‘Star Trek’ Icon Leonard Nimoy Dead at 83

Actor Leonard Nimoy, who will forever be remembered as Mr. Spock from the classic “Star Trek” series, died on Friday morning at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. He was 83.

Nimoy's wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his death to the NY Times, saying he died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Nimoy had announced he was suffering from the disease last year and said it was because he had been a longtime smoker before giving up the habit three decades ago.

Nimoy's last tweet was both poignant and heartbreaking:

According to the Times, Nimoy was teaching a Method class in the '60s when he was cast as Spock, the intellectual and inscrutable Vulcan known for his pointy ears, mind melds and Vulcan greetings such as “Live long and prosper.”

“Star Trek” debuted in 1966, and although the show had a rough start in the ratings, it grew to cult status, making Nimoy and co-star William Shatner as Capt. James T. Kirk, stars and eventual sci-fi icons.

Shatner posted a tribute to his friend, writing, "I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love -William Shatner."

Nimoy, however, had issues with his famous alter ego, writing two autobiographies, one titled, “I Am Not Spock,” published in 1977, and the other, “I Am Spock,” published in 1995.

In the first, he wrote, “In Spock, I finally found the best of both worlds: to be widely accepted in public approval and yet be able to continue to play the insulated alien through the Vulcan character.”

Director J.J. Abrams revived the “Star Trek” film franchise in 2009, giving us a prequel of sorts to the “Star Trek” characters. Zachary Quinto was cast as a young Spock, and Nimoy made a cameo as an older version of the same character. Mr. Nimoy also appeared in the 2013 follow-up, “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Nimoy was known as a director, as well, helming two of the Star Trek movies, “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (1984) and “Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” (1986), which he co-wrote. He also directed “Three Men and a Baby” (1987).

The actor's voice was well known as the narrator of the hit TV docu series “In Search Of…” and most recently the History Channel's “Ancient Mysteries.”