Leonard Nimoy, Spock on 'Star Trek,' dead at 83

Actor Leonard Nimoy, who won fans worldwide for his generations-spanning role as the pointy-eared half-human half-Vulcan Mr Spock in the Star Trek television and film franchise, has died at age 83.

Nimoy, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, died yesterday at his home in Los Angeles. His granddaughter Dani announced the death on his Twitter account.

"He was an extraordinary man, husband, grandfather, brother, actor, author - the list goes on - and friend. Thank you for the warm condolences. May you all LLAP. Dani," she wrote, using the acronym for one of Spock's most famous sayings -- "Live long and prosper."

In his last tweet, posted Monday under his handle @TheRealNimoy, Nimoy himself said, "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP"

Tributes quickly poured in from castmates, other actors, fans and the science community.

"I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love," said William Shatner, who played the hot-headed Captain James T. Kirk on the ground-breaking Star Trek, which debuted in the 1960s.

"Certainly he was a brilliant actor. But he also believed in working collaboratively," George Takei, who portrayed Mr Sulu on the sci-fi show, told CNN. "Leonard was also a very dear friend."

"Rip Leonard Nimoy. So many of us at NASA were inspired by Star Trek. Boldly go..." the US space agency said on Twitter.

Born in Boston on March 26, 1931 to Jewish immigrant parents from what is now Ukraine, Nimoy left for Hollywood at the age of 18, winning a sprinkling of small parts in 1950s television series.

With his squared jaw and serious features, Nimoy worked his way into showbiz playing cowboy characters and lawmen before he found a niche that would last a lifetime in science fiction flicks.

In 1966, he was cast in his greatest role as the ever-logical Spock, in the television show Star Trek. Aboard the spaceship USS Enterprise, science officer Spock and its crew ventured around the galaxy exploring new worlds in death-defying odysseys.