It's a helluva thing. Leonard Nimoy is gone. A piece of each of us goes with him...from those who were raised on the original Star Trek, to those who've discovered the joys of the character Spock through the movies he starred in and made special appearances in.
Spock was integral to the Star Trek franchise; even moreso, I would say, than any other character, including James T. Kirk. While Kirk was ostensibly the protagonist and main character, he was two-dimensional. There was a bit of a rebel in him, and a bit of a bad boy, but he was 98% stock character: good looking, full of integrity, ladies man (but with honor), decisive.
Spock, on the other hand, had a little more freedom to be multi dimensional. Half human, half Vulcan was a master stroke, because it allowed him to have traits and characteristics of both. And Leonard Nimoy was a great enough actor to display all the nuances that character allowed. Sometimes he did it with great restraint, sometimes with a touch of humor, sometimes just the lifting of an eyebrow. The minimalist acting style was the perfect foil to William Shatner's hamminess.
Leonard Nimoy will live on and prosper forever...in the movies, on the small screen, and in our hearts.
