Josh
07-01-2004, 10:28 PM
STAR Trek star James Doohan, who played engineer Scotty, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
The gutsy 84-year-old actor, often told "Beam me up Scotty" on the USS Enterprise, had hoped to stay on the Star Trek convention circuit.
He had carried on despite Parkinson's disease, diabetes, lung fibrosis and a bout of pneumonia. But Alzheimer's disease was the final straw.
His wife Wende, 47, said at home in Los Angeles: "With Jimmy it's the loss of words. He is not so sick yet that he doesn't know people. And there are times when he is sharp as a tack. But it's the older memories that stick.
"What he had for breakfast might be an iffy thing, but by golly he could tell you all about how he got the part on Star Trek."
A tribute for the actor is being held in Hollywood next month and he is also to receive a star on the town's walk of fame.
Sad sad news for Trek fans like me. How many more years before the entire TOS cast is gone. How much longer is left for Shatner? :(
The gutsy 84-year-old actor, often told "Beam me up Scotty" on the USS Enterprise, had hoped to stay on the Star Trek convention circuit.
He had carried on despite Parkinson's disease, diabetes, lung fibrosis and a bout of pneumonia. But Alzheimer's disease was the final straw.
His wife Wende, 47, said at home in Los Angeles: "With Jimmy it's the loss of words. He is not so sick yet that he doesn't know people. And there are times when he is sharp as a tack. But it's the older memories that stick.
"What he had for breakfast might be an iffy thing, but by golly he could tell you all about how he got the part on Star Trek."
A tribute for the actor is being held in Hollywood next month and he is also to receive a star on the town's walk of fame.
Sad sad news for Trek fans like me. How many more years before the entire TOS cast is gone. How much longer is left for Shatner? :(