Leonard Nimoy's First Directing Job Was On A Horror Series From The Twilight Zone Creator Rod Serling

Having portrayed Spock on the original "Star Trek" series for years, Leonard Nimoy is instantly recognizable as an actor. But his work in television extends behind the camera as well. This includes directing an episode of Rod Serling's "Night Gallery," a 1970s horror anthology. Serling created the series five years after the original "The Twilight Zone" ended. 

"Death on a Barge" is the 12th episode of the third season of "Night Gallery." It was Nimoy's first officially credited foray into directing. Based on a 1927 Everil Worrell short story titled "The Canal," the episode centers on a lonely vampire named Hyacinth (Lesley Ann Warren), who is trapped on a barge by her father. She falls in love with a local fishmonger named Ron (Robert Pratt) but is unable to be with him due to her bloodlust. As a vampire, she's also unable to cross flowing water. The episode dips heavily into gothic horror, and Nimoy really sunk his teeth into his directorial debut. 

When speaking to the Archive of American Television in 2000, Nimoy said he approached "Night Gallery" producer Jack Laird several times asking for the chance to direct. Laird, who had a reputation for securing work for first-time directors, called Nimoy over and presented him with the script for "Death on a Barge." 

"The script was poetry," he told the Archive. "It was a very good script!"  

The episode's claustrophobic and ethereal shots were the result of Nimoy's collaboration with cinematographer Gerald Finnerman. Since he was director of photography for the original "Star Trek," the two were already acquainted. "I knew I was in good hands with him," Nimoy told the Archive.

"Death on a Barge" is the only episode of "Night Gallery" with him at the helm, but Nimoy went on to direct on other series.