Remembering Leonard Nimoy

Normally, I’m pretty good with words. At the moment, I’m not at my best, for reasons I hope are self evident. However, I’m going to do my best to remember someone who gave more to my life than he ever knew.

I never got to know Leonard Nimoy the way my fellow cast members did, so I can’t remember him in the personal way that they can. I didn’t know Leonard as a friend, or even as a colleague. I can’t tell you what he was like off the set, because I never had the privilege of visiting with him off the set. In fact, by the time he worked on Next Generation, my character was off exploring other planes of existence, and I was a nineteen year-old kid who was stumbling around, trying to figure out what he was going to do with the rest of his life.

When you are part of the Star Trek family — and that’s what it is, in ways that are as wonderful and complicated as all families are — you are part of a very small and special group, where news travels fast. Though I never got to be close to Leonard, I knew that he was a wonderful and lovely man, because that’s all anyone ever said about him. I feel that I haven’t earned the right to eulogize him, but a lot of people are asking me to, so if you’ll allow me a few minutes of your time, I’d like to do my best to remember Leonard the way most of us will be remembering him today: as the actor who played a character who was deeply important to all of our lives, because everyone who watched and loved Star Trek is part of our extended family.

When I was a kid, long before I put on Wesley Crusher’s sweaters or piloted the Enterprise, I loved Star Trek. I watched it all the time in syndication on our black and white television, and when the other kids at school wanted to play CHiPs or the A-Team on the playground, I wanted to turn the jungle gym into the Enterprise. On those rare occasions that I convinced my classmates that we were boldly going toward new worlds on lunch recess, one of the Cool Kids would claim the role of Captain Kirk, and I would always happily assume the role of Mister Spock.

I was too young to fully understand why, but as I got older and looked back on those years, it became clear: I identified with Spock because he was weird, and cerebral, and he was different from everyone else. He was just like me, but the things that made me a target of ridicule on the playground made him a valuable and vital member of his ship’s crew. In ways that I couldn’t articulate at the time, I wanted to be Mister Spock because if I was, I could be myself –quiet, bookish, alien to the people around me — and it wouldn’t be weird. It would be awesome.

When I was cast to play Wesley Crusher, and became part of the Star Trek family, one of the first things I got excited about was meeting Mister Spock, and the actor who played him. It never happened, really, so I never got to know the man behind the ears and the eyebrows and the character that meant so much to me. But as I said on Twitter this morning, we in the Next Generation stood upon his shoulders, and we got to explore a universe that wouldn’t have existed without him. I’ve met thousands of people over the last decade, who have told me that Wesley Crusher meant the same thing to them that Mister Spock meant to me, and for that I am eternally grateful to everyone who was part of Star Trek before I was, including Leonard.

Mister Spock made it okay for me to be the weird kid who eventually grew into a slightly-less weird adult, but it was Leonard Nimoy who made Mister Spock live, and who made Star Trek — and every science fiction TV series since 1966 — possible.

Thank you, Leonard, for making it okay to be me, and for making it possible for me to explore brave new worlds, and boldly go where you had gone before. I wish I’d gotten to know you the way so many others did, because everyone says you were as awesome and wonderful as I hoped you would be. Rest in peace, sir.

 

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166 thoughts on “Remembering Leonard Nimoy”

  3. Well said. We all loved him, even though we never met him, he entered our living rooms and movie theaters and changed the way we look at ‘the smart one’, and for that I am eternally grateful.

  4. I feel the same way, Wil. When you’re a nerdy kid who loves reading more than playing tag or doing whatever it was that kids do, having someone who can be a role model is a godsend. I’l be feeling sad and melancholy for days, I’m sure.

  6. Beautiful sentiment. I’ve never met the gentleman either.
    My childhood was similar: my brother, myself, and neighbourhood kids played Star Trek. I was usually Kirk and my brother was Spock. Our dad made us phasers out of wood.

  7. In February 1978 Leonard Nimoy spoke at my college. He talked about the lasting effect of Star Trek, even though it had only been 10 years gone at that time. He also spoke to the reason why Spock was an endearing character. About that time a toddler slipped loose from the crowd and ran up, asking to be held. Mr. Nimoy picked him up and took him up on stage with him and said “See, there is magic in the character. There are lots of reasons to respond to Spock. We all sense his dignity.”

  9. It’s a terribly sad day in my house I grew up watching Star Trek. Leonard brought to our home like you the allowance to keep being odd and maybe one day I would end up ok. Then Next Generation came along and your character was a little older than me. With Wesley and Data continuing that continued love for the odd one out my love for the franchise grew and grew but Spock was the best at not only allowing us all to be different but to know it would be ok to do so. Nowadays it’s openly ok to be odd or branded as a geek.. Star Trek were the first I can think of that said it’s ok to think like that. Rodenberry and Nimoy were kings amongst men for so many.

    Thank you for your thoughts Will

  10. This was an amazing tribute. The nice part about family is that we don’t need to be close to feel the loss of a member. And Mr. Nimoy touched your life in ways similar to many other fans. Thank you again for sharing something so personal.

  13. Beautifully put, Wil. You’ve really captured how all fans are feeling at his passing. We may not have known him or may have only met him for the briefest of moments, but he touched us all and brought us altogether into one big family that embraces our weird and different sides. He will be truly missed but never forgotten.

  14. I loved Star Trek and of all the characters I wanted to be Spock the most. He opened the universe to a unhappy Maine country boy and gave me hope, and the ability to dream of futures better than my reality.

    Leonard Nimoy, you have slipped the surly bonds of Earth and now travel among the stars…..sail on!

  17. Well said Will. Warm hugs to you & the ST family.

    My husband & I are saddened to hear he’s gone on a new journey but cherish his last tweet that was just a few days ago (Feb 22): “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP”

  20. I’m sorry to see the end of a life that has meant so much in so many different ways to so many people but I am very thankful to have been part of the celebration that was his stay with us and part of the legacy that will remember him. I’m also thankful for you, Wil, and your honest, articulate words…and for the legacy that you are making now with us. Best wishes.

  23. Thank you so much for your words. I can relate too many of the things you said, e.g. taking on the part of Mr. Spock in your childhood games. I, too, found comfort in the fact that being weird and different is okay. Kindest regards from Germany!

  28. quite a few of us never got to meet him, see him (irl)…or much at all…but growing up with Star Trek…(since TOS)…i knew that these folks put a lot into their art form……and i appreciated that they came alive for us via television and other avenues. One of the most precious things is an old autographed 1960’s spock picture that my mom gave me…she had written in to have it autographed, etc…and i get to have that as my heirloom of sorts….it meant a lot to me…still does…and last nite i had even started watching the Cage …and remembering fondly how spock’s eyebrows were so busy and wild…and then to see the character morph…and then keep morphing…anyways….just thankful and greatful that we have access to imaginations and seeing things in a wider perspective…all because of one of many amazing icons in the Trek family <3 Thanks for all YOU do…and thanks for remembering Nimoy with your words!

  29. Mr. Wheaton. I call you Mister now, because this posts has shattered that lingering image of you as an adolescent. This was touching, honest, and so very mature. I am Glad I read It. If Mr. Nimoy could read this, I know he would be so very proud and touched. I was always the Odd man out, smarter than some, but not enough that I used that to better my self. Star Trek, helped me through a really bad time in my life, it helped me comeback to the world. I only briefly saw Mr. Nimoy once, I wish I had taken the time to just say hello.

  30. Dear Wil, thank you for your warm words about Leonard. Obviously you know the meaning that your role had to many people. It would be great if one day you will take proud in the words: “I am Wesley Crusher!” as Leonard did with Spock. Because you can.

  31. Well said, Mr. Wheaton. well said. I grew up with Leonard as Spock, and Star Trek was, and is an important part of my life. My daughters inherited that love, and we are all saddened at his passing. Safe journey, Mr. Nimoy, you will be missed.

  32. I like ST, but I was never a huge fan. But I was always fascinated by the man. He wrote publicly about his struggles to come to terms with being defined by a singular role and rather than fight it out of frustration, he understood Spock was an icon for a lot of people who really needed one. That takes a lot of grace and kindness.

  33. I don’t entirely know what your views are on life after death, however consider this:

    He’s likely aware of this, and likely sad he didn’t get at least a moment in life to learn of this more directly from you, before the time when learning such is different than it is here. I think before he died he realised to some extent that he had that kind of impact, but is now realising how far that impact truly extended.

    Many people, even those who have read your book, likely didn’t realise that despite being comparatively small in some ways, the Star Trek family is much like any family as you said, and some of the members just never knew one another; thank you for understanding that people just couldn’t exactly know you didn’t know Mr. Nimoy directly, yet still wrote something in his memory without trying to eulogize.

  34. Thank you, Wil. You’ve said what I’ve been feeling, and said it better than I’ve been able to articulate even to myself. I’ve been a fan of your blog and your writing for years, so I’m not surprised when you say what’s inside of me, but I’m not sure you’ve ever done a better job of saying what’s inside of so many of us right now. Thank you so much.

  38. You, Wil, were for me in many ways what Spock was for you. Not
    being allowed to step off the turbo lift on to the Bridge that first episode
    to your lost in the cave with Jean-Luc to you ‘adventures’ with the
    Traveler, these gave me ‘purpose’. I , like some above, was the
    nerdy kid on the playground, never picked for games, or picked last,and all that so many can identify with. Trying to fit in, led me
    to alcohol abuse and a long way to get clean. Watching you on
    Falling Skies, Second look (or whatever it was called) I watched
    you and received from you hope to go on under darkest skies.
    This is a magnificent eulogy, and yes, you do have the ‘right’.
    Thanks so much for it. Live long and prosper, Wil.

  40. Coming here to write this because it’s both more productive, and more respectful of his memory, than throwing something at a wall – which is what I actually feel like doing. Time for a TOS marathon this weekend.

    What an inspiring life he led.

    Thank you Mr. Nimoy.

    A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP

    — Leonard Nimoy

  41. wil this is Derek the star trek world has Lost a Great Man I watched Star trek with him and kirk when i was a kid i send my Heart Felt Condolences to his Family and Fans may He Rest Peace .

  46. You met him Wil, every time you played Wesley you met him for he was you all along.

    Rip Mr spok. Live long and prosper.

  49. Hear, hear. Well said, lad.

    This charter Trekkie is heartbroken today, but so, SO not alone. We ARE a family.

    Thank you for your insightful words. You and I have much more in common than I thought. From one playground Spock to another, let’s raise a glass to friends, those absent… and those whom we’ve yet to meet.

  50. You’ve put into heartfelt words what made Mr Spock & Leonard Nimoy someone I could relate to… And why, though I’ve never met him, I’m still grieving the loss of a friend. Thank you for this and know that you, in turn, have touched & enriched more lives than you could possibly know.

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