Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy Dead At 83

The Associated Press reports the death of actor Leonard Nimoy. Nimoy's son Adam says his father died Friday in Los Angeles at age 83.

Leonard Nimoy was world famous to "Star Trek" fans through a beloved cult TV series and a half-dozen films as the pointy-eared, purely logical science officer Mr. Spock.

Nimoy's son, Adam, says the actor died Friday morning in Los Angeles of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Although Nimoy followed his 1966-69 "Star Trek" run with a notable career as both an actor and director, in the public's mind he would always be Spock.

His half-human, half-Vulcan character was the calm counterpoint to William Shatner's often-emotional Captain Kirk on one of television and film's most revered cult series.

After "Star Trek" ended, the actor immediately joined the hit adventure series "Mission Impossible" as Paris, the mission team's master of disguises. From 1976 to 1982 he hosted the syndicated TV series "In Search of ... " which attempted to probe such mysteries as the legend of the Loch Ness Monster and the disappearance of aviator Amelia Earhart.

He also worked behind the camera, too, sitting in the director's chair for "Three Men and a Baby."

He appeared in such plays as "A Streetcar Named Desire," ''Cat on a Hot Tim Roof," ''The King and I," ''My Fair Lady" and "Equus."

He also published books of poems and children's stories. He spent time shooting his own photographs as well.

His published two autobiographies throughout his career, titled "I Am Not Spock" (1975) and "I Am Spock" (1995).