On Wednesday morning at 5:30am, we lost one of the most recognizable icons in the history of television and movies. A man who you would not only recognize as soon as you saw his face – but would address by his well-known character’s name instead of his own. The man I refer to is James Doohan – better known as Star Trek’s Chief Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott – Scotty.

Born on March 3, 1920 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Doohan was the youngest of four children. At 19, he joined the Canadian army, becoming a lieutenant in artillery – and was among the Canadian forces that landed on Juno Beach on D-Day. That night, he was machine-gunned, taking six hits: one that took off his middle right finger – which he managed to hide on the screen – as well as four in his leg and one in the chest. Fortunately, the chest bullet was stopped by of all things – his silver cigarette case.

After the war, Doohan – on a whim – enrolled in a drama class in Toronto, Canada. He showed promise and won a two-year scholarship to New York’s famed Neighborhood Playhouse, where fellow students included Leslie Nielsen and Tony Randall. His commanding presence and booming voice brought him work as a character actor in both films and television, in Canada as well as the United States. Oddly, his only other TV series besides Star Trek was another space adventure, Space Command, in 1953.

Since 1966, Doohan has been Montgomery Scott, the burly chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise who always seemed to pull the crew out of the worst possible situations at the last possible second. Doohan’s desire to portray Scotty as he did, combined with the expert dialogue and mannerisms written for the character made Scotty a timeless icon in the show’s universe – leading him to recurring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation – the second show in the Star Trek franchise.

While I never got into the original series, I always loved Scotty from the movies I have seen the character in, as well as his aforementioned roles on Star Trek: The Next Generation. In one particular episode, called Relics, the crew of the Enterprise-D rescue Scotty from a continuous teleporter loop that has trapped him for over 75 years. When he is pulled from the loop – he hasn’t aged a day – but is now set free in the 24th century. In the episode, I loved the way he tried to become a part of the crew, only to discover that he was, as the show’s name dictated – a relic. But to see him and Jordi, the two chief engineers of the Enterprise work together to save the crew was a true treat indeed.

I heard the news yesterday afternoon that Doohan had died at 5:30am at his home in Redmond, Washington at the age of 85 from both pneumonia and Alzheimer’s disease. When I read it, I was extremely saddened. I hate when the world loses beloved actors and actresses that have given their lives to us for our entertainment – and Doohan did just that. Besides playing the role of Scotty – he lived it – at Star Trek conventions and appearances all over the world. Since the day he stepped on the bridge of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Doohan was Scotty until he took his very last breath.

Doohan joins DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard McCoy, as the only two deceased members of the original Enterprise crew. I wish them both Godspeed – and will always smile a little bigger whenever I watch them on screen.

Rest in peace Mr. Doohan…and thanks.