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Television Media Sci-Fi

"Scotty" Gets Walk of Fame Star 426

linuxwrangler writes "Actor James Doohan, aka Scotty on the original Star Trek series received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame today. This is expected to be Doohan's last public appearance as he suffers from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and lung fibrosis as well as recently diagnosed Alzheimer's disease."
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"Scotty" Gets Walk of Fame Star

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  • Comment removed (Score:4, Insightful)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:24PM (#10124865)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Re:poor guy (Score:3, Funny)

      by grunties ( 806316 )
      Proof that matter transportation is bad for your health?
    • Re:poor guy (Score:5, Informative)

      by Trikenstein ( 571493 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:30PM (#10125236)
      I never met him either, but I have talked to people that go to the conventions.
      Starting with the first one which was 25 to 30 years ago.

      They all say James is a great guy, a real sport, and used to be quite the drinker and scamp.

      He'd joke with all the guys and flirt with all the girls.

      Sounds like someone I'd be proud to hang out with.
      • by farrellj ( 563 ) * on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @02:36AM (#10126010) Homepage Journal
        James Doohan is a war hero...a Lieutenant in The Royal Canadian Artillery he was injured by machine gun fire on Juno Beach on D-Day. He was shot in the leg and the hand, which cost him a finger. After recovering from his wounds, he became a spotter plane pilot, earning the title of "The craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Corps".

        Every person who stormed the beaches on D-Day is a Hero, and to have survived nearly being killed, and getting into an even more dangerous role in the War speaks to the courage and valour Mr. Doohan has as a person, some of of which came through in his charactor of Scotty.

        He should be made a member of The Order of Canada, the highest honour Canada can bestow upon it's citizens. This man has inspired many people to go on and earn degrees in engineering, and that is a great service to society. Having attended a number of his talks at Carleton University in Ottawa, I can say that I have always been impressed by him as a person.

        ttyl
        Farrell
        • by Kinniken ( 624803 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @02:59AM (#10126060) Homepage
          and a Normand to be precise, I wish to thanks him for taking part in the D-Day. I did not know he had.
          Hey, my very own house was liberated by Canadians soldiers (it's on top of a hill overlooking a river-crossing below, so it was a minor strategic target). Too bad he couldn't have been among them...
    • Re:poor guy (Score:4, Funny)

      by shfted! ( 600189 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:31PM (#10125242) Journal
      What will happen to his six year old daughter, Sarah? His wife of 29 years, Wende, 43, gave birth to her on April 11th, 2000.
    • by Errtu76 ( 776778 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @05:03AM (#10126332) Journal
      I feel sorry for him.

      Exactly what i first thought when i saw this headline. And then i wondered, Why is this wonderful man advertised like this? Why couldn't the headline have been something that gives more credit to this man's career/life? Now everybody 'feels sorry' for him, and i seriously think he doesn't deserve that.
  • by Coneasfast ( 690509 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:24PM (#10124866)
    Captain: Mr. Scott, give me full power
    Scotty: It's no good Captain, I cannot reach the control panel

  • Sad (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Klar ( 522420 ) * <curchin.gmail@com> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:25PM (#10124875) Homepage Journal
    "he suffers from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and lung fibrosis as well as recently diagnosed Alzheimer's disease"

    I wish him the best health possible for his life.
    • Re:Sad (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Mr2cents ( 323101 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:33PM (#10124933)
      Health might be a bit over-optimistic in his situation (it must be hard to hear such a diagnose), but I hope he can still find some happiness.. WE ALL LOVE YOU, SCOTTY!
    • Re:Sad (Score:2, Insightful)

      Agreed. A lot of actors & actresses haven't alway known they were committing themselves to a lifelong label of a particular role, never really able to break away from the past (until it was too late). Fortunately, there were movies which could continue to pay them where other opportunities could not.

      He's given a lot and definitely put his brand on the role. No matter what he must endure, a star is the least which can be done for him.
    • Re:Sad (Score:5, Insightful)

      by ElrondHubbard ( 13672 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:29AM (#10125538)
      I trust that most, if not all, of those reading this post realize that this constitutes an advanced stage of the death of the Original Series, if not the ideals that it stood for. The final movement began, naturally, with the death of Gene Roddenberry, and entered the final downward slide with the subsequent death of DeForest Kelley. Furthermore, we all recognize that Scotty was the first among equals of the non-Kirk-Spock-McCoy segment of the original cast. Mr. Doohan, we hardly knew ye. Thank you for representing my country [canada.gc.ca] on the beaches of Normandy. I hope that I and mine shall not neglect your sacrifice in days to come.
  • by YetAnotherName ( 168064 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:25PM (#10124884) Homepage
    ... that I must say, with such a list of ailments, that I fear the slightest hangnail will do the poor guy in.

    Seriously, I grew up admiring "Scotty" as an engineer, and he was an aspiration throughout my formative years. Sure enough, I'm not an actor today, but a professional engineer, although in software, not warp drive.

    I raise this glass to you, Mr Doohan.
  • by Anonymous Coward
    "This is expected to be Doohan's last public appearance as he suffers from Parkinson's disease, diabetes and lung fibrosis as well as recently diagnosed Alzheimer's disease."

    THAT may be what you think... until he's able to save his pattern in the transporter buffer overflow for the crew of ST: TNG to free him sometime in the late 24th century, where there will be a cure for his...

    D'oh! I'm such a geek
  • Scotty is an Engineer and Kirk is just management :)

    --
    7329081
    • Scotty is an Engineer and Kirk is just management :)

      Although Kirk didn't fire Scotty when he didn't have "the power"... unlike my job... ::sigh::
    • by jeffy210 ( 214759 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:44PM (#10124996)
      Scotty is an Engineer and Kirk is just management :)

      Yeah, and Kirk's the one who always got laid... still doesn't say much for the geeks.
    • by hey! ( 33014 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:46PM (#10125326) Homepage Journal
      Oh, we can all sympathize with Scotty. Kirk isn't just management. He's management that's forgotten to take its Ritalin. Sometimes I think this PTT thing on Nextel was created to be an engineer's nightmare.

      Kirk (on intercom): Scotty, how long before we have warp drive?

      Scotty: That's be five minutes, captain.

      Kirk: Well hurry it up.

      (Scotty picks up his doubletalk spanner)

      Kirk (immediately on intercom again): How's that warp drive coming?

      Scotty(Putting down doubletalk spanner): It'll be five minutes, captain!

      Kirk: OK, but I need warp right now!

      Scotty: I'll see what I can do.

      (Picks up doubletalk spanner)

      Kirk (on intercom): Scotty, now would be a good time.

      Scotty (putting the spanner in his back pocket): For the love of Pete!

      (Kirk finally realizes he's irritated his top engineer)

      Kirk: That's OK, Scotty. You're our miracle worker. Any time in the next two minutes would be fine.

      Scotty(under his breath): F*****g a*****e!

      (Scott looks around but can't find his spanner)

      Scotty (yelling at unnamed subordinate): Where's my damn spanner?

  • A toast! (Score:5, Informative)

    by Yooden_Vranx ( 758878 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:32PM (#10124925)
    Here's to James Doohan, both for the man he was, seeing combat action on D-Day (where he lost a finger) and for the unforgettable character he gave us. A double toast of the finest Canadian and Scotch whiskeys for him and Scotty!
    • Re:A toast! (Score:5, Interesting)

      by shanen ( 462549 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:02PM (#10125092) Homepage Journal
      He was very skilled at concealing the missing finger. A negative souvenir of D-Day, though plenty of brave men lost a lot that day... There are supposed to be only two episodes where the missing finger can be spotted, but I haven't not noticed it in my copy of The Trouble with Tribbles . Or should that be something like "I haven't noticed where it is not"?

      I still admire him tremendously and way ahead of Captain Kirk, though I was more afflicted by admiration of Mr. Spock. It seems like many of the TOS actors got tired of the public's fixation on that series. Anyone else read Nimoy's I am not Spock ?

  • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:34PM (#10124939)

    Well, Scotty was great, but I have to say Doohan himself was better--if perhaps not quite as in love with geeks as we are with him.

    In Total Sell-Out [amazon.com], Brian Michael Bendis (you know, the comic book writer in charge of Powers and Ultimate Spider-man...) tells the most hilarious story of sitting by Doohan at a convention.

    When it became evident that Bendis was sympathetic to the annoyance brought about by a constant "Beam me up, Scotty!" from fans, Doohan let loose.

    "That's right, smart ass. Kiss my tribble. Bite me. Beam this, ya bloody nerds..."

    Bendis describes it as being witness to one of the greatest moments a geek could aspire to. I couldn't agree more.

    No hoax. Free PCs. [tinyurl.com]

    • by Dun Malg ( 230075 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:14PM (#10125150) Homepage
      Well, Scotty was great, but I have to say Doohan himself was better

      I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to talk with James Doohan back in 1990. I was dating the daughter of a not very well-known producer who happened to be a long time friend of James Doohan. While waiting for her to get ready to "go out" one evening, I walked into the living room and there he was, drinking a beer at the bar with her father. They invited me to join them while I waited, so I got to sit on a barstool next to Mr Doohan and talk about motorcycles (he had a Triumph when he was in the British army, then bought a Harley when he came to the US). It was pretty much just mundane small talk about a common interest, but he was a lot of fun to talk to just the same. I only got to talk to him for a half hour or so, but he's still probably one of the top ten coolest people I've ever met. Just a really, really great guy.

    • by Dalcius ( 587481 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:33PM (#10125254)
      I recall watching something on TV with Mr. Doohan talking about a woman that he had met at a Star Trek convention. She apparently was having lots of problems in life, going through depression, had recently been through a divorce (IIRC), etc., and had fixated on Star Trek as a release (not sure in what sense, I saw this a while ago). I believe she had fixated on Mr. Doohan specifically.

      Anyway, she met with Mr. Doohan and from what I recall was very emphatic about getting to know him -- I'm unsure if she was trying to treat him as Scotty or as the actor, but regardless the feeling I got from his description was that she was hanging onto the image of him from the show as she didn't have much else to hang on to. Pretty sad.

      Mr. Doohan said that he talked with her for a long time and after they parted they kept in touch, seeing each other over a period of time (2 years?). He tried to support her, talk through her problems, tried to help steer her back on the right track, etc.

      Then, he says, one day she just disappeared. He didn't hear anything from her for a few years and then suddenly she called him. She had landed a stable job, was working out of her problems and had a better grip on life. She thanked him for what he had done.

      Nobody is perfect, I am sure Mr. Doohan has his bad side, but from watching this I got the overall impression that he is a very caring man. How many Hollywood stars would put up with an obsessed fan in the condition she was in?

      Seeing him smiling in his wheelchair just pulls on my heart and makes me smile. I sincerely hope the rest of his years are peaceful and rewarding.
      • documentary (Score:3, Insightful)

        I believe what you a referring to is a sequence from the documentary Trekkies [imdb.com]. It's an interesting yet humourous watch. It also IMHO illustrates what ruined Star Trek for me so that I don't admit likingL people who just don't get it. People who memorize StarDates but fail to realize that it was just a vehicule for sharing hope and ideas about the future and thats what was really important to the series. That said as soon as I read the news thought of that clip.
  • by simrook ( 548769 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:41PM (#10124970)
    but I expect that to many of us on slashdot, Doohan represented an element in our lives that started many of us down the path of technology. I know for myself at least, it was watching Star Trek with my father (who's name is Scott, an engineer, and has was called Scotty by his coworkers) that started myself on the path of computers, science, and engineerning.

    It is unfortunate that this all is happening to him, as he is a very nice person. After a star trek convention in the mid 90's, I was waiting around for an autograph, a small kid, and he was the only person to come over and say hello. Something I'll remember.

    There's really no point to this post, just random museings from yet another Star Trek nerd.
  • by JudgeFurious ( 455868 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:41PM (#10124972)
    I'm just going with a "thanks for the memories"

    On the one hand he suffers from a large number of physical problems but on the other hand he's lived to 84 years of age and had a hell of a ride during a life that many could only dream of. I hope his remaining time is spent with family and in comfort.

  • by H_Fisher ( 808597 ) <h_v_fisher@[ ]oo.com ['yah' in gap]> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:41PM (#10124973)
    I was one of the people who got to meet Doohan, however briefly, with a family friend who's a newspaper reporter. We got to speak with him for a few minutes behind the scenes at a convention in Charlotte, NC over a decade ago. He was friendly and courteous; I was 11 at the time and a major fan of TNG and TOS, and though you know he dealt with his share of babbling fans (young and old) he smiled the whole time and signed several autographs for us.

    I can't think of a lot of actors - especially ones who're mainly famous for an offbeat role in a campy '60s series - who could maintain that good humor after a lot of years; the other cast members (William "Get A Life" Shatner and Leonard "I Am Not Spock" Nimoy had their ups and downs with the typecasting that came with their roles, and they've written about it in their memoirs) ... But when all was said and done, James Doohan seems to have done well for himself and enjoyed his part in Trek-lore all the way.

  • by deft ( 253558 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:41PM (#10124975) Homepage
    ...when the engineer outlives the doctor. No engineer should have to see his doctor die.

    --------
    Jun 11 1999 3:15PM DeForest Kelley, who, as Star Trek's folksy spaceman Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, frequently issued the dire (and trademark) "He's dead, Jim" diagnosis, died today at the Motion Picture and Television Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was 79.
  • by gorfie ( 700458 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:46PM (#10125012)
    I felt bad when I read the list of conditions that he is diagnosed with, but he seemed to be a happy fellow in the photo and there were at least four lifelong friends with him that appeared to care. Not sure why two of his most significant co-workers weren't present but I bet the ones in the photo enjoy being together. He might be typecasted into a certain role, but he's touched more lives than I can ever hope to. Thanks for the good times James/Scotty!
    • by mriker ( 571666 )
      Really. I read that Shatner and Nimoy, who both appeared at the dinner a couple of nights ago and appeared on stage to yuk it up for a while, both left before Scotty -- err, Jimmy Doohan -- and the rest of the original series cast appeared. I don't know what that's all about, but for crying out loud, you'd think they could've stuck around a little while longer to join him on stage, let alone show up for his star ceremony.
    • It's all about scheduling. Shatner and Nimoy both probably have much tighter calendars than the rest of the group. I doubt that anybody foresaw that this would be Doohan's final public appearance until just recently. The mere fact that the entire cast of the original series (minus the late DeForest Kelly) would assemble for one event is a tribute to their genuine feelings for Doohan.

      Incidentally, one night in Seattle I was at a play which Nimoy attended (the hilarious musical parody Star Drek, which Paramo
    • by codemachine ( 245871 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @01:17AM (#10125743)
      Could be that Nimoy and Shatner didn't want to overshadow James on his big day. They apparently did visit with him earlier, which is more important than the photo op anyhow.
  • by Judg3 ( 88435 ) <.jeremy. .at. .pavleck.com.> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:49PM (#10125025) Homepage Journal
    is a terrible thing to witness. I watched my grandmother succumb to it over many years. She received it in her mid 40s, which is somewhat rare. The doctors thought she might have had a small stroke or two in her sleep that started the process.

    At first it was a slight shaking in her arm that would go away. Then it wouldn't go away. Then it was her whole arm, then the whole side of her body.
    It really snowballed on her, in a span of 5 years she went from driving and writing checks and such (via a special pen that had a large grip on it) to being in a wheelchair 24/7 and barely leaving her bedroom. (My grandfather died of bone cancer during that time) She basically stopped wanting to live.

    The doctors put her on all kinds of medications and she went to the Mayo clinic constantly. They where talking about an experimental stem cell surgery to see if it would stop the brain deteration, but due to the costs and public outcry against stem cell research she never went through with it. The doctors said it's a part of life almost - if you live long enough you're basically guaranteed to get Alhzeimers, Parkinson's Disease, or both.

    I miss you nanna!
    • by MsGeek ( 162936 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:07PM (#10125112) Homepage Journal
      Parkinson's is indeed a total bitch. And the thing is that there is such a thing as Parkinson's Related Dementia, and also a form of dementia caused by TIAs or small strokes.

      Unfortunately, it will not become clear until the autopsy (if there is one) what Doohan actually had and what is causing the dementia symptoms.

      It is good that people are honoring our beloved "Scotty" now, rather than posthumously or after he's too far gone to appreciate it.
  • by kobaque ( 597589 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:51PM (#10125038)
    Always multiply your repair estimates by a factor of 4, that's how you keep your reputation as a miracle worker!
  • by rah1420 ( 234198 ) <rah1420@gmail.com> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:52PM (#10125041)
    I think one of the things that took me aback the most was that the brogue was just an affectation; I saw (at some college or another) "Star Trekking with Scotty" and dammit, he sounded just like us.

    I was waitin' ta hear the brogue, but it did nae appear unless he turned it on.

    Warp speed, Mr. Scott. Out there. Thataway.
  • ...alongside Britney (Score:5, Informative)

    by carlfish ( 7229 ) <cmiller@pastiche.org> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:52PM (#10125043) Homepage Journal
    Meaning no disrespect to Doohan, but all a walk of fame star really means is that you paid $15,000 to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and they recognised your name.

    Inclusion on the walk of fame is done entirely based on nomination, and since a successful nomination costs so much, people only ever nominate themselves, or are nominated by their studio/publicists. Which is why Britney Spears, David Spade and Pee Wee Herman all have their own stars, but Al Pacino never bothered.
    • by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:34PM (#10125256)
      Somebody else said that his son organized a donation drive -- Doohan didn't pay for it himself.
    • You're at least partially correct. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce [hollywoodchamber.net] has a page on it. The $15,000 fee is intended to reduce the number of application to a reasonable number. The fee goes to a 503(c) non-profit. And application does not equal success. As near as I can tell, though a star added does not equal one old star removed. As such, the Walk of Fame must endlessly grow. Therefore, a selection process must be fairly careful, or they'd run out of sidewalk. Soon the skids would be overrun with s

  • by ruebarb ( 114845 ) <colorache AT hotmail DOT com> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:58PM (#10125073)
    Wil (clevernickname) did an awesome tribute to J. Doohan on his website (well, it's actually the text of the speech he gave at the con. where James Doohan last appeared on Sat., I think - go to wilwheaton.net for more.

    that's what his last couple posts are about...the goodbye convention...definately worth checking out.

    and he's right...how many engineers/pilots and geeks in general were inspired by this guy? -- I remember reading an early work with some bio material where James said he sat down and tried to figure out all the mechanics and theories behind how the Enterprise worked after the first season, just so he could answer fans questions more credibly and accurately.

    "If you want the reputation as a miracle worker...always multiply your estimates by three!"

    RB
  • Lost Lustre (Score:3, Funny)

    by xrayspx ( 13127 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @10:58PM (#10125075) Homepage
    The Walk of Fame lost a little for me when I found up that the actor has to pony up for the thing, so basically, some actor wants a star, splashes out the $15k and bingo. I'm sure there's more to it than that, or else David Spade would have one right next to Gilbert Gottfried. James Doohan deserves it totally.

    But he had to pay for it, or more likely, Paramount sponsored it.

    We should lobby for Wil Wheaton or JWZ to get a star though. I'll pitch in $3 towards the "get Wil a Star" campaign.

  • by tomlouie ( 264519 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:03PM (#10125096)
    From the TNG episode "Relics" [trekpulse.com]:

    Scotty: I may be a captain by rank, but... I've never wanted to be anything else but an engineer.

    I get goosebumps everytime I see that episode. Thank you, Mr Doohan.

    Tom
  • Every Man (Score:5, Insightful)

    by DumbSwede ( 521261 ) <slashdotbin@hotmail.com> on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:05PM (#10125104) Homepage Journal
    I always liked the original Star Trek, and while Doohan might not have been a major reason for watching, he certainly played his role with admirable flair as a no nonsense every-guy. Hard working, hard playing (drinking) and proud of his Scottish roots. While we may have admired Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, we knew the way to space was paved with study, hard work, and sweet, as symbolized by Scotty.

    All of the Characters were a little one dimensional, but at least they were varied. Many dramas of the 60s and 70s we peopled by everyone is a hero, everyone is perfect types, with perhaps just one or two transient bad apples thrown in, just to motive plot lines. Scotty drank. Kirk was an impulsive Cowboy. Spock was conflicted over his being a half-breed and trying to straddle two heritages. Uhura was afraid of aging and loosing her looks. McCoy was unhappy living in world dehumanized by technology. Checkoff was young and unseasoned. Sulu had an inscrutable exterior, but a child like exuberance waiting to be released. Yeoman Rand was not quite emotionally mature and prone to hero worship. Nurse Chapel fixates on something she can't have (Spock).

    We liked all of them. We liked their eccentricities, and by extension we like the actors that played them and brought so much joy into our lives.

    Mr Doohan is still with us, but given all these woes he has to overcome in these the late years of his life, I feel a little closer to him, and will morning his passing a little more. Perhaps more than all the others as they flicker out, because as I said before, Scotty is the every-man.

    Enough with the beam me up jokes please. I really do think of these people as my friends, and this is sad news

  • by Sergeant Beavis ( 558225 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:14PM (#10125149) Homepage
    Don't forget that he is the REAL inventor of Transparent Aluminum.

    Just one of the many great things Scotty has done for us :)

    Thank you Mr. Doohan.

  • by seven of five ( 578993 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:42PM (#10125310)
    in the original trek, Scotty was trying to get an alien-inhabiting-a-human-body totally sh*tfaced. After emptying several bottles of liquor, he picks up another one. The alien asks, 'What's this one?' Scotty looks at it and says 'it's ... it's... it's GREEN....' And I b'lieve they redid that gag with 'Data' in the next gen show. Anybody hear Doohan sing? Here's to ya, Scotty....
  • A class act (Score:5, Insightful)

    by still cynical ( 17020 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:45PM (#10125324) Homepage
    I normally have no interest in celebrities in general, but my one meeting with James Doohan showed me that he was a class act.

    A couple of friends of mine dragged me to a Star Trek convention in the early 90s. Doohan was the featured star. After the obligatory question and answer session, which he handled with more humor and patience than I would have, he went out into the hall to sign autographs. I probably slowed my friends down a bit as I have no interest in autographs, but I didn't want to be left alone in the middle of the convention, so I joined them at the very end of the line. After an eternity (much longer for Doohan, who I'm sure was getting writer's cramp and a migraine after hearing the same joke and quotes from everybody in line) he made a big deal about us being the very last people in line. He seemed genuinely flattered that we waited so long to meet him, and had us come around behind the table to have multiple pictures taken with him.

    How many TV and movie stars would have simply been happy to get it over with? How few would have shown that kind of humor and good nature to just a few more of many, many fans?

    Scotty, if you read this, you greatly impressed me, restored my faith in celebrity, and made a fan for life. A sincere "Live long and prosper."
  • by illusioned ( 733320 ) on Tuesday August 31, 2004 @11:53PM (#10125363) Homepage
    Normally on slashdot when you post an opinion that 200 other people have already brought to light, you are scored as redundant. However, I think in this case the fact that you are still able to see all the praise shows just how much one man can affect more then he could ever imagine. In my childhood you were one of the people that taught me that the word can't doesn't exist. You helped affirm that ones best effort will always see them through. And so far, you've been right. May you live out the rest of your life free of pain and worry, and thank you for helping me become all I had hoped to be.
  • by NanoGator ( 522640 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:12AM (#10125466) Homepage Journal
    ...Slashdot should multiply all of our moderations by 4.

    (hand in there buddy!)
  • by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:14AM (#10125472)
    Please mod this up, I'm on as AC so it won't matter to my account.

    In case anyone didn't know of it's existence.

    Doohan's Autobiography is one of the best books of it's kind. It was written some years ago, and should be available in most metro libraries. He seems to give an honest look at his life, which is nearly as inspiring (maybe it is more so) as his characters on Star Trek.

    Before he passes on, it's nice to have so many thinking of him and sending their prayers.
  • by Hao Wu ( 652581 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:17AM (#10125486) Homepage
    Honor is very nice and well-deserved, but don't let a stupid sidewalk monument substitute for the man who lived.

    Also respect him as an actor, but also it was just a job, and the real Scott man was human like everyone here.

  • by Anonymous Writer ( 746272 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:37AM (#10125569)
    It's common to read something on this site that is intellectual. It's rare to see something that is emotional. A Hollywood Walk of Fame Star doesn't even begin to describe what an icon Scotty is, not just for trekkies, but for science. In decades to come, when quantum teleportation technology is developed more and more, it will undoubtedly be referred to as "beaming". And if ever the technology develops from transporting subatomic and atomic particles to the point that an entire person can be teleported, the news will be broken to the world with images of James Doohan operating a transporter. I bet he never thought that a simple casting audition would land him a place in history.
  • by ChipMonk ( 711367 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:42AM (#10125588) Journal
    I would be all for getting these into the hands of one of Mr. Doohan's family members. Real quips from the people he inspired, to put a smile on his face. He's earned it!
  • by istewart ( 463887 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @12:52AM (#10125635)
    I'm going to spend 5 years in college to get an undergrad degree in engineering physics. After that, I'm going to go to grad school all the way through PhD. Ultimately, the only reason I'm doing it is so that maybe I'll have a shot at building the machines Montgomery Scott so deftly manipulated in all those Star Trek episodes and movies I loved when I was a kid.

    The legacy of the character that Mr. Doohan brought to life affects not just those who grew up during the 60s. Its entrenchment in popular culture will continue this popular depiction of an engineer recognizable for a long time to come.
  • by r_j_prahad ( 309298 ) <r_j_prahadNO@SPAMhotmail.com> on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @01:36AM (#10125814)
    I got to meet Mr. Doohan at a Star Trek convention almost twenty years ago. He was the guest of honor at that one, and I learned some interesting things about him from his monologue. Most TV viewers are familiar with his Scottish brogue, but he was a master of literally hundreds of accents - he could do a Texan's drawl just as convincingly. In the original Trek series, he did many of the voice-overs and sound effects for the robots, computers, and aliens in those episodes. And he is also credited with the invention of both the Klingon and Vulcan languages. A very talented gentleman. I was glad I got the chance to meet him.
  • by Eric_Cartman_South_P ( 594330 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @02:19AM (#10125965)
    Just felt like saying to Scotty+World that I think Scotty is an awesome actor. Brilliant in his craft. I along with millions of people will forever have him, his character, his great acting, and his great delivery of quotes, in our memories. I wish him and his family the best. An actors actor he was.

  • by dukeisgod ( 739214 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @02:54AM (#10126050)
    "Very funny Scotty, now beam down my clothes..."
  • by Pop69 ( 700500 ) <billy@NoSpam.benarty.co.uk> on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @03:13AM (#10126092) Homepage
    Met him at an exhibition of Trek stuff in Edinburgh.

    His Scottish accent worked pretty well in amongst genuine Scots as well.

    He was a nice bloke, it's a shame he is going through all this and can't just slip away quietly and with dignity.
  • by PSaltyDS ( 467134 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @08:17AM (#10126884) Journal
    It must be tough to remain a decent, likable guy among the swirling mass of egos in the entertainment industry. Scotty managed it. I took my kids to the Virginia Air and Space Museum and was surprised to see Scotty standing around talking to the staff as they set up a table for autographs. I shook his hand and spoke with him for just a moment, introducing him to the kids (who had no clue what I was so excited about). We didn't have any deep thoughts to share, but Scotty was plesent and friendly with me and my kids. I don't meet many famous people, but got the impression that Scotty was the type I would like to have over for a visit and to get to know better. The stuff about Scotty's service in WWII was new to me and makes me think that much more of him.

    Scotty,
    Thank you for the smiles and fun over all those years on small and big screens. But especially, thank you for your selfless service and the way you treated others. You will be missed and well remembered.

    Do you suppose he reads slashdot? :-)
  • by walterbyrd ( 182728 ) on Wednesday September 01, 2004 @08:58AM (#10127152)
    He had a certain "toughness" about him. Sort of reminded me of a pirate. He used a lot a anatomical references: "We'll see if they have the belly for it", "I'll ram this ship right down it's throat if I have to."

Where there's a will, there's a relative.

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