Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy dead at 83

Actor Leonard Nimoy, made famous by his role as Mr. Spock in the Star Trek TV shows and movies, has died. He was 83.

Nimoy, the son of Jewish immigrants who grew up in Boston, was just starting to build a Hollywood career in 1966 when Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry tapped him to play the half-human, half-Vulcan, purely logical science officer on the USS Enterprise. He starred opposite William Shatner, who played Captain Kirk.

The television show lasted only three seasons and struggled to expand its audience beyond teenage boys and science nerds. But after it was canceled, its loyal fan base of Trekkies kept it alive at conventions and fan clubs. Their near-constant pleas for a cast reunion were answered in 1979 with Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It was a huge hit and spawned five sequels. Nimoy starred in all of the movies and directed two of them.

Although he acknowledged the role made his career, Nimoy had a love-hate relationship with the character. He made appearances on several comedy shows, including Futurama, Duckman, and The Simpsons, lampooning himself as Spock. He titled his 1975 autobiography I Am Not Spock, but his 1995 autobiography was titled I Am Spock, illustrating a certain acceptance for his most-famous role.

“Of course the role changed my career—or rather, gave me one,” he once said. “It made me wealthy by most standards and opened up vast opportunities. It also affected me personally, socially, psychologically, emotionally. … What started out as a welcome job to a hungry actor has become a constant and ongoing influence in my thinking and lifestyle.”

Besides Star Trek, Nimoy had a long career as a television, film, and stage actor and director. He also wrote poems and children’s stories and published a collection of photographs. He reprised his role as Spock in the latest versions of the film series in 2009 and 2013.

Nimoy is credited with coming up with Spock’s two most universally known characteristics: The Vulcan motto, “Live long and prosper,” and the Vulcan salute. The hand gesture was based on a motion made by rabbis during Hebraic benedictions.

Adam Nimoy, the actor’s son, said his father died of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.