Along with the rest of the Star Trek cast, actor William Shatner will forever be inextricably linked in most audiences` imaginations with his character, former Captain and now Adm. James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise.
It`s a fate the Canadian-born Shatner seems willing, if not overeager, to accept. ”Of course no actor wants to be tied to one part, but despite everything else I`ve ever done, such as television series like `T.J. Hooker,` other feature films, miniseries and Broadway productions, people always associate me with Captain Kirk and Star Trek–it`s the role they always remember,” he says.
”And at various times in my career it`s proved to be very frustrating and limiting–you tend to get typecast, no doubt about it. But looking back, it`s definitely been a blessing rather than a curse overall, and I suppose I may as well face the fact that, for better or worse, I am Capt. Kirk.”
Ironically, when the U.S.S. Enterprise first blasted off, to boldly go where no man has gone before, way back in 1966, Kirk–and Shatner–were not at the helm. The first Star Trek pilot, titled ”The Cage,” starred the late Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike. In the event, ”The Cage” was rejected by NBC as being ”too cerebral” for its prime-time entertainment schedule.
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But the concept, described by creator-producer Gene Rodenberry as ”Wagon Train to the stars,” was thought to be promising enough to resurrect a year later, and when Hunter was unavailable to reprise his role as Capt. Pike, Roddenberry recast a young William Shatner as the new Captain, James T. Kirk, in a second pilot entitled ”Where No Man Has Gone Before.”
This time, with Shatner at the helm, the crew and show finally took off at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, 1966, on a five-year mission to explore strange new worlds . . . to seek out new life and new civilization: a five-year mission that so far has lasted more than 20.
”It`s an astonishing phenomenon, and I think everyone involved is pretty surprised at its enduring popularity,” says Shatner, ”especially when you consider that its greatest success came after the TV series, when it was put into syndication. Since then, it`s probably aired somewhere every day, as the legions of fans continue to grow worldwide.
”As for my role, when I first signed up as Kirk, I never dreamed for an instant that I`d still be playing the same part 20 years later,” he continues. ”After all, the TV series itself ran for only three seasons before being cancelled, and I believe that NBC nearly cancelled the show after both the first and second seasons because of low ratings.
”What basically kept it going was the enormous and unprecedented response from all the hard-core `Trekky` fans,” he adds. ”Each time, they bombarded the network with letters and calls, and NBC decided to give us a reprieve.”
In the end, however, even the fanatical support of their fans wasn`t enough, and NBC aborted the five-year mission two years early. ”Of course, we all assumed that was that, that it was all over forever, and we all went our separate ways,” recalls Shatner. ”The truly amazing thing is how all those dedicated fans, `The Trekkies,` kept the flame burning through all their conventions and gatherings and fanzines, until in the late `70s, Paramount decided to go ahead and make a full-length feature and start the thing all over again. It really is extraordinary and quite unique how it has survived.” Shatner attributes much of Star Trek`s longevity to ”a magical mixture of the cast and characters, the science fiction, the action-adventure stuff, along with the underlying messages of each story. It`s a very upbeat, positive show, with warm, interesting characters, and above all, an optimistic view of the future. I think that`s very appealing to a lot of people, especially in a world struggling with an arms race, and the nuclear issue, etc. It doesn`t project the future as this terrible threat to mankind, but as something exciting and within our power to control if we face it fearlessly.”
Shatner also makes it clear that he sees his own character as a much-needed counterpart to the modern, cynical anti-hero. ”Kirk`s essentially an old-fashioned hero with old-world values and principles that people can look up to,” he explains. ”And the great thing about Star Trek is that now we`ve reached the point where he and the others are also beginning to age and mature naturally as characters, and that development is being gradually incorporated into each new film.
”So in that sense, the films are very different from the TV shows we did. There`s now room for genuine progression of character, and we`re writing for that. So, in `Star Trek IV,` superhero Kirk has to wear glasses to read something, and perhaps he`s a little stiff when he throws punches. Sure, we`re all growing older, but with dignity, I hope.”
The interaction between the crew members also is a prime ingredient in the success of the films, stresses Shatner. ”Especially the relationship between Kirk and Spock. It`s really developed over the years, and I think there`s a warmth and fondness there that we both feel for each other in real life, that can`t be faked on the screen.”
Shatner, who according to other cast members is ”fairly aloof” and the least likely to join in such peripheral Star Trek activities as conventions and autograph sessions, openly admits that his relationship with the rest of the crew is ”essentially a professional one.”
”The truth is that we don`t all hang out together off the set, apart from Leonard and myself–we`re very good friends and see each other quite a bit,” he adds. ”Everyone else? Well, basically we just come together to do the films, and even then of course, there`s not really that many scenes when we`re all appearing and working together. So it`s a very friendly, but professional relationship I think.”
The actor is equally direct on the subject of Star Trek conventions, the lifeblood in between pictures and reruns for many ”Trekkies.” ”I just don`t go to any,” he states simply. ”I did attend several when they first started, and on the basis of those I devised a one-man show dealing with man`s ongoing fascination with outer space and science fiction (it later became an album,
`William Shatner–Live`).
”But to be honest, I`m very uncomfortable in those situations, with all those people and questions, and I just don`t enjoy it very much, so I stopped going.”
The actor did attend this year`s convention celebrating Star Trek`s 20th anniversary, his first one in 10 years. ”They kept asking and asking me until I eventually said yes,” he admits sheepishly, ”and I found I enjoyed it more than I expected to, but it was also a bit of a trial . . . I`d rather just get on with my work.”
With ”Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home” looking set to do even better business than ”Star Trek III,” Shatner is currently awaiting word on the fifth Star Trek and his eagerly anticipated chance to direct one of the series. ”I was supposed to direct one before, but I was unfortunately unavailable because of `T.J. Hooker,` ” explains the actor who`s also quick to deny that there`s any friction between himself and Leonard Nimoy who has directed the last two, highly successful outings.
(”Any such reports are totally untrue,” agreed Nimoy. ”I`m delighted Bill`s directing the next one because it`s extremely hard work being both in front of and behind the camera, and I really need a rest after directing two in a row.”)
”I`ve been signed to do No. 5, and I already have a story idea mapped out,” continued Shatner, ”so now it`s just a matter of waiting, although the studio`s already committed to doing another one. In fact, I`d have thought they`d OK`d the script by now,” he adds, sounding slightly impatient. ”But no word yet. I really don`t know what the hold-up is–God knows what mysterious ways studio executives work in . . .”
The wait for the green light is in turn holding up one of the actor`s extracurricular activities. ”I`ve developed a story and script based on show horses that I`m very excited about, and I`m also planning to direct that. I`m very close to getting all the financing for it, but of course now I can`t go ahead and do it until I find out about Star Trek 5, in case all the schedules conflict–it`s very frustrating for me, especially because I`m in love with directing. It`s really one of my big passions in life.”
It turns out, hardly surprisingly, that show horses and horsebreeding are his other big passions. A dedicated and experienced breeder of quarter horses, Shatner and his actress wife, Marcy Lifferty, divide their time between their ranch in Northern California and their farm in Kentucky, where they breed and raise American Saddlebreeds. ”I have a two-time world champion called
`Sultan`s Great Day` and a lot of mares, and I compete as often as I can
–and successfully, too,” he adds proudly.
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”Unfortunately, I don`t get as much time to do it as I`d like, and far from taking it easier as I get older, I seem to be getting steadily busier and busier. But I`ve got no complaints. I always wanted to act since I was a kid growing up in Montreal, and although in my own mind I still think of myself as a struggling actor, I`m certainly very grateful to something like Star Trek, which has kept me off the streets and largely out of trouble.”
”As for retiring, well, I can see no reason for any of us to stop. As long as we can walk and talk, and still say `Beam me up, Scotty!` with confidence, we`ll keep going where no man has gone before. . .”