Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy Starred In A TV Movie Revival Of A Classic Western Series
The legendary Spock actor had a multifaceted career outside of science fiction. At one point, he was part of an effort to bring back a cowboy classic.
Leonard Nimoy, best known for portraying Mr. Spock in Star Trek, made a unique appearance in a TV movie revival of the classic Western series Bonanza. Released in 1995, Bonanza: Under Attack served as a sequel to the Bonanza series and marked the final part of a trilogy of TV films focusing on the next generation of the Cartwright family.
The movie also featured Richard Roundtree, who was famous for his role in the Shaft film. Nimoy portrayed Frank James, a historical figure and the notorious brother of Jesse James. Seeking refuge on the Ponderosa Ranch, Frank hoped to be protected by his old Civil War friend, Bronc Evans, played by Ben Johnson. The Cartwrights were drawn into a conflict as an enemy threatened their peace.
Although the main cast of the original Bonanza series had passed away by 1995, the movie series featured their offspring, such as Michael Landon Jr. and Dirk Blocker. While the film didn't lead to further sequels, it marked Nimoy's return to the Western genre and one of Jack Elam's last acting roles. Nimoy himself described the experience as enjoyable, particularly enjoying the camaraderie with Elam and Ben Johnson.
Written by urgent.news from TVLine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
