Actor Leonard Nimoy, best known for playing Spock in the “Star Trek” TV series, passed away Friday at his Los Angeles home. He was 83.
His wife, Susan, said the cause of death was end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Mr. Nimoy was hospitalized last week for severe chest pains, but was apparently released several days later, though exact details are not known. In January, the actor tweeted that he wished he had never smoked, a habit he quit several decades ago.
Mr. Nimoy had a storied career that included stage accolades, several published memoirs, books of poetry and photography, music records and roles on popular TV shows such as “Mission Impossible.”
But he will perhaps best be remembered for playing the character Spock on the 1960s TV show “Star Trek.” The half-human, half-Vulcan character who often kept his emotions in check struck a chord with viewers as an impartial and critical observer of humanity.
Mr. Nimoy went on to portray Spock in six “Star Trek” movies featuring the cast of the original TV show, as well as directing two of them. He also made cameos as the character in the recent reboot of the movie franchise, as well as the spinoff series “Star Trek: The Next Generation.”
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In the role, he popularized the phrase “live long and prosper,” as well as inventing the Vulcan hand salute eternally associated with the series.
“A life is like a garden,” Mr. Nimoy said in the last tweet before his passing. “Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. Live Long and Prosper.”
• Phillip Swarts can be reached at pswarts@washingtontimes.com.
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