Star trek Legend Leonard Nimoy Announces His Retirement From Acting

(HMG) – Sad day for Star Trek fans.  Actor Leonard Nimoy is hanging up his pointy ears and has announced his retirement from acting, after a 60-plus-year career as an actor and director. In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Nimoy said he’s not only retiring from acting but will  give up public life after a few more appearances, including this weekend’s Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo. Nimoy began his acting career in 1951 and after appearing on many TV shows, rose to fame as Mr. Spock in the sci-fi series, before reappearing in the Trek franchise after 12 years away from acting. Wikipedia notes that Nimoy and William Shatner first worked together in an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Project Strigas Affair (1964). Nimoy, 79, recently filmed his final episode of J.J. Abrams’ Fringe as William Bell and does not plan to return for the 12^th Star Trek film.

“I was away from acting for 12 years, so I guess I was seducable,” Nimoy says of his role as an aged Nimoy in the summer blockbuster. “Since J.J. Abrams revived the Star Trek franchise, I felt I owed him something. And I’m glad I did it because he promised me a good story, and it was.”

Nimoy is happy to turn over the pointy ears, to Heroes actor Zachary Quinto who starred as the young Spock in last year’s Star Trek prequel.

“He’s a terrific actor, he looks the part, and it’s time to give him some space. And I’m very flattered the character will continue.”

Beyond the whole Star Trek thing, I think Leonard Nimoy was a wonderful movie, TV and stage actor and also loved him as host of the ground breaking ‘In Search Of,’ series.