Posted on 10/15/2005 10:08:03 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
Saturday, 15 October 2005, 08:48 GMT 09:48 UK
Space date set for Scotty's ashes
Star Trek actor James Doohan, who played Scotty in the series, will have his final wish granted when his ashes are sent into space on 6 December.
Doohan died of Alzheimer's disease and pneumonia in July, aged 85. His ashes will be accompanied by thousands of tributes from fans of the sci-fi show.
"James spent so much time with fans and many want to come to his space blast," a Space Services Inc spokeswoman said.
The firm will fire the ashes into orbit from a California Air Force base.
'Absolutely adored'
"Jimmy absolutely adored playing the role of Scotty on Star Trek," said his widow Wende Doohan in a letter to fans.
"He would have given almost anything to be able to actually go into space.
"He finally gets his wish, I can't think of a more fitting send off than having some of his fans attend this, his final journey."
Mrs Doohan invited fans to contribute extra tribute messages via the Space Services Inc website, "to honour him on his journey to Earth orbit".
Messages will be digitised and put onto a disc that will be included in the rocket that carries Doohan's remains into space from Vandenberg Air Force Base.
The Texas company previously sent the ashes of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and 1960s drug guru Timothy Leary into space.
Doohan's Star Trek character Scotty manned the Starship Enterprise with Captain James T Kirk, played by Shatner, and Mr Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy.
The original crew lasted for three series, starting in 1966, before the show was axed, but the team reunited for seven big screen movies.
'Beam me up'
Although Doohan became synonymous with the line "Beam me up, Scotty", it was never actually said in the series.
The closest Captain Kirk came to saying it was in the fourth Star Trek movie, when he said "Scotty, beam me up".
Canadian-born Doohan had been a successful character actor on radio and TV before landing the role in the pilot Star Trek episode.
He quickly became typecast as the Scottish space engineer, finding it difficult to get other roles, but he learned to embrace his place in sci-fi history.
His final public appearance was in October 2004 when he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Montgomery Scott PING!!
I guess James Traficant will be in jail awhile, as now there's nobody to beam him up.
LOL!
I was able to get a picture autographed. He was a funny old fart, even then.
Doohan hit Normandy beach on D-Day as a Royal Army soldier. He had a finger shot off as he scrambled off the beach. He was a true hero, unlike most Hollywood actors.
Doohan also landed on Juno Beach on June 6th, 1944.
Oy! Quick, get "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot - II" Into production ASAP!
So, when you say "when you were a kid" how old is that? 25-30?
I could never understand people who chase after movie stars either, it's a part of the American culture I guess. I've just never thought of actors and entertainers as being anything, or anyone special, more along the lines of being the village jester, just there for my amusement. They seem to play the role of village idiot these days as well.
I know this is unrelated but remember that Moody Blues song "Timothy Leary's Dead?" They were saying he was dead for a long time then he finally did die.
That he was. He was one of the few 'down to earth' actors.
Paging Ms. Thanotogenous, Report to Cremain refueling
area. Paging Ms. Thanotogenous!
I went to a Star Trek convention too. I only stayed long enough to hear the actors talk about the show , which was why I went. It was in NY. It was delayed because someone hit Shatner with a pie so the "star talk" was shorter than expected.
WOW....Pretty neat and a fitting end!
Same reason people follow sports teams and go to games and buy the clothing, etc.
I saw him at an early convention. After his talk, he went up the aisles so we could 'touch him.' From anyone else, it would have been incredibly egotistical, but from Doohan, it was just charming. He was just so open to his fans.
I'm glad he finally got to go into space.
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