Welllll, in Orthodox theology, there's no hell, no "punishment," in the sense of God giving someone their comeuppance. God doesn't send people places (i.e., choose to punish). People make their choices in life. Either way, they'll be with God for all eternity in Orthodox understanding. For some, being in the presence of God will be heavenly (having loved Him, followed Him and repented of sin in life), but for others, being in the presence of God will be hellish (having denied him, ignored him, or not repented of sin in life). Think of a kid being in the presence of an old aunt that they can't stand and don't want to be with, but him having to live with her. Kinda like that. Orthodox theology says there's no place where God isn't -- so in death, people who "go to hell" aren't going to a place where He isn't; rather they're with him, but it's not pleasant for them.
So in the case of Leonard Nimoy, God loves him and He did everything He could to woo him to Himself. God knows what that means for Nimoy and what he knew/understood (we don't), and he's in God's presence now. We do have the tradition in Orthodoxy of praying for those who have fallen asleep, because we don't have firm knowledge of what happens to someone after they die. If prayers can help (and they might, since we don't know), prayers ought to be offered. May the Lord have mercy on Leonard's soul and may he find rest with the saints.
ETA -- not trying to throw Orthodox theology out there just because, more to explain my previous comments and thoughts on "punishment."
_________________ Warmly, Darla Juliana "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle" (Philo of Alexandria)
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