“I think it’s my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may.”~ Leonard Nimoy
Today will be living in infamy for millions and millions of people of this generation. They will remember this day.
Leonard Nimoy, the actor best known for the popular Star Trek series character “Mr. Spock” has passed away today in Bel Air, California at the age of 83.
The Internet was buzzing about his health concerns over the past several days as he was experiencing chest pains. Today the world lost him.
I cannot say personally that I grew up watching the TV series, but since it has been in syndicated re-runs for like, forever… so to speak — I have seen numerous episodes. To which I had taken a liking to Mr. Spock’s character. The simple idea of a being who has no emotions/feelings was fascinating to my boyhood mind. However my elder brother was a super fan of the TV series. He would remember a lot more of it than I would. And I can just imagine how he felt when he heard the news. I sent him a text message, but he already knew.
Maggie Thrett as “Ruth Bonaventure” in Star Trek’s ‘Mudd’s Women’ (1966)
Star Trek would spawn other televisions series and programs. Not to mention the ongoing lists of films. And they are still being made today. However deep down, no matter who you are, how old you are, or what generation of Star Trek you grew up in or with… everyone knows that Leonard Nimoy is, was, and always will be Mr. Spock.
My first real memory of watching the original Star Trek series was my parents purchasing a VHS tape of the Star Trek episode “Mudd’s Women.” At the time this had happened, I was already in advanced stages of recognizing and discovering what a “female” was.
The character of Ruth Bonaventure played by Maggie Thrett. Being that it was a VHS tape, I could rewind certain parts in which she appeared and fast forwarded through the parts of the episode in which she did not appear.
Ahh, the coming of age and pubescence.
It was the only episode of the original series that I bothered paying attention to.
Hello, puberty!
I remember watching “Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan” on what was then “The Movie Channel” which was pretty much just that at the time. They didn’t fool around with breaks or coming attractions. When one film ended, another began.
I will always remember those awkward moments of William Shatner as Captain Kirk in that film, the nasty ear worm, and the death of Mr. Spock due to radiation poisoning. I wondered how it could have killed a Vulcan? A human being, yeah sure.. but a Vulcan? Oh well.
Spock says, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” And then Captain Kirk finishes with, “or the one.”
And of course Khan Noonien Singh, played by famed actor Ricardo Montalbán. Khan’s famous and infamous moment of dramatic dialogue when he says, “He tasks me. He tasks me, and I shall have him. I’ll chase him round the Moons of Nibia and round the Antares Maelstrom and round Perdition’s flames before I give him up!”(Did you know that the line was loosely based and loosely quoted from the book Moby Dick ? And a worthy footnote: actress Kirstie Alley was in this film as well, I believe another Vulcan? Someone will have to research that for me. But she’s in it.)
So other than “Mudd’s Women” and Star Trek II… I honestly didn’t know too much about Nimoy’s acting career with the exception of the aforementioned and Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), but he was notoriously famous for his role as Mr. Spock.
Often times I get tripped up and call him Dr. Spock. Others do too. But it is Mister, not Doctor.
I have seen a TON of emotions in outpouring mode this day! From just about everyone I know on social media and others around me in my generation and the elder generation. Everyone has had a response. Most of them shocked and saddened and frustrated and overall surprised. Many in denial and not wanting to accept the fact that Leonard Nimoy is gone. I’ve personally not seen such a reaction from a collective whole over a celebrity death … since Robin Williams.
People that I would have never thought would have an opinion over Mr. Spock or Star Trek in general showing the most emotional responses.
So we salute this man who obviously has had some kind of impact on all of our lives. Most of us shall say to his memory the famous Spock line of “Live long and prosper.” as we mourn.
Farewell, Leonard Nimoy. Rest thee in peace.
Dambreaker 