Leonard Nimoy | The Complete "Pioneers of Television" Interview | Steven J Boettcher

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Leonard Nimoy talks about his early days in television and his iconic role of Spock in this never been seen full, unedited interview.
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Television’s beloved stars bring their stories to life, offering insider tales and surprising revelations you won’t hear anywhere else. The Emmy-nominated producers of Pioneers of Television open the vault to give you exclusive access.
#PioneersofTelevision #CelebrityInterviews #LeonardNimoy

[@4thdoctor284]

In his final months Leonard began "adopting" fans as his grandchildren. You can't beat that. '

[@mikematei]

I saw him at a photography show in Philadelphia in the early 2000s. I got there very early so I was the first person in front of the podium where he spoke. Because I was directly in front of him, he locked eyes with me for much of it. I know he was speaking to the room, not just to me. But at moments it certainly felt that way. He was doing a speech about his photography work. The speech was about everything, life, the meaning of things. I wish I had it on tape. One of the most memorable experiences of my entire life. They say "don't meet your heroes". Well, in this case, he lived up to everything you would want and then some. Legendary.

[@walkietalkietraveller2932]

i think that story makes a lot of us envious, Mike. :)

[@bethannfeng5062]

Wow, what a blessing.

[@winny4765]

Leonard Nimoy will live forever, as will last our admiration.

[@YAMISOOLD2009]

I always come to the conclusion that I like Leonard Nimoy. I remember actually crying when he died. Surprised me when I did. But there is just something so solid and authentic about him. Thanks for posting this!

[@Spiritdove64]

Not only did Leonard Nimoy die but Spock died for me. 50 plus years I love him and his character. Watched him in all his shows.. No other actor have I ever followed this way from his art and other avenues.. Wonderful life and wonderful memories truly missed

[@sirequinox4874]

He gives credit to someone else for helping him find the key to the Spock character. A lot of actors would not have done that. That is humility and honesty.

[@iancroft1447]

That was the Director of the ep The Corbomite Maneuver-Joseph Sargent

[@KeyboardBuster]

He gives credit fully and willing with nothing to gain by doing it because he isn't a self absorbed Canadian named Bill shatner.

[@rjrnj1]

The reason this show resonated with us is because it inspired hope. We were exposed to people who valued working out problems, not just blasting through issues, and the love and respect between the characters kept us enthralled. Hope. 😍😍

[@MelanieSales]

That was an awesome interview. He's definitely a one of a kind actor and missed very much. RIP

[@renerpho]

"Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory." When I hear him share those great memories, I can't help but think of this Nimoy quote. His last (public) words, I believe.

[@j4jools292]

Hi last Tweet. After his passing I bought some items from his Shop LLAP. One of those was a T shirt with this quote on it.

[@bbordelon2]

He was a class act, all the way around. The clarity of his recollections were most inciteful.

[@tommyriam8320]

His 'recollections' _incited_ you? To what extent? lol " _insightful_ "

[@clarafedde8674]

Truly an amazing man. Star Trek wouldn't be the same without him. Even the president said he loved him.

[@vinista256]

Which president?

[@xavierbalzola863]

Such a brilliant...brilliant man...writer....producer...musician.....and by all accounts a very kind man....he is so missed....thank you Lee...you were one of the best

[@allenjones3130]

I'm glad Nimoy agreed to this interview. It was great to see him as he really was.

[@hawlikd]

I liked him as the protagonist in the film "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" in 1976.

[@quewalabear8575]

When I was in Iraq I ordered the whole series of Mission Impossible from Amazon and binged watched on my down time, from start to finish. I became a vicariously nostalgic fan of Martin Landau's work on Mission Impossible. I thought he was cool as ice that had been dropped down a few extra degrees. Very cool. "Special Guest Star" status on EVERY episode even though he was a regular who was in EVERY episode for the first three years. How cool is that? But I gotta say, when Nimoy came in as Paris, I understood how both those guys went in for the role of Spock and Nimoy got the job. Nimoy is just THAT better. I mean, as far as CONVINCING acting Nimoy just took the great "type" that Landau was doing and did it BETTER. I was shocked almost from the very beginning. Martin was never bad at what he did. I still think he was cool. But Paris just did everything better. I don't know how...but he did it. The only thing Landau could do better was do "angry" better. IF you wanted someone to go from zero to pissed off in a hurry, Landau was it. Other than that, if Landau had been Spock, I just don't know if we would have Star Trek today. PROBABLY would, but Spock would not be as iconic a character, I think.

[@ZulcanPrime]

The character of Mr. Spock resonated with me because he was a half-breed alien and human who was stuck in a starship full of dysfunctional individuals set in the future who needed to resolve conflict without killing each other. Leonard Nimoy starred in an episode of Get Smart as a spy who wore sunglasses and had short hair. It was a very short scene but noticeable.

[@dallassukerkin6878]

Ever a pleasure to spend some time with this fellow. I know it must have irked him to forever be Spock but that character really did have a big impact on a lot of people, including me!

[@djquinn11]

Yes, that character is the reason I became a Vulcan.

[@wasabiginger6993]

@@djquinn11 … how’s that going?

[@tulinfirenze1990]

Actually he came to terms with it in later life.

[@pamm8608]

Great interview. I love his last sentence. Want to get back to good story telling and good performance.

[@robynzelickson6164]

Absolutely, a perfect statement for those times, and even more so for today. With the addition of more and better CGI, actors hardly need to know how to act and writers hardly need to know how to tell a good story.

[@davidcarlin3850]

Leonard is clearly struggling to breathe here due to emphysema. So glad he was able to give his time. RIP

[@latsnojokelee6434]

Yeah, sadly years of smoking.

[@musicauthority3516]

I don't know what interview you were watching. he wasn't struggling to breathe.

[@deejayimm]

@@musicauthority3516 I wouldn't say he was struggling to breathe but you can definitely hear him wheezing.

[@LazarusStirs]

Yeah I noticed it too.

[@robynzelickson6164]

@@deejayimm yes I felt that he was struggling a bit, especially towards the end of the interview. Not sure how far along in his journey with COPD he was at this point, but I guess the signs were beginning to show themselves. RIP Mr. Nimoy you and your talent are sadly missed 😔 💔

[@geraldparker7008]

He was a great actor and is missed,but thankfully we can still enjoy his talent and way of bringing a character to life.

[@pastorjimwalls5924]

I was born in 1966 and grew up in the 1970's as a die hard Trekkie. My mom was as well. I also loved the TV show ' Fringe ' and he was excellent as Dr.William Bell.

[@leet7489]

He has always seemed so humble

[@lisamongelli743]

Wonderful interview. Leonard Nimoy is a pleasure to watch. He is so natural and down to earth. Thank you for your dedication to your kraft and all the hours of pleasure your hard work and sacrifice brought to all your Fans.

[@ThatCreditGuy1]

Wonderful man, great actor and a genuine person. It’s amazing the detail he recalls from many years past. RIP Leonard.

[@howardbabcom]

The 'too much candy' statement towards the end is very apt. Good story and good performance are critical, as his own work shows.

[@indranidasgupta8982]

In the end, though, they did a bang up job on the ears! His face looked great with them on and the truly alien feel of Spock was born. This is such a great interview! Thank you so much for uploading it. He is deeply missed 🖖🏽

[@brianmoore5498]

i recently discovered these;fascinating interview. mr. nimoys math puts this around 2005. i always wondered if leonard had been an acting teacher. He seems like a teacher and he highlighted that star trek valued education, which made me tear up. It did do that, and they all worked hard. Mr. Nimoy gave a damn and it showed.

[@fluffibuni8663]

A wonderful interview, had me smiling all the way through ... but by the end I had a nostalgic tear in my eye :-)

[@hawlikd]

Being an actor is a tough gig, not for the faint of heart.

[@francisphillips53]

He was perfect as the host of “in search of” this show, and Star Trek were my favorites as a youngster in the 70s.

[@debrabaum2020]

I just finished reading I am Spock I loved it I couldn’t put it down I love Leonard Nimoy plus all the old Star Trek s

[@ulrikebohn9115]

I read this book now at the Moment. I like it very much, I read it in english and in german, which is my mother language. This book is full of live, liveliness. Then thinking of his dead eight years before and i must cry. But I can't stop reading. I like also his talk with mr Spock, so i also want to read I am not Spock.

[@jonbongo2508]

I love his interviews no matter what they are about it doesn't make any difference because they're all fascinating LOL

[@stevenmay2937]

great show. great cast. thats why it lasts..

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Leonard Nimoy is one of the most intelligent actors I have ever seen and followed. He had a multi-faceted career and a unique talent to analyze what was being done by him and those around him. That, in my view, resulted in a great depth of understanding of the characters he played and enabled him to create and evolve the characters themselves over time. Quite amazing (or even "fascinating"). I don't think we see this same depth of skill in many other actors of today. He is truly a treasure to remember. ~ VK

[@henryrogers5500]

The Star Trek movies that came years after the TV series don’t hold the faintest candle to it. The TV series was a fantastic production effort with brilliant acting, shot in psychedelic color!

[@LazarusStirs]

Really couldn't disagree anymore with that assessment. Star Trek 2 is perhaps one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Star Trek the motion picture gets almost no credit but I feel that also is an absolutely amazing sci-fi film. Star Trek 3 and Star Trek 4 are also solid efforts. At least when it comes to the Star Trek films with the original cast, I think there was maybe only one dud In the whole bunch.

[@henryrogers5500]

@@LazarusStirs I probably shouldn’t have dismissed the movies that followed the way I did. They were all worthy efforts. I guess in my case, it’s a matter of preference and subjective taste.

[@marthaworc7873]

Leonard Nimoy was a very intelligent man and an extremely nice man as well. What a combo! Total class act, but it was not an act. He is missed.

[@vanmoody]

I owe Star Trek a bit. The first movie I took my girlfriend who became my wife was Star Trek 3. Perhaps that movie sealed the deal down the line.

[@FluteLoops59]

Leonard Nimoy presents Mr. Spocks Music from Outer Space..1967..my brother and I would listen to that album all the time...

[@cathleanjohnson675]

RIP Mr.Nimoy, just watched an old eppy of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" and both he and William Shatner were in it.

[@4CardsMan]

His performance in a Gunsmoke episode foreshadowed Spock.

[@schntgaispock5878]

You are dearly missed!

[@DavidRLentz]

Leonard Nimoy, through Cmdr. Spock, saved my life. I am not being hyperbolic or dramatic. In my mid-adolescence, I had begun experiencing difficulty with my respiration whilst sleeping; well, far worse than that: as I was in a deep sleep, my breathing would taper to nothing! I had the sense that I was awake, though I was not breathing! And for all my effort, I simply could not inhale at all! Worse still, I could not move the slightest bit! I remember Mr. Spock in one episode of Star Trek (TOS) fought with all his will to heal a life-threatening injury. And a few hours on later, to rouse himself from this self-induced torpor. (I later had learnt that this was "A Private, Little War", a second season episode.) I quickly adapted this, emulating the Enterprise's first officer. I invoked all my will to resume breathing. But not the faintest gasp, not the slightest movement! I then tried to move. Nothing. I strove to work a muscle. Still nothing. I went to the small, anticipating that it would be easier. I opened my upper eyelids--and everything instantly restarted! My respiration suddenly came in a great, deep inhalation. I began trembling in keen fear. I nearly started crying. I searched my mind for some sense of understanding; I asked God what this could be (that had proved silently unavailing; another time for that). In terror at the prospect of this horrific experience returning should I fall back to sleep, I sat up in bed; and with the light of a small torch (the batteries were low, so the illumination to my relief was modest), I read a book. This occurrence repeated several times thereafter, each tremulously terrifying! I had asked my mother, a registered nurse, about it. She had dismissed it as psychosomatic. I had found this deeply exasperating. Even then I had known enough about words to realise that in the context if a dualistic culture that saw only in terms of opposites, *everything* would derive from both poles of the construct. I since have learnt that this is a sleep disorder; specifically, central sleep apnea, which is a disruption of the neural current between the central nervous system and the diaphragm, of unknown etiology (that is my definition, which I years on had shared with my pulmonologist; he replied that it still was true). Incidentally, this in contrast to obstructive sleep apnea, which as one falls asleep the flesh of the throat drops to constrict the airway. I occasionally experience this condition. I have learnt to interdict it before it fully ceases respiration. Even so, it still is frightening enough that I cannot return to sleep for several hours.

[@steverachelmorisette8805]

Maybe a combination of sleep apnea and sleep paralysis.

[@DavidRLentz]

@@steverachelmorisette8805 , central sleep apnea is a pathological manifestation of sleep paralysis (itself a natural component of sleep physiology).

[@455buick6]

What an actor and such a great human being, he's certainly missed, live long and prosper 🖖

[@JoeBilello1969]

I'm in the middle of watching the original series again and I thought I'd listen to some interviews, which I've never done before.....EVER.

[@keithbrown4683]

I have much respect 4 this man,and he earned every bit of it.👌

[@ivytaylorsversion8315]

Wonderful! Thank you

[@billp4]

I believe you meant, Fascinating!

[@kennethwofford4489]

Marvelous! What insights this man had to his craft! Just overwhelming!

[@ralphgilbert23]

He had a great sense of humor.

[@crystalheart9]

I know he wanted to be known for more than just his Spock character but by gosh he made that character epic like no other. His looks also suited spock so well and I loved his pointy ears along with the eyebrows and hair style. He made it all so believable, it didn't look like makeup and someone pretending to be a half vulcan half human.

[@dennismason3740]

Stories, Leonard, good stories in addition to all that you mentioned.

[@laurencemartin2797]

I really enjoyed this!!!

[@vassa1972]

Good stuff loved him

[@michaelg6926]

Always a class act, and of course cerebral.

[@markmadonia2867]

When I heard he passed I cried for 3 days!

[@mikshinee87]

I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.

[@j4jools292]

Not wanting to sound melodramatic, but I was devastated.........felt like I'd lost Family. Seven years on and I still can't quite believe that he's gone.

[@lisarollinson5186]

He's not dead

[@daniellamcgee4251]

​@@lisarollinson5186 Death is a reality that helps us appreciate being alive.

[@craighoover1495]

Thank you.

[@neilforbes416]

Not a word uttered about his role as presenter on the late 1970s "In Search Of...." documentary series.

[@tommyriam8320]

He just read some words into a mic from a lame script handed to him moments before recording. This gig represented little more than a paycheck to Nimoy. Don't 'let him' convince you otherwise.

[@corycooper7179]

It's funny... people just don't seem like there sometimes? What's wrong with thanking you folks for doing such a wonderful job keeping the memories alive! You guy's &( gals) are doing the work that God knows,if it weren't done this country would completely forget? Thank God for your hard work and the wonderful Mr.Words hard work. God Bless you'all.

[@andrewwilliams9599]

Fantastic interviews. Now please--can someone fix the misspellings in the title captions?

[@martcrins]

A wonderful actor and a wonderful human being, i loved startrek the original series, and the startrek movies the interaction between the actors so great.

[@deborahklinlger8565]

During the interview he did have some breathing difficulties. Good interview. I use to watch it on TV & I had seen the films too. The day I brought my first child home from the hospital, I binge watched Star Trek the whole day.

[@marsrideroneofficial]

I always see him as Namor the submariner, if he were to play that character because of his hair and physique in the Star Trek original series.

[@Mark.G475]

I can see that!

[@lisarollinson5186]

Thanks for the spiritual awakenings in the land of fantacy

[@tbecker97204]

*"Live long and prosper"*

[@chuckcalkins5184]

Leonard was on an episode of Perry Mason

[@curtisrobinson7962]

In my memory, so was Robert Redford.

[@bobcorrin4037]

I love LuCY

[@rlk54]

Leonard Nimoy is sorely missed as Spock. The other actors playing Spock do not come near it.

[@joemartino6976]

I have always believed that the Spock character was heavily influenced by another iconic character.....Sherlock Holmes. Both, in character and appearance (minus the ears and green skin). Anybody agree?

[@MuzixMaker]

And minus the needle.

[@ZulcanPrime]

Yes, indeed! I noticed this too when I watched a few movies about Sherlock Holmes.

[@lapislazuli7876]

@@ZulcanPrime I don’t think he’s inspired by Holmes. But what I see is that he is a character who by his sheer use of logic, like Holmes, could solve problems. Spock is by nature a sci-fi detective of sorts but his literary lineage isn’t really Holmes. He is more mythological in nature than Holmes and extends the genre much further. Spock is more philosopher-scientist whereas Holmes is about clues. There is a different angle there but certainly both characters use logic as the driver for their characterisation.

[@duffmiver2636]

In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Spock says, “An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” That’s a line from Sherlock Holmes. In the Star Trek universe, Holmes is Spock’s great-great-great-great-(or so) grandfather through his human mother.

[@privatename3621]

Why don't they ever put the date when these videos were filmed or recorded or when they were first broadcast? It's kind of infuriating to know know if this was recorded in 2012, 2006, 1996 or whatever.

[@lisabevans8107]

It was about 2008 or 2009.

[@dcanmore]

2011 according to IMDB

[@Unknown17]

I read an interesting analysis that claimed that together, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy make up the three main parts of every man. There is inside all of us a man of action, who thinks first of fighting and attacking and of sexual encounters; a man of thought and reason, who is calm, dispassionate, and logical; and a man of deep feeling, who is concerned with morals and the human condition--someone who ACTS, someone who THINKS, and someone who FEELS. Each one of these on its own cannot make up a well-balanced person. You need all three at any given time to overcome a difficult challenge. The interplay between these three parts of one man--the three characters on the show--is what has made the show so interesting to me over time. How will we overcome this powerful alien or this tremendous challenge? Through the interplay of action, of thought, and of feeling. The show worked because it is psychologically truthful and valid.

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

Great man . In those days American actors had character and charisma . Today's crop ? I've seen better actors and acting on ' Thunderbirds Are Go ' . Now then , that Ms Penelope , nice .

[@blastmasterparker6358]

tbirds rok

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

@@blastmasterparker6358 That's true . Their vehicles do tend to move about a bit .

[@lelandthomosoniii4743]

From Boston

[@lelandthomosoniii4743]

Fascinating

[@lelandthomosoniii4743]

I'm surprised he didn't mention that he used to mow the lawn for Lloyd Bridges to get his name around and get some ideas of where the jobs were

[@strats991]

Great interview but there's a major typo in one of the title slides; at 7:19. You spelled "Shatner" as "Shanter"! That would need to be fixed.

[@craigrussell7542]

Also a title card that says "Star Treck".

[@AruanDrako]

Shatner can take being called Shanter. Some would say he had it coming lol

[@palerider964]

@@AruanDrako only sgaf would say that.

[@frankyw8803]

Why ? even you understood it ...

[@deejayimm]

He had a five-year contract on Mission Impossible..... A 5-year mission.......................

[@rajrammbbs]

RIP Mr. N.

[@ashtonsmith5065]

ST was the first show that had an alien star that didn't want to conquer us, kill us, eat us....that in itself was fascinating! And intriguing. And a lot of us fell madly in love with the alien WHO DIDN'T LIE! I was 13 that premiere night in 1966 - and everything Spock was as a being was exactly the kind of man I wanted to spend my life with someday. BTW - I never found him IRL. And also BTW - Spock lied quite often, no matter WHAT he said as Spock Prime to his young self in AOS - he intimated, he inferred, he...blah blah. He lied his backside off!!

[@TubenIt83]

Good interview but the title card at 7:15 has a typo. It's supposed to be "SHATNER" not "SHANTER"! The card at 12:15 should say "STAR TREK", not "STAR TRECK"!

[@dennismason3740]

Ha - his last line - "...good storytelling...". That's what happens when you listen and type at the same time.

[@Homeschoolsw6]

13:48..." enjoyed watching as a team "

[@brians9508]

wow that very last couple of sentences he said - writers and directors these last 5 years have really missed out on the truth of what he says there

[@MauriceOrtiz-ut8yi]

Still missed.

[@devcybiko]

Who edited the title cards? Because OMG the spelling errors!

[@GraceofGod247]

Ayy Xenanort himself

[@bubashalom8274]

We miss you, you're such a good actor; why not do a show on the bible mysteries? Just a thought Shalom

[@deejayimm]

As much as I love him he lost me when he started trying to explain how hard acting is. Try roofing, or bricklaying, or demolition work, or a lot of factory work. The guys who delivered your washer and dryer work harder than he did. I'm not saying it was easy, I'm just saying it's all about perspective....

[@tommyriam8320]

I've always found the physical aspects or challenges, if you will, of labor much easier to deal with. Relying on brawn rather than brain was far less taxing on the system than the work I've been called upon to do that primarily if not near constantly drew upon one's mental, intellectual and emotional powers.

[@romanchomenko2912]

Leonard Nimoy parents came from Ukraine

[@Mark.G475]

Cool Ukrainian Jews.

[@RedVynil]

Nothing about his 4 Outer Limits episodes??

[@marthaworc7873]

Nimoy played a great Indian, John Walkingfox.

[@pllinc7014]

William SHANTER @ 7:20?

[@lucasgroves137]

Disappointed he didn't mention _Get Smart._ 😄

[@hamyankee9343]

The ears: That shows Hollywood’s perpetual misunderstanding of America.

[@lisarollinson5186]

Live in Christ sweetheart

[@ashtonsmith5065]

Misspelled word - Star Treck and Social Issues.

[@eagerlawncare3700]

Why some people loved star trek is because it gave them the opportunity to explain away God with science .. at least for a while .. the Mormons are all over it

[@MrStefanDittrich]

STAR TRECK ?

[@prenticehammond2003]

12:20 Star Treck???? Really!! Sorry, repeating others.

[@nomdeplume7537]

The bit about the ears, and the marketing people, afraid that due to Spock's pointed, ears people in the Bible Belt South might lose their shit, because he 'looks like a devil' They had no idea if that would happen. They were projecting their perception, and stereotyping those in the South with their own bias. More issues of -isms, -ists and -obes are created in the mind of the perceiver. That shit still happens. Imagine then, let's say the show wasn't watched, because it sucked. Despite no evidence, it would have reinforced their perception of people in the South. You can't just NOT watch something, because it's not good. The only reason must be because, you're discriminating against something or someone. No one just puts out poor content. It's easier to soothe your ego, if you can blame someone else.

[@landztranz]

Star Treck??? Somebody needs to learn how to spell.

[@bobkrohn8053]

Did he have false teeth?

[@tommyriam8320]

Seems everyone does these days. It's unsettling. Even those who didn't really need them at least not a whole mouth full where a strategically placed implant or two would have sufficed

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Social justice?

[@lisarollinson5186]

No he isn't that's a lie

[@spacemanski]

This video is sloppy - Shanter, Star Treck... The inter-titles are an embarrassment