An angry Leonard Nimoy wrote the following letter in July of 1976, after learning that a Star Trek blooper reel had been shown in public without his consent. The letter, sent to the show’s creator, Gene Roddenberry, is brimming with annoyance and clearly spells out – not for the first time it seems – the reasons behind Nimoy’s stance.

To add: I understand the date on the RECEIVED stamp was incorrect; the letter was sent, and received, in 1976.

Transcript follows. Image supplied by Denny Fitzgerald.

Image: Denny Fitzgerald

Transcript

LEONARD NIMOY

705 NO. ALFRED STREET

LOS ANGELES, CALIF. 90069

(213) 6567112

Mr. Gene Roddenberry

Paramount Studios

5451 Marathon Street

Hollywood, Calif. 90038

July 6, 1976

Dear Gene:

You must be aware that I have long held certain, very strong negative feelings about the use of the “blooper reel” in public. I personally expressed these feelings to you a year and a half ago. I thought we had an understanding.

Several months later when I reported hearing of the use of the film again, you told me it was an old commitment you had to fulfill.

Now I am in Milwaukee. Evidently you made an appearance here and showed the film very recently. I can’t accept the “old commitment” approach in this case. If the use of the film is so important to you that it is worth jeopardizing our future working relationship, then perhaps we should establish that worth in dollars.

My objections to its use are two-fold:

1) The artistic question of the characters being exposed in less than an ideal light.

2) The unauthorized use of an actors work without payment where there is a financial gain involved for the user.

Certainly at least the latter would be of interest to the Screen Actors Guild and to some of the actors who have had less than flourishing careers in recent years.

I don’t feel that I can let this situation ride on a friendship basis any longer.

Would you please give me some signal as to your intentions?

Sincerely,

(Signed, ‘Leonard Nimoy’)

LEONARD NIMOY

LN/tv