Leonard Nimoy's family didn't want him to play Spock, says Susan Bay Nimoy

Imagine a world without Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock on Star Trek: The Original Series. It's hard to fathom, isn't it? Nimoy began the role back in the 1960s and continued portraying the stoic Vulcan off and on through the 2013 movie Star Trek Into Darkness. Almost fifty years is a long time to be known as one character, but according to Nimoy's widow, Susan Bay Nimoy in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the actor knew the part was "right for him."

But Nimoy's family wasn't on board with him taking on the role with Susan saying "his family didn't want him to do it." She added that she thought "they didn't understand his attraction to it: you know, shaving the eyebrows, wearing that Spock haircut." But she knew the character was a "perfect fit" for her husband of twenty-six years.

Every actor that takes on a Star Trek role knows they are running the risk of being associated with that character for the rest of their lives, especially if that role proves to be popular. But Susan says Nimoy "knew that it was a risk," and "believed that Spock could be a memorable character."

That is a understatement. Nimoy's portrayal of Spock went on to be one of the most iconic roles ever on television. Along with his creation of the Vulcan salute, Nimoy established Spock as the ultimate character of logic. And Spock is known worldwide to this day. Very few people don't know who this character is and who was the original actor to play him.

This is something I put to the test when asking my friends who aren't Star Trek fans if they knew who Spock was. "Everyone knows who Spock is," said one. There was even a feeble attempt at the Vulcan salute, although it was woefully wrong. But it wasn't just the character that has stuck in the memories over the years; it's Nimoy's portrayal of that character.

Both Zachary Quinto and Ethan Peck have taken on the role in movies and series, but they had to be cognizant of the fact they were playing a replica of Spock. No other actor will ever actually fill Nimoy's shoes. Spock will always belong to him.