In this paper, a new design methodology for the optimal control of nonlinear systems described by the TS(Takagi-Sugeno) fuzzy model is proposed. First, a new theorem concerning the optimal stabilizing control of a general nonlinear dynamic system is proposed. Next, based on the proposed theorem and the inverse optimal approach, an optimal controller synthesis procedure for a TS fuzzy system is given, Also, it is shown that the optimal controller can be found by solving a linear matrix inequality problem. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the attitude control of a rigid spacecraft to demonstrate its validity.