Editing Leonard Nimoy (section)

=== ''Star Trek'' ===
[[File:Leonard Nimoy William Shatner Star Trek 1968.JPG|thumb|upright 1.3|Publicity photo of Nimoy as [[Spock]], alongside [[William Shatner]] as Captain [[James T. Kirk]]]]
Nimoy was best known for his portrayal of [[Spock]], the half-human, half-[[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]] character he played on ''[[Star Trek]]'' from the first TV episode in 1966 to the film ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' in 2013.<ref name="NYT-20150227" /><ref name=BBC /> According to biographer Dennis Fischer, Spock was Nimoy's "most important role".<ref name=Fischer />{{rp|482}} Spock became an icon and one of the most popular alien characters ever featured on television. Viewers admired his composure and intellect and his ability to take on any task successfully. As a result, Nimoy's character "took the public by storm", nearly eclipsing the star of the series, [[William Shatner]]'s Captain Kirk, adds Fischer.<ref name="Fischer" />{{rp|482}}  Nimoy was later credited for bringing "dignity and intelligence to one of the most revered characters in science fiction".<ref name="Morrow" /><!-- Cites paragraph. -->

Nimoy and Shatner, who portrayed his commanding officer, became close friends during the series' television run, and were "like brothers", according to Shatner.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Science Fiction |url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/pioneers-of-television/pioneering-programs/science-fiction/ |access-date=November 1, 2013 |series=Pioneers of Television |network=[[PBS]] |date=January 18, 2011 |season=2 |number=1}} [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/pioneers-of-television/pioneering-people/leonard-nimoy/ "People: Leonard Nimoy"].</ref> ''Star Trek'' was broadcast from 1966 to 1969. For his role as Spock, Nimoy was nominated three times for an [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series]], and has long remained the only ''Star Trek'' actor nominated for an [[Emmy Award|Emmy]].<ref>{{cite web|date=February 28, 2015|title=Leonard Nimoy Dies at Age 83: 7 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek's Spock|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/630585/leonard-nimoy-dies-at-age-83-read-7-fascinating-facts-about-the-iconic-actor-who-played-star-trek-s-spock|access-date=November 16, 2020|website=E! Online}}</ref>

Among Spock's recognized and unique symbols Nimoy incorporated into the series is the [[Vulcan salute]], which became identified with him in pop culture. Nimoy created the sign from his childhood memories of the way ''[[Kohen|kohanim]]'' (Jewish priests) hold their hands when giving the [[Priestly Blessing]]. The accompanying spoken blessing is "Live long and prosper".<ref>{{cite book |last=Pogrebin |first=Abigail |author-link=Abigail Pogrebin |title=Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish |orig-year=Originally published 2005 |year=2007 |publisher=[[Broadway Books]] |location=New York |page=198 |isbn=978-0-7679-1613-4 |oclc=153581202 |lccn=2005042141|title-link=Stars of David: Prominent Jews Talk About Being Jewish }}</ref><ref>{{YouTube|id=G1d83XOORP0|title="Leonard Nimoy: The Origin of Spock's Greeting – Greater Talent Network"|link=no}}</ref>

Nimoy conceived the "[[Vulcan nerve pinch]]", which he suggested as a replacement for the scripted knock out method of using the butt of his phaser. He wanted a more sophisticated way of rendering a person unconscious. Nimoy explained to the director that Spock had, per the story, attended the Vulcan Institute of Technology and had studied human anatomy. Spock possessed the ability to project a unique form of energy through his fingertips. Nimoy explained the idea of putting his hand on his neck and shoulder to Shatner, and they rehearsed it. Nimoy credits Shatner's acting during the "pinch" that sold the idea and made it work on screen.<ref name=Fischer />{{rp|482}}

{{quote box|align=left|width=100%|bgcolor =|quote=His legacy as that character is key to the enjoyment of ''Star Trek''. The way that Spock was used as a device for the writers to examine humanity and examine what it meant to be human, that's really what ''Star Trek'' was all about. And in finding Leonard Nimoy, they found the perfect person to portray that.|source=Matt Atchity, editor-in-chief of [[Rotten Tomatoes]]<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/leonard-nimoy-spock-of-star-trek-dead-at-83/ "Leonard Nimoy, Spock of 'Star Trek', dead at 83"], Fox News, Feb. 27, 2015</ref>}}

Nimoy reprised Spock in ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' and two episodes of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''. When the new series ''[[Star Trek: Phase II]]'' was planned in the late 1970s, Nimoy was to be in only two of eleven episodes, but when the series was elevated to a feature film, he agreed to reprise his role. The [[List of Star Trek films#The Original Series films|first six ''Star Trek'' movies]] feature the original cast including Nimoy, who also directed two of the films, ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]'' and ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]''. He played the elder Spock in the 2009 [[Star Trek (2009 film)|''Star Trek'']] reboot film and briefly in the 2013 sequel, ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'', both directed by [[J. J. Abrams]].