An actress who put together a string of television appearances — along with a few forays into film — in a career spanning six decades has died.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Arlene Martel, known for her role as the would-be Vulcan bride of Mr. Spock on “Star Trek,” died Tuesday from complications following a heart attack. She was 78.
The actress appeared in 1967 in the “Star Trek” episode “Amok Time,” which was the only episode of the series set on the planet Vulcan. In the episode, Spock is compelled to return home to “mate or die,” but complications arise when his betrothed — T’Pring, Martel’s character — invokes a to-the-death challenge between Spock and Captain Kirk, whom she picks as her champion.
“I was just so happy to be working and playing a part that was so challenging in terms of what I had done before,” Martel said in Tom Lisanti’s 2003 book “Drive-in Dream Girls: A Galaxy of B-Movie Starlets of the Sixties.” “I had no idea it would continue to this day. Fans purchase my ‘Star Trek’ photos at conventions, where I sign autographs. I had no idea that T’Pring would be so memorable to people.”
On Twitter, Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock, wrote, “Saying goodbye to T’Pring, Arlene Martel. A lovely talent.”
Among Martel’s many TV appearances were “The Twilight Zone,” “Hogan’s Heroes” and “Bewitched,” on which she played Malvina. Her most recent credit was in “Brothers & Sisters” in 2010.
Her film career was sporadic, but included appearances in “The Glass Cage” in 1964, “Chatterbox!” in 1977 and “What Do Women Want” in 1996.
Arlene Martel as T’Pring on “Star Trek”
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