A Conversation with Leonard Nimoy

The article begins with a summary of ST/LN history and the following quote:

In one personal appearance, a young woman asked him how old he was. He replied with a very straight face: "What did you have in mind?" When the laughter over that response died down, he added: "The question obviously reflects your need to judge the possible relationship between myself and other human beings, possibly even yourself. This represents an illogical human compulsion on your part, based on certain insecurities and a fascination with linear time. It would be better if you humans could rid yourselves of this fixation."

The next paragraph is on M:I, the photography course at U.C.L.A. Fiddler on the Roof and The Man in the Glass Booth and writing, You and I (which Leonard figured would sell 2.000 to 3.000 copies) sold 300.000.

Q: "Did Star Wars deserve its tremendous box-office success?"
Leonard Nimoy: "Sure!"
Didn't it bother Leonard that it had no social significance?
"No... There is need in our society to have sheer fun... It is also an extremely well made film. You can hiss and cheer and boo and have a good time It is just an experience of total involvement created by a great bunch of talented people, working hard and achieving their goals."

ST cult?
"Oh, Yes. We still have a cult... I am getting more and more fan-letters from abroad..."

What about the Star Trek conventions?
"They're not just conventions. They're mass celebrations... (Leonard describes what kind of activities take place at conventions) ... I have met a lot of people – educated, successful... who tell me : 'I'm a Trekkie'... "

At the rallies/conventions – does Leonard think he'd be attacked by the fans?
"Absolutely not. The people who come to see me – call them Trekkies if you want – are far more civilized than the security people paid to protect me... they imagine all sorts of terrible things that will happen..."

Whether Leonard travels with an entourage? Bodyguards?
"I'm not Muhammed Ali. I'm me. I try to keep it low key. I just try to talk to people as people..."

Does Leonard worry about being typecast?
"I don't agree with the popular idea about typecasting. I believe that every actor who is successful is typecast to some degree. An actor who is not 'typeable' is nowhere."

Does he get payment for the reruns?
"No. It's amazing how that concept still prevails. When we signed on with Paramount, we signed the standard Screen Actors Guild contract. We got paid so much for making the episode, then so much – a dwindling amount – for each rerun. But no more after the fifth rerun. We got our lasts checks about eight years ago.

 What's made ST such a success?
"One percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. That was our 'genius'."

ST wasn't meant to frighten?
"No, Star Trek wasn't 'doomsday' science fiction. It was upbeat."

The attraction of that idea?
"Well, nowadays we live in a science fiction age... I mean, in the summer of 1969 I went out in my own backyard and then looked up and said, 'There are men walking on the moon.' I had seen them on television, but it wasn't the same thing as actually looking up there and realizing there were men on the moon. Wow! Incredible! ... I mean when was that – sixty years ago – that the Wright brothers were just getting a few feet off the ground with a paper airplane? And now we think nothing of air speeds faster than sound, of enormous aircraft carrying several hundred people..."

Space colonies?
"Sure. I think that before long we will see families developing in space... the science fiction dreamers are the ones who set the goals for the scientists."