On a scale of earth shattering importance this ranks very low but to me it is a sad day.
James Doohan, 85, died at 5:30 AM at his home in Redmond, Washingtn. The cause of death was pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease according to his agent and friend Steve Stevens.
Doohan was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1920. He joined the Canadian Army during World War II when he was 19 and became an officer in artillery. He was among the Canadian forces that landed on Juno Beach on D-Day. Later that night he was machine-gunned, taking 6 rounds: one took off his middle finger, four in the leg and one directly into a silver cigarette case in a breast pocket. (So much for smoking always being bad for your health!)
After the war, on a lark, he took an acting class in Toronto, found he had talent, and went on to win a scholarship with the New York Neighborhood Playhouse. He went on to work as a character actor in films and television.
The role that brought him to mass notice was as the Chief Engineer for the United Federation of Planets Starship Enterprise. And notably for a line that was never, actually, used, “Beam me up, Scotty!”
In 1998 Mr. Doohan was asked if he ever got tired of hearing that line. “I’m not tired of it at all,” he replied. “Good Gracious, it’s been said to me for just about 31 years. I’ts been said to me at 70 miles an hour across four lanes on the freeway. I hear it from just about everybody. It’s been fun.”
Here’s to you, Scotty
I’ll second that, AT. It is a sad day. At least his ashes will be going to space.
At least his ashes will be going to space.
Oh? On the Space Shuttle? Can you elaborate?
(from the NYT obit)
The Times spelled “Roddenberry” wrong, not me!
That is way cool. Thanks.
about writing this up and then I thought, nah, AT will do it.
Glad to know I was right. It’s a sad day, but he lived a long life and, it seems, a happy one.
“The energizer is bypassed like a christmas tree, so don’t give me any bumps.” — Scotty
Nichols: Just use the keyboard.
Scotty: A keyboard. How quaint. (StarTrek IV)
Given he was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease one can only think it was simply his time.
Shit.
I know! Without Scotty we’re stuck here!
Can be found here.
From the entry, “Scotty’s exploits as the redoubtable Chief Engineer aboard the Enterprise inspired many students to pursue a career in engineering. Because of this the Milwaukee School of Engineering granted Doohan an honorary degree in engineering.”
You can count me as one of those students.
Scotty and Spock (no surprise, huh?) were the two characters that kept me watching StarTrek and seeing the films.
from C. Blake Powers.
Full tribute can be found here.
“It was your character of Scotty that got me interested in studying engineering. The problem solving, the fix anything aspects, the joy of figuring out how something worked or could be made to work was heady to me. I imagine it appealed to a lot of fellow geeks as well, and it was something to which we could related. The first time I met you, at a small event at a community college, you were class personified. When we met afterwards and I told you that your character had inspired me to study engineering, your first thought was to be sure that I knew what I was getting into. You made sure that I understood the difference between you and your character, and your character and the reality of engineering. Once you were sure that I did, then you offered some advice, encouragement, and support.
I can’t remember for sure the next time we met, but I do remember our meeting at the press area at Kennedy Space Center for the first launch of the Shuttle. At least I think it was the first launch, I know it was one of the first four. You were down on behalf of a society, and doing all you could to promote space exploration. During this time, you also took the time to check on how I was doing, what I was doing, and to see how my dream was progressing. The people you were with were slightly less than happy, I believe, but you sat down with me and my compatriot, joined us for some semi-live coverage of the event, recorded a promo or two for our broadcast, and then did something even more wonderful. You showed us, during that time and others, several of what I think you called voice “tricks” that have stood me in good stead over the years. You also helped me hone my own accents and impersonations, a talent that has also helped me a time or two. It was professional courtesy of a level I had never before experienced in broadcasting.
As guests at various conventions, we have met again over the years and the courtesy you have shown me each time is remarkable. Then again, it was the same courtesy you have shown fans and other members of the public as well. You avoided the “star path” and gave freely of yourself and made such things a pleasure for all. Thank you for that.”
There’s an interview in the first “Trekkies” movie in which Doohan tells the story of how he intervened with a suicidal woman over several years.
He died on the 36th anniversary of Neil Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot on soil not of this earth. Armstrong was present for Doohan’s last public appearance last August, as was I. (Nichelle Nichols introduced me to Armstrong, actually.)
There’s more on what Armstrong said and Doohan, including photos from that convention at
http://soulofstartrek.blogspot.com
The only chance I had to meet him was at a space conference back in … jeez … 1979? 1980? He was absolutely surrounded by ~10,000 engineers all wanting to shake his hand, get his “Scotty” autograph, gush over what the character meant to them, and etc. The guy was a class act: made time for people, signed his name with a grin; listened to what people were telling him.
He looked so darned exhausted after the 785th person I figured I’d give the guy a break.
Keith O. is covering it on his show.
The spouse thought that Keith said Doohan was the first original “Trek” member to pass away; he forgot about DeForrest Kelly (Dr. McCoy), who died several years ago.
RIP to Montgomery Scott,
James Doohan, we’ll miss him a lot.
Forever he’d toil,
With that pesky warp coil,
Save the day as he said, “I cannot!”
I have a drink waiting over at the FBC, but I had to check in, because I really loved Scotty, and the old old Star Trek.
Anyways, here’s a toast to James Doohan. I liked him.
with Scotty was one where some aliens who took on human form took over the Enterprise. They had never experienced human emotions though, and the command crew used it to their advantage — Scotty tried to get one of the aliens drunk. After serving all sorts of exotic liquors, he finally had to pull out his treasured bottle of Scotch, which did the trick.
And of course, there’s “The Trouble with Tribbles”:
Kirk: What did you do with them?
Scotty: I gave them a good home, sir.
Kirk: Where?
Scotty: I gave them to the Klingons, sir.
Kirk: You…gave them…
Scotty: I beamed the whole lot of them to their bridge…where they’ll be no tribble at all…
I was born in 1964 and grew up with Star Trek. I taped some episodes on the BBC when I lived in Holland and still watch them now and then. I always feel like I’m a child again when I watch Star Trek. It’s so sad to hear that another person from Star Trek has died. It reminds me of my own mortality.