President Obama is among the Star Trek fans mourning the death of Spock actor Leonard Nimoy.
The commander in chief released a statement praising Nimoy, recalling his love for the character and when he met the actor.
“Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy,” Obama wrote in a statement that the White House tweeted. “Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time. And of course, Leonard was Spock. Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek‘s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.”
After proclaiming, “I loved Spock,” Obama reflected on meeting Nimoy in 2007 and greeting him with the Vulcan salute, describing the latter as “the universal sign for ‘live long and prosper.’ ”
“And after 83 years on this planet — and on his visits to many others — it’s clear Leonard Nimoy did just that.”
This isn’t the first time Obama has shown his Star Trek support. In 2012, Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura, posted a photo to Twitter of her and Obama giving the Vulcan salute from inside the Oval Office. She met him when she was in town for a NASA event. During their interaction, Obama told Nichols he was a Trekker, she tweeted.
Obama has released statements about a number of noteworthy Hollywood deaths, including those of Robin Williams, Harold Ramis, Pete Seeger, Roger Ebert, Donna Summer, Andy Griffith and Ray Bradbury.
Read Obama’s full statement below.
“I loved Spock.” —President Obama #RIPLeonardNimoy #LLAP pic.twitter.com/vmwjnQ3Zm3
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 27, 2015
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