " " He also said he would not appear in the next " Star Trek " film , claiming it would be unfair to Zachary Quinto , the actor currently portraying . Nimoy recently filmed what he said would be his final appearance on the FOX series " Fringe " ( created by Abrams with " Star Trek " scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci ) . He also confirmed that in 2010 , he would portray the voice of the main antagonist , Master Xehanort , in " Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep " . He reprised the role in " Kingdom Hearts 3D : Dream Drop Distance " . On 22 October 2010 it was announced that due to a personal family emergency Nimoy would not be attending that day ' s " Star Trek " convention in Chicago . Later it was revealed that he was in the hospital . On 26 May 2011 the new music video from titled was released . The video features Nimoy in a leading role and the second time he broke his " retirement " . In the music video Nimoy is making several " Trek " jokes including the William Shatner on television scene and his " Vulcan salute " posing in front of the mirror . Nimoy explained his recent acting work in an email to TrekMovie : The Atlantic Records Executive who signed Bruno Mars on to this label is the son of his wife Susan Bay , Aaron Bay - Schuck . Nimoy returned to the " Transformers " franchise in 2011 when he lent his voice to the duplicitous Sentinel Prime in the third live action film " Dark of the Moon " working with Jack Axelrod , George Coe , Michael Dorn , Robert Foxworth , Glenn Morshower , Keith Szarabajka , Tom Virtue and Frank Welker . Foxworth , Morshower , and Welker all acted in the first three films . On 20 July 2011 , Nimoy made it official that he would retire from convention appearances after two more official " Star Trek " conventions , held by Creation Entertainment . These included the Las Vegas convention on August 11 - 14 , 2011 and in Chicago on September 30 - October 2 , as well as the Dragon Con in Atlanta , Georgia . Nimoy agreed to return to Chicago after having to cancel the previous year . In 2012 , Nimoy once again reprised the role of Spock in " The Big Bang Theory " episode " The Transporter Malfunction " , this time voicing a vintage Spock action figure who acts as ' s conscience in his dreams . The following year , he and Quinto played themselves in a commercial for the car that was rife with " Star Trek " references – including a brief reprisal of the ending of " Wrath of Khan " , and Nimoy applying the nerve pinch to Quinto – as well as a repeat performance of " The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins " . In 2013 , Nimoy reprised the role of Spock in in a small cameo role , warning the alternate reality Spock of ' s threat and how the original crew beat him . This was his final " Star Trek " appearance before his death in 2015 . Before his death and along with William Shatner , Nimoy was rumored to appear in , in a scene with Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto , as the future alternate reality versions of the characters . Nimoy ' s death ( via that of the prime universe Spock ) was instead acknowledged in the film , which bears a dedication to Nimoy .