Will Quintos NuSpock Be Remembered LIke Nimoys Spock?

[M'Sharak]

. . .ask yourself how many people think of Steve Reeves as Superman, versus how many people would think first of Christopher Reeve—however, I don't think it's terribly likely.

Not likely at all, since Steve Reeves played Hercules, not Superman.

The guy I first think of as Superman is George Reeves.

You're right - George Reeves. Stupid memory. Will fix my earlier post.

 

[Melakon]

Well, I think Steve's IMDB page said people often confused their names. Apparently when George was arguing about salary one year, the producers threatened to replace him with Steve. I don't recall hearing that story before.

 

[IrishNero]

The topic could be broached for any of the cast of the original series. However, I think that Nimoy always held a special place in the heart of Trek fans because he was, in many way, the face of Trek, along with Shatner. That will probably be so until most if not all of the fans of the original series have also passed.

However, to a 10-year old who really enjoyed the new movies and have never seen the original series, like it or not, they know Nimoy only as 'Old Spock.' -Kind of like how my teenage daughter has heard the names of Elvis and Madonna and have a vague concept of who they are, but might think that Bruno Mars and Katy Perry are bigger stars. She has no point of reference.

Perhaps the OP's question is more aptly "Will Quinto's New Spock be remembered like Nimoy's Spock to you?" And I would say that I love Quinto's portrayal, but having grown up with Nimoy being Spock, that's a really, really tall order. Nimoy was not only a great Spock but he rocked as a person in so many other ways, and that's what made him (and Shatner) the face of the franchise.

 

[Timewalker]

The topic could be broached for any of the cast of the original series. However, I think that Nimoy always held a special place in the heart of Trek fans because he was, in many way, the face of Trek, along with Shatner. That will probably be so until most if not all of the fans of the original series have also passed.

However, to a 10-year old who really enjoyed the new movies and have never seen the original series, like it or not, they know Nimoy only as 'Old Spock.' -Kind of like how my teenage daughter has heard the names of Elvis and Madonna and have a vague concept of who they are, but might think that Bruno Mars and Katy Perry are bigger stars. She has no point of reference.

Perhaps the OP's question is more aptly "Will Quinto's New Spock be remembered like Nimoy's Spock to you?" And I would say that I love Quinto's portrayal, but having grown up with Nimoy being Spock, that's a really, really tall order. Nimoy was not only a great Spock but he rocked as a person in so many other ways, and that's what made him (and Shatner) the face of the franchise.

The generational context is important. I remember vividly the day Elvis died, and where I was when I heard it: playing a game of Monopoly with a school friend in my bedroom. Her sister ran all the way over to my place to tell her that her favorite singer had died. I wasn't an Elvis fan as such (enjoyed a few of his songs), but I remember how shocked and upset a lot of people were.

I have to confess that I find it odd to read that there are ST fans who have never seen the Original Series. Some of those people find it odd that I can't stand the Abrams movies and am definitely not a fan of any of the nuTrek actors (not counting Nimoy as one of them).

The thing about Leonard Nimoy is that he acted in a variety of roles throughout his career both before and after Star Trek, in movies, on TV, and on stage. He also wrote, directed, lectured, sang, and was a photographer. He was an artist in multiple genres and roles, and I have not heard that Quinto is equally adept. Whether he will be able to say that in 50 years is another matter, of course. I've never seen him in anything other than the Abrams movies.

My answer to the OP's question is therefore "no."

 

[TRON JA307020]

We also know that, by the mid-70s, the Nimoy Spock had 80 episodes worth of development in the original TV series, plus the additional 22 episodes of the animated series. That's not to mention the exposure the character got via posters and promotional items, promotional appearances, the Blish collections, audio recordings, and so forth. Even the "Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" video: Nimoy appeared ostensibly as himself, but no effort was made to disguise the distinctive Spock haircut.

Compared to all of that, the Quinto Spock appears in about four hours' worth of content, plus one video game and one novelization of the 2009 movie.

Now I suppose it's within the realm of possibility that, someday, NuSpock might be remembered as well and as fondly as oldSpock—it's a stretch, but ask yourself how many people think of George Reeves as Superman, versus how many people would think first of Christopher Reeve—however, I don't think it's terribly likely.

It's likely to be a very long time before any answer to the question posed in the thread title has a chance of meaning very much. Honestly, I'm wondering why it seemed important to be asking it now.

I was in a airport store on my way home and I noticed a couple of special magazines(Entertainment and a one shot star trek magazine) with Nimoys picture as spock on them and I started to think about how many people young and old were aware of him and knew him as Mr. Spock. Even some of the teenagers at my work knew who he was and that he played Mr. Spock even though they weren't Star Trek fans and never watched the show or any of the movies. Even 20 years down the line when will Quinto is in his 50s will he be lauded for playing Spock like Nimoy was or will it be for something else. I always thought of him as the guy who was in heroes or American Horror story. My thinking is that Quinto probably doesn't wish to be as strongly associated with the character at least when people will look at the body of his work in a few decades. Time will tell I guess. I just found it a interested thing to think about and how icons are initially formed and the people that are associated with them.

 

[MacLeod]

Who can say how anyone will be remembered.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Who can say how anyone will be remembered.

Well I think we can rest assured that William Shatner will definitely be remembered for a long time for his playing Kirk. Look at Lucille Ball. She is still remembered to this day by both young and old largely due to the fact of reruns of "I Love Lucy". I think that most knew before she died that she would be remembered mostly for that. Certain actors are easy to figure out how they will be remembered some are more difficult.

 

[Melakon]

Quinto might wind up being remembered more for Sylar than Spock.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Quinto might wind up being remembered more for Sylar than Spock.

Quite possibly.

 

[RandyS]

Ask me again in 50 years.

Beat me to it.

 

[BillJ]

Well I think we can rest assured that William Shatner will definitely be remembered for a long time for his playing Kirk.

But did anyone think that in 1967, 1968, 1969 or even 1979? It is simply impossible to know how someone will be remembered.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Well I think we can rest assured that William Shatner will definitely be remembered for a long time for his playing Kirk.

But did anyone think that in 1967, 1968, 1969 or even 1979? It is simply impossible to know how someone will be remembered.

I agree not in the 60s when the show as in production but by 1979 I think we can safely say that the characters were what the original actors would be remembered for. There was a rabid fan base in the early and mid 70s unlike anything that was seen before. Nimoy knew that he was typecast by the mid 70s and was obviously not happy so he wrote "I am not Spock" because he didn't want to be known for just Spock. Obviously Nimoy embraced the character fully and came to terms with it and is now basically known for Spock but managed to pull a few gems out of a bag such as "Invasion of the Body Snatcher" and directing movies like Three Men and a Baby. Still he is remembered mostly for bringing Roddenberrys Spock alive and lifting the character to greatness. Not a bad legacy.

 

[USS Triumphant]

I wasn't an Elvis fan as such (enjoyed a few of his songs), but I remember how shocked and upset a lot of people were.

Yes. They were all shook up. (Too soon? )

Quinto might wind up being remembered more for Sylar than Spock.

I'm thinking that with Sylar, Spock, his characters off of American Horror Story, 24, and all of the little parts here and there plus all that the future may hold if he keeps at it at his current pace, Quinto may end up remembered in broader strokes than Nimoy, as a great character actor with a special talent for characters of an unusual or sinister nature. Or... Trek 3 could be the end of the run with the current cast, the Heroes revival could tank, and Quinto could fall out of vogue with the casting directors, and in 10 years, he'll be as well known as Matt Dillon (the actor, not the character from Gunsmoke).

Hollywood is fickle.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The thing about Leonard Nimoy is that he acted in a variety of roles throughout his career both before and after Star Trek, in movies, on TV, and on stage. He also wrote, directed, lectured, sang, and was a photographer. He was an artist in multiple genres and roles, and I have not heard that Quinto is equally adept. Whether he will be able to say that in 50 years is another matter, of course. I've never seen him in anything other than the Abrams movies.

Quinto's been pretty busy. He first came to prominence as "Sylar" on Heroes and before that was a reoccurring character on 24 He's been in two seasons of American Horror Story, for which he earned an Emmy nomination. His stage work includes roles in "Angels in America" and "the Glass Menagerie" both which earned him nominations for various theater awards. He produced the film "Margin Call", which also earned him some awards. He's also a producer, co writer, and star of a short film called "Bordeaux". Which is made up of digital stills rather than video. A pretty cool little film.

So he's building a decent body of work.

 

[Timewalker]

I wasn't an Elvis fan as such (enjoyed a few of his songs), but I remember how shocked and upset a lot of people were.

Yes. They were all shook up. (Too soon? )

After 35+ years, I think a pun can be forgiven.

 

[Melakon]

The day Elvis died, the local rock station followed the announcement with Foreigner's "Cold as Ice".

 

[IrishNero]

Quinto probably doesn't wish to be as strongly associated with the character at least when people will look at the body of his work in a few decades. Time will tell I guess. I just found it a interested thing to think about and how icons are initially formed and the people that are associated with them.

I also think that Quinto probably doesn't want to be so strongly associated with Spock as Nimoy did, but I don't think Nimoy wanted that either. It was only when Star Trek went off like an atomic bomb that he essentially became inextricably linked with Spock. Is today's audience as likely to typecast an actor as happened in the 60s and 70s? I dunno, but I think that recent evidence has shown that many actors have been able to escape typecasting with roles that may have defined them. I really don't think it was ever as large of a threat in the first place. I believe directors and studios worried about it much more than was ever warranted, and refused to hire good actors on that basis alone. However, perhaps Nimoy would never have been so closely associated with Spock if he'd also been Indiana Jones or some other iconic role unassociated with Trek.

 

[-Brett-]

Derivative works aren't remembered as well as the originals. Abrams Trek will eventually join the spin offs in obscurity. That says nothing about their quality one way or the other. It's just the nature of the beast.

Quinto has had, and will probably continue to have a respectable career, but when he shuffles off I doubt his time as Spock will be much more than a footnote.

 

[Mudd]

William Shatner's Kirk won't be remembered as well as Leonard Nimoy's Spock, so why should Quinto's Spock be?

 

[IrishNero]

William Shatner's Kirk won't be remembered as well as Leonard Nimoy's Spock, so why should Quinto's Spock be?

That's probably, to a large degree, because of Shatner and not so much because of Kirk.