Well known Mission: Impossible actor Martin Landau has sadly passed away, aged 89.
Landau played master of disguise Rollin Hand in the original TV series of Mission: Impossible, a role that required him to play many types of characters, perfectly showcasing his versatility. He would become one of the show’s most recognized stars.
Soon after leaving Mission over contractual disagreements, Landau portrayed Commander John Koenig in the short-lived British sci-fi TV series Space: 1999.
Taking a break from acting, Landau returned to form as New York financier Abe Karatz in 1988’s Tucker: A man and his dream, opposite Jeff Bridges. Karatz’s role would earn Landau his first Oscar nomination, which he lost to Kevin Kline for A Fish Called Wanda.
He would also lose a second nomination for Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) (to Denzel Washington this time), before finally winning the prized golden statue for portraying Bela Lugosi in Ed Wood (1994).
Notably, Landau turned down the part of Dr. Spock in Star Trek, as he thought his acting talent would be wasted in an emotionless character.
RIP