Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of
Leonard Nimoy of Los Angeles, California, who passed away on the
morning of February 27, 2015, at the age of 83.
Leonard Nimoy, best known for his iconic role as Mr. Spock in the
popular science fiction television series and motion picture franchise
Star Trek, was born on March 26, 1931 in Boston, Massachusetts, to Dora
and Max Nimoy, Orthodox Jews and Ukrainian immigrants.
Leonard began his acting career at 8 years old performing in local
plays and continued acting through his high school years. After coming
to Hollywood, he landed small parts in the movies Zombies of the
Stratosphere, Queen for a Day and Rhubarb and in 1952, had his first
starring movie role with Kid Monk Baroni. During the early 1950's, Mr. Nimoy enlisted in the United States Army Reserves where he spent nearly two years, writing, narrating, and emceeing shows for the Army Special Services branch.
After leaving the military, he returned to California, and achieved
wide visibility appearing on television shows such as Rawhide, Perry
Mason and Wagon Train, until he landed the role in 1966 of the half-
Vulcan Mr. Spock in Star Trek, for which he garnered three Emmy
nominations. It was in this role that he became a folk hero, helping
create Vulcan culture such as the Vulcan salute and Vulcan neck pinch. The incredibly popular original series spawned an animated television show, various new television series, movies and sparked a devoted following of Star Trek that exists to this day. After the original Star Trek series ended in 1969, Leonard continued acting in movies and television, performed voice-over work and acted in stage plays. In 1979, he returned as Mr. Spock in the movie Star Trek: The Motion Picture and in 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, directed the movies Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and appeared in the 2009 and 2013 Star Trek movies.
In addition to being an actor, producer and director, Mr. Nimoy was
also a prolific poet, writer, photographer and singer, who often lent
his talents to charitable organizations. He and his wife, Susan Bay-
Nimoy were generous supporters of the arts, educational programs and
public astronomy. They provided substantial assistance to the Hammer
Museum in Los Angeles through their Leonard and Susan Bay-Nimoy Family
Foundation, the esteemed The Thalia Theater in New York was renamed the
Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theater, and they were major supporters of the
Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles' historic 2002-2006 expansion, where the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon theater shows the Leonard Nimoy- narrated documentary film The Once and Future Griffith Observatory about the history, recent renovation, and future of the Observatory.
Leonard is survived by his wife, actress and director Susan Bay-
Nimoy, his children, Adam and Julie Nimoy, stepson Aaron Bay Schuck, six grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and his brother Melvin.
I would like to convey my deepest sympathies to Leonard's family and
friends, as well as extend my heartfelt thanks for his many
contributions to the arts and science. The entire global community will
greatly miss Mr. Spock, who indeed lived long and prospered.
United States
Washington, D.C. Eulogies Star Trek