Leonard Nimoy lost his battle with the lung disease COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) on Friday morning at his home in Los Angeles, according to The New York Times. He was 83.
The "Star Trek" actor, best known for his role as Spock, checked into the hospital earlier in the week complaining of "severe chest pains." His last public comments came on Twitter, posting two pieces of poetry. He signed off with his signature "LLAP," Live Long and Prosper, his trademark quote from the sci-fi series that made him famous.
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP
— Leonard Nimoy (@TheRealNimoy) February 23, 2015
Nimoy had revealed his COPD diagnosis last January. He credited his years of smoking to the disease despite the fact that he quit 30 years ago. He urged his 1.1 million followers to "quit now!"
The third "Star Trek" movie in the current J.J. Abrams-directed series of films is set to begin filming this spring, and Nimoy was rumored to reprise his character as Spock Prime alongside his former co-star William Shatner as Captain Kirk. The film is set to premiere on July 8, 2016. Nimoy starred as Spock Prime in 2009's "Star Trek" and 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness."
The "Star Trek" franchise will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. The original series created by Gene Roddenberry, starring Nimoy and Shatner, premiered in September 1966 on NBC.
