Leonard Nimoy
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1931-03-26
Day of Death
2015-02-27 (83 years old)
Place of Birth
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Leonard Nimoy
Biography
Leonard Nimoy 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.
Known For
Acting
Symphony to the Planets: A Star to Call Home
as Narrator
(2024)
Tolkien: The True Story of the Rings
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
(2023)
Time Bomb Y2K
as Self (archive voice)
(2022)
765874: Memory Wall
as Spock (Archival Footage & Face)
(2021)
Emily @ the Edge of Chaos
as Sigmund Freud (voice)
(2018)
My Brother Vincent
as Self
(2016)
For the Love of Spock
as Self (archive footage)
(2016)
50 Years of Star Trek
as Self
(2016)
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
as (archive footage)
(2014)
To Be Takei
as Self
(2013)
Star Trek Into Darkness
as Ambassador Spock
(2013)
The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers
as Levi Eshkol (voice)
(2013)
Leonard Nimoy's Oral History
as Self - Interviewee
(2012)
Zambezia
as Sekhuru (voice)
(2012)
Hava Nagila: The Movie
as Self
(2011)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
as Sentinel Prime (voice)
(2011)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
as Spock (archive footage)
(2011)
(2009)
Star Trek
as Ambassador Spock
(2009)
Land of the Lost
as The Zarn (voice)
(2009)
(2009)
Star Trek: Evolutions
as Narrator
(2009)
Bring Back... Star Trek
as Self
(2009)
(2007)
The Pixar Story
as Spock (archive footage)
(2007)
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier
as Self - Host
(2006)
40 Years of Star Trek
as Self
(2006)
William Shatner in Concert
as Self
(2006)
(2005)
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
as Self
(2005)
Rambam - The Story of Maimonides
as Rambam (voice)
(2004)
(2004)
(2004)
(2002)
(2001)
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
as King Kashekim Nedakh (voice)
(2001)
(2000)
Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists
as Akron/ Baraba/ King Chandra
(2000)
(2000)
Forging Greatness: Lincoln in Indiana
as Narrator
(1999)
Rashi: A Light After The Dark Ages
as Rashi (voice)
(1999)
The Story of Computer Graphics
as Narrator
(1999)
Y2K Family Survival Guide
as Self - Host / Narrator
(1998)
Brave New World
as Mustapha Mond
(1998)
The Lost World
as Angus McArdle
(1998)
Armageddon: Target Earth
as Host
(1998)
A Life Apart: Hasidism in America
as Narrator
(1997)
David
as Samuel
(1997)
Trekkies
as Self
(1997)
The Harryhausen Chronicles
as Self - Narrator (voice)
(1997)
The Great Pyramids
as Narrator (voice)
(1996)
(1996)
Star Trek Story
as Self
(1996)
Mystical World of Ancient Greece
as Narrator (voice)
(1996)
Jellies & Other Ocean Drifters
as Narrator
(1995)
Bonanza: Under Attack
as Frank James
(1995)
(1995)
(1995)
Mysterious Spirits of the Mayans
as Narrator (voice)
(1994)
The Pagemaster
as Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde (voice)
(1994)
Destiny in Space
as Narrator (voice)
(1994)
The Making of 'The Pagemaster'
as Self (archive footage)
(1994)
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
as Himself
(1994)
(1994)
(1994)
Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot
as Host
(1993)
The Halloween Tree
as Mr. Moundshroud (voice)
(1992)
Titanica
as narrator
(1991)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
as Captain Spock
(1991)
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
as Spock (archive footage)
(1991)
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
as Self - Host
(1991)
Never Forget
as Mel Mermelstein
(1989)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
as Captain Spock
(1988)
(1986)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
as Spock
(1986)
The Transformers: The Movie
as Galvatron (voice)
(1986)
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
as The Evil Moroccan Magician
(1986)
Super Duper Bloopers
as Self
(1985)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
(1985)
Planets of the Sun
as Narrator
(1984)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
as Captain Spock / Elevator Voice
(1984)
Lights
as Greek Nobleman
(1983)
(1982)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
as Captain Spock
(1982)
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
(1982)
A Woman Called Golda
as Morris Meyerson
(1981)
Vincent
as Theo van Gogh
(1980)
Seizure: The Story of Kathy Morris
as Dr. Richard Connought
(1979)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
as Mr. Spock
(1978)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
as Dr. David Kibner
(1975)
Mitzi & 100 Guys
as Self
(1975)
(1975)
The Star Trek Dream
as Self
(1974)
(1973)
Baffled!
as Tom Kovack
(1973)
The Alpha Caper
as Mitch
(1971)
Catlow
as Miller
(1971)
Assault on the Wayne
as Comdr. Phil Kettenring
(1967)
Valley of Mystery
as Spence Atherton
(1966)
Deathwatch
as Jules LaFranc
(1966)
Star Trek: The Menagerie
as Mr. Spock
(1965)
Star Trek: The Cage
as Spock
(1963)
The Balcony
as Roger
(1958)
The Brain Eaters
as Professor Cole
(1958)
Satan's Satellites
as Narab
(1954)
Them!
as Army Sergeant
(1953)
Old Overland Trail
as Chief Black Hawk
(1952)
Kid Monk Baroni
as Paul 'Monk' Baroni
(1952)
Francis Goes to West Point
as Football Player
(1952)
Zombies of the Stratosphere
as Narab
(1951)
Rhubarb
as Young Baseball Player (uncredited)
(1951)
Queen for a Day
as Chief
Crew
(2016)
Star Trek Beyond
In Memory Of
(1994)
Holy Matrimony
Director
(1991)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Executive Producer
(1991)
Never Forget
Executive Producer
(1990)
Funny About Love
Director
(1988)
The Good Mother
Director
(1987)
3 Men and a Baby
Director
(1986)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Director, Story
(1984)
(1981)
Vincent
Writer, Director
(1966)
Deathwatch
Producer