Frank da Vinci

Frank James "Buddy" da Vinci (February 14, 1933 – June 4, 2013) was an accomplished actor and stuntman originally from Chicago, renowned for his work in the entertainment industry, particularly his role as Leonard Nimoy's stand-in on *Star Trek: The Original Series*. Colleagues fondly referred to him as "Buddy," and some sources also recognize him as "Bud da Vinci."

Da Vinci's career gained prominence when he served as a stand-in and double for Anthony Perkins in Alfred Hitchcock's iconic film *Psycho*, where his silhouette famously featured in the notorious shower scene. He also made uncredited appearances in the 1964 episode "The Project Strigas Affair" of *The Man from U.N.C.L.E.*, which starred both Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner, as well as in "The Secret Sceptre Affair," directed by Marc Daniels.

Following the conclusion of *Star Trek*, da Vinci continued his collaboration with Nimoy by serving as his stand-in for two seasons on *Mission: Impossible*. He notably appeared in the two-part episode "The Falcon," where he portrayed the character Sebastian, who was disguised as Nimoy's character, Paris.

In the 1970s, da Vinci transitioned away from acting, going on to co-own and manage two gay nightclubs in Los Angeles. He passed away from renal failure on June 4, 2013. In his honor, Pepperdine University established the "Frank James 'Buddy' da Vinci and George B. Ellsworth Scholarship" to support those dedicated to enhancing the mental and physical health of the LGBT community through service and volunteerism.