The 79-year-old Leonard Nimoy, best known as the actor who has portrayed Spock intermittently from the original Star Trek series in 1966, to his most recent appearance in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek film franchise reboot last year, has finally decided to retire once and for all.
Nimoy told the Toronto Sun:
"I want to get off the stage. Also, I don't think it would be fair to Zachary Quinto," he says, referring to the actor who portrayed a youthful Spock in last summer's smash Star Trek relaunch. "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," he says with a laugh. "I love the idea of going out on a positive note. I've had a great, great time."
"I was away from acting for 12 years, so I guess I was seducable," Nimoy says. "But since J.J. Abrams revived the Star Trek franchise, I felt I owed him something. And I'm glad I did it because he promised me a good story, and it was."
Don't expect to see him in 2012's Star Trek 2, as Nimoy just shot what will be his final appearance as enigmatic genius Dr. William Bell in TV's Fringe.