Our conversation with Leonard Nimoy

[Omaha Steve]

Leonard Nimoy came to Omaha to perform his one man show "Vincent": http://www.leonardnimoy.de/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=244:vincent-&catid=20:stage&Itemid=10

It was after Star Trek (I) was announced, but before filming. After the show there was a champagne reception. The bad part was he had the flu and a fever. That didn't stop people from getting close and talking to him.

A crowd formed around him in a hurry. "Trek" was a hot topic since it had been getting so much buzz in the press. We waited for a pause. Marta introduced herself and started commenting on "Vincent". He smiled and started talking about "Vincent" in detail.

He asked her "who is this fellow with you"? Without trying to change the subject I started talking about all the clasic shows he had parts in before becoming Spock. Even sick his eyes lit up. Apparently that didn't happen often. He and the crowd were impressed with our knowledge and trivia. A few times we reminded him of things long forgotten.

Eventually the flu caught up with him. He was getting ready to go. He noticed I had a B&W photo of Spock. I was sorry it was the only photo I could find. He laughed and so "don't worry, you two made being sick and talking a little easier".


We met Mariette Hartley at the 2004 TZCon. Although it isn't mentioned on our TZCon site her working with Leonard on "Trek" came up from somebody else talking to her. She had nothing but nice things to say about him. They had occasional contact since then from time to time.

Leonard influenced so many while being so humble. He did live long and prosper. His star in the universe will shine forever.

OS

http://www.steveandmarta.com/tzcon2004.htm

Next we went to Barbara Luna, who was the only star who did not want to be videotaped, so we turned it off. She signed a "Star Trek" photo for us, and an "Outer Limits" shot. We mentioned that we were waiting for Mariette Hartley to show up, and Barbara said she was definitely coming and that she would introduce us to Mariette personally when she arrived.

Mariette Hartley arrived just before noon, Barbara did introduce us, and this was her first time at a convention. H. M. Wynant came over and gave her a hug, saying she is a wonderful person. They talked about her working with John Houseman years ago in "Antigony," and Mariette just loved talking about it. I had a shot of her and Bill Bixby from "The Incredible Hulk" marriage two-parter, for which she'd won an Emmy, and she just started crying over it. She mentioned that her son and Bill's son were best friends, and that Bill was a fantastic person and one of her best friends. We're all standing there crying about it, and it was wonderful. I apologized, because I didn't mean to get her crying. We bought a picture Mariette and Robert Lansing from her TZ episode, "The Long Morrow," and she told us about meeting Rod Serling after she graduated from college, and asking him for a job. A few months later, she was offered the role in the TZ episode. She also mentioned that it had been 40 years since the episode had been shot, and in it she was supposed to have been frozen for 40 years, so it was like she'd just been thawed out for the convention. She actually got up and hugged us and she said she was glad we were there, and that we had made her day.


Our 2002 TZCon trip is here: http://www.steveandmarta.com/graveyards/tzcon2002.htm