Acting · Boston, Massachusetts, USA · Born March 26, 1931
Leonard Simon Nimoy (March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015) was an American actor, film director, poet, musician and photographer. Nimoy's most famous role is that of Spock in the original Star Trek series 1966–1969, multiple films, television and video game sequels. Nimoy began his career in his early twenties, teaching acting classes in Hollywood and making minor film and television appearances through the 1950s, as well as playing the title role in Kid Monk Baroni. In 1953, he served in the United States Army. In 1965, he made his first appearance in the rejected Star Trek pilot, "The Cage", and would go on to play the character of Mr. Spock until 1969, followed by seven further films and a number of guest slots in various sequels. His character of Spock generated a significant cultural impact and three Emmy Award nominations; TV Guide named Spock one of the 50 greatest TV characters. Nimoy also had a recurring role in Mission: Impossible and a narrating role in Civilization IV, as well as several well-received stage appearances. Nimoy's fame as Spock is such that both his autobiographies, I Am Not Spock (1977) and I Am Spock (1995) detail his existence as being shared between the character and himself. Nimoy was born to Yiddish-speaking Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Iziaslav, Ukraine. His father, Max Nimoy, owned a barbershop in the Mattapan section of the city. His mother, Dora Nimoy (née Spinner), was a homemaker. Nimoy began acting at the age of eight in children's and neighborhood theater. His parents wanted him to attend college and pursue a stable career, or even learn to play the accordion—which, his father advised, Nimoy could always make a living with—but his grandfather encouraged him to become an actor. His first major role was at 17, as Ralphie in an amateur production of Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!. Nimoy took Drama classes at Boston College in 1953 but failed to complete his studies, and in the 1970s studied photography at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has an MA in Education and an honorary doctorate from Antioch University in Ohio. Nimoy served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army from 1953 through 1955, alongside fellow actor Ken Berry and architect Frank Gehry.
MovieSally
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MoviePiece by Piece
2024
as Spock (voice) (archive sound) (uncredited)
MovieTolkien: The True Story of the Rings
2024
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Movie765874: Memory Wall
2022
as Spock (Archival Footage & Face)
MovieWay of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
2022
as Self - (archive footage)
TV765874: Unification
2022
as Spock
TVThe Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
2021
as Self (archive footage)
TVStar Trek: Prodigy
2021
as Spock (voice)
MovieEmily @ the Edge of Chaos
2021
as Sigmund Freud (voice)
MovieMy Brother Vincent
2018
as Self
TVStar Trek: Discovery
2017
as Spock (archive footage)
MovieStar Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
2016
as (archive footage)
MovieFor the Love of Spock
2016
as Self (archive footage)
Movie50 Years of Star Trek
2016
as Self
TVThe Shannara Chronicles
2016
as Spock (archive footage)
MovieTo Be Takei
2014
as Self
Leonard Nimoy's Boston
2014
as Self
MovieStar Trek: The Next Generation - Unification
2013
MovieThe Prime Ministers: The Pioneers
2013
as Levi Eshkol (voice)
Leonard Nimoy's Oral History
2013
as Self - Interviewee
MovieStar Trek Into Darkness
2013
as Ambassador Spock
MovieStar Trek: The True Story
2013
as Self
MovieHava Nagila: The Movie
2012
as Self
MovieZambezia
2012
as Sekhuru (voice)
MovieTransformers: Dark of the Moon
2011
as Sentinel Prime (voice)
MovieClassic TV Bloopers Uncensored
2011
as Spock (archive footage)
MovieBilly Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
2011
MovieStar Trek: Evolutions
2009
as Narrator
TVStar Trek: Evolutions
2009
MovieThe Evolution of the Enterprise
2009
as Self
MovieLand of the Lost
2009
as The Zarn (voice)
MovieBring Back... Star Trek
2009
as Self
MovieStar Trek
2009
as Ambassador Spock
MovieStar Trek: The Captain's Summit
2009
as Self
TVLate Night with Jimmy Fallon
2009
as Self
TVShatner's Raw Nerve
2008
as Self
TVFringe
2008
as Dr. William Bell
TVThe Real Story
2008
as Himself
TVThe Big Bang Theory
2007
as Mr. Spock (voice)
MovieThe Pixar Story
2007
as Spock (archive footage)
MovieStar Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier
2007
as Self - Host
MovieCinemaville
2007
as Self
MovieThe Once and Future Griffith Observatory
2006
as Self
William Shatner in Concert
2006
as Self
Movie40 Years of Star Trek
2006
as Self
TVThe Colbert Report
2005
as Self - Guest
TVBring Back...
2005
as Self
MovieRingers: Lord of the Fans
2005
as Self
MovieRambam - The Story of Maimonides
2005
as Rambam (voice)
MovieReflections on Spock
2004
MovieKiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
2004
MovieBirth of a Timeless Legacy
2004
MovieThe Perils Of Peacemaking
2003
as Self
TVComedy Central Roasts
2003
as Self
HypaSpace
2002
as Self
TVAfter They Were Famous
2002
as Self
MovieThe Making of 'Atlantis: The Lost Empire'
2002
as Self
MovieMind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
2001
as Self
MovieAtlantis: The Lost Empire
2001
as King Kashekim Nedakh (voice)
MovieThe Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood's Scariest Insect
2000
as Narrator
MovieSinbad: Beyond the Veil of Mists
2000
as Akron/ Baraba/ King Chandra
Forging Greatness: Lincoln in Indiana
2000
as Narrator
MovieThe Story of Computer Graphics
1999
as Narrator
TVFuturama
1999
as Leonard Nimoy's Head (Voice)
MovieY2K Family Survival Guide
1999
as Self - Host / Narrator
Rashi: A Light After The Dark Ages
1999
as Rashi (voice)
TVBecker
1998
as Professor Emmett Fowler
MovieA Life Apart: Hasidism in America
1998
as Narrator
The Lost World
1998
as Angus McArdle
TVInvasion America
1998
as General Konrad (voice)
MovieBrave New World
1998
as Mustapha Mond
MovieArmageddon: Target Earth
1998
as Host
MovieTrekkies
1997
as Self
TVDavid
1997
as Samuel
MovieDavid
1997
as Samuel
Davide
1997
as Samuel
MovieThe Great Pyramids
1997
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Harryhausen Chronicles
1997
as Self - Narrator (voice)
MovieMystical World of Ancient Greece
1996
as Narrator (voice)
MovieStar Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
1996
as Self
MovieStar Trek Story
1996
as Self
TVThe Daily Show
1996
as Self - Guest
Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years
1996
TVMuppets Tonight
1996
as Self
MovieWilliam Shatner's Star Trek Memories
1996
as Self
MovieJellies & Other Ocean Drifters
1996
as Narrator
MovieMysterious Spirits of the Mayans
1995
as Narrator (voice)
MovieVirtuosity
1995
as Spock (archive footage) (uncredited)
TVThe Outer Limits
1995
as Thurman Cutler
MovieThe New Explorers: The Science of Star Trek
1995
as Self
MovieBonanza: Under Attack
1995
as Frank James
MovieSymphony to the Planets: Mysteries Beyond Our Reach
1995
as Narrator
MovieScience Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
1994
MovieThe Making of 'The Pagemaster'
1994
as Self (archive footage)
William Shatner: Captain's Log
1994
as Self
MovieStar Trek: A Captain's Log
1994
as Self
MovieThe Pagemaster
1994
as Dr. Jekyll / Mr. Hyde (voice)
TVDuckman
1994
as Leonard Nimoy
MovieDestiny in Space
1994
as Narrator (voice)
Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot
1994
as Host
TVAncient Mysteries
1994
MovieThe Halloween Tree
1993
as Mr. Moundshroud (voice)
TVLate Night with Conan O'Brien
1993
as Self - Guest
TVLate Show with David Letterman
1993
as Self - Top Ten List Presenter
TVStar Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Mr. Spock
MovieSymphony to the Planets: A Star to Call Home
1993
as Narrator
MovieTitanica
1992
as Self - Narrator (voice)
TVMTV Movie & TV Awards
1992
as Spock (archive footage)
MovieThe Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
1992
as Self
MovieStar Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
1991
as Captain Spock
MovieStar Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
1991
as Self - Host
Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories
1991
as Host
MovieNever Forget
1991
as Mel Mermelstein
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Leonard Nimoy (voice)
MovieStar Trek V: The Final Frontier
1989
as Captain Spock
MovieThe Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
1988
as Self
TVStar Trek: The Next Generation
1987
as Spock
MovieStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1986
as Captain Spock
MovieThe Transformers: The Movie
1986
as Galvatron (voice)
MovieAladdin and His Wonderful Lamp
1986
as The Evil Moroccan Magician
MovieSuper Duper Bloopers
1986
as Self
MovieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
MoviePlanets of the Sun
1985
as Narrator
MovieLights
1984
as Greek Nobleman
TVThe Sun Also Rises
1984
as Count Mippipopolous
MovieStar Trek III: The Search for Spock
1984
as Captain Spock / Elevator Voice
MovieLeonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories
1983
as Host
TVMarco Polo
1982
as Achmet
TVFaerie Tale Theatre
1982
as The Evil Moroccan Magician
MovieStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1982
as Captain Spock
TVWogan
1982
as Self
MovieA Woman Called Golda
1982
as Morris Meyerson
TVA Woman Called Golda
1982
as Morris Meyerson
TVT. J. Hooker
1982
as Lt. Paul McGuire
MovieNight of 100 Stars
1982
as Self
MovieVincent
1981
as Theo van Gogh
MovieSeizure: The Story of Kathy Morris
1980
as Dr. Richard Connought
MovieStar Trek: The Motion Picture
1979
as Mr. Spock
MovieInvasion of the Body Snatchers
1978
as Dr. David Kibner
Please Turn the Page
1977
as Self
TVIn Search of...
1977
TVAuf los geht's los
1977
as Self
TVThe Captain and Tennille
1976
as Self - Guest
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
MovieThe Star Trek Dream
1975
as Self
MovieMitzi & 100 Guys
1975
as Self
MovieThe Missing Are Deadly
1975
MovieRex Harrison Presents Stories of Love
1974
as Mick
MovieThe Alpha Caper
1973
as Mitch
TVStar Trek
1973
as Spock (voice)
MovieBaffled!
1973
as Tom Kovack
Film '72
1971
as Self
MovieCatlow
1971
as Miller
TVColumbo
1971
as Barry Mayfield
MovieAssault on the Wayne
1971
as Comdr. Phil Kettenring
TVNight Gallery
1970
as Henry Auden
MovieMission: Impossible - The Falcon
1970
as Paris
MovieMission: Impossible - The Controllers
1969
as Paris
The Barbara McNair Show
1969
as Self
The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
1968
as Self
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
MovieValley of Mystery
1967
as Spence Atherton
TVThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest / Various Characters
Malibu U
1967
as Self
TVMission: Impossible
1966
as Paris
TVStar Trek
1966
as Spock
MovieDeathwatch
1966
as Jules LaFranc
TVGet Smart
1965
as Stryker
MovieStar Trek: The Cage
1965
as Spock
Profiles in Courage
1964
as Burr Jones
TVDaniel Boone
1964
as Oontah
TVThe Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964
as Vladeck
TVThe Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Singer
TVKraft Suspense Theatre
1963
as Lawrence Brody
TVThe Outer Limits
1963
as Konig
TVThe Lieutenant
1963
as Gregg Sanders
You Don't Say!
1963
MovieThe Balcony
1963
as Roger
TVCombat!
1962
as Neumann
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self - Guest
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Virginian
1962
as Wismer
TVSam Benedict
1962
as Insp. Joe Shatley
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Harry
TV87th Precinct
1961
as Barrow
TVCain's Hundred
1961
as Ralph Tomek
TVThe Tall Man
1960
as Deputy Sheriff Johnny Swift
TVTate
1960
TVThe Untouchables
1959
as Packy
TVThe Rebel
1959
as Jim Colburn
TVThe Twilight Zone
1959
as Hansen
TVLock-Up
1959
as Nino Baselicce
TVBonanza
1959
as Freddy
TVRawhide
1959
as Anko
TVThe Rough Riders
1958
TVSteve Canyon
1958
as Control Tower Sgt.
MovieThe Brain Eaters
1958
as Professor Cole
TVSea Hunt
1958
as Vince
MovieSatan's Satellites
1958
as Narab
TVTombstone Territory
1957
as Little Hawk
TV26 Men
1957
TVHarbor Command
1957
as Fred Garrison
TVPerry Mason
1957
as Pete Chennery
TVWagon Train
1957
as Bernabe Zamora
TVWest Point
1956
as Cadet Tom Kennedy
Broken Arrow
1956
as Winnoa
TVThe Man Called X
1956
TVHighway Patrol
1955
as Harry Wells
TVNavy Log
1955
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Grice
MovieThem!
1954
as Army Sergeant
MovieOld Overland Trail
1953
as Chief Black Hawk
MovieZombies of the Stratosphere
1952
as Narab
TVFour Star Playhouse
1952
as Bulloti's Henchman (uncredited)
MovieFrancis Goes to West Point
1952
as Football Player (uncredited)
MovieKid Monk Baroni
1952
as Paul 'Monk' Baroni
TVDragnet
1951
as Julius Carver
MovieRhubarb
1951
as Young Baseball Player (uncredited)
MovieQueen for a Day
1951
as Chief
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter
MovieLeonard Nimoy Demonstrates the Magnavision Videodisc Player
as Self
The Universe & I
as Sherlock Holmes
