I stopped writing celebrity obituaries in my blog a few years ago, but I'm making an exception in this case.
By now you've all heard the news that Leonard Nimoy, TV's Mr. Spock, had died at age 83.
We all knew this day was coming, as Nimoy's health began failing in recent months. Of course that doesn't make the news easier when if inevitably arrives. This one cuts particularly deep though. I've been watching Leonard Nimoy on TV for pretty much my entire life-- since I was six years old in fact. It seemed like he'd always be around. Losing him is quite a blow, and makes me want to find Adam West and Stan Lee and give them both a big hug.
Over the years I've been within ten feet of William Shatner and the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, minus Patrick Stewart. And I've talked with both Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar) and Robin Curtis (Saavk II). Sadly I never got the chance to meet Leonard Nimoy. Now I wish I had.
Nimoy was much more than an actor. He was a writer, photographer and a very successful film director. Sometimes I wonder if he racked up all those other achievements just to prove to people that he was more than just a pair of pointed ears.
When I was a kid I thought Spock was the coolest person imaginable, and did my best to emulate him. Hey, there are worse role models. Some would say I emulated his cool, emotionless demeanor a little too well.
If nothing else, props to him for patiently enduring the hundreds of thousand of fans who over the years ran up to him, gave him the Vulcan salute and said, "Live long and prosper."