LOS ANGELES – In the movies, Captain Kirk was there for Spock, both when he died of radiation poisoning and when his body was blasted into space in a giant black sunglasses case.
But in real-life, Kirk – played by William Shatner – was just to busy to be there for his real-life friend, 83-year-old Leonard Nimoy, who died Friday at his home.
“I loved him like a brother,” Shatner tweeted Saturday. Shatner played Captain James T. Kirk of Iowa for years during the 1960’s alongside Nimoy’s Spock in the sci-fi classic Star Trek.
“I’ve been avoiding social media (actually all media) for the past 24 hours,” Shatner said as he acknowledged the outpouring of attention he has received since the death of Nimoy, who was beloved by millions for his role as the iconic Mr. Spock.
“I am currently in (Florida) as I agreed to appear at the Red Cross Ball tonight. Leonard’s funeral is tomorrow (Sunday). I can’t make it back in time,” Shatner explained. “I feel really awful. Here I am doing charity work and one of my dearest friends is being buried.”