"Beam Me Up Scotty... One Last Time," The James Doohan Farewell Star Trek Convention and Tribute, happens this Friday, August 27 to Monday, August 30 at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel.

The event will feature on-stage appearances by all the living cast members of the original Star Trek television series — William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, George Takei, Grace Lee Whitney, Majel Barrett Roddenberry and, of course, James Doohan.

Doohan, whose portrayal of the beloved U.S.S. Enterprise Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott inspired the cry "Beam me up, Scotty" — as well as its permanent place in pop culture history — was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This convention will mark his final public appearance.

The festivities begin Friday night at 7:30 p.m. with the unveiling of celebrated science fiction artist Michael David Ward's "Reaching for the Stars" exhibition, including a new piece honoring Doohan as Scotty. At 8:00 p.m., Scotty's Star Party begins, featuring entertainment by The Muddflapps fronted by Doohan's son, Chris, and Gretchen Bonaduce, wife of actor and radio personality, Danny Bonaduce.

The convention begins Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. and runs until 4:30 p.m. Program highlights include appearances by Walter Koenig, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Grace Lee Whitney, Nichelle Nichols and artist Michael David Ward. Tim Russ from Star Trek: Voyager will introduce a screening of a short Trek spoof film, "Roddenberry on Patrol," which he directed. A charity auction, trivia contest and a writer's panel will also be featured.

At 7:00 p.m. Saturday night is the star-studded James Doohan Tribute Banquet and Roast benefiting The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation. Celebrities confirmed to participate include several members of the original cast of Star Trek plus Apollo XI astronaut Neil Armstrong, baseball superstar Jose Canseco, and LeVar Burton and Michael Dorn from Star Trek: Next Generation. UPDATE: Ben Stiller, a die-hard Trekker, will also attend the Saturday night banquet.

Sunday's convention programming highlights include appearances by George Takei, Eugene Roddenberry, Jr., members of Doohan's family, and William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy on stage together. The convention will culminate with Doohan on stage for the last time with the entire living cast of original Star Trek. Show hours Sunday are 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

A dealer's room featuring a vast array of licensed Star Trek and other science fiction merchandise will be open both days of the convention.

On Monday morning, August 30, from 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Doohan and Takei will join fans on a tour of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum.

Then on Tuesday, August 31 at 10:30 a.m., Doohan will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in front of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.

Sponsors of "Beam Me Up Scotty... One Last Time," The James Doohan Farewell Star Trek Convention and Tribute include Planet X Studios, The X-Prize Foundation, The Official Star Trek Fan Club, Art Asylum, Lightspeed Fine Art, The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Michael David Ward.

At the door, adult general admission convention tickets are $15 on Saturday and $25 on Sunday, or $35 for both days. Young adult (12-18 years of age) general admission convention tickets are $5 Saturday and $10 Sunday, and children under 12 are admitted free with paying parent or guardian. Tickets for the Friday night Scotty Star Party are $75. Saturday night benefit dinner tickets are $150. Tickets to the tour of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum on Monday are $20.

The Renaissance Hollywood Hotel is located at 1755 N. Highland Ave. at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. in Hollywood, Calif. For more information, visit planetxpo.com or call 1-800-686-3598.

Finally, two more fans remember their brief, but important, time with Jimmy:

I'm from Mexico and have loved the original Star Trek since I was a child. You always brought such warmth and class to our beloved "Scotty" that you elevated what was probably meant to be a minor, faceless character into an ICON, and you did it with nothing but your own talent and grace.

I only saw you in person once, at a Pasadena Grand Slam Convention honoring the original cast in 2001, where you presented your newly-born daughter. God bless you and your family, spend your time with them. You have already assured your place in eternity, and in all of our hearts.

Alex Cano

And,

We took my son and his friend (both around 12 years old) to a sci fi convention in Seattle in 1982 or 1983. We had a great time and as we were leaving we saw James Doohan walking down the sidewalk. It was raining, of course, and I'm sure he wanted to get out of the rain, but when the boys yelled out "Scotty, Scotty," he stopped and gave them an autograph. Such a nice man!

Lorrece Jones