Leonard Nimoy
Biography
Leonard Simon Nimoy (March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series 1966–1969, multiple films, television and video game sequels. Nimoy began his career in his early twenties, teaching acting classes in Hollywood and making minor film and television appearances through the 1950s, as well as playing the title role in Kid Monk Baroni. In 1953, he served in the United States Army. In 1965, he made his first appearance in the rejected Star Trek pilot, "The Cage", and would go on to play the character of Mr. Spock until 1969, followed by seven further films and a number of guest slots in various sequels. His character of Spock generated a significant cultural impact and three Emmy Award nominations; TV Guide named Spock one of the 50 greatest TV characters. Nimoy also had a recurring role in Mission: Impossible and a narrating role in Civilization IV, as well as several well-received stage appearances. Nimoy's fame as Spock is such that both his autobiographies, I Am Not Spock (1977) and I Am Spock (1995) detail his existence as being shared between the character and himself. Nimoy was born to Yiddish-speaking Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Iziaslav, Ukraine. His father, Max Nimoy, owned a barbershop in the Mattapan section of the city. His mother, Dora Nimoy (née Spinner), was a homemaker. Nimoy began acting at the age of eight in children's and neighborhood theater. His parents wanted him to attend college and pursue a stable career, or even learn to play the accordion—which, his father advised, Nimoy could always make a living with—but his grandfather encouraged him to become an actor. His first major role was at 17, as Ralphie in an amateur production of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!. Nimoy took Drama classes at Boston College in 1953 but failed to complete his studies, and in the 1970s studied photography at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has an MA in Education and an honorary doctorate from Antioch University in Ohio. Nimoy served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1955, alongside fellow actor Ken Berry and architect Frank Gehry.
Movies (115)
Sally
2025
Piece by Piece
2024
Tolkien: The True Story of the Rings
2024
765874: Memory Wall
2022
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2022
Emily @ the Edge of Chaos
2021
My Brother Vincent
2018
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016
For the Love of Spock
2016
50 Years of Star Trek
2016
To Be Takei
2014
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
2013
The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers
2013
Star Trek Into Darkness
2013
Star Trek: The True Story
2013
Hava Nagila: The Movie
2012
Zambezia
2012
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
2011
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
2011
Star Trek: Evolutions
2009
The Evolution of the Enterprise
2009
Land of the Lost
2009
Star Trek
2009
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit
2009
The Pixar Story
2007
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier
2007
The Once and Future Griffith Observatory
2006
40 Years of Star Trek
2006
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
2005
Rambam - The Story of Maimonides
2005
Reflections on Spock
2004
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
2004
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
2004
The Perils Of Peacemaking
2003
The Making of 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'
2002
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
2001
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
2001
The Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood's Scariest Insect
2000
Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists
2000
The Story of Computer Graphics
1999
Y2K Family Survival Guide
1999
A Life Apart: Hasidism in America
1998
Invasion America
1998
Brave New World
1998
Armageddon: Target Earth
1998
Trekkies
1997
David
1997
The Great Pyramids
1997
The Harryhausen Chronicles
1997
Mystical World of Ancient Greece
1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996
Star Trek Story
1996
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
1996
Jellies & Other Ocean Drifters
1996
Mysterious Spirits of the Mayans
1995
Virtuosity
1995
The New Explorers: The Science of Star Trek
1995
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995
Symphony to the Planets: Mysteries Beyond Our Reach
1995
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
1994
The Making of 'The Pagemaster'
1994
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
1994
The Pagemaster
1994
Destiny in Space
1994
The Halloween Tree
1993
Symphony to the Planets: A Star to Call Home
1993
Titanica
1992
The Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
1992
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1991
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
1991
Never Forget
1991
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
1988
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1986
The Transformers: The Movie
1986
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
1986
Super Duper Bloopers
1986
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
Planets of the Sun
1985
Lights
1984
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984
Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories
1983
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982
A Woman Called Golda
1982
Night of 100 Stars
1982
Vincent
1981
Seizure: The Story of Kathy Morris
1980
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1979
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1978
The Star Trek Dream
1975
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975
The Missing Are Deadly
1975
Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love
1974
The Alpha Caper
1973
Baffled!
1973
Catlow
1971
Assault on the Wayne
1971
Mission: Impossible - The Falcon
1970
Mission: Impossible - The Controllers
1969
Valley of Mystery
1967
Star Trek: The Menagerie
1966
Deathwatch
1966
Star Trek: The Cage
1965
The Balcony
1963
The Brain Eaters
1958
Satan's Satellites
1958
Them!
1954
Old Overland Trail
1953
Zombies of the Stratosphere
1952
Francis Goes to West Point
1952
Kid Monk Baroni
1952
Rhubarb
1951
Queen for a Day
1951
Leonard Nimoy Demonstrates the Magnavision Videodisc Player
TV Shows (108)
765874: Unification
2022
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
2021
Star Trek: Prodigy
2021
Star Trek: Discovery
2017
The Shannara Chronicles
2016
Star Trek: Evolutions
2009
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2009
Shatner's Raw Nerve
2008
Fringe
2008
The Real Story
2008
The Big Bang Theory
2007
The Colbert Report
2005
Bring Back...
2005
Comedy Central Roasts
2003
After They Were Famous
2002
Futurama
1999
Becker
1998
Invasion America
1998
David
1997
The Daily Show
1996
The Daily Show
1996
Muppets Tonight
1996
The Outer Limits
1995
Duckman
1994
Ancient Mysteries
1994
Ancient Mysteries
1994
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
Late Show with David Letterman
1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
MTV Movie & TV Awards
1992
The Simpsons
1989
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987
The Sun Also Rises
1984
Marco Polo
1982
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982
Wogan
1982
A Woman Called Golda
1982
T. J. Hooker
1982
In Search of...
1977
In Search of...
1977
Auf los geht's los
1977
The Captain and Tennille
1976
Saturday Night Live
1975
Star Trek
1973
Columbo
1971
Night Gallery
1970
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
Mission: Impossible
1966
Star Trek
1966
Get Smart
1965
Daniel Boone
1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
The Hollywood Palace
1964
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963
The Outer Limits
1963
The Outer Limits
1963
The Lieutenant
1963
Combat!
1962
Combat!
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Virginian
1962
The Virginian
1962
The Virginian
1962
Sam Benedict
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Dr. Kildare
1961
87th Precinct
1961
Cain's Hundred
1961
The Tall Man
1960
Tate
1960
The Untouchables
1959
The Rebel
1959
The Twilight Zone
1959
Lock-Up
1959
Bonanza
1959
Rawhide
1959
The Rough Riders
1958
Steve Canyon
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Sea Hunt
1958
Tombstone Territory
1957
26 Men
1957
Harbor Command
1957
Perry Mason
1957
Wagon Train
1957
Wagon Train
1957
Wagon Train
1957
Wagon Train
1957
West Point
1956
The Man Called X
1956
Highway Patrol
1955
Highway Patrol
1955
Gunsmoke
1955
Gunsmoke
1955
Gunsmoke
1955
Gunsmoke
1955
Dragnet
1951
Dragnet
1951
Golden Globe Awards
1944