Review of "Leonard: My Fifty Year Friendship With A Remarkable Man" by William Shatner and David Fisher

This book, written shortly after Leonard Nimoy's death, is a tribute to the actor by his long-time friend William Shatner. The two men had similar backgrounds, both being born in 1931 and raised in Orthodox Jewish immigrant families. Shatner grew up in Montreal and Nimoy in Boston, and they shared a similar upbringing and work ethic - knowing they needed 'the next job, the next paycheck' to keep a roof overhead and food on the table. Even as a kid Leonard took every job he could find: selling newspapers, working in his cousin's card shop, shining shoes, setting up chairs for the Boston Pops....anything to make a few bucks.


Young Leonard Nimoy

*****




Young William Shatner

Both Shatner and Nimoy started acting as eight-year-olds: Shatner in the Dorothy Davis School for actors and Nimoy in a small theater in the Boston settlement house where he lived. In 1949 Nimoy chose to forego college and travel to Hollywood to become an actor, a decision that left his parents bereft - "An actor? It's not a profession for a nice Jewish boy." Shatner went to McGill University for a few years, but quit and headed for New York to further his ambitions.


Leonard Nimoy with his mother

Both Shatner and Nimoy took numerous parts - small and large - to learn their craft, and the book contains details about their various roles in theater, television, and movies. As a young man Nimoy even acted in Yiddish Theater. I understand Yiddish and would have loved to see this. LOL










Leonard Nimoy had a variety of roles

*****










William Shatner had a variety of roles

Early in his career Leonard was often cast as the bad guy, a crook or a gangster. He also played a boxer, a football player, and a Martian zombie - which was good preparation for Star Trek. In 1953 Leonard joined the Army Reserve, where he worked as a military entertainment specialist during his two year enlistment.

By the 1950's both Shatner and Nimoy had married and started families, which made it even more imperative to hustle up as many jobs as possible - since temporary acting gigs didn't pay much. Leonard improved his craft with acting lessons while working continuously, and in time became an acting coach himself. Shatner didn't take acting classes, but instead "learned by doing."




Leonard Nimoy's family

*****




William Shatner's family

Of course Star Trek was a big break for both thespians. When Gene Roddenberry was developing Star Trek in the 1960s, he pictured Spock - who was originally supposed to be half-human, half-Martian - as a 'tall, lean, Lincoln-ish character who was highly intellectual, conveyed a sense of serenity, and had an internal struggle.' Later, Spock was changed to half-human, half-Vulcan.


Star Trek was a big break for Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner

In contrast to Leonard's dark, brooding Spock, Shatner's Captain Kirk was a blonde, hazel-eyed firecracker who was always running, jumping, fighting the villains, and getting the girls. Roddenberry filmed two Star Trek pilots, and the second one - starring Kirk, Spock, and the iconic crew - was picked up. The rest is history!

The character of Spock became an immediate sensation and Shatner admits he was jealous (at first) when Nimoy received the most fan mail and media attention. Still, there wasn't too much room for complaint because the entire show benefitted from Spock's popularity. Spock's two famous trademark moves - the Vulcan neck pinch and the Vulcan salute - were created by Nimoy himself. The neck pinch was first used in lieu of bonking someone in the head (which would not be Spock-like behavior); and the Vulcan salute was adapted from a gesture used in Orthodox Jewish religious ceremonies. Of course the salute, known all around the world, is accompanied by the phrase: "Live Long and Prosper" (LLAP).


Vulcan neck pinch


Vulcan salute

While filming Star Trek - which first aired from 1966 til 1969 - Nimoy became a functioning alcoholic. He started drinking heavily during the second or third season, perhaps in part because of tension between himself and the studio - which was controlling and cheap; and because the work left little time for his family - which resulted in estrangement from his wife and children. In any case, Nimoy's drinking continued for decades. It wasn't until Leonard's second wife convinced him to talk to someone from Alcoholics Anonymous in 1989 that he finally stopped drinking.


Leonard Nimoy and his second wife Susan Bay

When the original series ended, Nimoy - wanting to demonstrate that he was more than just Spock - went on to do many other jobs. He starred in the television series Mission: Impossible; toured in plays like Fiddler on the Roof and The Man in the Glass Booth; appeared in musicals such as Oliver, Camelot, and My Fair Lady; made the film 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'; and more. Nimoy also wrote and starred in the play Vincent - based on the story of Vincent Van Gogh - and this was one of his proudest achievements. Besides all that Nimoy became a director, a professional photographer, a poet, an author, a singer, and a public speaker.


Leonard Nimoy in 'Mission Impossible'


Leonard Nimoy in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers'


Leonard Nimoy in 'Vincent'

Shatner also continued his very successful career, but I'll skip that here.

In addition to his professional achievements, Leonard became an activist. He participated in Dr. Martin Luther King's Poor People Campaign; emceed local telethons for charities like United Cerebral Palsy and the March of Dimes; and got involved in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Shatner and Nimoy sometimes appeared at events together, to support each other's favorite causes.


Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner made charity appearances together

Though Shatner and Nimoy did many other things, Star Trek was far from finished. Conventions popped up around the country, and were important money-makers for the cast and crew. Because Shatner and Nimoy got top billing at these gatherings they were able to make demands: Shatner insisted on hot tea and Leonard demanded a pint of Häagen-Dazs coffee ice cream in his dressing room (yum). The conventions led to spin-off series and movies.....and a lifetime of involvement for Shatner and Nimoy. (If you're interested, Shatner's books, Star Trek Memories and Star Trek Movie Memories provide comprehensive overviews.)




Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner appeared at Star Trek conventions

Over the years Shatner and Nimoy became more than professional colleagues.....they became close friends. The two actors enjoyed talking and joking together, and were notorious for playing practical jokes on each other. They also helped each other through difficult times, including their divorces; career concerns; the accidental drowning of Shatner's third wife - who was an alcoholic; and family difficulties. For many years Leonard was estranged from his son Adam, who drank and took drugs. Father and son reconciled - and worked together - before Leonard's death.




Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner were friends as well as colleagues

Nimoy was a heavy smoker for decades, and this caught up with him in later life. In 2014 Leonard was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His voice became raspy, he developed breathing problems, and he eventually relied on an oxygen tank to aerate his lungs. When Leonard died from COPD in 2015, millions of people mourned him.



Shatner and Nimoy had a falling out a few years before Leonard died, for reasons that are unclear. However, Shatner notes: "I think about Leonard. I miss him. I can close my eyes and see him, young and handsome, tall and taciturn. I hear his voice in all its richness, infused with endless curiosity; and the sounds of his unhappiness as well as his laughter. LLAP my friend, my dear dear friend."



I echo that sentiment. Wherever you are, Leonard Nimoy, LLAP.

This book provides a quick summary of the lives of both Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner. I'm a big Star Trek fan and I enjoyed learning a bit about the lives of these two fine actors - who helped make the phenomenon such a huge success. 

Rating: 4 stars