James Doohan, who immortalized the character of chief engineer Montgomery Scott on Star Trek, died Wednesday at the age of 85. During World War II, the actor, born in Vancouver, served as a captain in the Canadian Forces and led men into battle on D-Day. He passed away at his home in Washington State.
ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Some sad news for "Star Trek" fans.  James Doohan, who beamed up many a      character onto the USS Enterprise, died today at the age of 85.  The      Canadian-born actor immortalized the character of Chief Engineer      Montgomery Scott, Scotty, with an unforgettable angst-ridden delivery.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) Scotty.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott):  Scotty      here, sir.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) We have to get out of here      within three hours.  Spock has orders to kill me unless I complete the      military mission.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) We've got another      deadline, too, sir.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) Explain.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) The two-way      matter transmission affected the local field density between their      universes, and it's increasing.  We've got to move fast.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) How fast?</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) Half hour at the      most.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) If we miss?</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) We couldn't get      out of here in a century.</s>MELISSA BLOCK, host: For the record, that Scottish brogue was not his own.  When the actor      landed the role in 1966, he tried seven different accents before settling      on Scottish.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Doohan was born in Vancouver in 1920.  He left home at the age      of 19 to fight with Canadian forces in World War II.  As a captain, he      led men into battle on D-Day in Normandy, where he was wounded in the arm      and leg.  He lost a finger in combat.</s>MELISSA BLOCK, host: After the war, he began training as an actor in New York City and      soon landed roles on radio, appearing in about 4,000 programs in both      Canada and the US.  But it was as Scotty that Doohan would be best known.      Here are some of his most memorable moments.</s>Ms. NICHELLE NICHOLS: (As Lieutenant Nyota Uhura) Ship's outer skin is      beginning to heat, Captain.  Orbit flux shows we have about eight minutes      left.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) Scotty.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott)  I can't change      the laws of physics.  I've got to have 30 minutes.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) Scotty, you've got to get me      some maneuvering power.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) I can't repair a      warp drive without a space dock.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) Then get me impulse power, half      speed, quarter speed, anything.  If we can get this hulk moving, maybe we      can do something.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) I checked the      engines. The warp drive is a hopeless pile of junk.</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: If I push these impulse engines too hard in the condition they're in,      they'll blow apart.</s>Mr. WILLIAM SHATNER: (As Captain James T. Kirk) You set the ship's impulse      engines to overload?</s>Mr. JAMES DOOHAN: (As Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott) Aye.  The shape      that thing's in, it's hard to keep it from blowing.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: Doohan appeared on "Star Trek" until it was canceled in 1969.      He reprised the role of Scotty in seven "Star Trek" movies.</s>MELISSA BLOCK, host: James Doohan died at his home in Washington state.  According to      his agent, the cause of death was pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease.  He      was 85 years old.</s>ROBERT SIEGEL, host: This is NPR, National Public Radio.