Leonard Nimoy
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.
Photos
Movies (131)
Sally
2025 · Self (archive footage)
Pharrell Williams: Pieza por pieza
2024 · Spock (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
Tolkien: The True Story of the Rings
2024 · Self - Actor (archive footage)
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2022 · Self - (archive footage)
Emily @ the Edge of Chaos
2021 · Sigmund Freud (voice)
Everything You Wanted to Know About Sudden Birth (but were afraid to ask)
2019 · Self (archive footage)
My Brother Vincent
2018 · Self
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016 · (archive footage)
For the Love of Spock
2016 · Self (archive footage)
50 Years of Star Trek
2016 · Self
Star Trek Sin Límites
2016 · Ambassador Spock (archive footage), In Memory Of
To Be Takei
2014 · Self
Leonard Nimoy's Boston
2014 · Self
The Prime Ministers: The Pioneers
2013 · Levi Eshkol (voice)
Leonard Nimoy's Oral History
2013 · Self - Interviewee
Star Trek: En la oscuridad
2013 · Ambassador Spock
Star Trek: The True Story
2013 · Self
Hava Nagila: The Movie
2012 · Self
Zambezia
2012 · Sekhuru (voice)
Transformers: El lado oscuro de la luna
2011 · Sentinel Prime (voice)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011 · Spock (archive footage)
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
2011
Star Trek: Evolutions
2009 · Narrator
The Evolution of the Enterprise
2009 · Self
La Tierra Perdida
2009 · The Zarn (voice)
Bring Back... Star Trek
2009 · Self
Star Trek
2009 · Ambassador Spock
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit
2009 · Self
La historia de Pixar: un documental de Leslie Iwerks
2007 · Spock (archive footage)
Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier
2007 · Self - Host
Cinemaville
2007 · Self
The Once and Future Griffith Observatory
2006 · Self
William Shatner in Concert
2006 · Self
40 Years of Star Trek
2006 · Self
Ringers: Lord of the Fans
2005 · Self
Rambam - The Story of Maimonides
2005 · Rambam (voice)
Reflections on Spock
2004
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
2004
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
2004
el moro
2004 · Music
The Perils Of Peacemaking
2003 · Self
The Making of 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'
2002 · Self
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
2001 · Self
Atlantis: El imperio perdido
2001 · Atlantean King (voice)
The Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood's Scariest Insect
2000 · Narrator
Sinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists
2000 · Akron/ Baraba/ King Chandra
Forging Greatness: Lincoln in Indiana
2000 · Narrator
The Story of Computer Graphics
1999 · Narrator
Y2K Family Survival Guide
1999 · Self - Host / Narrator
Rashi: A Light After The Dark Ages
1999 · Rashi (voice)
A Life Apart: Hasidism in America
1998 · Narrator
The Lost World
1998 · Angus McArdle
Brave New World
1998 · Mustapha Mond
Armageddon: Target Earth
1998 · Host
Trekkies
1997 · Self
David
1997 · Samuel
The Great Pyramids
1997 · Narrator (voice)
The Harryhausen Chronicles
1997 · Self - Narrator (voice)
Mystical World of Ancient Greece
1996 · Narrator (voice)
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996 · Self
Star Trek Story
1996 · Self
Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years
1996
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
1996 · Self
Jellies & Other Ocean Drifters
1996 · Narrator
Mysterious Spirits of the Mayans
1995 · Narrator (voice)
Virtuosity
1995 · Spock (archive footage) (uncredited)
The New Explorers: The Science of Star Trek
1995 · Self
Bonanza: Under Attack
1995 · Frank James
Symphony to the Planets: Mysteries Beyond Our Reach
1995 · Narrator
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
1994
The Making of 'The Pagemaster'
1994 · Self (archive footage)
William Shatner: Captain's Log
1994 · Self
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
1994 · Self
The Pagemaster
1994 · Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde (voice)
Holy Matrimony
1994 · Director
Destiny in Space
1994 · Narrator (voice)
Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot
1994 · Host
The Halloween Tree
1993 · Mr. Moundshroud (voice)
Symphony to the Planets: A Star to Call Home
1993 · Narrator
Titanica
1992 · Self - Narrator (voice)
The Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
1992 · Self
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1991 · Captain Spock, Executive Producer, Story
Star Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
1991 · Spock
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
1991 · Self - Host
Never Forget
1991 · Mel Mermelstein, Executive Producer
Funny About Love
1990 · Director
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989 · Captain Spock
The Good Mother
1988 · Director
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
1988 · Self
3 Men and a Baby
1987 · Director
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1986 · Captain Spock, Director, Story
The Transformers: The Movie
1986 · Galvatron (voice)
Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
1986 · The Evil Moroccan Magician
Super Duper Bloopers
1986 · Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985 · Self (archive footage)
Planets of the Sun
1985 · Narrator
Lights
1984 · Greek Nobleman
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984 · Captain Spock / Elevator Voice, Director
Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories
1983 · Host
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982 · Captain Spock
A Woman Called Golda
1982 · Morris Meyerson
Night of 100 Stars
1982 · Self
Vincent
1981 · Theo van Gogh, Writer, Director
Seizure: The Story of Kathy Morris
1980 · Dr. Richard Connought
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
1979 · Spock
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
1978 · Dr. David Kibner
The Star Trek Dream
1975 · Self
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975 · Self
The Missing Are Deadly
1975
Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love
1974 · Mick
The Alpha Caper
1973 · Mitch
Baffled!
1973 · Tom Kovack
Catlow
1971 · Miller
Assault on the Wayne
1971 · Comdr. Phil Kettenring
Mission: Impossible - The Falcon
1970 · Paris
Mission: Impossible - The Controllers
1969 · Paris
Valley of Mystery
1967 · Spence Atherton
Space Seed
1967 · Mr. Spock
Deathwatch
1966 · Jules LaFranc, Producer
Star Trek: The Cage
1965 · Spock
The Balcony
1963 · Roger
The Brain Eaters
1958 · Professor Cole
Satan's Satellites
1958 · Narab
Them!
1954 · Army Sergeant
Old Overland Trail
1953 · Chief Black Hawk
Zombies of the Stratosphere
1952 · Narab
Francis Goes to West Point
1952 · Football Player (uncredited)
Kid Monk Baroni
1952 · Paul 'Monk' Baroni
Rhubarb
1951 · Young Baseball Player (uncredited)
Queen for a Day
1951 · Chief
Leonard Nimoy Demonstrates the Magnavision Videodisc Player
· Self
TV shows (100)
765874: Unification
2022 · Spock
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Star Trek: Prodigio
2021 · Spock (voice)
Star Trek: Discovery
2017 · Spock (archive footage)
Las crónicas de Shannara
2016 · Spock (archive footage)
Star Trek: Evolutions
2009
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2009 · Self
Shatner's Raw Nerve
2008 · Self
Fringe
2008 · Dr. William Bell
The Real Story
2008 · Himself
La Teoría del Big Bang
2007 · Mr. Spock (voice)
The Colbert Report
2005 · Self - Guest
Bring Back...
2005 · Self
Comedy Central Roasts
2003 · Self
HypaSpace
2002 · Self
After They Were Famous
2002 · Self
Futurama
1999 · Leonard Nimoy's Head (Voice)
Becker
1998 · Professor Emmett Fowler
Invasion America
1998 · General Konrad (voice)
David
1997 · Samuel
The Daily Show
1996 · Self - Guest, Self - Narrator
Muppets Tonight
1996 · Self
Deadly Games
1995 · Director, Executive Producer
The Outer Limits
1995 · Thurman Cutler
Duckman
1994 · Leonard Nimoy
Ancient Mysteries
1994 · Narrator
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1993 · Self - Guest
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · Self - Top Ten List Presenter
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993 · Mr. Spock
MTV Movie & TV Awards
1992 · Spock (archive footage)
Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories
1991 · Host
Los Simpson
1989 · Leonard Nimoy (voice)
Star Trek: The Next Generation
1987 · Spock
The Sun Also Rises
1984 · Count Mippipopolous
Marco Polo
1982 · Achmet
The Powers of Matthew Star
1982 · Director
Faerie Tale Theatre
1982 · The Evil Moroccan Magician
Wogan
1982 · Self
A Woman Called Golda
1982 · Morris Meyerson
T. J. Hooker
1982 · Lt. Paul McGuire, Director
Please Turn the Page
1977 · Self
In Search of...
1977 · Narrator
Auf los geht's los
1977 · Self
The Captain and Tennille
1976 · Self - Guest
Saturday Night Live
1975 · Self - Cameo (uncredited), Self (uncredited)
Star Trek
1973 · Spock (voice)
Film '72
1971 · Self
Columbo
1971 · Barry Mayfield
Night Gallery
1970 · Henry Auden, Director
The Barbara McNair Show
1969 · Self
The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
1968 · Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968 · Self (uncredited)
The Carol Burnett Show
1967 · Self - Guest / Various Characters
Malibu U
1967 · Self
Mission: Impossible
1966 · Paris
Star Trek
1966 · Spock
Get Smart
1965 · Stryker
Profiles in Courage
1964 · Burr Jones
Daniel Boone
1964 · Oontah
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964 · Vladeck
The Hollywood Palace
1964 · Self - Singer
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963 · Lawrence Brody, Cowell
The Outer Limits
1963 · Konig, Judson Ellis
The Lieutenant
1963 · Gregg Sanders
You Don't Say!
1963
Combat!
1962 · Neumann, Pvt. Baum
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Virginian
1962 · Wismer, Benjamin Frome, Keith Bentley
Sam Benedict
1962 · Insp. Joe Shatley
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self
Dr. Kildare
1961 · Harry
87th Precinct
1961 · Barrow
Cain's Hundred
1961 · Ralph Tomek
The Tall Man
1960 · Deputy Sheriff Johnny Swift
Tate
1960
The Untouchables
1959 · Packy
The Rebel
1959 · Jim Colburn
The Twilight Zone
1959 · Hansen
Lock-Up
1959 · Nino Baselicce
Bonanza
1959 · Freddy
Rawhide
1959 · Anko
The Rough Riders
1958
Steve Canyon
1958 · Control Tower Sgt.
Sea Hunt
1958 · Vince, Tyler, Johnny Brand /Johnny Bronson, Jerry Wiley, Revolutionary Student (uncredited), Liquid Explosives Thief (uncredited), Hoya - Saboteur, Indio Ramirez
Tombstone Territory
1957 · Little Hawk
26 Men
1957
Harbor Command
1957 · Fred Garrison
Perry Mason
1957 · Pete Chennery
Wagon Train
1957 · Bernabe Zamora, Cherokee Ned, Joaquin Delgado, Emeterio Vasquez
West Point
1956 · Cadet Tom Kennedy
Broken Arrow
1956 · Winnoa, Nahilzay, Apache
The Man Called X
1956
Highway Patrol
1955 · Harry Wells, Ray
Navy Log
1955
Gunsmoke
1955 · Grice, Holt, Arnie, John Walking Fox
Four Star Playhouse
1952 · Bulloti's Henchman (uncredited)
Dragnet
1951 · Julius Carver, Leonard Nimoy
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · Self - Presenter
The Universe & I
· Sherlock Holmes