Pointed ears. Slanted eyebrows. A notably dispassionate demeanor. We must be talking about the Vulcans! Yes, these iconic Star Trek characters are instantly recognizable – but not only for their quirky appearance. Any Trekkie worth their salt knows all about the Vulcans’ famous nerve pinch. But why was this move invented in the first place? Well, that’s all down to the man who played the most famous Vulcan of them all: Leonard Nimoy. And as the actor revealed in a strikingly candid interview, he had a surprising personal reason for coming up with it.

Back when Bewitched was on the air, millions of fans had their faces pressed up against the screen, waiting to see what mischief Samantha would make next. You may even have tried to do that iconic nose-wiggle yourself! But while the show looked like a whole heap of fun to shoot, there was a lot going on behind the scenes. The secrets that Bewitched’s producers wanted to keep hushed were anything but magical—including the real reason why the show was canceled.