Caffeinated Clint
All journey’s must eventually come to an end, and unfortunately "Star Trek" star James Doohan’s plight abruptly ended today.
Doohan, best known for his role as the iconic ‘Scotty’ on TV’s "Star Trek" and a horde of "Trek" films, sadly died at his home in Redmond, Wash. He was 85. The cause of his death was pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Doohan inspired the phrase "Beam me up, Scotty," although Capt. Kirk never issued that order until the fourth movie.
He told his family he wanted his ashes blasted into space, Stevens said. Houston-based Space Services Inc., which specializes in space memorials, said it would send Doohan’s remains, along with 125 others, aboard a rocket later this year. The Ashes of Gene Roddenberry, the creator of ‘Trek’, were blasted into space too.
Canadian-born Doohan tried seven different accents to win the role of Scotty on NBC’s "Star Trek" (1966).
"The producers asked me which one I preferred," Doohan recalled 30 years later. "I believed the Scot voice was the most commanding. So I told them, ‘If this character is going to be an engineer, you’d better make him a Scotsman.’"
"A long and storied career is over. I knew Jim when he started out in Canada and I knew him in his last years in America, so we go way back. My condolences go out to his family," Co-star William Shatner said.
Doohan’s last public appearance was in October 2004 when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A quick check over at Doohan’s official site and you’ve got a pic of Scotty holding a bottle of Scotch. Below it, the heart-felt words "We mourn the death of a great man". In the forums though – there’s a mass of fans speaking out about their fave space-squating hero. Quite heart-felt stuff.
Here’s a couple of the postings :
"We shall mourn your passing James. We have cherished your character of "Commander Montgomery Scott aka Scotty" for literally generations. May your soul be in peace, and may you join Bones and Gene where "No Mane has gone before" We love you and miss you very deeply! With Deepest condolances" –
The O’Dell Family young and old
"I learned of the passing of James Montgomery Doohan today, and yes a bright light has gone out on Earth, but an even brighter one is now in the heavens. I was fortunate to have met "Scotty" back on Nov 17, 1996, the day of my 38th birthday. He was doing a contest where if you could guess which episode the line came from, you’d get up on stage with him and get an autographed magnet. Jimmy was so gracious, he saw someone was going to take my picture along side of him, and he graciously posed for the camera with me. So Jimmy, let’s hope you’ve headed to the 2nd star on the right and are going straight on until morning, and keep your "bairns" going at warp speed" – Robert Murphy
"Goodbye old friend, you entertained us well and many will miss you. May your journey ahead be as exciting as the voyages we all took with you aboard the USS Enterprise all those years ago. You will be missed but never forgotten. Ahead warp factor 2" – Solaris
"Mister James Doohan your character Scotty has been in my life for so many years. I Miss you already so much and hope to see you again when I pass thru the pearly gates of Heaven. I would like to send my deepest condolenses to all of James family and close friends. Mister Doohan YOU did live long and prosper" – Fred01e
Tonight, I’m checking out one of this year’s most anticipated science fiction movies – Joss Whedon, Captain Tighpants, Browncoats; enough clues? – and now, it’s going to play like a different experience : Somewhat of a tribute to the science-fiction series that kicked off this galactic trend, but largely, another reminder of all the great folks that Sci-Fi has produced.
Without Kirk, without Spock, without the one-and-only Scotty – there might never have been a "Star Wars" or a "Serenity" – and I believe it’s an intangible award those who created such memorable characters and gave us such experiences, should inarguably be buried with. Nice job James Doohan. I can safely say – You’ll never be forgotten.
Beam him up Sir.
