Alas, it’s turning into a hard week.

So sad to report another beloved celebrity passing.  Arlene Martel, who became immortal as Spock’s betrothed T’Pring, passed away today at the age of 78. Arlene was a fixture at Trek conventions and had numerous TV appearances on classic TV series like The Monkees, Wild Wild West, and Hogan’s Heroes and Columbo.

Arlene shared a lesson she learned from her T’Pring experience on her official website:

“The primary lesson for me on Amok Time was a lesson in K.I.S.S. (“Keep It Simple, Stupid”). Our director Joe Pevney, contrary to what most directors usually request of the actor, said “give me less, give me less”. Previous to that, most of the women I played had been highly charged with emotion. Playing a character as emotionally controlled as “T’Pring” was certainly a first for me. It was a welcome challenge,” she continues. “Controlling my energy was a very wonderful discipline, and playing a person who was ruled by logic was also a new experience. Now, hopefully, I’ve integrated both, but at the time it was my first professional encounter with an analytical and objective being.”

Arlene was a lovely, talented actress, writer, and producer who will be sadly missed.  Rest in Peace dear lady.

Leonard Nimoy with Arlene at a convention in 1976

A lovely, recent portrait of Arlene