'Star Trek's' Arlene Martel, played Spock's fiance, dies

Actress Arlene Martel, who "Star Trek" fans know as Spock's

bride-to-be, died in a Los Angeles hospital Tuesday of

complications from a heart attack, her son said. Martel was

78.

Martel's ethnic ambiguity earned her the nickname "The

Chameleon" among Hollywood casting directors in the 1960s,

son Jod Kaftan told CNN.

It gained her diverse roles, including as a Russian spy on "The

Monkees" and "I Dream of Jeannie," a French Underground

operative in "Hogan's Heroes," a Native American woman in a

"Gunsmoke" episode and as a Vulcan on "Star Trek."

Trekkies still lined up at sci-fi conventions to meet Martel and

pay for autographs because of her role as T'Pring, the Vulcan

priestess engaged to Spock in the first episode of the iconic

show's second season.

Leonard Nimoy, who was the original Spock, tweeted his

tribute to her: "Saying goodbye to T'Pring, Arlene Martel. A

lovely talent."

Martel is also known for two former boyfriends. She was one of

James Dean's girlfriends in New York before he became a

star, Kaftan said. She also dated actor Cary Grant for a time,

he said.

Her acting career began on Broadway when she was a

teenager. She was cast as Esther in the 1956 production of

"Uncle Willie." She was still using her birth name Arline Sax for

her credits then.

Her television career started in 1959 with a move to

Hollywood. She soon landed guest roles on hit shows, including

"Twilight Zone," "Death Valley Days," and "Have Gun -- Will

Travel."

Although the roles slowed down over the decades, Martel

always considered herself a working actress.

"She was still getting out there, doing roles," Kaftan said. "She

had a lot of big dreams she was still pursuing."

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN