Remembering James Doohan March 3, 1920 - July 20, 2005

For all of you familiar with the Starship Enterprise, you know that the chief engineer was Montgomery "Scotty" Scott on the popular television series "Star Trek.  The role was played by a Canadian actor by the name of James Doohan.

Doohan got his acting start in Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City where he was classmates of such notables as Leslie Nielsen and Tony Randall.

Over the years, Doohan appeared in more than 4000 radio programs and 450 television programs.  Among his roles was "Timber Tom" in the Canadian version of Howdy Doody.  He played the lead role in "Flight Into Danger" and is credited with performances in The Twilight Zone, Bonanza, The Outer Limits, Bewitched, Fantasy Island, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. to name a few.  He was the assistant to the President in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and "Pippen" in Homeboys in Outer Space.  He also was featured in the popular soap opera "The Bold and the Beautiful." He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

James Doohan died on July 20, 2005 in his home in Redmond, Washington with his wife Wende and best friend, former actor and Doohan's agent Steve Stevens by his side.  The cause of his death was pneumonia at the age of 85.  Following his death, Doohan was cremated and his wishes were to have a portion of his cremated remains sent into space.  His wishes were fulfilled on April 28, 2007.  Aboard Celestis Legacy flight, Doohan's cremated remains were placed in a small urn with the words "God Be With You!  Love, Wende and blasted into space (replica of the capsule pictured).  Along with him were nearly 100 others including deceased astronaut, Gordon Cooper.

Wende also arranged a private memorial service for James that included his family and some close friends.  As part of the service, all participants were given a small flashlight with his name etched on it and as part of Doohan's tribute, a "Beam Me Up Scotty" ceremony took place. (Memorial Card and Flashlight pictured belonged to Doohan's best friend, Stev
e Stevens).

"Beam Me Up! Scotty"