Showing posts with label tributes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tributes. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

To Me She's Royalty: A Tribute to Carrie Fisher

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On December 27th, Carrie Fisher passed away. Though she was best known for her role as Princess Leia, Carrie Fisher was also an accomplished author and outspoken mental health advocate. Her legacy will live on, and we'd like to share just a small portion of her legacy: how she's impacted us.


Jaime Heller
A week ago, my co-worker looked at me and said, “Brace yourself. Carrie Fisher died.” And I stared at him in mixture of confusion and shock. My brain could only think “What?” But he nodded and said, “They just confirmed it.” And it hit me. She died. I sat there in silent thought. When Leonard Nimoy and Christopher Lee died, an overwhelming sadness hit me. And when Anton Yelchin died, I was just angry. But with Carrie Fisher, I just felt hollow. I could hardly believe it was true. I knew she had been hospitalized a few days before due to what was reported as a massive heart attack, but I thought she would pull through. But she didn’t.

Her death made it feel like the world was missing something, and it was: her. This beautiful, loving woman not only inspired generations of girls and ladies, but she was an advocate for people with mental illness. She was also a writer, which hit home with me when I found out. She wrote several books and was also a script doctor for numerous films. In many of the pictures I saw circling social media in the hours and days after her death, one thing caught me: she always looked like herself. She didn’t seem to hide her faults or problems. She looked like she was having fun with life, whether that was on the set of Star Wars or at movie premieres with her mother and daughter or flicking off the camera while hugging Mark Hamill. I know she wasn’t perfect, and she wasn’t always happy, but she was--and is--still an inspiration. She didn’t let her troubles get the best of her. She kept fighting, just like Princess Leia kept fighting.


Through her own life and her famous Star Wars character, she taught me--and many other ladies--that women can be strong and smart. They can fight for what they believe. They can take action. She built a legacy that changed cinema, storytelling, and lives. And I think that’s one legacy worth remembering.

Carrie Fisher was many things, and I will miss her bright smile in this world. But she has definitely given me hope.


Andrea Wiesner
To be honest, I am at a loss for words. Someone I've looked up to my whole life is gone. I know I didn't know her personally, but I also know how much she still meant. To me and to millions of other little girls over the years. My heart aches for her family and close friends right now. And I guess all I can say to them is... "Thank you. Thank you for sharing her with the world. And our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time."


Bethany Baldwin

I was shocked when I heard the news that Carrie Fisher had passed away. Only a bit before, my brother and I had joked lightheartedly about 2016 with a touch of wariness. Obviously, the year has little to do with death, but the many personal and celebrity deaths I’ve experienced in 2016 can belay that point a bit. But it couldn’t be Carrie Fisher who died. She was still comparatively young, the same age as my father. Her daughter is only a few years older than me. No, it couldn’t be Carrie Fisher. And the next day my grief grew at the news that Debbie Reynolds, the mother of Carrie Fisher passed away. Both of these women were a huge part of my childhood and stars of beloved films that I’ve watched over and over again. I’m not ashamed to say that I cried. I don’t know a lot about either of these women’s personal lives. I do know Carrie Fisher was an advocate for mental health, something more people need to consider, but I didn’t personally know them. Because of this, I had people think my grief was foolish. Why cry over someone you don’t know? But why not? Why not cry over every lost life and for every person who is grief stricken? I’m crying for Billie Lourd and Todd Fisher. And I’m praying for this family. Carrie Fisher was a perfect Princess Leia. She was special. She was both a damsel in distress and a capable warrior. She will always be our princess.


H. Grace
Where to even begin? I hated that we lost so many celebrities this year, however, my grief never went further than feeling sad for a couple of days and moving on. But Carrie? I'm grieving that loss. I sobbed when one of my friends texted me the news that she was gone. And to lose Debbie Reynolds the very next day made it worse. I've always wanted to meet Carrie and Debbie and now I'll never have the chance.

Even though I didn't grow up watching Star Wars, in fact, the first time I watched the movies was when I was nineteen and visiting my grandma--we watched the original trilogy on VHS (which somehow made the experience better), I still knew the basic story and admired Princess Leia. While I was nineteen when I first actually watched the movies, I remember being about ten years old and watching parts of A New Hope with a friend when my parents were out of town one weekend and my babysitter didn't care what I got into. Yeah, I was a real troublemaker. But I was so impressed by the scene where Leia is supposedly getting rescued by Han and Luke and yet totally takes over and doesn't sit around letting them do the shooting and daring escapades. I'm still not sure if I had a crush on Leia or was just blown away by her badassery. (Both. Both. Both is good.)


And then The Force Awakens came out and my princess had become a general. A clearly grieving, hardened general, but underneath still the feisty princess I loved so much as a little kid. Carrie Fisher herself had changed, coming out about her mental illness and her addictions and affairs. I loved her still, for her vulnerability, her refusal to conform to Hollywood's standards, and her continued badass attitude.

(source)

Carrie, dear, thank you. Thank you for being our princess, our general. Thank you for being you, unapologetic, wild, bold YOU. Thank you for giving us Leia. Thank you for making me realize that princesses don't have to be weak or dumb. We can shoot too. We can lead armies and defy the ones that want to crush our spirits. You showed me that women can be strong and yet feminine.

I could go on forever, but I'm crying again. Farewell, General Organa.


Jamie Stewart
When you're a little girl playing Star Wars with your brother or neighborhood kids, you HAVE to be Leia. Like, she's the only girl so that's your choice. Backyard playtime dynamics weren't always so progressive that you could be whoever you wanted to be. So thank god that that one girl character you could play as was fierce. Thank god she was powerful and a leader. Thank god she was "bossy" and smart and funny and compassionate. And thank god we got to see her thirty years later, still all of those things. Still a role model.


As little girls we were princesses and as women we are generals and senators.

Carrie Fisher meant the world to so many fangirls and we must honor her by living our lives not without fear, but with it and doing whatever the hell we wanted to anyway.


"Stay afraid, but do it anyway. What's important is the action. You don't have to wait to be confident. Just do it and eventually the confidence will follow." -Carrie Fisher

Sky Destrian
I've dreaded writing this all week because I still can't really believe she's gone. And even then, what do I even say?

I remember appreciating Leia when I was younger, but I wish I had appreciated her even more. She was sassy, gorgeous, funny, strong, smart... she was everything. She was a well-written, badass, role-model female character in a time where those types of characters were very, very rare. In the way she portrayed Leia, Carrie changed the game for all of us. She paved the way.

I love how these pictures both show two sides of her personality.--(first picture source)

Carrie Fisher was one of the most incredible women the world has had the honor of knowing. She was a role model for generations of women. She taught us that we could be strong and classy. She taught us not to put up with anything, to not take no for an answer. She did this not only in her role as Princess Leia, but in her real life as well. She was a tireless advocate for mental health, and she was unapologetic in her opinions and her femininity. It didn't matter what other people thought. She just didn't care.


Carrie Fisher is now my role model. On-screen and off, she taught me to fight hard for what I believe in, to take a stand for what's right. I will forever be grateful for the impact she had on me as a human being and the impact she had on the world with her influence and activism. She was incredible. She was a shining star. She went too soon. And she will be greatly missed. Thank you for all you did for us, Carrie. Thank you so, so much. You have done everything you needed to do, and now we will carry on your work--I promise.

(P.S. - She drowned in moonlight, strangled by her own bra. ♥)

Please feel free to leave your tribute to Carrie Fisher in the comments.

Monday, June 27, 2016

I Can Do Zat: A Tribute to Anton Yelchin

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On June 19, 2016, Anton Yelchin died at the age of 27. Known best for his role as Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films, he will be missed by many.

(source)

Anna Gensimore
I absolutely loved Anton Yelchin as Chekov and pretty much everything else I've ever seen him in. He had an easygoing manner on screen and off that made it seem like he'd be easy to get along with in real life. Often my favorite actors are the ones who seem just like normal people that happen to be passionate about their craft. When I researched more about his background, the fact that he was indeed one of those humble few became evident.


I'm not even going to pretend that I have something profound to say about this tragedy. Things like this always feel unreal; Anton shouldn't have died that night. His Jeep had a recall; how many times does that happen and we barely have time to get it looked at? There's something that's quite disturbing about someone so close to your age passing away in a freak accident. It could have happened to any of us. Anton Yelchin seemed to be a genuinely sweet guy who had an awesome career already and an even brighter one ahead of him.  This year is full of crap. I hope that his family is able to gain some sense of closure and peace through this trying time.


Jaime Heller
On June 19th, a friend sent me a link with the headline "'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin Dies in Fatal Traffic Collision," and my heart dropped in my chest. I had no words, no reaction. I just stared at my phone in disbelief. It's an odd feeling, I think, to hear about a celebrity's death. I didn't know him, but I felt like I knew him--or at least knew him enough that it affected the rest of my day and most of this past week.

When Leonard Nimoy died last year, I was so full of sorrow that the world had lost such a legend. But with Anton Yelchin's death, I'm full of anguish--even anger--that his life has been cut so short. I only saw him in four films. His name might be recognizable due to his appearance in the Star Trek films, but that is it. He didn't get the chance to become a legend like Leonard Nimoy. He didn't get to become the rising star everybody said he would be.


I didn't realize how much it had affected me until I sat down to write this. Tears sprang into my eyes, and I felt foolish. I didn't know him. I'm not his family or his friend--I can't possibly understand the devastation they must be feeling right now after losing someone they hold so dear. The countless tweets from other celebrities I read over the past week were touching. Perhaps he wasn't known that well by the world, but he was still known by many people in the Hollywood scene. I adored him as Chekov in both Star Trek films (and I achingly look forward to seeing him one last time in Star Trek Beyond). I thought he was spot on as Kyle Reese in Terminator Salvation, and it's that movie that made me realize how wonderful of an actor he was. He played such a different character than Chekov that I saw his potential. And he was just as good as Ian in Only Lovers Left Alive. I wish I had seen more films starring him. I wish I had been one of the people to care more. But his short time in Hollywood still made an impact, and he will not be easily forgotten. So maybe he did become his own type of legend.


Mirriam Neal


Sky Destrian

It's hard to figure out what to say about Anton Yelchin and his death. I was shocked and saddened when I heard the news, and even now as I write this, I feel like crying. Anton's life was a bright shining star that was cut short all too soon. Though I haven't always liked aspects of the Star Trek reboots, Anton Yelchin's take on Chekov was one of the few things that I loved. He always brightened my day, and he was a ray of sunshine. It breaks my heart that he couldn't brighten the world longer. All I can say is this: he will be deeply missed. Rest in peace, Anton. Thank you for all you've done.

Bethany Baldwin
I never knew much about Anton Yelchin. I only saw him in the Star Trek films, but those were enough to reveal to me what a talented young actor he was, and I wish I could have seen more of his career before now. So many deaths have happened in my life recently. My grandmother in November, my favorite furry friend in January, and several celebrities who have been a part of my life without even knowing it. Most of these deaths have been understandable. Old age and sickness are natural enemies of the body. Anton Yelchin, however, wasn’t old or sick. He was a young man with a promising career that was sadly cut short. Some are likely angry at this, while others are contemplating life and death and the way the world works. But in death it is always best to celebrate life.


Anton Yelchin instantly endeared the character of Chekhov to me with his probably legit Russian accent. Whenever I think of Star Trek and of him, I think of his character excitedly proclaiming “I can do that!” when he has to beam someone up. The actor proved that he could do a lot of things. I’ve seen numerous thoughts posted from so many actors and directors praising not only his acting talent but also the sweet and professional person that he was. Without any evidence of fake sympathy, each person professed a deep admiration and true sense of loss at the news of his death. Anton Yelchin has not left behind a world of enemies, and I believe that he will be remembered for many years. Better than making a thousand films and winning endless awards is the legacy of being loved by many for the person that you are, and from all that I have seen, Anton Yelchin could say “I can do that.”


Please feel free to leave your own tribute to Anton Yelchin in the comments. 

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Always: A Tribute to Alan Rickman

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On January 14th, Alan Rickman passed away from pancreatic cancer, leaving behind an impressive filmography and a world that will greatly miss his presence.


Galahad Strange

I was very young when I was first introduced to Alan Rickman. Eleven years old—same as a young Daniel Radcliffe and Harry Potter—when I met Professor Severus Snape. In the books by J.K. Rowling, Snape is described as a greasy-haired, hawk-nosed man with an oily voice, who instantly takes a disliking to Harry. Alan added something else to Severus Snape: an air of mystery and elegance and just plain cool, delivering lines with easy grace mixed with sarcasm. At eleven, I may not have liked Snape, but I could not deny that Rickman was…special.

When I got older and started to look at the people behind the characters on the screen, I began to formulate a theory: behind the best villains onscreen are some of the best human beings the world of film and performing arts has to offer. Alan Rickman was no different. Those who knew him describe him as the consummate English gentleman: polished, courteous, and elegant. But they also describe him as warm, funny, gentle, and wise—and free with his wisdom. To the youngsters the world now knows as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Alan Rickman was mentor, advisor, and example, going above and beyond even after Harry Potter ended. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) has said that Alan came to see everything he ever did on stage in London and New York, and he didn’t have to.

Alan Rickman was a wonderful, warm, generous man. A master in his field, but he was more than that. Friend, brother, godfather, uncle…and a face and voice beloved by thousands.

Goodbye, Alan. We will hold you in our hearts forever.


Sky Destrian

One week ago, the first news I saw when I woke up was that Alan Rickman had passed away. As the news sunk in, my eyes filled with tears. Though I hadn’t seen very many of his films, I’d always known that Alan Rickman was a very special person.

I knew Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility, and though I haven’t ever seen Harry Potter, I knew him as Severus Snape. But most of all, I knew him as the voice of Marvin in Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. A lovable yet completely pessimistic robot, Marvin impacted my subconscious more than I ever knew, even inspiring a character in one of my stories. Though it’s been so long since I’ve seen that movie, I remember Marvin being one of my favorite parts of it.

I also know Alan Rickman was unbelievably kind. Even from the little I knew about him, I got an undeniably loving vibe. He had a caring soul, and he really cared about the power of stories and art. After he died, my Facebook feed was filled with photos and tributes. Two of the tributes I saw struck me as especially powerful, since they reflect my own beliefs on how powerful stories can be. Alan Rickman knew this, and he worked to make sure his stories meant something. That's something that fills me with awe and respect.

(via The Writer's Circle)


As I read more about him, I become more and more amazed at the depth of the man who left us too soon. Alan Rickman, you have left your mark on this world. Thank you for giving us your words, your acting, your compassion, and your recognizable voice. You won't be forgotten.
 
Sarah Munson

“Did you hear that guy from Harry Potter died? The one who played Professor Snape?” The words I overheard from a coworker were spoken casually enough, but they caused me to stop typing and look up in shock.

“Alan Rickman?” I asked disbelievingly. This is probably another of those hoaxes, I thought as I typed the actor’s name into Google. The results, however, confirmed that this was no unfounded rumor. Alan Rickman had indeed passed away on January 14. I was surprised by the news, but I was also a little surprised by the tears that sprang to my eyes.

My sadness caused me to reflect on what the British actor had meant to me. Though he was remembered by so many as potions master Professor Severus Snape, he was first introduced to me as Sense and Sensibility’s noble Colonel Brandon. At the age of seven years old, I wasn’t well versed in classic literature, but Alan Rickman’s portrayal of the character struck me as right even then. Years later and as an established Jane Austen aficionado, Alan Rickman remains Colonel Brandon in my heart and imagination. His quiet strength, unwavering steadiness, deep sense of honor and generous heart not only made the character but hinted at the man I am told Alan Rickman was off set as well.

When I was introduced to the world of Harry Potter several years later, Alan Rickman was there again. This time, he still portrayed solemnness but in a far different fashion. Professor Snape develops into one of the more complex characters of the series, an anti-hero of sorts, and Alan Rickman managed to convey all the nuances of what I imagined for Severus as I read the books. He was even J.K. Rowling’s ideal pick for the character. I especially love how Alan Rickman viewed playing “villains.” He was quoted as saying, “I don't play villains, I play very interesting people.” This outlook, and the way he approached each part, caused his appearances to be detailed, artistic, and masterful.

Beyond the two roles I remember him most for, Alan Rickman inspired me in a different way. His acting career didn’t take off until he was past what most people would consider the Hollywood prime age. Yet he delivered brilliant performances and left each production better for his presence. Though I don’t aspire to act, there are days I fear my dreams will pass me by; that if I reach a certain age without accomplishing them, they will be lost forever. Alan Rickman’s nontraditional success, though, reminds me otherwise.

No matter which role you fondly remember him for, I believe we can all say that Alan Rickman will be remembered, admired, and missed. Always.


Please feel free to leave your tribute to Alan Rickman in the comments.

Monday, January 18, 2016

Ziggy Played Guitar: A Tribute to David Bowie

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On January 10th, 2016, just two days after the release of his birthday album, Blackstar, David Bowie passed away of cancer. His impact on the world will not be forgotten.


Anna Gensimore

I remember at some point during college writing a paper in which I said something along the lines of, "I dread the day I will wake up in a world without David Bowie." How truly ironic on the 13th, I woke up feeling absolutely horrid only to check my phone and find a Snapchat waiting to tell me that Bowie had passed, followed by a call from my boyfriend making sure that I was doing alright. I went back to bed for a little bit longer but forced myself up and to get ready for work. The whole day was kind of difficult; I felt like if I talked about it at work everyone would just think I was being ridiculous. So I made myself wait until after work to cry, and I did while driving around a frozen state park driveway and listening to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.

That album was my souvenir from the first time I went to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I was a teenage girl and quite unkind toward my own existence, afraid to step past what others thought for the first time in my life. But discovering David Bowie and his artistic career did something to keep my little spark of madness alive during those years of uncertainty. I loved the movie Labyrinth, maybe relating a little too much to Sarah in wishing that some Goblin King would whisk me away to adventure away from third period Algebra. I wanted to have the guts to dress that ridiculously and get away with it and eventually embrace that courage to express myself. As I've gotten older, his impact on my life is clear: like that kooky uncle who hanging out in the background of my mind, often the one encouraging me to take that risk and create something simply because it's on my heart to.

Bowie did that until the end. During his remarkably private battle with cancer, Bowie had a lot of time to think. Blackstar was probably set to come out on his birthday whether he was there to celebrate it with us or not. For one, I am glad he was here to celebrate with us and had a few more days to feel all the love and praise from critics that came from this latest release. I've watched the "Lazarus" video several times this week and  was surprised to notice that the costume he's wearing as he crawls into the wardrobe at the end is in fact the same one he wore in "The Man Who Fell to Earth." That is, a film in which he portrayed a being from outer space. He knew that his time was coming and wanted to say goodbye in the only way he knew how. Perhaps that jumpsuit is indeed symbolic of the fact that he didn't simply pass on--David Bowie went home and is at peace. He wanted all of us to know that before making that final journey.

Mirriam Neal

As I listen to "As the World Falls Down," my favorite song David Bowie ever wrote, I remember the first time I ever really heard of him. A stranger commented on my sketch of a baby. 'It looks like Toby from Labyrinth.' 'What's Labyrinth?'


I was fifteen, I think. I remember the specifics better than the date. I was enthralled--I'd heard of David Bowie, of course, but my knowledge was limited to knowing the song "Golden Years" in A Knight's Tale was his.

David Bowie was special.

Anyone who loved him knew that. His appearance was as ever-changing as his musical style. He was a versatile force of nature whose songs sometimes made no sense and sometimes made too much sense. He was never afraid. He was always openly and unabashedly himself.

He had a wonderful sense of humor, too. I loved to watch his talk show appearances, the way he rolled with conversations, the way he firmly stated if he didn't want to talk about something, or his ability to make the audience laugh by telling a joke or pulling a particular face. My favorite thing was when he would talk about his daughter. His face lit up, and he would begin to discuss the way she mixed up her birthday or the first time she saw the moon.

He inspired me like no one else. I would think, "If David Bowie could be David Bowie, I can do anything." I can be anything, and I can make it work. He didn't place himself in a box. If he wanted to try something, he tried it; and he did it all with a dazzling personality and a humble but self-assured kindness. He was a rare man and a rarer soul, and he touched my life in ways most celebrities never do. He changed me, he gave me courage, and I was--and will forever be--so, so grateful and so thankful. Because I got to live at the same time as David Bowie.

Please feel free to post your tribute to David Bowie in the comments.


Sunday, June 28, 2015

Farewell to a Legend: A Tribute to Christopher Lee

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Art by Erinn Leach 

Jaime Heller

I heard the news of Christopher Lee passing via a friend’s tweet. Nothing extravagant. No shining lights, not a news story, not even a big announcement for the whole world to hear. Upon hearing the news, I sat for a long while staring into the middle distance, trying to wrap my mind around the news. Wasn’t it only a few weeks earlier I jokingly said Christopher Lee couldn’t die because he played Death itself and if he died the world would surely be over?

But the world kept turning. Over the course of that day, I was bombarded with messages, tagged posts, and tweets from everybody coming to me about the news. We were all devastated. I didn’t have much to say—I never do. How does one sum up feelings for the death of someone they never actually met? Someone they didn’t actually know. I can only think of those that did know him and imagine a fraction of what they’re feeling. My prayers go to the families and friends who knew this man.

My favorite story I’ve heard about Christopher Lee is his correcting Peter Jackson the set of Lord of the Rings. Saruman—in a cut scene of the Extended Edition—is stabbed in the back. Jackson explained to Lee how to react when the knife enters, but Lee corrected him, telling him what really happens when a man is stabbed in the back. My imagination of course runs wild with thoughts of why Christopher Lee could possibly know this. He served in World War II. He either was stabbed in the back himself, witnessed someone else getting stabbed in the back, or he himself did the stabbing. It makes the tall, deep-throated actor all the more legendary and mysterious.

He is a movie actor legend. He’s played all of the big “movie monsters” from Frankenstein’s monster to Dracula and the Mummy. He’s played Sherlock Holmes and Mycroft Holmes. He’s been the bad in most of his films, including the two biggest franchises of the 21st century, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. He actually met J.R.R. Tolkien and claimed to read the Lord of the Rings books every single year. He was in a heavy metal band during his 90s. You will never be as cool or legendary as Christopher Lee.

He’s a legend and will remain a legend because of his fans. We will continue to keep his legacy every time we watch a movie he was in—villain or not.


Andrea Wiesner

Many know him as the guy who played villains in Lord of the Rings and Star Wars. And yes, I have seen him in those roles. But when I think of him, one of his older villainous turns always comes to mind. Dr. Victor Gannon from Return from Witch Mountain. He was so... creepy without being completely overdramatic about it. (Think something similar to Walden's White Witch in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.) Yes, so he almost always played the bad guy, but I'm still sad that the world has lost another great actor. May he rest in peace... and may his family know some as well! Prayers to all who knew him... he will be missed by many.


Sky Destrian

For me, Christopher Lee was an icon of nerd culture. I'd be hard pressed to find an aspect of my childhood that didn't include Christopher Lee in it. I watched the first two Star Wars prequels when I was around nine years old, and a few years later I watched Lord of the Rings. Even in recent years Christopher Lee greeted me as Saruman in The Hobbit trilogy.

While I didn't get to see him in many other roles, Christopher Lee had a lot of them. He was incredibly prolific and was still acting at the time he passed away. He relentlessly gave us the gift of his acting and, more importantly, his presence. He said things like, "I'm much softer than people think. I don't present to the world an emotional face. I'm pretty good at self-control, but I am easily moved." He was knighted in 2009, making his full title "Sir Christopher Lee." And last but certainly not least, he was in a heavy metal band, which I find truly inspiring. Whatever Christopher Lee did, he did it with his whole heart. I think he lived a life to be proud of.

I'm extremely grateful for the time we got to know Christopher Lee, whether as a villain or as his normal self. He was truly an incredible person, and I hope that he will be remembered during my lifetime and beyond.

"What's really important for me is, as an old man, I'm known by my own generation and the next generation know me, too."
- Christopher Lee


Thursday, June 11, 2015

Christopher Lee Has Passed Away

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Christopher Lee, an actor known for his roles in Dracula, the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, and Star Wars, passed away on June 7th at the age of 93.

In addition to a 70-year film career, Lee was also a musician and made two heavy metal albums. He received many accolades, including being knighted in 2009. He was well-known for his roles in the horror genre and his ability to play a villain; however, Christopher Lee was beloved by many. Thousands have posted tributes to the beloved actor, including co-stars and dear friends.




Posted by Peter Jackson on Thursday, June 11, 2015





The world has lost a great actor. I remember him not only as the turncoat wizard Saruman in the LOTR movies (which he...
Posted by George Takei on Thursday, June 11, 2015

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” RIP to the one and only Saruman, Dracula and the...
Posted by The Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Thursday, June 11, 2015

RIP, Christopher Lee. Thank you for giving the gift of your acting to so many. You will not be forgotten.

Friday, March 6, 2015

Live Long and Prosper: A Tribute to Leonard Nimoy

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On February 27th, 2015, Leonard Nimoy passed away at the age of 83. He will be greatly missed.

Andrea Wiesner

The world lost a great person this past week. I never got to meet or know him personally, but I know he had a lasting impact... on my dad, me, and millions of others. Prayers for those that did know him!

"Live long and prosper. Peace and long life." It seems it could be said that that was true for the man who made those words famous... 83 years, wow! Leonard Nimoy, you will be missed. Thanks for the memories!

Jaime Heller

Despite the numerous roles he’s played over the last sixty years, Leonard Nimoy has been and always shall be my Spock. I don’t want to diminish his talent in any way by saying this, but Spock was the first role I saw him in and the last role I saw him in. And I’ve loved every moment of his character. From the Live Long and Prosper hand signal to the stoic dialogue, he was truly amazing at playing the “pointy-eared hobgoblin” (Bones’ words, not mine).

Star Trek has been something that kind of changed my life in a way only a handful of over fandoms have. For me, it was the “next step” beyond Star Wars to introduce me to my love for science fiction and fantasy. I used to “watch” the show with my dad, which became something much more special than “just another TV show” (we have all three seasons of the original series on DVD). But I’ll admit I didn’t really care much until the 2009 reboot movie came out.

And then I was in love and still am.

Leonard Nimoy starred in that as well—as the pivotal point of the story. And I loved J.J. Abrams and the rest of the crew for including him. Because it wasn’t just a reboot now. It was Star Trek in an alternate timeline. How cool was that?

In addition, Leonard Nimoy had that unique voice that could be recognized anywhere. From Atlantis to Transformers and various other voice acting roles in between I enjoyed watching movies that included his talent beyond just acting. I hadn’t even remembered how influential he had been in other things over the years.


But my favorite thing he has done besides Spock is the famous, hilarious, and downright perfect rendition of “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins.” It’s definitely worth watching (and learning). And it appeared in the 2013 STID car commercial, “The Challenge,” that featured both Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto (aka both Spocks) in a race to get to the golf country club. Also a hilarious moment that I will forever love.

Following Leonard Nimoy on twitter was also one of the best social media decisions of my life. Because not only was I following an 80+ year old man on twitter, but the advice and encouragement he spread across the web with a few typed tweets was wonderful. He “adopted” anybody who needed a grandpa as his grandchildren (“honoraries”), he encouraged people to stop smoking or not start at all, and he always ended his tweets with the #LLAP (Live Long and Prosper). He was truly an inspiration.

It was a sad day to hear he had died—especially since for me, it came quite unexpected. I immediately messaged my sister about it and we talked about how sad it was (we're both trekkies and she wrote a song for me about Star Trek once). It saddened me further when I realized next year would have been the 50th anniversary of Star Trek and he didn’t make it to that. The world has lost a bright star and it will be long and hard for Leonard Nimoy to be forgotten. He will always be Spock to me and he will always live long and prosper in the hearts of Trekkies everywhere.

Mirriam Neal

Looking back through my life, there are many threads that wind themselves back through every year as far as I can remember. Leonard Nimoy is one of these threads; or, more specifically, Mr. Spock and Star Trek. I grew up with my parents telling tales of Star Trek, tossing around quotes like ‘He’s dead, Jim’ or ‘There be whales here!’ or ‘I feel…fine.’ When I was old enough to watch them, I drank them in and immediately fell in love with Spock; throughout the whole Original Series, he was my favorite. His struggle to maintain his Vulcan dignity while grappling with his human half was something of constant interest.

Several years ago, a friend gave me a dozen vintage Star Trek books. One of them was full of behind-the-scenes stories, anecdotes and tales from the cast and crew. Leonard and William had an ongoing rivalry of the best kind – who could make the other laugh, who could shock the other most. Leonard would put William’s makeup in the fridge so it was freezing the next day, William would crack a joke on set in an attempt to break Leonard up during filming. You can find bloopers from the Original series on Youtube, and watching Leonard is always the best part. 

While he played a stoic Vulcan, Leonard was always the first to smile or laugh, the first to see the joke in any situation. He was a rare person, someone who took his craft seriously, who showed a sense of humor and a sense of solemnity. When I read the news of his death, I could only sit in shock while the reality of it seeped into my bones, and then I cried. It was surreal, a part of my life that would not stretch into my future. 

Leonard Nimoy meant a lot to me. He will always be part of my past, and when I tell my own children tales of Star Trek, I’ll tell them of Spock most of all; of the most human Vulcan in the universe. Thank you for everything, Leonard Nimoy. Live long and prosper.

Sky Destrian

Star Trek in my family is practically genetic. Just like your hair and eye color, Star Trek gets passed down throughout the generations. While the concept of traveling through space is certainly interesting, it's the heart of the show that I'm after: the people in it. The various Star Trek characters have meant so much to me over the years. So when I found out about the death of Leonard Nimoy, I cried.
I had already heard about the deaths of DeForest Kelley and James Doohan, but those were before I was born. This was real and happening right in front of me. It was my first experience parting with someone from the Star Trek universe, and someone who was extremely important to me at that.

I never met Mr. Nimoy, obviously. And even when it comes to Star Trek, I know the most about Star Trek: The Next Generation, not The Original Series. But, like many of my generation, one of my first exposures to the Original Series was through the 2009 reboot. As Jaime said, Leonard Nimoy starred in that, and he was fantastic. That was only the beginning.

My dad took me through the original Star Trek movies after that. We started with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, in which there's a moment that has every Star Trek fan crying at the end. That scene, and The Wrath of Khan, are both incredibly close to my heart. We then watched Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, which brought Spock to life in the most glorious of ways. 

But, I have to say, my favorite portrayal of Spock is in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Spock tries to fit into the hip and trendy world of Los Angeles, and due to this, he interjects swear words into his speech like everyone else. Hearing a Vulcan use profanity is one of the funniest things I've seen. It's so endearing, in a way, and quite frankly, hilarious. My favorite line is, "They are not the hell your whales!"

Though Spock was a logical being, set on the pursuit of the mind, I would argue that Spock has taught me--and all of us--how to feel. He is arguably one of the most sensible, real characters in Star Trek. While he claimed to be logical, underneath it all Spock was one of the most human characters of all.

As James Kirk said in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, "Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human." 

But I'd be amiss not to mention that Leonard Nimoy's life went far beyond his role as Spock. Nimoy was a writer, a director, a photographer, and a musician. He wrote two autobiographies, titled I Am Not Spock and I Am Spock, respectively. The titles (and content) of these autobiographies reflect the nuanced relationship Nimoy had with Spock. While it appears Nimoy grew to appreciate Spock later in life, he certainly felt the difficulties of being so closely associated with the character.

That's why I feel it's important to note Nimoy's other achievements. He had a great love for photography. He did several photo series focused  In 2007, he did a particularly meaningful photo series called "The Full Body Project," centered around celebrating fuller body-types. (There's a really awesome article about it, here.) His photography is also in several museums. 

Nimoy also went behind the camera; he directed several Star Trek movies, starting with Star Trek III. He was also a poet, and shared one last poem with us before he died.

While Leonard Nimoy is not Spock, through his roles in Star Trek over the years, he has impacted many people, the nerd community in particular. As Jaime mentioned before, Nimoy offered himself as an adoptive grandfather to anyone who wanted it. That's the kind of person he was to us: a fatherly figure, always there for us to trailblaze the way to our next adventure. He was the helmsman of what now has become a flourishing community of nerds. In many ways, he has changed the world of story and fandom forever. We are better people because of his existence, and I am thankful that he chose to share so much with us. 

The world lost someone incredible last Friday. However, I firmly believe his legacy will live on in many ways. It will live on every time we continue to look at the world with wonder and excitement, and metaphorically explore the stars (whatever that looks like for us). Most importantly, it will live on every time we improve our world.

"It's all about trying to make the world and the universe a better place. I'm proud to be connected with it. I think we need that in our lives. We need ethical, heroic people trying to do the right thing to help others and to improve life on this planet and in the universe." -- Leonard Nimoy

I can say that without a doubt, Leonard Nimoy has made the universe a better place. Because of him, I am inspired to do the same.

Thank you for your impact on the world and us, Mr. Nimoy. We have been, and always shall be, your fans. LLAP.
Artwork by Andy Marlette.

Please feel free to post your tribute to Leonard Nimoy in the comments.