Leonard Nimoy Dead at 83

Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy, whose portrayal of the logical but lovable Mr. Spock captured hearts around the world starting in the late 1960s, died on Friday morning in Los Angeles. He was 83.

He "passed away this morning after a long battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in Bel Air," his rep confirmed in a statement.

The actor first announced that he was suffering from the illness last year. "I quit smoking 30 [years] ago," Nimoy Tweeted at the time. "Not soon enough."

"Smokers, please understand," he continued. "If you quit after you're diagnosed with lung damage it's too late."

Nimoy was reportedly hospitalized with chest pains earlier this week.

The actor's Star Trek co-star William Shatner, was heartbroken on hearing the news. "I loved him like a brother," said Shatner in a statement to PEOPLE. "We will all miss his humor, his talent, and his capacity to love."

George Takei, who played Sulu on the series, told Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC: "You know, the word extraordinary is often overused, but I think it's really appropriate for Leonard.

"He was an extraordinarily talented man, but he was also a very decent human being. His talent embraced directing as well as acting and photography. He was a very sensitive man."

Before he played Spock, he appeared on ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital in 1963 as Bernie, a pill pusher who showed up at Peggy Mercer's house with a delivery for Roy Lansing.

Nimoy is survived by his wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, his children and grandchildren. A private memorial service is being planned by the family.

CLASSIC CLIP: 'As the World Turns' Actress Kathryn Hays Guest Stars on 'Star Trek'

J.J. Abrams' new film, a reboot of the original Star Trek series, is expected to be number one at the box office with a $75M weekend. Many former soap opera stars passed through the Star Trek world as guest stars during its three season run from 1966-1969 including As the World Turns actress Kathryn Hays (Kim Hughes) in 1968. Three years after playing "Gem" on Star Trek, she joined the cast of The Guiding Light as Leslie Jackson Bauer. A year later she took on the role of Kim Sullivan on ATWT and played the part until the show went off the air in September 2010.

In the Star Trek clip below, The Vians plus Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy) observe Gem as she grows weaker sacrificing her remaining energy to save Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy's (DeForest Kelley) life in "The Empath":