"Boldly Go": William Shatner talks about his friendship with Leonard Nimoy
Published: 10-10-2022 06:13
Leonard Nimoy, the actor who played Mr. Spock in the ‘60s sci-fi series "Star Trek," passed away in 2015 at age 83. William Shatner wrote about their friendship in "Boldly Go."
When I was first cast as Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series, I didn’t know Leonard Nimoy very well. We had met a few times, but he was not yet Mr. Spock to me. He was just another working actor.
But as we began to work together, I quickly realized that Leonard was a rare talent. Not only was he a gifted actor, he was also a master of the craft. He knew how to create a character and make it believable.
Leonard Nimoy and I became friends during the years we worked together on Star Trek. We shared a lot of laughs and some good times. But we also had our share of disagreements. That’s what happens when you work with someone for so many years.
But no matter what happened, we always respected each other. And I will never forget the time Leonard Nimoy saved my life.
We were filming an episode of Star Trek in which Kirk and Spock are attacked by aliens. The scene called for me to be thrown across the room, and I was supposed to land on a mat. But when they threw me, I missed the mat and landed hard on the floor.
I was in pain and couldn’t get up. Leonard Nimoy ran over to me and helped me to my feet. He saved me from being seriously injured, and I will always be grateful to him for that.
Leonard Nimoy was more than just an actor or a colleague—he was a friend, and I will miss him dearly.
