Why does it seem all the kind, good people are the first to go? I just finished reading DeForest Kelley's book a couple of days ago.. after feeling kind of down at the end of that, now James Doohan dies. I hope he didn't suffer too much, with having Alzheimer's Disease and all.

I've met him a few times as well. When a buddy of mine introduced himself, Doohan kept repeating his last name over and over sorta like Bugs Bunny did in the "Hansel and Gretel" cartoon ("Hansel? Hansel?!?"). It's a line we still use to this day.

He will be greatly missed.

I saw him in a convention here in Chicago. At one point he left the stage and strode down the long center aisle.

He extended his arms out as far as he could and with palms wide open attempted to touch as many fans on each side of the aisle as he could.

Beaming with that wide grin of his he absolutely reveled in the experience.

There are not too many Hollywood types that would do that I think.

You could see how he loved the fans and how they in turned loved him back!!

That was about 30 years ago but I still remember it!!

He's dead, Jim.

I never got to see him at a convention, but he was always my favorite part of any Trek ep or movie. I'm not Scottish or an engineer, but I always felt a kinship with Scotty somehow. Like you know your stuff, but you're more content being behind the scenes, or deep in the bowels of the engine room. The ones on the bridge may get the glory, but you get the satisfaction of knowing you did a job well.

And so he goes forth into the undiscovered country. He will be missed.

Met him once. Neat dude. Zod was spot on in his assessment.

Met him doing promo work for STVI, opening a new modern hospital wing and surgery center. He was great with the fans and had all of us in stitches with his stories and various dialects. A gentleman, who will be missed.

To Mister Scott.... thanks for the memories... you were one of the greats

First thing I thought of too. Better than beaming himself up.

According to Yahoo , he died in the FUTURE!


In the year TWENTY THOUSAND!!!!!!

before he died

This is a bit unfair...I've seen all these guys on stage and they all talk a little bit about Trek and a little bit about their personal interests (including Jimmy). Personally, I've always thought Nimoy was the nicest of the lot...but Doohan did overtime at conventions (he was probably at one every weekend during the late 80s), so I can understand why many consider him the friendliest of the lot (and he certainly was a hoot to talk and listen to). Shatner always gets a bad rap, but I've found him to be just as friendly and personable as most of the others.

But alas...that's an argument for another thread. Didn't want to take anything away from the fine person that Mr. Doohan was.

http://www.incallander.co.uk/music/amzngracemp3.wav

I saw him at my university where he spoke and then did a question and answer session. I guess that was about 13 years ago. I had never noticed his hand before. Someone more observant than myself, asked him how he had lost a finger. Of course, he then told about storming the beach on D-Day. That impressed me more than anything he had to say about Star Trek that night. And I really like Star Trek.

Back in high school, a friend of mine used to have a table at Creation Conventions. It seemed that at every. friggin'. convention I went to with him, Jimmy was the guest. I would get SO frustrated [especially considering that tNG had just his the airwaves]. However, after a couple minutes talking with Jimmy and watching the way he'd interact with fans, I didn't bother me in the least.

This is the kind of news you really hate waking up to.

It's sad in a larger sense, that the original crew is now, one by one, passing away. "Star Trek," was such a big part of my childhood it really kind of makes you feel... old.

Panda Phil beat me to the mpg file of Amazing Grace, here's a link to a midi of Flowers of The Forrest, a scottish song often played at funerals:

http://ingeb.org/songs/iveheard.html

"The flowers of the forest,
That fought aye the foremost,
The prime of our land lie cauld in the clay."

RIP, Scotty

Not much of a Star Trek fan, but I watched "Wrath of Kahn" tonight for the first time since it was in the theaters.

RIP

"Laddie I don't know where ye been, but I see ye've won first prize!"

- Scotty used this punchline (from the Scotsman song) to some Klingons in a bar, in one of the books....

One (well, two actually) of my biggest regrets, is that on two separate occassions that I had opportunity to do so, I never spoke to Mr. Doohan, to tell him how much I appreciated his work.

The first time was in Pittsburgh in the late seventies at a Trek convention with all the cast except one. Nimoy was in town performing as Sherlock Holmes and, even though he was a tremendous help to the con's fan organizers, was a no show due to some dispute with Paramount. The con was spread over several floors of a downtown hotel and at one point my wife and I wound up on the fourth floor, along with three teenage girls, waiting to catch an elevator down. When it stopped, inside was Doohan with two "klingon-type" handlers. Nobody said a word, and we all quietly got on the elevator and turned around to face the doors. Doohan and his "guards" got off at the second floor and when the doors closed, one of the girls squealed, "I can't believe I was on an elevator with James Doohan!" Neither could I.

The second time (and the one I really kick myself about) was at a Superman anniversary convention in Cleveland during the eighties. Oddly enough, this time was also on an elevator, only this time there were no other fans around and Doohan had no "guards."
For about thirty seconds I was alone with a Star Trek icon, the Chief Engineer of the U.S.S Enterprise, and. . . I. . . didn't. . . say. . . a. . . word.

Oh well, life goes on.

RIP, Mr Doohan.

little known James Doohan fact, he only had 3 fingers on one hand! He had 2 of them blown off during WW2. I can't remember which hand, but I got his autograph and had like 20 seconds with him about 15 years ago and I remember seeing that he was missing a few digits. It is never shown or noticed on the show or during the movies.

1 finger.

Actually, I believe if you look hard enough in STIII: TSFS, during the scene where they are escaping from Space Dock, you might catch a glimpse.