Live long and prosper.  The famous words of Mr. Spock on the TV and movie series "Star Trek".  Actor Leonard Nimoy died of heart disease at the age of 83 at his home in Los Angeles.

Nimoy's "Star Trek" role as the half-Vulcan, half-human Mr. Spock and the series itself lasted only three seasons until it was cancelled because of poor ratings, but the legacy that he and the show left behind is amazing.  The TV series that began in 1966 inspired 12 movies and five additional TV series.  Nimoy appeared in six of the "Star Trek" movies, directing two of them.

The show also had a legion of fans who were almost cult-like.  Known as Trekkies, they'd gather on a regular basis at conventions and conferences dressed in "Star Trek" costumes and among them Mr. Spock was the most imitated.

After the "Star Trek" TV series, Nimoy appeared in the TV series "Mission Impossible" then later had a long run as host of the series "In Search Of....", a show that investigated mysteries like the Loch Ness monster and the disappearance of Amelia Earhart.

Some of his early acting roles included appearances on the old TV shows "Wagon Train,” “Rawhide,” "Dr. Kildare" and “Perry Mason".

Nimoy also wrote two autobiographies, "I Am Not Spock" (1975) and "I Am Spock" (1995).  For many people he was, continued to be and always will be Mr. Spock.

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