'[He] stood with me on countless issues of justice and equality'
When Star Trek: The Animated Series was greenlit, the powers that be didn’t have any intention of bringing back George Takei and Nichelle Nichols to voice their beloved characters Mr. Sulu and Lt. Uhura. When Leonard Nimoy discovered they were going to be left out in the cold, he told producers to count him out, too, if his Original Series colleagues weren’t hired for TAS. Takei said the following in the same social media post (via Instagram):
“He told them, ‘This show is about diversity and working together in concert. The two people who most represent that diversity are Nichelle Nichols and George Takei, and if they can't be a part of this, then I'm not interested either.’ He was willing to walk away from a job—a rare act of principle in this industry—because he understood that Star Trek's promise of infinite diversity in infinite combinations was not just a slogan, but a responsibility.”
Takei continued in his social media post tribute as follows:
“That was Leonard. He didn't just speak about inclusion; he lived it. He came to my stage plays, waited backstage to offer his thoughtful critiques [...] We shared decades of friendship, activism, and conversations that stretched long after the cameras stopped rolling. Through his portrayal of Spock, he taught generations to embrace logic, science, and compassion—all while reminding us that strength comes in many forms.”
Typically, these type of tributes are saved and posted on birthdays. However, I think it’s wonderful that Nimoy was on Takei’s mind, and that he chose to honor the Star Trek legend and humanitarian in such a lovely way.
Share your thoughts and comments about Leonard Nimoy with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages, including George Takei’s wonderfully touching social media post honoring the late Star Trek actor’s memory.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!
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