He starred as Randle McMurphy in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in 1974, a year prior to its release as a feature film, with Jack Nicholson in the same role. During the run of the play, Nimoy took over as its director and wanted his character to be "rough and tough," and insisted on having tattoos. The costumer for the show, Sharon White, was amused: "That was sort of an intimate thing... Here I am with Mr. Spock, for god's sakes, and I am painting pictures on his arms."