Leonard Nimoy's final role before Star Trek features in Gunsmoke episode

Leonard Nimoy's last acting role before "Star Trek" was in a 1966 episode of "Gunsmoke," where he played John Walking Fox, a Native American fur trapper seeking justice for his friend's murder. Nimoy described his character as "enigmatic," using a clever plan to reveal the killers by pretending to have hidden treasure, leading them to turn on each other. He also noted his prior friendship with "Gunsmoke" star James Arness, whom he had known since the early 1950s. Nimoy had encouraged Arness to join the series, praising its popularity from its radio days.