From Far Beyond The Galaxies

Leonard Nimoy's film debut came in 1951 with a small part in "Queen For A Day."

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Nimoy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1931. When he moved to Hollywood he took acting classes and attempted to lose his Boston accent.

It's a good thing he lost that accent, too. Can you imagine Mr. Spock saying, "That's Wicked Pissah, Cap'n!" or "Live long and prospah."

Instead, Nimoy's portrayal of the logic spouting half-Vulcan/half-Human in "Star Trek" from 1966 to 1969 has become the stuff of legend and earned him three Emmy nominations.

Mr. Spock (his full name is unpronouncable) was born to a human schoolteacher from Earth, Amanda Grayson, and the Vulcan diplomat, Sarek. As such, he was torn between his human emotions and his Vulcan quest for logic. Of course, Dr. "Bones" McCoy (Deforrest Kelly) was always quick to point out his Vulcan attributes, green blood, pointy ears, while Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was quick to note the humanity of the halfbreed.

Spock was the first Vulcan to enlist in the Federation Starfleet and in 2265, as lieutenant commander, was named first officer and science officer under Captain James T. Kirk aboard the USS Enterprise NC-1701-A.

Nimoy also portrayed Spock in six Star Trek movies, two of which he directed, "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock" (1984) and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" (1986).

Nimoy also has credits for story-writing "Star Trek IV" and "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" (1991) and as Executive Producer for "Star Trek VI."

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry once called Nimoy "the conscience of Star Trek."

Nimoy's connection to the role of Mr. Spock has been so ingrained in the hearts and minds of fans that he even published a book entitled "I Am Not Spock" (1977). In the book he discusses how he does not introduce himself as Mr. Spock, but that letters sent to "Mr. Spock, Hollywood, CA" manage to find their way to his mailbox. Also discussed is the mixture of hope and expectation that fans have when they meet him. To what extent is Nimoy acting in the role of Spock and how much of Spock truly exists in Nimoy's "human" form?

An accomplished actor, Nimoy's portfolio extends beyond the reaches of the science-fiction realm of Star Trek. He directed "Three Men And A Baby" (1987). Television appearances in "Wagon Train," "Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Rawhide," "Perry Mason" and "Mission Impossible." On Broadway in "Equus" and "Vincent," an acclaimed one-man stage-show portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh. He has authored several collections of poetry, an autobiography and books on photography. Movie credits include "Deathwatch" (1967), "The Balcony" (1963) and his first lead role in "Kid Monk Baroni" 1952. He has lent his distinctive voice as narrator to the television series "In Search Of," "Ancient Mysteries" and "The Coral Jungle" (Australia). He narrated "Destiny In Space" (1994) and the documentaries "Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years" (1996) and "A Life Apart: Hasidism In America" (1997). He also starred as the voice of the King Of Atlantis in Disney's "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" (2001).

Lastly, and most Highly Illogical of all of his endeavors, Nimoy released a series of musical albums with many songs directly and indirectly relating to Star Trek, Mr. Spock or science-fiction in general.

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Still It Can't Be Found

David Hasselhoff played the role of Bill "Snapper" Foster on "The Young And The Restless" from 1975 to 1982.

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Next came the role of Michael Knight in "Knight Rider," where his co-star came in the form of an intelligent, robotic Trans-Am from 1982 to 1986.

After "Knight Rider" was cancelled, Michael made the best of his fluent German to establish himself as the "Most Popular and Best Selling Artist of the Year" in Germany. I'm not exactly sure if that's supposed to be a big deal or not.

In 1989, "Baywatch" came into existence. "Baywatch" became the single most popular television series in the world, watched by an estimated audience of one billion viewers and catapulted Hasselhoff into the position of "Most Watched TV Star" by the Guinness Book of World Records.

For my part, in the handful of times I have watched "Baywatch," I have never once noticed Hasselhoff.

So much for Guinness.

Looking For Freedom stormed to the top of the German charts in 1989, and there remained for eight consecutive weeks as Germany latched onto the song with fervor as the Berlin Wall was leveled. The album of the same title went gold and triple platinum in Europe. It also became Germany's number one selling album of the year. Again, I'm not sure if that's a big deal or not.

The estimated 1 million revelers must have gone completely "verrückt" at the New Years Eve, 1989, concert on top of the Berlin Wall at which Hasselhoff performed.

In 2000, Hasselhoff took the lead role in "Jekyll & Hyde" on Broadway.

Does all of this success somehow seem unjustifiable to you? Well, it has been submitted that David Hasselhoff Is The Anti-Christ.

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While The Dew Is Still On The Roses

Andy Griffith offered Jim Nabors the role of bumbling gas station attendant Gomer Pyle on the "Andy Griffith Show" and he soon became a series regular.

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Nabors would continue to play the part of Pyle when "Gomer Pyle USMC" was spun off on a five year run of its own.

In fact, Nabors played the part of Gomer Pyle so well that it's hard to think of him without the image of Gomer Pyle springing to mind.

As you listen to this song, however, Jim's rich baritone voice will likely drown out memories of Sarge screaming, "PYLE!"

After his stint as Gomer Pyle, Nabors hosted his own variety show, "The Jim Nabors Hour." He also appreared in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" with Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton and in "Stroker Ace", he was Burt's ace mechanic and Loni Anderson's confidant. He also made a cameo appearance in the star studded production of "Cannonball Run II."

He also played an android in Sid & Marty Kroft's "The Lost Saucer" with Ruth Buzzi and their half-dog/half-horse pet, Dorse. This show is not to be confused with "Far-Out Space Nuts" featuring Bob Denver.

Nabors released 28 albums, 5 of which went gold, and 1 platinum.

Nabors underwent successful liver transplant surgery in 1994.

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Don't Forget Who's Taking You Home

Despite the fact that ABC network executives wanted to give the role of David Addison in "Moonlighting" to a more experienced actor, Bruce Willis got the gig opposite Cybill Shepherd.

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The show aired for four years with high ratings and won Willis won an Emmy in 1987 and a Golden Globe.

Willis' role as detective John McClane began with the first of the "Die Hard" movies in 1988.

After the 1990 sequel to "Die Hard" and the bad career decision voice-over role in "Look Who's Talking" Willis salvaged his flagging career with the role of Butch Coolidge in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 cult classic, "Pulp Fiction."

He went on to star in "Nobody's Fool," "Die Hard: With A Vengeance," "Twelve Monkeys," "Fifth Element," "Armageddon," "Unbreakable," and "The Sixth Sense."

In 1998, Bruce and his wife of 13 years, Demi Moore divorced.

Willis remains as one of the stars who continues to hold a stake in the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain.

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When I Was...

When he was thirty-four, William Shatner was cast in the second Star Trek pilot episode as Captain James T. Kirk.

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When he was thirty-eight, the series aired the last of its mere 79 episodes.

When he was fifty-two, Shatner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in front of Mann's Chinese Theater.

Trekkie or not, Shatner is uniquely identifiable as the Captain of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A and by the dramatic delivery of his lines.

Today, at seventy-one, Shatner is the spokesperson for Priceline.com and still writes, directs and acts in addition to making appearances on the Star Trek convention circuit.

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