Friday, February 27, 2015

Leonard Nimoy 1931-2015



We mourn the passing today of Leonard Nimoy. Our sincere condolences to his friends and family.

Perhaps the most moving aspect of the outpouring of tributes to the actor is the degree to which those involved in real-life space exploration idolized Star Trek - and specifically Mr. Spock."NASA was fortunate to have him as a friend and a colleague," the agency's Administrator Charles Bolden said on Friday of Nimoy.

A low-rated TV show? Even in 1967, Star Trek was viewed by many in the space community as a viable vision of future spaceflight.

In 1967, Nimoy wrote to Star Trek producer Gene Roddenberry about the enthusiastic reception he had just received from scientists at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Washington D.C.

I do not overstate the fact when I tell you that the interest in the show is so intense, that it would almost seem they feel we are a dramatization of the future of their space program, and they have completely taken us to heart - particularly since you and the rest of the production staff of STAR TREK have taken such great pains in the area of scientific detail on our show. They are, in fact, proud of the show as though in some way it represents them.


NASA Astronaut Mike Fincke and ESA European Space Agency Astronaut Luca Parmitano released the below video message on Friday.
  
  

Nimoy's Mr. Spock character provided inspiration for an inclusive vision in which mankind could first overcome internal differences, and then extend that spirit to our exploration of alien worlds. In a sense, through his portrayal of Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy served as an alien ambassador to Earth. Aliens might not be the monsters of our darkest imaginings, he showed. They could even become our friends...

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12 comments:

  1. shats own real syrupFebruary 27, 2015 at 11:49 PM

    Yes, a very sad day, he was a fantastic actor, and I was so pleased, too see him in the star trek movie, in 2009. Boy I am going to miss him. Rest in peace dear friends.

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  2. Matthew BlanchetteFebruary 28, 2015 at 12:59 AM

    "Do not grieve... ever. It is illogical. ... Live long, and prosper." :-(

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    1. ShatToupBlogFebruary 28, 2015 at 8:00 AM

      Ironically, we were just polishing off our ST:II toupological analysis when the news came through. We shall post next week. -ST

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  3. geniecoefficientMarch 2, 2015 at 2:45 AM

    Dear ShatToupBlog,
    The awful news and the sadness are robbing me of interest in the toupee. :( :( But I read FTAs as much for your insight into the art and business of movies and TV. TWOK is the best of the series and a splendid movie in its own right. So I am looking forward to having the toupee and all other things TWOK elucidated in your FTA. Cheers

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  4. AnonymousMarch 2, 2015 at 5:37 PM

    It might be worthwhile if we could get an estimate of the yearly toupee maintenance costs from Edward Katz and compare it with a private jet across the country. If not perhaps first class seat on a red eye flight- Most Jerk

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  5. BaldyBMarch 3, 2015 at 4:11 AM

    Great actor, great writer, great photographer, great person and lastly....great head of hair! We Trek fans from all over the globe are mourning a big loss.

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    1. Most JerkMarch 5, 2015 at 5:47 PM

      Baldy, you bring up a good point. Nimoy had great hair. If fact if you look at some of the recent pictures of him, he had frontal swoosh and grew it long in the back. I wonder what would happen if ST shined the Toupascope on Nimoy? Would real hair damage such precision equipment?

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  6. adidasMarch 3, 2015 at 4:18 AM

    MJ wins again. Bill, you make it too easy...

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  7. shats real own syrupMarch 4, 2015 at 4:30 AM

    So Shatner did not go too his friend's funeral! What a idiot!

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  8. Sea PenguinMarch 4, 2015 at 12:40 PM

    Well said. I started watching Star Trek in the 1960s as a child; I was riveted from the start and it remains my all-time favourite TV programme - deeply imprinted upon my psyche. It seemed miraculous and wondrous and I'm sure its lasting appeal lay in the quality of the relationships between the main characters and the support they gave each other while exploring New Worlds and Civilisations. Captain Kirk would not have been Captain Kirk without Spock - the man (or Vulcan) of Reason. I loved the movies as well by the way - Wrath of Khan probably my favourite. And they can remake all they want - Leonard Nimoy will always be the only 'Spock'. LLAP.

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  9. Most JerkMarch 5, 2015 at 5:58 PM

    I'd also like to point out this recent Shat pic. Examine it closely. You'll see its way thicker on top and comes down right above the ears. This reverses the trend of Shat going with a more realistic age appropriate, thinner toupe.

    http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/shatner-skipped-nimoy-funeral-celebrate-life-article-1.2134856

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