Leonard Nimoy dies!

[meekon5]

Just heard this on the radio:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31662024

US actor Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr Spock in the cult sci-fi series Star Trek, has died at the age of 83 in Los Angeles, his family has said.

As  trekkie myself this saddens me.

RIP Leonard.

Also Obituary: Leonard Nimoy.

[Judd Dude]

Damn! This is so weird- for whatever reason he popped into my head while I was at work yesterday. I'm not even into Star Trek either, so I don't know why I even thought of him.
That's a bummer man, rest in peace Mr. Spock.

[BikerDude]

That sux.
Hopefully they will scatter the ashes like they did with Scotty.
Or better yet put him in a long black pill shaped coffin like they used on the Enterprise and shoot him off into the cosmos.
I mean that respectfully.

[mrpaddy]

A sad day. Science fiction has lost one of its icons, and the world has lost a beautiful human being. His was one of a few Twitter accounts I follow, he was always sharing his philosophy and art with the world.

As a kid I loved the character of Mr Spock. Something about the way he was able to remain calm, centred and rational in the face of everything, whilst always staying true to his comrades, really connected with me.

His final tweet was perfect. "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. Live Long, and Prosper."

RIP sir.

[jgiffin]

Man, that last tweet is something. I'm morally opposed to social media but only because it so often fails to convey anything of substance while enabling an unhealthy narcissism. A few more examples like the one from Mr. Nimoy and I'd have to reconsider that prejudice.

I also admired how Nimoy (at least appeared in public) accepted being typecast despite his broader abilities and interests. I enjoyed me some Star Trek back in the day and, while I've never been to a convention or anything, always heard how cool he was to his fans. That says something. I also liked the pseudo-documentary series he did back in the day: Lost in History or something. Great stuff to watch after missing some classes and not-inhaling a few joints.

[DigitalBuddha]

  DB's head is bowed......

http://dudeism.com/smf/the-holy-memorial-for-the-dearly-dudeparted/leonard-nimoy-passes/msg48708/?topicseen#new

[meekon5]

I didn't initially want to be presumptuous and post this thread on "the-holy-memorial-for-the-dearly-dudeparted". Knowing Nimoy meant a lot to me but not wanting to assume.

Also this is double posting but:

I have to admit I was a little confused by the LLAP bit.

Then I realised I was being a bit stupid LLAP of course means Live Long And Prosper.

With a tear in my eye as I write this LLAP Leonard Nimoy.

[mrpaddy]

Man, that last tweet is something. I'm morally opposed to social media but only because it so often fails to convey anything of substance while enabling an unhealthy narcissism. A few more examples like the one from Mr. Nimoy and I'd have to reconsider that prejudice.

Another example of Nimoy being awesome on social media. He once sent out a tweet volunteering to be anyone's honorary grandfather. Might sound silly but I thought it was really sweet. Dude appreciated the interconnectedness of all.

I totally took him up on that, by the way. As did many others. He had thousands of "honorary grandchildren" within a few hours. LLAP indeed.

[Hominid]

A real loss.  Head bowed...

He was no stranger to comedy, and never took himself too seriously.  One of my favourite things he's done:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPkByAkAdZs

[Fvck you Meeks]

Shalom Mr. Nimoy, Peace be with you.

[BikerDude]

Man, that last tweet is something. I'm morally opposed to social media but only because it so often fails to convey anything of substance while enabling an unhealthy narcissism.

Big time and it seems to act as a substitute for a lot of other things.
It might be possible for people to read the great works between tweets but lets face it, they don't and won't.

I also admired how Nimoy (at least appeared in public) accepted being typecast despite his broader abilities and interests.

He didn't accept it easily. He initially refused to be in the Star Trek motion picture. The first one. And then agree to only be in part 2 the Wrath of Khan if they killed off Spock.
Then Khan was a huge hit and they coaxed him with a big paycheck. Hey we all gotta feed the monkey.

You do have to wonder if the careers of all of these guys would have been better or worse without Star Trek.

[meekon5]

You do have to wonder if the careers of all of these guys would have been better or worse without Star Trek.

DeForest Kelly (Bones) actually was the only real established actor before joining Star Trek, his career started in 1945. So Star Trek probably extended his career

William Shatner was less famous, but considered himself a Shakespearean actor (see Free Enterprise very amusing on this point). So probably brought him forward.

The same with many of the others (James Doohan, Scotty).

I think it was a bit of a mill stone at first until the films started and gave them the money.

[jgiffin]

Shatner had done a couple Twilight Zones before Star Trek, too. I remember one where he and his girlfriend were stuck in a diner with a jukebox that could tell the future or something, and another one where he saw a gremlin on an airplane but no one believed him. Man, I need to download some Twilight Zones.

[Reverend Al]

You do have to wonder if the careers of all of these guys would have been better or worse without Star Trek.

DeForest Kelly (Bones) actually was the only real established actor before joining Star Trek, his career started in 1945. So Star Trek probably extended his career

William Shatner was less famous, but considered himself a Shakespearean actor (see Free Enterprise very amusing on this point). So probably brought him forward.

The same with many of the others (James Doohan, Scotty).

I think it was a bit of a mill stone at first until the films started and gave them the money.

Most definitely.  They were all so closely associated with their Trek characters that they found it difficult to get work after the show had been cancelled.  The show did fairly well in it's initial run, but didn't really catch on until after it had been cancelled and the episodes were being rerun.  Unfortunately for the actors, their contracts stipulated they get paid very little when it was rerun, and that paltry amount lessened every time they re-aired the series.  And at the time those contracts were written they had no idea that "home video" would become so popular a decade or so later, so there was no mention of that in any of their contracts.  But by the time they began gearing up to film Star Trek:  The Motion Picture home video was already so common that they were in a much better position to negotiate better deals for themselves and to get paid a fair amount for their participation, distribution on home media, and so on.

[meekon5]

An odd one from Canada:

Canadians Are 'Spocking' Their $5 Bills!