For over 50 years, William Shatner has been a pop culture icon. Known for spicing up TV ads, starring on T.J. Hooker, and giving an Emmy-winning performance as Denny Crane onBoston Legal,Shatner is loved for his charisma and sense of humor.
Despite success in many projects, Shatner will forever be known as Captain James Tiberius Kirk. His role as this Starship USS Enterprise captain madeStar Trek the most iconic sci-fi TV series of all time. In three seasons, an animated spin-off and seven Star Trek movies, Shatner gave performances that have often been mimicked...but never duplicated.
Shatner has enjoyed speaking of his experiences over the years, including his memories of the TV series. He credits Kirk for changing his life and making him a megastar. Yet Shatner has often felt “trapped” by how Kirk has become such a huge part of his public persona.
It’s fun to read about the many tales Shatner has told about his time as Kirk, from on-set frivolity to darker moments. While there are enough tales for multiple books, a few stand out from the pack.
17 He Regrets Directing Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Fans feel thatThe Final Frontieris the worst Star Trek movie...and Shatner agrees. In his memoirs, Shatner acknowledges he just wasn’t prepared to direct a big-screen film, and the constant script rewrites and budget cuts didn’t help.
Shatner feels he “compromised” himself by adjusting the story too much, and had he allowed someone else to direct, it would have made for a better movie. The Captain simply wasn’t the right choice to helm this film.
16 He Hated The Uniform
Kirk’s golden"Captain shirt' may be an iconic uniform for cosplayers, but don’t expect to see Shatner wearing it again. As it happened, the shirts were green on-set but appeared gold on camera. Shatner also disliked how tight they were. It's hard to move around freely in really snug clothes!
He loved episodes where Kirk could don a different costume. The later movie uniforms were a bit better, but Shatner never was a fan of dressing up.
15 Shatner Was Contractually Obligated To Have The Most Lines
One reason co-stars disliked Shatner was his insistence on being the biggest name on the show...literally. Shatner’s contract demanded that his name be displayed in larger lettering than the rest of the cast's, during the opening credits,.
Naturally, Kirk also had to have the most lines, which sometimes meant taking dialogue from other characters. It's little wonder that Shatner got a bad reputation - who would appreciate these selfish demands?
14 One Episode Was Literally Deafening For Shatner
“Arena” is a famous episode where Kirk does battle with a lizard alien. The filming of this episode was a real war for Shatner. In an early scene, the crew is under attack on a planet, with explosions erupting around them.
One blast went off too close and left Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley with deafened ears. Shatner developed tinnitus, a condition that bothered him for years. He isn’t very fond of speaking of this episode.
13 Things Could Be Tense Between Shatner And Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry may have been a visionary creator, but he could be a hassle as a TV producer. Roddenberry rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way, so it’s no surprise he and Shatner did clash a lot.
The two would argue over stories, Kirk’s behavior, and more. It continued with the movies, and while Shatner praises Roddenberry’s work, he also admits there were times he was ready to strangle the guy.
12 Kirk’s Combat Style Was Based On Pro Wrestling
Shatner loved doing many of his own stunts on set, including fighting scenes. Shatner would emulate pro wrestlers while performing some of Kirk’s moves, including a fun “jumping kick” that fans love to copy.
Nonetheless, one fight was too much for him. When he heard a live tiger was going to be in an episode, Shatner briefly suggested Kirk fight it...until one look at the beast made Shatner (wisely) back out.
11 Fans Nearly Got The Evil Kirk Back
Star Trek: Enterprisemay be the less-loved series, but it could have had a fantastic Kirk appearance. A proposed Star Trek: Enterprise storyline would have the crew meeting what appears to be a 'time-lost' Kirk. In a huge twist, it’s really the evil Mirror Universe version who takes over the ship.
Shatner loved the idea of playing “Kirk as Khan.” Unfortunately, Shatner was just starting his role as Denny Crane, so they couldn’t fit it into his schedule. Too bad, as this would have been a great episode.
10 He Hated Having To Kill Kirk Off
Saying goodbye to a character is never easy. In theGenerationsmovie, Kirk meets his end by stopping a madman trying to destroy a planet. The original version had Kirk taken out by a phaser blast, but it was changed to a more noble death.
In his memoirs and a DVD extra, Shatner noted how he hated having to do do it and even pushed for Kirk to survive somehow. Shatner found a way to bring Kirk back in some books, as he couldn’t bear to leave this role behind.
9 He Never Wanted The Role In The First Place
It’s impossible to imagine anyone but William Shatner as Kirk, yet it almost didn’t happen. Jack Lord was the first choice but demanded too much money...and a producer credit.
Shatner was offered the part but was uneasy - he was uncertain if the series would work, and he was under the mistaken impression that he was playing a different character. He took a chance, and the rest is history. Shatner crafted Kirk into an icon.
8 Kirk’s Crew Loved Him But Not Shatner’s
When writingStar Trek Memories,Shatner was forced to acknowledge how his ego got out of control on the set. He often clashed with others. While he and Leonard Nimoy got along well, Shatner and George Takei have carried on a feud that lasts to this day.
Likewise, James Doohan refused to take part in the book, and Doohan and Shatner never mended fences before Doohan’s death. Shatner seems to regret how his behavior drove wedges between his co-stars that have lasted for decades.
