Beam Me Up, Scotty - James Doohan and Dementia
James Doohan is a timeless actor, and was best known for playing the role of Scotty on Star Trek, and for playing the chief engineer, Montgomery "Scotty" Scott, on the TV series in the 1960's, parodies, movies, and cartoons which followed.
James Doohan and His Career on Star Trek
When asked what James Doohan thought about his work with Star Trek, he said;
"I really didn't have to work, shall we say, with Star Trek. It was a natural. When I opened my mouth, there was Scotty. It's like I tell people, what you see in Scotty is 99% James Doohan, and 1% accent."
The Diagnosis
When James Doohan was diagnosed with Dementia during 2004, it was thought that his life and career would be over. Even though he had a difficult time finding roles after Star Trek, James Doohan still made personal appearances, and met with hundreds of thousands of his fans. Even though he was diagnosed with Dementia, he still attended the Star Trek convention that took place in August that year.
James Doohan, despite his poor health, was still able to go to the ceremony which was hend in his high honor, where he received his star located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame during August of 2004.
Dementia is a persistent, or chronic disorder, which affects the menta processes caused from brain injury or disease. Dementia is marked by personality changes, impaired reasoning, and memory disorders.
Jame's wife, Wendy Doohan, commented on his Dementia;
"With Jimmy, it's the loss of words. He is not so sick yet that he doesn't know people, and there are times when he is sharp as a tack. But, it's the older memories that stick. What he had for breakfast might be an iffy thing, but by golly he could tell you all about how he got the part on Star Trek."
James Doohan and His Stride
James Doohan dealt with his Dementia, by embracing the years he had left. As stated previously, he continued to go out and meet with his fans, and never stopped playing the role of Lt Commander Montgomery Scott, as Chief Engineer of the Star-Ship Enterprise. Even though a lot of other actors from Star Trek chose to move on, and continue with other roles, James Doohan was happy to sign autographs, meet with fans, and live forever as Scotty from Star Trek.
Learning More on Dementia
Dementia is something that millions of families and individuals have to come to terms with. However, just because someone suffers from Dementia, it does not mean that it's the end of their road. Dementia definitely did not stop him from meeting with his beloved fans, and living on the rest of his days as Lt Commander Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer of the Star-Ship Enterprise.
Dementia is condition that effects 47.6 million people world wide, with 7.7 million new cases each year. Whilst there is currently no cure, the condition is lessened with therapy and medication; especially if the disease is caught early. If you found this interesting, be sure to purchase your ticket for our Dementia & Delirium Seminar; hosted on Tuesday 16th June 2015 at 7:00pm.
Clinical Director, Anneke Bull is providing an in depth presentation about Dementia & Delirium. Anneke Bull spent over 30 years working in the public mental healthcare system; with a specialization in aged care. So if you are a carer or just interested in learning more about Dementia & Delirium, then you won’t want to miss out on this presentation.