William Shatner
Born 1931
Known for Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Biography
William Shatner, OC (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, from his 1966 debut as the captain of the starship Enterprise in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series to his final appearance as Captain Kirk in the seventh Star Trek feature film, Star Trek Generations (1994). Shatner began his screen acting career in Canadian films and television productions before moving into guest-starring roles in various American television shows. He appeared as James Kirk in all the episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, 21 of the 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series, and the first seven Star Trek movies. He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences before, during and after his time in a Starfleet uniform. He has also co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe and a series of science fiction novels, the TekWar sequence, that were adapted for television. Outside Star Trek, Shatner played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker (1982–1986), hosted the reality-based television series Rescue 911 (1989–1996), guest starred on the detective series Columbo, and acted in the comedy film Miss Congeniality (2000). After his last appearance as Captain Kirk, Shatner's television career has embraced comedy, drama and reality shows. In seasons 4 and 5 of the NBC series 3rd Rock from the Sun, he played the alien "Big Giant Head", to which the main characters reported. From 2004 until 2008, he starred as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of the legal show The Practice and in its spinoff Boston Legal, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards, one for his contribution to each series. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, he starred in both seasons of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series in which a band of elderly celebrities toured East Asia and Europe. Aside from acting, Shatner has had a career as a recording artist, beginning in 1968 with his album The Transformed Man. His cover versions of songs are dramatic recitations of their lyrics rather than musical performances: the most notable are his versions of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man", and Elton John's "Rocket Man". His most successful album was his third, Seeking Major Tom (2011), which includes covers of Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly", David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". In 2021, Shatner flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-18, a Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. At age 90, he became the oldest person to fly in space and one of the first 600 to do so. Minutes after the flight, he described experiencing the overview effect.
Movie Credits
Aliens Among Us with William Shatner (2024)
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill (2024)
A Tear in the Sky (2022)
Senior Moment (2021)
Shatner in Space (2021)
Creators: The Past (2020)
Devil's Revenge (2019)
Aliens Ate My Homework (2018)
The Steam Engines of Oz (2018)
The Truth Is in the Stars (2017)
For the Love of Spock (2016)
When Elephants Were Young (2016)
A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
Get a Life! (2012)
The Captains (2011)
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet (2009)
Gotta Catch Santa Claus (2008)
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner (2006)
Stalking Santa (2006)
Groom Lake (2002)
Shoot or Be Shot! (2002)
Falcon Down (2001)
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (1995)
Star Trek: A Captain's Log (1994)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
Broken Angel (1988)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
The Kidnapping of the President (1980)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
The Crash of Flight 401 (1978)
Kingdom of the Spiders (1977)
A Whale of a Tale (1976)
Mysteries of the Gods (1976)
Universe (1976)
Impulse (1974)
Go Ask Alice (1973)
Incubus (1966)
The Intruder (1962)
The Explosive Generation (1961)
Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek (2021)
To Your Last Death (2019)
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime (2001)
Dead Man's Island (1996)
Pray for the Wildcats (1974)
Pioneer Woman (1973)
The People (1972)
White Comanche (1968)
Fireheart (2022)
Batman vs. Two-Face (2017)
A Sunday Horse (2016)
Lil' Pimp (2005)
A Carol Christmas (2003)
American Psycho II: All American Girl (2002)
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. (1996)
TekWar: TekLab (1994)
Big Bad Mama (1974)
Sole Survivor (1970)
Range 15 (2016)
Just in Time for Christmas (2015)
To Be Takei (2014)
Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen (2011)
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit (2009)
Showtime (2002)
Free Enterprise (1998)
TekWar: TekJustice (1994)
TekWar: TekLords (1994)
Visiting Hours (1982)
The Devil’s Rain (1975)
Being Canadian (2015)
Over the Hedge (2006)
The Wild (2006)
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
Miss Congeniality (2000)
Jefftowne (1997)
Incident on a Dark Street (1973)
The Outrage (1964)
