[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 35 (Monday, March 2, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO LEONARD NIMOY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 2, 2015

  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.

                          ____________________