William Shatner expresses sadness at missing Leonard Nimoy's funeral

Actor said he is busy with charity work

William Shatner said he regretted that he would miss Leonard Nimoy's funeral (Getty)

The actor William Shatner has spoken of his sadness at missing today’s funeral of Leonard Nimoy – the man he played opposite as Capt James T Kirk of the USS Enterprise.

“I am currently in Florida as I agreed to appear at the Red Cross Ball tonight. Leonard’s funeral is tomorrow. I can’t make it back in time,” Mr Shatner tweeted on Saturday.

“I feel really awful. Here I am doing charity work and one of my dearest friends is being buried.”

As a consolation, he proposed a gathering to honour Mr Nimoy in Palm Beach. Mr Nimoy, celebrated as the man who played the half-man half-Vulcan character Mr Spock in the Star Trek television series of movies, died on Friday in Los Angeles. He was 83.

Leonard Nimoy died last week in Los Angeles (Getty)

“Maybe tomorrow we come together here and celebrate his life,” said Mr Shatner.