2015 Emmys pay homage to Joan Rivers, BB King

Los Angeles: Comedienne Joan Rivers, Blues singer BB King and "Star Trek" veteran Leonard Nimoy were among the Hollywood stars, who received a touching tribute at the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards.

A slideshow of names flickered across the screen as "What A Wonderful World" played in the background.

The list was lengthy and included over 40 well-known names such as Anne Meara, Martin Milner, Donna Douglas and Frank Gifford, reported People magazine.

The slideshow concluded on an emotional note with a clip Nimoy as Spock from "Star Trek" reciting the famous Vulcan salute: "Live long and prosper." He died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on February 27 earlier this year aged 83.

King, who was in hospice care at his home, passed away in his sleep on May 14. The musician was 89.

Rivers' tribute was particularly poignant: the legendary comedian died at 81 on Sept. 4, 2014, a week after she stopped breathing during a routine surgical procedure on her vocal chords ? and just less than two weeks after the 2014 Emmy Awards.

She was a longtime fixture on TV and on the Emmys red carpet throughout her career.

The 2015 Emmy Awards were held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.