There would be no Star Trek without Leonard Nimoy. At least, not the franchise as fans know it and love it. With the start of a new golden age following the franchise's latest releases, Nimoy's legacy as Spock continues to be pivotal.
However, Nimoy was also busy behind the screens of The Original Series and Trek movies, like the documentary For The Love of Spock shows. While it's been seven years since the actor's passing, his impact lives long and prospers, from gender equality activism to artistic endeavors.
He Answered Fan Mail With His Family
Back in the '60s, no one was aware of the massive impact the Vulcan First Officer would have on pop culture. When The Original Series started airing, Spock was suddenly in the spotlight, becoming the main reason for the Trek show to be extremely popular.
Because of that, after a magazine accidentally published the actor's home address, the Nimoy family started receiving tons of fan mail, all because of the beloved character. In For The Love of Spock, Nimoy's son recalls that the whole family helped him answer the letters, which illustrates the wholesome commitment Nimoy had to his fans.
He Released Several Musical Albums
Leonard Nimoy didn't have a Vulcan harp, but he had a guitar, and he knew how to use it. Far from limiting himself to his acting job, no matter how popular the show was at the time, the actor explored other artistic endeavors. That led to the release of albums such as Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy, The Way I Feel, and Highly Illogical. Not only did he write and sing songs, but he also featured in the hilarious music video of his most famous song, The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.
He Fought For Pay Equity On Behalf Of Nichelle Nichols
The Original Series remains one of the most progressive TV shows of the 1960s for pushing anti-war plots during the Vietnam war, having a diverse cast, and including mini-skirt costumes, which was relevant for the women's rights movement at the time. Despite the gender equality in space, outside the Enterprise the reality of the entertainment industry for actresses was harsher than it's nowadays, and Nichelle Nichols was paid less than her male co-stars.
Leonard Nimoy disagreed with the disparity fighting for Nichols to get paid the same regardless of gender. According to Walter Koenig (who played the iconic Pavel Chekov), when Nimoy learned about it, he made "the front office" correct her salary. Like Spock would agree, gender equality is a matter of logic, and Nimoy used his influence to fight for it.
He Created The Vulcan Nerve Pinch
It's hard to imagine what Spock would have been like if it wasn't for what Nimoy brought to the character. Among contributions like playing the Vulcan restrained and using a Jewish symbol as the most memorable salute in the franchise, the actor also invented the Vulcan nerve pinch.
In an interview with CBC, Nimoy explained that a particular script included Spock hitting the villain on the head with his phaser. However, Nimoy found the move too "Western" and reminded the director that the character was an alien, so the possibilities were endless. He then suggested a more subtle attack, one in which he applied pressure on the neck of the villain. This explanation shows how well the actor understood Spock and added brilliance to the portrayal.
He Wrote Poetry
Besides acting, music, directing, and photography, Nimoy explored the poetry field, publishing several poems over the years. For The Love of Spock features an interview where Nimoy discussed his poem "I May Not Be", in which he said he might not have been the "brightest" or the "best", but "one thing" he could do better than everyone else was to be himself.
In his last tweet, Nimoy shared this poetic message: "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP". Like Spock's poignant quotes, the actor made sure to write words of hope and inspiration in his lifetime.
He Slept In His Dressing Room In-Between Jobs
Afraid of following the same path as other actors who ran out of money after a popular TV show, Nimoy accepted all paid appearances while he was also filming Star Trek. That meant he traveled back and forth from the West Coast to the East Coast, as he recalled in For The Love of Spock.
Because of the tight schedule in-between jobs, the actor slept "a time or two" on the couch of his dressing room before he could start another day of work. Nimoy's work ethic is praised by people who met him, with this fact showing precisely why.
He Sued Paramount (And Won)
Spock told many jokes in Star Trek, but Leonard Nimoy's lawsuit against Paramount was not a fun pun. The studio used Spock's image for years without the actor receiving his fair share of the deal. Because of that, he sued the company at the same time Paramount was interested in making the first movie of the franchise.
Given the feud, Nimoy refused to read the script for The Motion Picture, one of the best Trek movies of all time. However, since the studio knew they couldn't make a movie without Spock, both parties settled the dispute, with Nimoy receiving his fair share of royalties and playing the emblematic Vulcan on the big screen.
He Fought For His Co-Stars To Be Part Of The Animated Series
It's not by accident that Gene Roddenberry used to call Nimoy "the conscience" of the show. When he wasn't playing the ethical Vulcan on the screen, the actor's strong sense of morality paved the way for diversity to remain a constant in the franchise. After TOS, Nimoy and a few other members were invited to voice their characters in The Animated Series, but Nichelle Nichols and George Takei weren't.
Nimoy "refused to do Spock" unless his co-stars were hired, and so they were. This wholesome fact encapsulates the kind of professional Leonard Nimoy was behind the screens, an actor who played a logical alien, both inspirational figures.