Leonard Nimoy Says He Is Ready To Retire From Acting (Again)

Leonard Nimoy came out of retirement to appear as Spock one more time in the 2009 Star Trek movie. JJ Abrams was also able to convince him to appear on his TV show Fringe (where he will appear again later this season). However, in a new interview the actor states that these roles are likely his last. Details below. 

 

Nimoy on Trek and Fringe

Recently Leonard Nimoy revealed that 2010 will be his last year attending conventions, so he is doing a bit of a victory lap, appearing at a number of cons throughout the year (including the big Star Trek con in Vegas in August). He has already appeared at the Emerald City Comic Con in Seattle. He will be appearing next at the Calgary Entertainment Expo on April 24th and 25th. He will also be dropping by Vulcan, Alberta, Canada on April 23rd. Promoting his trip to Canada, Nimoy has given a new brief interview to the Calgary Herald, where he talks about his plans to re-retire.

On returning as Spock in the Star Trek sequel, Leonard Nimoy told the Calgary Herald:

I don’t see it happening. I’m comfortable. I’m not glad, I’m not sad. I feel like I’ve had a great ride with the character. . . we started making Star Trek pilots in 1964. I’ve been involved in Star Trek for 44, 45 years. It’s been a wonderful ride for me and it’s been great for my family. We got to do some very interesting work outside of Star Trek because of Star Trek and I’m very satisfied.


Nimoy in "Star Trek" – likely his last time as Spock

As previously reported, Leonard Nimoy will be reprising his role as William Bell on the Abrams/Orci/Kurtzman Fox show Fringe. Nimoy will appear in three or four episodes at the end of the current season. And it appears these episodes may be Nimoy’s last work as an actor. Here is what he told the Herald when asked if his Fringe work would be his last role:

"I certainly hope so," he says with a laugh. "I’ve been doing it long enough, so I hope so. I’ve had a great, great run and I have no unfulfilled dreams or aspirations.

So it looks like that Big Bang Theory cameo isn’t going to happen. But, after a career spanning six decades, this is no surprise. Leonard Nimoy’s recent return from retirement in the Star Trek movie and on Fringe has been a great encore. 


Nimoy as William Bell in "Fringe" – likely his last role

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Okay, fine. Let Nimoy go, then. How about hiring an actor who DOES still want to be involved with Star Trek? *coughWilliamShatnercough*

Enjoy retirement, Leonard. I’ve say you’ve earned it!

I mean “I say you’ve earned.”

go out with a bang (and make an appereance on BigBangTheory)…

Yes, but if a time comes, say a year from now, when Abrams begs Nimoy to come back for only 3 or 4 days of filming in order to provide a critical cameo appearance in the next Trek film……would Nimoy necessarily say no?

Not that money matters to him anymore, but think about it….Nimoy could provide his family with an extra million dollars or so by simply agreeing to having “one busy week” when he’s 80! Nice work if you can get it!

I say he has earned it. I’ve been a Star Trek fan for 10 years and I say he is one of the most talented actors on there but….Mr. Nimoy, I know I never got to see you in person but I will tell you this. You will always be Spock in my world. Nobody can change that and nobody will! :)

Well, I am grateful this fine man came out of retirement to reprise Mr. Spock for one last quality turn. Nimoy is such a large part of what that character has become these past 5 decades that he should be content as to where he is leaving Spock in 2010, i.e. a man with many possibilities ahead him.

I wish Mr. Nimoy the best, and thank him for being a positive influence on my own life as Spock. Live long and Prosper.

Peace and long retiremnet but before you go please please do the big bang theory its one of the best sit coms

He’s always made the right choices in his career. If this is his choice, we will grudgingly accept it.

Best in all things, Leonard! As long as you enjoy them.

Oh, and an early “Happy Birthday!”

Mr Nimoy, all I can say is thank you so much
for giving us so much of yourself after all these years.
as long as I remember I have enjoyed and admired you as
an actor and a person. Thank you so much or
being a big part of my life.
I will miss you in the future will always have the past.
Alex Aslanidis

Perhaps there is hope. He said he didn’t want to act… that there wasn’t a “role” he hadn’t had a chance at.

However, portraying himself… such as many want on Big Bang… seems to be a convenient escape clause. Almost Kirk-Spockian logic there, too!

Nimoy seems so content and peaceful, He is a wise man and I wish him well in all his future days.

To J.J. Abrams,

Here’s an idea. If Leonard Nimoy is indeed retiring from acting and from Fringe after these episodes, you might want to ask Zachary Quinto to guest star as a younger version of William Bell, perhaps in flashback sequences or maybe even a time travel situation.

Just a thought…

Rich

I think it would be cool if Mr. Nimoy was in the Star Trek sequel, helping out the alternate Vulcans.
Please no Shatner though.

Well, if anyone’s earned the right to take it easy, it’s Mr. Nimoy.

I’ll still miss him, though. :(

@13: That’s one of the more awesome ideas I’ve heard this month.

Mr. Nimoy is a one in a billion. Zachary Quinto does a passable Spock but he can never replace the original. The way Mr. Nimoy speaks and carries himself, especially in his younger years on TOS are some of the things that caused myself and possibly others to like TOS so much.

I think that is what kept me from enjoying the new Trek movie, it was missing the interplay between the characters, mainly Kirk, McCoy, and Spock and the feeling that these characters cared for each other.

Thank you Mr. Nimoy for the memories.

If Abrams needed Mr. Nimoy for the sequel my gut tells me he would be there. He has said as much in the last few months.

Being away from acting has never slowed Nimoy down from other artistic pursuits like writing and photography, so I just wish him the best in those. Keep yourself busy, Mr. Nimoy, and we’ll all peek in now and then to see what you’re up to. Live long and the other thing.

Fool me once Nimoy, shame on you

Fool me twice Nimoy, shame on me.

in other words, i don’t think your retiring.

Just about every actor or singer who ‘retires’ ends up coming out of retirement. They are actors and they crave the spotlight! Where I wish Leonard the best in his future ‘retirement’ it would not surprise me if he did a bunch of cameos before his time is up!

He’s a total class act- polar opposite to teh Shat.

Well if I know any actor who has earned his retirement it’s him, but…..no nimoy :( ? I would still love to see him in the sequel.

Either way, I will always admire Leonard Nimoy. I wish all Hollywood’s actors would look to him as as an example for what it means to have class.

Your fans will always love you, Leonard. God bless you, with whatever decision you make on retirement.

It was great to see the original Spock up on the screen one more time. Sorta made me misty.

Having said that, I sure could understand him wanting to bow out and get away from all the Star Trek craziness. 4 to 5 decades of dealing with nutjob fans should be enough for anyone.

Reminds me of a certain quarterback who used to play for my beloved Green Bay Packers. Although in this case, I’ll welcome back Mr. Nimoy any time he wants to un-retire again!

I have enjoyed his appearances at the Star Trek Conventions held in Las Vegas. If this is to be the last year he will appear, I will miss his stage conversations. He is very entertaining.

I just hope he will continue to come to las Vegas. It is near hsi home and he is very respected and welcomed by a large number of Star Trek fans.

Gosh I’m going to miss him so much! he deserves retirement and all, though, who are we to keep him from that. he’s getting old and tired, and there is nothing that can be done to stop that. :(

you know, I always thought that Nimoy as Spock seemed different than Quinto as Spock. Nimoy’s portrayal of Spock almost made Spock seem more caring, a bit nicer and more likable. Quinto’s job was good too, still the same, he just made Spock seem to be a bit more…well….like, cocky or stuck up. Not too much, don’t get me wrong, it was good too.

Never cared much for Shatner, but Nimoy going is going to be sad. We never know though, he just might be back…

It is very sad to hear he will leave us again…the last 18 or so years since his appearance on NEXTGEN.. made me realize my youth was done…
only having SHAT stay around and the occasional SULU apperance here and there kept the memories of TOS alive…I totally block GENERATIONS from my head….they might as well have shot Kirk in the back..as meaningless as that storyline was….

anyway blah blah blah….I will miss you ….but at least I can watch my seasons 1,2, and 3 i just purchased on bluray…..
Live LOng and Prosper…and an early happy birthday!!!

I have a Photo Op ticket for the Trek Con in Chicago in October…

Could be the last time Nimoy appears at ANY convention.. Still debating on the Christopher Lloyd photo op.

GO ME!

i understand spock want retired. he is too old you know let him rest and do something else.

aw, crap

Never say never, Mr Nimoy. When they re-boot the re-boot in about 30 years they will most likely be giving you a call!

Until then thank you so much for all of your work, but mostly thank you for Spock and all of your Trek work. To say its been wonderful to have been a fan is such an understatement!

I don’t know if you read the TrekMovie boards, Mr. Nimoy, but like everyone else, from the bottom of my heart: Thank you. You’ve been a part of all our lives for so many years through not only Spock, but through your many other wonderful roles on screen and stage, through your photography and through your genuine care and concern for your fans. Your last hurrah as Spock in Trek XI demonstrated that admirably, by passing the torch and the ears to Zach Quinto in as classy a manner as you did.

God bless you, Mr. Nimoy, and may you find contentment in retirement.

Good luck on your retirement, Leonard. Live long and prosper!

Best wishes to Mr. Nimoy. Thanks for all the fabulous Treks!

Enjoy your retirement, Leonard (well, until that next big role/pay day come around).

:)

Live long and prosper, Mr. Nimoy, and thanks sooooo much for everything!

Leonard…. Say it isn’t so!!

See, Leonard Nimoy knows how to appeal to the masses. Always leave them wanting more! Unlike another Trek veteran who won’t go away for 5 minutes!

Go out on top, Leonard Nimoy!
Enjoy retirement, and live long and prosper.

Thanks for the lifetime of work you’ve created for us (and all the generations after) to enjoy over and over again.

Your portrayal of Spock in the new Star Trek film was the brighteest spot in a film that was filled with them. Your conversation with “young” Spock had to bring a tear to the eye of any longtime fan (along with a few new ones). If this is your final curtain as an actor, You certainly did it your way!

He doesn’t like cameos, so I doubt we would see him in that capacity in Trek. Remember Generations …. he said “There was a character called Spock, that had a few insignificant lines…” or something very similar, when asked why he wasn’t in it.

I think it’s a sign that its time to bring the Shat in for the next movie. I don’t think it should be a big roll like Nimoy had, but something along the lines of what they planned out for the first film would be fitting I think.

*60 years of applause* lol
Really though. Thank you, good sir.

Live long and prosper Mr. Nimoy.

i still hope he returns. i can just see the interviews now. “i really thought i was done. but then jj called and there was bill so i thought why not”. Or an unannounced return. all the hype would be on bill and leonard could turn up to do one last scene

While he may be missed by not being in films anymore, he willnot be forgotten by us fans. I will have to spend the money for his photo op & autograph at the Vegas ST CON.

Mr. Nimoy’s breadth of work is certainly one for the ages. When I retire I hope they can say: “Look at all that he did!”

Thank you Mr. Nimoy.

The fantastic Mr. Nimoy deserves a bit of peace and quiet after the past year or so, but I’d love to see him back someday in the future.

Peace and Long Life.

I’m curious to hear what jj, bob and alex think of this. Wondering if this may change their thought process regarding nimoy in the sequel or would they write a role and ask anyway? They definitely cannot write a role as important as this movie where they “couldn’t do it without him”. However if it was a role that you could easily remove, then it probably would not peak Leonard’s interest anyway. Yet i recall jj saying he couldn’t see a trek movie not needing nimoy.

he can go into retirement when he’s done appearing on Big Bang Theory !