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Leonard Nimoy
Actor
"The camera can capture thought in a way that's quite surprising and shocking. You can become very simple and minimal in your work and communicate a lot with just a finger or an eyebrow, or a look, or a glance."
About This Interview
Leonard Nimoy expresses how he felt at being Emmy-nominated: "I cried. I thought, whoa. Wow. What a thrill. Particularly because the nominations are done by your fellow actors, and I thought: they're getting it, they can see what I'm doing.... it just really moved me deeply." Leonard Nimoy received an Emmy nomination for each season of Star Trek, playing now-iconic "Mr. Spock," and is also known for hosting the documentary series In Search Of... and as a director of series TV and films (including two Star Trek features).
In his four-hour Archive interview, Nimoy (1931-2015) reminisces about growing up in the inner city of Boston: the mix of nationalities in his neighborhood and his stage debut at the age of eight at a community theater. He discusses his acting ambitions and his move to Hollywood, making television appearances on such series as The Pinky Lee Show and Matinee Theater. He chronicles his life as a struggling actor, commenting on regularly playing ethnic roles and heavies while working on western series such as Wagon Train and Gunsmoke. He also discusses working on several series produced by syndication giant Ziv Television Programs, among them West Point, Sea Hunt and Highway Patrol. He recounts auditioning for The Lieutenant, a series produced by Gene Roddenberry, which led to his casting on Star Trek. Backtracking to his '50s experiences, he notes his time in the Army (assigned to mount Army-produced shows) and describes his role (and meager pay) for his first starring feature film Kid Monk Baroni, as well as his first work in a sci-fi role in the serial Zombies of the Startosphere. He also talks about his work as an acting teacher. Regarding Star Trek, he speaks in great detail about his character "Mr. Spock" and gives the origin of such Vulcanisms as the Vulcan salute and nerve pinch, both of which he invented. He describes a typical work-week on the series, eludes to the restrictive budget and strict adherence to schedule, describes Gene Roddenberry's vision for the series, gives his impressions of his fellow cast mates and looks back on several notable episodes. Regarding the creation of the "Mr. Spock" character, Nimoy reveals: "[During a scene once,] Spock had one word to say and the word was 'fascinating.' And we're looking at this thing on the screen and I got caught up in that energy and I said, 'fascinating!' And the director gave me a brilliant note which said: 'Be different. Be the scientist. Be detached. See it as something that's a curiosity rather than a threat.' I said, 'fascinating.' Well, a big chunk of the character was born right there." Nimoy then speaks frankly about his work as a series regular on Mission:Impossible, which he ultimately found unfulfilling. He discusses later career highlights including his work as narrator/host of In Search of... and star of such television movies as A Woman Called Golda and Never Forget. He notes his second career as a director, initially with an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery and his graduation to such popular feature films as Star Trek III and IV and Three Men and a Baby. Karen Herman conducted the interview in Beverly Hills, CA on November 2, 2000.
In his four-hour Archive interview, Nimoy (1931-2015) reminisces about growing up in the inner city of Boston: the mix of nationalities in his neighborhood and his stage debut at the age of eight at a community theater. He discusses his acting ambitions and his move to Hollywood, making television appearances on such series as The Pinky Lee Show and Matinee Theater. He chronicles his life as a struggling actor, commenting on regularly playing ethnic roles and heavies while working on western series such as Wagon Train and Gunsmoke. He also discusses working on several series produced by syndication giant Ziv Television Programs, among them West Point, Sea Hunt and Highway Patrol. He recounts auditioning for The Lieutenant, a series produced by Gene Roddenberry, which led to his casting on Star Trek. Backtracking to his '50s experiences, he notes his time in the Army (assigned to mount Army-produced shows) and describes his role (and meager pay) for his first starring feature film Kid Monk Baroni, as well as his first work in a sci-fi role in the serial Zombies of the Startosphere. He also talks about his work as an acting teacher. Regarding Star Trek, he speaks in great detail about his character "Mr. Spock" and gives the origin of such Vulcanisms as the Vulcan salute and nerve pinch, both of which he invented. He describes a typical work-week on the series, eludes to the restrictive budget and strict adherence to schedule, describes Gene Roddenberry's vision for the series, gives his impressions of his fellow cast mates and looks back on several notable episodes. Regarding the creation of the "Mr. Spock" character, Nimoy reveals: "[During a scene once,] Spock had one word to say and the word was 'fascinating.' And we're looking at this thing on the screen and I got caught up in that energy and I said, 'fascinating!' And the director gave me a brilliant note which said: 'Be different. Be the scientist. Be detached. See it as something that's a curiosity rather than a threat.' I said, 'fascinating.' Well, a big chunk of the character was born right there." Nimoy then speaks frankly about his work as a series regular on Mission:Impossible, which he ultimately found unfulfilling. He discusses later career highlights including his work as narrator/host of In Search of... and star of such television movies as A Woman Called Golda and Never Forget. He notes his second career as a director, initially with an episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery and his graduation to such popular feature films as Star Trek III and IV and Three Men and a Baby. Karen Herman conducted the interview in Beverly Hills, CA on November 2, 2000.
Related To This Video
Shows
- Assault on the Wayne
- Bonanza
- Broken Arrow
- Combat
- Dr. Kildare
- Dragnet
- Emmy Awards, The (primetime and daytime)
- Get Smart
- Gunsmoke
- Highway Patrol
- In Search of...
- Lieutenant, The
- Lights, Camera, Action
- M Squad
- Man From U.N.C.L.E., The
- Matinee Theater
- Mission: Impossible
- Never Forget
- Night Gallery
- Outer Limits, The (1963-65, ABC)
- Pinky Lee Show, The
- Queen for a Day
- Questor
- Sea Hunt
- Star Trek
- Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Wagon Train
- West Point
- Woman Called Golda, A
People
Topics
Professions
Featured Content
Video: Embeddable playlist from Leonard Nimoy's interview
Video: Leonard Nimoy's appearance on Shatner's Raw Nerve
Video: Leonard Nimoy's first starring role in the 1952 feature film Kid Monk Baroni (note: see chapter three of his Archive interview where he discusses this movie)
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Leonard Nimoy on his creation of the Vulcan nerve pinch
Clip begins at: 02:18, Duration: 02m 08sLeonard Nimoy on his Star Trek character "Mr. Spock"
Clip begins at: 12:51, Duration: 04m 28sLeonard Nimoy on directing the feature film Three Men and a Baby
Clip begins at: 12:04, Duration: 03m 04sLeonard Nimoy on working with Star Trek co-star William Shatner (in comparison to pilot episode co-star Jeffrey Hunter)
Clip begins at: 21:15, Duration: 01m 00sLeonard Nimoy on his creation of the Vulcan salute and its use in the Star Trek episode "Amok Time"
Clip begins at: 04:26, Duration: 01m 51s
Interview
- Part 1
- On his early years growing up in Boston; on his first acting experience, age eight, at a community theater; on appearing in and listening to radio
Clip begins at: 0:56 - On his memories of selling newspapers on Pearl Harbor day; on getting the acting bug; on his disappointing experience studying at the Pasadena Playhouse; on setting himself up in Hollywood with the help of actress Ruth Roman
Clip begins at: 08:57 - On his appearance on TV's The Pinky Lee Show and earliest memories of watching television; on being a struggling actor; on other early TV exposure on: Lights, Camera, Action and Matinee Theater
Clip begins at: 18:24 - Part 2
- On his appearance on Matinee Theater (continued); on working in live TV; on guest appearances in series produced by syndication giant Ziv Television Programs: West Point and Sea Hunt, by which he earned a living
Clip begins at: 0:26 - On a significant guest appearance on Wagon Train in the episode "The Estaban Zamora Story" (acting with Ernest Borgnine); on his penchant for playing ethnic roles; on his guest appearances on Bonanza and a television movie revival (acting with character actor Ben Johnson); on why villains were not allowed to smoke on Ziv Television Programs' syndicated shows, due to sponsorship
Clip begins at: 09:41 - On the plot of a Gunsmoke episode he guest-starred in, "Treasure of John Walking Fox"; on series star Vic Morrow helping him to get work on Combat!; on auditioning and winning a guest part on The Lieutenant, which led him to be cast on Star Trek; on taking a small part on Get Smart
Clip begins at: 17:25 - Part 3
- On his guest appearances on the series: Dragnet, M Squad, Broken Arrow, and Highway Patrol (and the cost cutting techniques of shows he did in those days)
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On appearing on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and shadowing director Joseph Sargent to learn how to direct for television (per producer Norman Felton); on appearing on The Outer Limits episode "I Robot" in the 1960s and the remake in the 1990s
Clip begins at: 11:05 - On serving in the Army in the mid-50s, becoming an "entertainment specialist" to Army-produced shows; on getting an agent and landing the feature film Kid Monk Baroni , in which he played the title role (a boxer); on his family's take on his choice of profession
Clip begins at: 17:03 - Part 4
- On appearing in his first sci-fi role, in the 1952 serial Zombies of the Stratosphere; on how appearing in a stage production of "The Three Musketeers" for children got him the job on a feature film version of radio-TV's Queen for a Day; on the Hollywood blacklist and how he became involved in teaching as an indirect result
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On teaching acting, circa the late 1950s; on how he prepares for a role, and the importance of subtext
Clip begins at: 10:14 - On the intimacy the camera can provide to an actor; on how being an actor informed his directing; on getting cast on Star Trek; on Star Trek producer Gene Roddenberry's description of "Spock"; on "Spock's" make-up
Clip begins at: 18:59 - Part 5
- On his make-up as Star Trek' s "Mr. Spock"; on the reaction of the network to the "Spock" character; on the premise of Star Trek; on how the series was useful as a platform for its writers; on what he was told about lead Jeffrey Hunter's departure following the initial pilot
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the character of "Mr. Spock" and developing his traits
Clip begins at: 12:43 - On precedent of a "Spock"-like character in The Day the Earth Stood Still; on being influenced in his minimalist "Spock" characterization by something he saw Harry Belafonte do on stage in the '50s; on abandoning an actor's "emotion" as a requirement for playing "Dr. Spock" and how playing him affected him personally; on his typical workweek on Star Trek; on Star Trek's "transporter"
Clip begins at: 18:58 - Part 6
- On Star Trek's bridge set; on the show's restrictive budget; on Lucille Ball complimenting him; on the directors of Star Trek and the tight adherence to schedule; on his unfulfilled interest in directing for Star Trek; on comparing Star Trek's short shooting schedule to that of "sister series" Mission:Impossible
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On Star Trek creator/producer Gene Roddenberry involvement during the show's run and vision for the series; on Star Trek writer/producer Gene L. Coon and his idea of the Klingons; on associate producer Robert H. Justman; on the interrelationship between McCoy, Spock, Capt. Kirk; on working with the show's ensemble
Clip begins at: 10:40 - On working with Star Trek co-star William Shatner; on Star Trek's popularity and the network's mismanaging of its timeslot, which hastened its cancellation
Clip begins at: 21:12 - Part 7
- On the Star Trek episode "The Devil in the Dark"; on "Vulcanisms": the mind meld, the Vulcan nerve pinch, the Vulcan salute (and its use in the episode "Amok Time"); on his favorite and least favorite Star Trek episodes; on being Emmy-nominated for each of the three seasons of Star Trek
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On the legacy of Star Trek; on being cast in Mission:Impossible, and how ultimately he found the job unfulfilling; on the premise of Mission:Impossible and on the character he played, master-of-disguise "Paris"; on the cast of Mission:Impossible— Peter Graves, Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, Sam Elliot, and Lesley Ann Warren; on his favorite episode of Mission:Impossible; on the television movie Assault on the Wayne
Clip begins at: 09:12 - On becoming a director at Universal Studios; on feeling typecast as a heavy while at Universal in the early 1970s; on being replaced on creator/producer Gene Roddenberry's pilot Questor (aka The Questor Tapes) in the mid '70s; on directing the Rod Serling's Night Gallery episode "Death on a Barge"; on hosting In Search Of...
Clip begins at: 19:58 - Part 8
- On producer Alan Landsburg's concept for In Search Of…; on starring with Ingrid Bergman in her final performance in A Woman Called Golda; on his disappointment with Star Trek—The Motion Picture; on getting hired to direct Star Trek III; on Star Trek: The Next Generation
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On his experience directing the feature film Three Men and A Baby; on starring in the television movie Never Forget , and its reception
Clip begins at: 11:56 - On his interest in photography; on the ups and downs of fame; on his proudest achievements (including his first Emmy nomination for Star Trek; his Broadway experiences; the reception of Star Trek IV, which he directed)
Clip begins at: 18:02
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