Obama: 'I loved Spock'

Leonard Nimoy has died at age 83, and President Obama issued a statement Friday praising Nimoy and his portrayal of Star Trek's Spock.

Here's Obama's statement:

Long before being nerdy was cool, there was Leonard Nimoy. Leonard was a lifelong lover of the arts and humanities, a supporter of the sciences, generous with his talent and his time. And of course, Leonard was Spock. Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the center of Star Trek's optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity's future.I loved Spock.In 2007, I had the chance to meet Leonard in person. It was only logical to greet him with the Vulcan salute, the universal sign for "Live long and prosper." And after 83 years on this planet — and on his visits to many others — it's clear Leonard Nimoy did just that. Michelle and I join his family, friends, and countless fans who miss him so dearly today. [The Chicago Sun-Times]

Nimoy suffered from complications due to end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. His last film role was in 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness.