Shatner Shares Nimoy Memories
2 min read
William Shatner was stuck in Florida and unable to make it back in time for Leonard Nimoy’s funeral, but he was able to memorialize Nimoy in a Twitter online session with Star Trek fans.
Nimoy’s funeral took place at 9 AM PT in California, the same time Shatner asked fans to celebrate Nimoy’s life with him online.
“I asked if you all would be interested in celebrating Leonard’s life today,” said Shatner. “Why don’t we reconvene at noon ET/ 9am PT and begin.”
Fans were encouraged to use the #LeonardNimoy hashtag.
First, Shatner made a few comments about his friend, and then he began answering questions from Trek fans. “Leonard and I seemed to be bound by fate to be friends,” said Shatner. “We were born four days apart.”
“He was tall, lanky, and sometimes a bit too serious.
“We worked together previous to Star Trek, first impressions: nice guy, a real professional, took the job/role seriously.
“You all know the bike story, I still get emails from fans asking if I still have the bike.” (He doesn’t, but wished that he did.)
One fan asked what was his favorite memory of Mr. Nimoy. ” Every moment I spent with him,” replied Shatner.
When asked what Nimoy was like off the set, Shatner said, “Intelligent, insightful, just a precious gem of a man.”
Shatner told another fan that the life lesson he learned from Nimoy was “to be more serious. I think he learned to be less.” But Nimoy’s seriousness made Shatner laugh, and when Nimoy was in character as Spock, Shatner tried to rattle him. “He took the role of Spock very seriously and I would try and get him to crack a smile while in his persona. It was hard to do.”
Fans may remember the Shatner roast, and the fact that Nimoy wasn’t there. Shatner explained that Nimoy “felt it was inappropriate” and that “he didn’t want me to do it.”
While Spock was “serious” and “practical,” said Shatner, “unlike Spock” he was “very warm and loving.” The best thing that Nimoy ever said to him, said Shatner, was “I love you.”
Shatner encouraged fans to “remember him and his work.”
Returning to L.A. yesterday afternoon, Shatner will no doubt visit Nimoy’s family, who will be sitting Shiva in the Jewish custom. Due to Jewish customs dictating a rapid burial, far-flung family members often can’t get back in time for the quick funeral, but are expected to show up for the Shiva, which is not unlike a wake, with people bringing food to the bereaved family and offering comfort for their loss.
To read more of the Twitter memorial, head to the link located here.
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That is both the greatest and most true billboard in human history
I love it that the billboard assumes we know that face and that hand signal mean “Live long and prosper.” How cool that Spock has penetrated popular culture to such a degree!
It’s a wonderful billboard and a lovely memorial for a wonderful man.
I think I lost a role model without ever realizing I had one. I think I’d like to be a man like Leonard Nimoy, should I ever finally become one: well-rounded, and at peace. A man among men, adhering to the traditions of his fathers while embracing present and future.
Thanks for reporting this. I did not know Nimoy considered Shatner’s Roast “inappropriate”!
His tweets about Leonard were very sweet. It’s a shame that some people, strangers to both Shatner and Nimoy, felt the need to give him a hard time about missing Leonard’s funeral service. You can tell he really cared for his friend and I hope Mr. Shatner is coping well with this loss. It was very nice to see him open up about his feelings to his fans via Twitter.
Sitting shiva is when people come over with a casserole they made and you put it in the refrigerator and then three weeks later you throw it out. At least that was our experience.
I agree. It was mostly people who hadn’t worked with Shatner, and maybe didn’t even know him, hurling insults at him. They were no kindly jabs. (The exception was Takei, who said the nastiest things of all.) Roasts are supposed to be friendly and fun. Shatner’s roast wasn’t.
That roast was vile.