Leonard Nimoy, who gained legions of fans for his portrayal of Spock in the originalStar TrekTV series, has passed away at the age of 83. The actor died earlier today at his home in the Bel-Air area of Los Angeles, with his wifeSusan Bay Nimoyconfirming that he passed away from end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Leonard Nimoyannounced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with the disease, which he attributed to several years of smoking, a habit which he had quit several decades ago. He was hospitalized earlier this week.
Leonard Nimoywas born on July 22, 2025 in Boston, Massachussetts to Ukrakinan-Jewish immigrants Dora and Max Nimoy, who owned a barbershop. He made his acting debut at the age of 20 in the 1951 filmQueen For a Day, and had several guest-starring spots on shows such as Dragnet and Sea Hunt before he was cast as Spock in the originalStar TrekTV series. While the show only ran for three seasons, between 1966 and 1969, he reprised his role as the infamous Vulcan inStar Trek: The Motion Picture(1979),Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home,Star Trek V: The Final FrontierandStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Most recently,Leonard Nimoystarred as Dr. William Bell on the hit sci-fi TV seriesFringe, and played a different version of his iconic Vulcan charater, Spock Prime, in the 2009 theatrical rebootStar Trekand its 2013 sequelStar Trek Into Darkness. He also wrote two autobiographies, “I Am Not Spock” (1977), and “I Am Spock” (1995). In his 40s, he returned to college, earning a masters degree in Spanish from Antioch University Austin. He is survived by children Adam and Julie Nimoy; a stepson, Aaron Bay Schuck; and six grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and an older brother, Melvin. We’ll have more as the story breaks…
