Leonard Nimoy played Spock in the original Star Trek films and TV series, but the part was almost played by Martin Landau instead. There are times when an actor comes to define a role. This was certainly the case for Leonard Nimoy, who played the character of Spock in the original Star Trek TV series and went on to return in this role time and again for decades. Although other actors have since played Spock, they all stand in Nimoy's shadow.
Surprisingly, though, there's evidence the role of Spock was originally offered to Oscar award-winning actor Martin Landau instead. In a 1986 interview with Starlog, Landau, who had since become associated with Gerry Anderson's Space: 1999, recalled being offered the role, only to turn it down. In his view, Spock was "the antithesis of why I do what I do," in that he focuses on portraying character and emotion. Although he understood the appeal of Spock, he dismissively compared the concept to playing a newscaster. "Actually, newscasters are more emotional than Spock," he added.
Related: Star Trek: Spock's Time Travel & Nero Connection Explained
Martin Landau Never Regretted Turning Down Spock
The late Martin Landau never regretted the decision to turn down the part of Spock. "I would make the same decision today," he insisted to Starlog, although he stressed he was confident Star Trek had the chance to be hugely successful.
I knew if the show hit, Spock would be very effective," he observed. "You have to think of the turmoil of the '60s. A superintelligent creature with pointy ears who thought logically was exactly right - except I didn't want to act it. I did not want to be saddled with the role of a character without feeling.
It's a refreshing reminder that the best actors know which parts they are suited to and choose those roles regardless of their potential for fame.
Back in 1969, Nimoy himself addressed persistent rumors he and Landau had competed for the role of Spock. According to Nimoy, his Mission: Impossible colleague had decided not to do certain parts, and that presumably factored into Landau's decision with Star Trek. "He had always refused to sign a long-term agreement," Nimoy told Movie World Magazine, "saying that he would only do the show for as long as it was fun." Landau didn't stick to this rule throughout his career, of course; he even became a major recurring character in Space: 1999, another cult science-fiction TV series (and, amusingly, wound up asked whether the TV show would follow Star Trek's lead and become a film franchise to boot). Still, this adds another potential reason for Landau's decision to turn down Spock.
Even Leonard Nimoy Didn't Always Like Being Spock
There were times when even Leonard Nimoy hated Spock. It's no coincidence he gave his autobiography the title I Am Not Spock, hinting at the degree of frustration he increasingly felt at being typecast. There were times when Nimoy seems to have resented the struggle to establish his own distinct sense of identity, but as the years passed he found his peace with it. "I have never been out of work since Star Trek went on the air," Nimoy noted in an interview with AirTalk (via TrekMovie) back in 2008. "I have never needed to look for a job." The success of Star Trek's Spock turned Nimoy into a household name, and his career flourished as a result. Landau, for his part, went on to be just as successful, winning international acclaim and an Oscar too.
Next: Star Trek's Original Name For The Enterprise Explained
FAQs
Martin Landau Never Regretted Turning Down Spock
Who turned down the role of Spock? ›
Spock was offered to both DeForest Kelley who turned it down correctly believing that McCoy was a better fit for him and Martin Landau (known for Mission: Impossible and Space: 1999) before Nimoy accepted the role.
Was Martin Landau offered the role of Spock? ›
Seeking to get a different star, Roddenberry offered the role to Martin Landau, but he did not want to play the same character on a weekly basis and found the character's lack of emotions limiting.
Who was supposed to play Spock? ›
So imagine, if you will, that Spock was portrayed in the original series by George Lindsey, an Alabama native who played "Goober" on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "HeeHaw." According to an article on MeTV.com, Lindsey was "Star Trek" creator Gene Rodenberry's first choice to play Spock.
Why did Spock leave Star Trek? ›
Spock quit Starfleet after the Original Series due to guilt and the fear that his human emotions would compromise him as an officer.
Why was Spock killed off? ›
Spock Died in Every Version of the Star Trek II Script
The filming of the first movie was a disaster, and so Nimoy wanted no more to do with Spock or Star Trek. Jack B. Sowards wrote his first draft for Wrath of Khan with Spock in the story -- and killed him at the end of the first act.
Does Dr McCoy hate Spock? ›
McCoy from Star Trek hate Spock so much? He didn't hate Spock - he cared for him deeply. Indeed, their complicated relationship was one of the most endearing subtexts of the entire series, one that was explored in several episodes as well as movies that followed.
What is Spock's full name? ›
Why wasn't Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek Generations? ›
Summary. Nimoy turned down directing Star Trek Generations due to script issues and felt it was a marketing gimmick by Paramount. William Shatner, Scotty, and Chekov were the only original cast members to sign on for Generations, others felt their cameos were undignified.
Were McCoy and Spock friends? ›
He especially liked to make fun of Spock's attachment to logic and stoicism. At times he even said things to Spock that were borderline racist. Only one thing could explain this level of open hostility - he considered Spock to be one of his closest friends. So, to answer your question, McCoy always liked Spock.
Leonard Nimoy will always be the definitive Mr. Spock, encompassing decades of sometimes-tumultuous history with the character and an indelible imprint on pop culture as a result.
What did Leonard Nimoy pass away from? ›
Star Trek Actor Leonard Nimoy's Death from COPD: What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
How old was Leonard Nimoy when he played Spock? ›
Leonard Nimoy was approximately 35 years old when he first portrayed the character of Mr. Spock in the original Star Trek series.
What was the controversy with Spock? ›
His books were criticized by conservatives for propagating permissiveness and an expectation of instant gratification, a charge that Spock denied.
Who did Spock marry? ›
What is the Spock problem? ›
Spock's problem is that he is of such a nature as to be incapable of realizing that not all rational and legitimate thought processes are reducible to the canons of straightforwardly~ inferential logic. He is genetically fixated upon the calculus of justification to the total exclu- sion of the pattern of discovery.
What happened to the actor who played Spock? ›
Spock, has died. Nimoy's son, Adam Nimoy, said the actor died Friday of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his Los Angeles home. He was 83. Although Leonard Nimoy followed his 1966-69 “Star Trek” run with a notable career as both an actor and director, in the public's mind he would always be Spock.
Is Mr Spock asexual? ›
Much as I love him, if we were classify Spock as anything, it would probably be repressed or celibate, not asexual. Granted, we're talking about an alien species with alien biology. Applying human sexualities to aliens (even half aliens) is somewhat illogical.
Why did the cast of Star Trek change after the pilot? ›
Originally, "Star Trek" was supposed to be the story of Captain Pike aboard the starship Enterprise, played by Hunter. He starred in a pilot, called "The Cage," that was rejected by the network, which is how we ended up with our beloved Captain Kirk and William Shatner.
