Spock told Birmingham lookalike to quit smoking
The spirit of Spock star Leonard Nimoy, has given words of encouragement to the world's greatest lookalike, Roy Ives.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/spock-told-birmingham-lookalike-quit-9765065
The spirit of Spock star Leonard Nimoy has boldly gone where no other spectre has gone before – the bedroom of a Kitts Green flat.
And from there, the Star Trek legend, who died in February, aged 83, has given words of encouragement to the
world’s greatest lookalike, Roy Ives.
Roy, much in demand because of his uncanny resemblance to the actor, spoke of his Vulcan visitations while preparing for yesterday’s “Alien Invasion of Acocks Green”.
The event, organised by the Business Improvement District, saw the suburb awash with such sci-fi favourites as Batman and Robin, Spiderman, Darth Vader and Dr Who.
Roy, aged 71, told the Mercury that Nimoy, a former heavy smoker who died of obstructive pulmonary disease – a condition he blamed on the addiction, had visited him twice.
And he came to implore his “double” to kick the tobacco habit.
Roy, who smokes 30-a-day, said: “I woke up in the early hours of the morning and could feel a presence in the bedroom. I was conscious of someone sitting on the edge of the bed.
“He was Nimoy, not Spock, and was dressed in a light shirt and slacks. He sat on the edge of my bed and said, ‘try hard to give up. Try harder, I don’t want my doppelganger to go the same way’.”
Nimoy emphasised he wanted the man still promoting his most famous role to live long and prosper. He’s desperate for Roy to Klingon.
He also told Roy not to worry about his five cats, issuing a “they’re going to be fine” assurance.
Roy’s adamant he saw Nimoy. It’s not simply a phaser he’s going through.
In life, he never got to meet his hero, but came close, arriving at a
1994 Star Trek convention only hours after the real Spock had left.
The ghost of Nimoy was aware of the close encounter that never was, stressed Roy.
Despite the visit from the Final Frontier, Roy believes being Spock’s twin has hindered his acting aspirations.
“I have always wanted to be an actor,” he said, “and went for an audition for The Bill.
“They told me I was the right height and build, but I looked too much like Spock. It would be a distraction.”
The lookalike work has also slowed.
“A lot of agents are telling me it’s hit rock bottom,” he said.
“The only ones getting the work are ‘The Royals’. ”
As Roy fitted the latex ears that have served him so well over the past 15 years, he began to get into character.
“Spock has no emotion,” he confided, “and in Acocks Green I will show no emotion.”
It’s an Enterprise the lookalike is evidently taking very seriously.
