Some depressing news for Star Trek fanatics worldwide. In an interview with The Toronto Sun, Leonard Nimoy apparently revealed that he now intends to retire from acting and even from all of those crazy conventions that have been such a huge part of his career.

Nimoy, who was finishing up his last episode as Dr. Bell on the popular J.J. Abrams TV show, Fringe, basically just explains that he’s been doing this longer than most of us have been alive, and it’s time for him to step away and enjoy his life.

In regard to his iconic Spock character, specifically, he doesn’t think there’s anymore for him to do with it now. When talking about Abrams’ new vision of that mythos and Star Trek 2, which is expected some time in 2012, he made it clear that he wanted vacate entirely and leave plenty of space for Zachary Quinto to nourish and grow the character as he will.

Here’s what the 79-year-old actor had to say:

When it comes to conventions, Nimoy will appear at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend, but says that could be he last as well. Before that convention, in order to finish things off in perfect fashion, he’ll also be visiting nearby Vulcan, a real town of 1,900 people. During his visit to the town who proudly bears the name of Spock’s home planet, Nimoy will visit the local Trek museum, help unveil a bronze bust of the character, and even take part in a ceremony where his legendary split-fingered Vulcan salute hand print will be immortalized in the town.

Nimoy plans to now concentrate on his new artistic venture as a photographer, and even has some art shows coming up. But as the actor says: “I was away from acting for 12 years, so I guess I was seducable. But since J.J. Abrams revived the Star Trek franchise, I felt I owed him something, and I’m glad I did it because he promised me a good story, and it was.” So who knows, maybe if something too good to pass up comes along, we’ll see him returning to our eyes in the future!

[Source: via Heat Vision]