Leonard Nimoy has been buried in Los Angeles in a private funeral.

The 83-year-old Star Trek actor died on February 27 of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is often caused by smoking.

It is Jewish tradition for the dead to be buried within 24 hours but, as the practice is forbidden on a Saturday, the actor was laid to rest at 09:00 PST on Sunday, March 1.

Leonard Nimoy was most famous for playing Spock, the science officer and first officer on Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise.

His career also took in acting, directing, writing and photography. The tributes were led by President Barack Obama, who said in a 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 time and talents.

“And of course, Leonard was Spock. Cool, logical, big-eared and level-headed, the centre of Star Trek’s optimistic, inclusive vision of humanity’s future.”

The details of Leonard Nimoy’s memorial service were deliberately kept private, foiling the Westboro Baptist Church, which had planned to picket the event.

The group is known for its aggressive campaigning, often protesting outside the funerals of celebrities and servicemen and women.

However, the Westboro Baptist Church tweeted on March 1 it could not locate the actor’s funeral and was cancelling its plans.

According to US media, the service was restricted to close family and friends including Leonard Nimoy’s wife, Susan, the couple’s children Adam and Julie, and the star’s stepson Aaron Bay Schuck.

Although fans could not attend, they paid their respects in other ways.

A moment of silence was held at the Long Beach Comic Expo, a two-day comic book convention in California, with many attendees also dressed as Spock.

Meanwhile, Leonard Nimoy’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was adorned with flowers, photographs and messages of condolence.

Canadian fans have been altering the $5 bill to show Leonard Nimoy’s face, after Canadian Design Resource encouraged people to “Spock” their cash.

The note, which normally depicts Canada’s seventh prime minister, Wilfrid Laurier, can easily be defaced with Spock’s distinctive hairstyle and eyebrows.

Following the funeral, Leonard Nimoy’s family posted on his Facebook page: “Thank you for all the love and kind words to Leonard.

“We lost a wonderful, talented, sweet man, a great father, husband, grandpa, and friend.

“RIP and LLAP [live long and prosper].”

[youtube RwU7HxmQ7LQ 650]