Leonard Nimoy who was best known for his role on the Star Trek television series and movies as Spock has died at the age of 83.
Nimoy earlier in the week was admitted to a hospital for lung disease. His son announced that his father had died in Los Angeles.
Last month, Nimoy wrote on his Twitter account that he was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease even though he had not smoked for over 30 years.
Although Nimoy followed up his 1966-1969 run on Star Trek with a solid career both in front of the camera and behind it, in the mind of the public, he was and always will be Spook.
His character who was half-human and half Vulcan was the calming counterpoint to the Captain Kirk the often emotional lead character in Star Trek played by William Shatner.
Shatner released a prepared statement through email after news of his good friend and former co-star died. Shatner wrote that he loved Nimoy as a brother. Everyone will miss is humor, capacity to love and talent.
Following Star Trek, Nimoy joined Mission Impossible the popular adventure series. He played the role of Paris, the master of disguises on the mission team. Between 1976 and 1982, Nimoy hosted In Search of… a hit syndicated TV series, which tried to probe mysteries such as the Loch Ness Monster and Amelia Earhart’s disappearance.
Nimoy worked into mid to late 70s in a number of different roles. He also was a director for a number of films, including Three Men and a Baby. He appeared in others such as The King and I, My Fair Lady as well as Equus.
He was a book publisher of children’s stories, poems and even one with his own photographs.
However, he never was able to escape his Star Trek role.
Nimoy was a son of Jewish immigrants who were from Russia and settled in Boston where he was born. He grew up in the Italian North End of Boston.