Before becoming a sci-fi legend as Mr. Spock on “Star Trek,” beloved late actor Leonard Nimoy put his acting skills to the test in an early role on “General Hospital.”
Nimoy, who passed away on February 27, 2015, played the character of drug dealer Bernie Smith. The actor appeared on the soap’s 17th episode. He was 32 at the time.
Leonard Nimoy’s ‘General Hospital’ Stint
Nimoy’s single-episode stint on “General Hospital” aired on April 23, 1963, over three years before he became famous as Spock.
In the episode, Nimoy played a “pill pusher” searching for Peggy Mercer’s (K.T. Stevens) boyfriend, Roy Lansing (Robert Clarke). His character, Bernie, showed up to deliver narcotics to Roy, a moment that exposed Roy’s addiction and shattered his rekindled romance with Peggy.
That episode marked Nimoy’s only appearance on the soap, and his character was never referenced again. Many fans simply assumed Bernie continued his shady dealings somewhere off-screen in Port Charles.
Nimoy Never Publicly Spoke About His Time on ‘General Hospital’
Although Nimoy never publicly discussed his “General Hospital” role, footage of his appearance has been preserved in the ABC archives.
In addition, soap opera historian Gary Warner uncovered Nimoy’s pay stub for the episode. Warner reportedly came across it while researching his 1995 coffee-table book, “General Hospital: The Complete Scrapbook.”
Speaking with the LA Times in December 1995, Warner revealed that he was looking through stacks of payroll stubs when he spotted Nimoy’s name. The actor was paid $45 for his one episode on “General Hospital.”
“Leonard Nimoy? Leonard Nimoy! This is like gold,” he said.
Warner added that he managed to get a copy of Nimoy’s episode, but it doesn’t have audio.
“So we ordered up the show and they couldn’t find the sound,” Warner revealed. “The sound was on a separate reel. I still don’t have the sound, but I’ve got Leonard Nimoy.”
Shortly after his “GH” gig, Nimoy landed the role as Mr. Spock in “Star Trek” that shot him to fame.
In February 2015, Nimoy’s wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, confirmed his passing, saying the cause was late-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, per The New York Times.
Nimoy announced in 2014 that he had been diagnosed with the disease, attributing it to years of smoking.
“Star Trek” premiered on NBC in September 1966. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise, described Nimoy as “the conscience of ‘Star Trek’.”
STAR TREK WAS THE FIRST SHOW I EVER SAW HIM IN, & – I – FELL – HARD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. EVEN IN COSTUME HE WAS A HUNK & HE WAS SOOOOO INTELLIGENT. I THOUGHT MY WORLD HAD ENDED WHEN HE PASSED AWAY. I HAVE NOT STOPPED THINKING HE WAS THE GREATEST ACTOR EVER & I NEVER WILL.