Leonard Nimoy To Retire From Acting

For years after the original broadcast of Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy struggled with identification as his most famous character, the half-Vulcan Mister Spock. He agreed to make Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan only on the condition that Spock would be killed off in grand fashion, but the film turned out well enough that he not only reprised the character in the third film, but directed the picture as well. (Quick, what was Nimoy's most financially successful directorial effort? Answer: Three Men and a Baby.)

Now Nimoy has made his final appearance as Spock, in last year's Star Trek, and will make his final acting appearance, period, on an upcoming episode of Fringe. Nimoy says that, after sixty years of acting, he plans to retire for good.

The Toronto Sun spoke to the actor recently, who says that after "countless times" of thinking he was done, this is really it.

I want to get off the stage. Also, I don't think it would be fair to Zachary Quinto. He's a terrific actor, he looks the part, and it's time to give him some space. And I'm very flattered the character will continue. I've been doing this professionally for 60 years. I love the idea of going out on a positive note. I've had a great, great time.

His final acting appearance will be on Fringe, where his character originally came about as a favor to producer JJ Abrams, who revived Star Trek with last year's feature.

Nimoy will appear at Calgary's Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend, but says he has only a few more public appearances planned. He'll concentrate on photography from here on out.