Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most human. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) eulogizing Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Leonard Nimoy, best known for his role as Mr. Spock in the original “Star Trek” television series, died today. He was 83.

The iconic Mr. Spock character (even President Obama issued a statement) wasn’t the sum of the multi-talented actor’s gifts. He was also an Army veteran, director, poet, photographer–and taxi driver. 

One of Nimoy’s most famous fares, John F. Kennedy, would not learn what happened to that former taxi cab driver who remembered his sage advice to “Just remember there’s always room for one more good one.”

History doesn’t record what President Kennedy thought of the encounter, but it was a defining moment for Nimoy, and he certainly proved to be one of our country’s “good ones.” Dubbed the “Conscience of Star Trek,” by series creator Gene Roddenberry, Nimoy supported pay equity for fellow cast member Nichelle Nichols.

Learn more about Nimoy’s fascinating career and life by reading or watching his Convocation Address before the graduates at Boston University’s College of Fine Arts in 2012.

He used his background and personal stories to infuse his speech with great warmth. He gave wise counsel to his audience, while leavening it with his humor, his foibles and his fears.

In other words, his speech showed he was all too human.

LLAP.