Since Star Trek: Picard debuted in 2020, a number of old Star Trek actors have triumphantly returned to the sci-fi franchise after several years of hiatus. The past two seasons of Picard alone saw the return of Patrick Stewart, Jeri Ryan, Brent Spiner, John de Lancie, and many other actors from Star Trek: The Next Generation. While it’s possible to see more old Star Trek actors reappear in the franchise as the media property continues to expand its universe on Paramount+, not all won’t be able to do a comeback, as some of them are no longer with us. Below is a list of popular Star Trek actors that have died.
20 Star Trek actors that have died
Leonard Nimoy
Star Trek series: Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series
Character name: Spock
Date deceased: February 27th, 2015 (aged 83)
Nimoy first played the role of Spock ― the half-human, half-Vulcan first officer and science officer aboard the USS Enterprise ― in the pilot episode of The Original Series shot in late 1964. He then portrayed the character in The Animated Series and the first six Star Trek movies. After an almost two-decade Star Trek hiatus, the actor returned to the franchise in the 2009 movie Star Trek as Spock Prime, a role he reprised in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness. Having played Spock on and off for over a period of 49 years, from 1964 to 2013, Nimoy is the longest-serving Star Trek cast member of all time.
In February 2015, Nimoy died of complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a condition he attributed to a smoking addiction he had given up about 30 years earlier. A few days before his death, Nimoy tweeted: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP”