Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy has died at the age of 83 in Los Angeles, his family has announced.

Leonard Nimoy played Mr. Spock in the cult sci-fi series Star Trek.

The actor’s son, Adam, said he died of end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on February 27.

Leonard Nimoy had a long career as both an actor and director.

He was best known for his portrayal of the half-human, half-Vulcan character in both the TV franchise and series of films.

In 2014, Leonard Nimoy revealed he was suffering chronic lung disease COPD, despite stopping smoking 30 years ago.

It was reported earlier this week he had been taken to hospital on February 19 after suffering from chest pains.

Leonard Nimoy later tweeted: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.”

He signed off what was to be his final tweet with “LLAP” – a reference to his character’s famous catchphrase, “Live long and prosper”.

The same Twitter account was used by his granddaughter to confirm that the actor died at home on February 27 in Bel-Air, California.

Dani Nimoy said her grandfather was an “extraordinary man, husband, grandfather, brother, actor, author – the list goes on – and friend.”

She added that special merchandise was being added to Leonard Nimoy’s website, with all proceeds going to the COPD foundation.

George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek and was a friend of Nimoy’s, paid tribute to the actor.

Among the torrent of tributes on Twitter was a message from NASA crediting Leonard Nimoy and Star Trek as an inspiration.

Thousands took to Twitter to pay tribute after Leonard Nimoy’s death was announced, including Star Trek actors past and present.

William Shatner, who as Captain Kirk acted alongside Leonard Nimoy for years in Star Trek, said he loved the actor “like a brother”.

It was Leonard Nimoy’s casting as Spock in 1966 that made him in a star and, in many ways, defined his acting career.

He played the character in all three of the original series of the program and later in several big-screen spin offs.

Leonard Nimoy had an ambivalent relationship with Spock, seeming to both cherish and resent his close association with the role.

The actor’s two volumes of autobiography – I Am Not Spock in 1975 and I Am Spock twenty years later – seemed to epitomize his mixed feelings.

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