Star Trek's 'Scotty' dies at 85

Canadian-born actor James Doohan, 85, best known for his Star Trek role immortalized by the catch phrase "Beam me up, Scotty," died of complications from pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease today at his home in Redmond, Wash., according to Reuters.

Doohan, who played the Scottish-accented Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott on the original TV series, made his last public appearance in October, when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Wired and Bloomberg, among others, already have news obituaries posted.

Michelle Meyers is an associate editor who tracks online happenings in media, entertainment, and politics. E-mail Michelle.

Topics:: Media

Share:: Digg; Del.icio.us; Reddit; Facebook; Twitter

Recent posts from News Blog: Nvidia puts NForce chipset development on hold; Opera 10 browser is here; Neil Young Archives Blu-ray: Rip off?; Acronis revises survey results about backup habits; Acronis miscalculates data on users' bad backup habits; Flickr co-founder presses beta button; Comcast, Sony open retail store; Cox to try coaxing the Internet into submission

Related: The 404 Yuletide Mini-sode: Where we recap the movies of 2009; Twitter touts top trends of 2009; iTunes Rewind shows off best-selling content of 2009; Chinese drivers turn to Onstar; RC X-Wing takes flight, terrifies womp rats; OnStar mobile app puts the Chevy Volt in your pocket; Court to Lucas: 'Star Wars' costumes aren't art; Star 6 beat-box app for iPhone improved

About News Blog

Recent posts on technology, trends, and more.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right

Software, Interrupted
Open-source acquisitions: What's the holdup?
Acquisitions of open-source companies have garnered huge multiples but haven't rounded out many product portfolios. Exit plans are hazy for most open-source start-ups.
Gallery
The first microcomputers (images)
Technically Incorrect
Woman arrested after visiting with WoW teen
Canadian boy leaves home to see 42-year-old woman whom he met on World of Warcraft. No Canadian laws were broken, but she's arrested back home in Texas.
2010 CES
E-readers' next chapter might not have happy ending
There were plenty of the book readers on display at CES, but many question whether the market for such dedicated devices is large enough to support all the new entrants.
Video
Highlights from the Microsoft keynote
The Social
Google launches local search for mobile
The "Near me now" option is now available for Android and iPhone users who have opted to share their locations.
Video
Floor-cleaning robot gets those tight spots
Geek Gestalt
Inside the world's long-lost first microcomputer
Vintage computer historians have long revered the Altair 8800. But an unknown computer project at Sacramento State beat the Altair by three years. CNET got a look at it.
Cutting Edge
Starry, starry 'first light' from NASA's WISE mission
The new Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer kicks off its mission to scan and capture a view of the entire sky with a look at the constellation Carina.
Gallery
Intel touts 3D, apps for Netbooks at CES (photos)
Crave
Friday Poll: Most exciting CES happening so far?
CES 2010 still has a ways to go, but if you had to cite your pick for most exciting or noteworthy news out of the gadget blowout so far, what would it be?
2010 CES
Control4 readies networked home energy system
Control4's home energy management system uses a home wireless network and tough-screen display to monitor electricity and let consumers participate in energy efficiency programs.