The renowned Star Trek icon William Shatner had initially turned down an appearance on The Big Bang Theory, only to later accept the invitation, swayed by the show’s star, Kaley Cuoco. The popular CBS sitcom found immense success not only through its main cast, but also by incorporating a constellation of guest stars including the likes of James Earl Jones, Elon Musk, and even Stephen Hawking.

These special appearances often created memorable episodes that resonated with fans and further boosted the show’s popularity. However, not every celebrity was enamored with the idea of participating in the sitcom. Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen openly expressed his disdain for his time on the show.

“I’m sorry, but Big Bang Theory is a piece of s*** – it’s a stupid show and it’s just lame, about lame people,” Sheen said. Although not as curt, several other high-profile stars also declined the opportunity to be a part of the series. Among them was Jennifer Aniston, who, despite persistent persuasion from Cuoco, chose not to make an appearance.

Despite these setbacks, the show’s charm and the perseverance of its cast, particularly Cuoco, eventually led to a change of heart for one particular star. William Shatner, initially reluctant, found a reason to reconsider his stance.

William Shatner Wasn’t Impressed With The Big Bang Theory’s First Offer

William Shatner, best known for his iconic portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, boasts a prolific career spanning decades across various entertainment mediums. Beyond Star Trek, Shatner engaged audiences with his roles in T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal, earning critical acclaim and several awards.

When Shatner received an initial offer to feature as a fictional version of himself in The Big Bang Theory, he declined the opportunity due to concerns about the script. He revealed in an interview with Digital Spy in 2016, “I’ve had several conversations with the creators, and what they wanted me to do didn’t seem to be exactly right, so I said [to them] ‘find something that’s better.”

Shatner expressed his openness to future participation if a more suitable role were proposed. “They wanted me to play myself a little obliquely, and they said it would work out, but I needed more assurance on that,” he explained. “They may have taken umbrage at that, I’m not sure,” he added, hinting at potential misinterpretation of his feedback.

Kaley Cuoco Convinced William Shatner To Guest Star

During the final season of The Big Bang Theory, William Shatner eventually agreed to make a guest appearance. Producer and showrunner Steve Holland disclosed to the New York Post the hurdles they had faced earlier, stating, “For one reason or another, it didn’t quite work out, whether it was scheduling or whatever.”

However, as the show approached its last season, the team harbored a fervent desire to include Shatner in their roster of guest stars.

“We knew we had a wish list of people we still wanted to be part of the show, and [Shatner] was at the top of our wish list... So we reached out to him again,” Holland explained. Crucially, the pivotal factor that nudged Shatner towards a guest appearance was his relationship with series co-star Kaley Cuoco.

“I think what changed going into the final season is that he knows [series co-star] Kaley [Cuoco] from doing [Priceline] commercials together and they’re friendly,” Holland went on to highlight. It was in fact the confirmation that he would get to share a scene with Cuoco that seemed to prompt Shatner to finally agree to the guest role.

Fans Loved William Shatner’s Cameo On The Big Bang Theory

William Shatner’s cameo appearance in The Big Bang Theory was featured in Season 12, Episode 16, titled The D & D Vortex. The appearance sparked a wave of excitement among fans, especially following the actor’s initial reluctance. The plot revolved around the pursuit of a single open seat in a celebrity Dungeons and Dragons game hosted by Wil Wheaton, Shatner among the invited luminaries.

Shatner’s initial interaction occurred during his appearance on Wil Wheaton’s Professor Proton show, where he encountered Sheldon Cooper, portrayed by Jim Parsons. Sheldon, enamored with Shatner’s Star Trek legacy, persistently sought acknowledgment as “Science Officer Cooper,” while he also accidentally vomited on the revered former starship captain. Shatner did not disappoint fans of Big Bang with his performance.

One admirer remarked on the hypothetical scenario of being acknowledged by Shatner, expressing an understanding of Sheldon’s overreaction: “You know, if William Shatner shook my hand and referred to me as Science Officer, I might have just imploded at that awesomeness!”

Another fan appreciated the significance of having cast members from both the original Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation (Wil Wheaton) in the same episode, expressing gratitude to Shatner for his long-awaited appearance.