Leonard Nimoy, Spock on 'Star Trek,' dead at 83
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Veteran actor Leonard Nimoy, who delighted sci-fi fans worldwide with his iconic turn as the pointy-eared half-human, half-Vulcan Mr Spock in the "Star Trek" television series and films, died Friday aged 83.
Nimoy, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, died at his home in Los Angeles, his family and agent said. A private memorial service was being planned.
Tributes poured in from castmates, actors, fans, the wider science community -- and President Barack Obama.
"I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love," said William Shatner, who played the hot-headed Captain James T. Kirk on the ground-breaking "Star Trek," which debuted in the 1960s.
George Takei, who portrayed Mr Sulu on the sci-fi show, tweeted: "Rest in peace with the stars, my dear friend."
"So many of us at NASA were inspired by Star Trek. Boldly go..." the US space agency said on Twitter, highlighting one of the series' main catchphrases -- "To boldly go where no man has gone before."
Obama said simply: "I loved Spock."
- Career-defining role -
========================
Born in Boston on March 26, 1931 to Jewish immigrant parents from what is now Ukraine, Nimoy left for Hollywood at the age of 18, winning a sprinkling of small parts in 1950s television series.
With his square jaw and serious features, Nimoy worked his way into showbiz playing cowboy characters and lawmen before he found a niche that would last a lifetime in the world of science fiction.
In 1966 he was cast in his greatest role -- as the ever-logical Spock, the science officer aboard the spaceship USS Enterprise, which ventured around the galaxy, exploring new worlds in death-defying odysseys.
Spock was the cool counterpoint to Kirk, played by Shatner, and the even-tempered sparring partner of ship doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy, played by DeForest Kelley.
