William Shatner
William Shatner, OC 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article William Shatner, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill as Self
- 2022 · A Tear in the Sky as
- 2021 · 2021 and Done with Snoop Dogg & Kevin Hart as Self
- 2021 · Shatner in Space as Self
- 2021 · Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek as Self
- 2019 · The Kelly Clarkson Show as Self
- 2017 · Heroes Manufactured as Self (archive footage)
- 2015 · The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as Self
- 2014 · To Be Takei as Self
- 2013 · Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale as Self
- 2013 · Escape from Planet Earth as General Shanker (voice)
- 2012 · Get a Life! as Himself
- 2011 · Corman's World as Self - Actor
- 2011 · The Captains as Himself
- 2011 · The Space Shuttle as Narrator
- 2011 · Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored as Captain James T. Kirk (archive footage)
- 2010 · Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey as Core (voice)
- 2009 · William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet as Himself
- 2009 · Star Trek: The Captain's Summit as Self
- 2009 · Fanboys as Himself
- 2008 · Gotta Catch Santa Claus as Santa Claus (voice)
- 2007 · The Pixar Story as James T. Kirk (archive footage)
- 2006 · Over the Hedge as Ozzie (voice)
- 2006 · The Wild as Kazar (voice)
- 2006 · Stalking Santa as Narrator
- 2005 · Merry F#%$in' Christmas as Self
- 2005 · How William Shatner Changed The World as Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
- 2005 · Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous as Stan Fields
- 2005 · The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- 2003 · A Carol Christmas as Dr. Bob / Ghost of Christmas Present
- 2003 · Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2002 · Spplat Attack as
- 2002 · Groom Lake as John Gossner
- 2002 · American Psycho II: All American Girl as Starkman
- 2002 · Showtime as William Shatner
- 2002 · Shoot or Be Shot! as Harvey Wilkes
- 2001 · Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime as Himself
- 2001 · Falcon Down as Major Robert Carson
- 2000 · Miss Congeniality as Stan Fields
- 2000 · Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero as Narrator (Voice)
- 1999 · Nukes in Space as Narrator
- 1998 · Free Enterprise as Bill
- 1997 · Trekkies as Self
- 1997 · Jefftowne as Himself
- 1996 · The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc. as Michael Gatewick
- 1996 · Star Trek Story as Self (archive footage)
- 1996 · Dead Man's Island as Chase Prescott
- 1995 · Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie as Narrator
- 1994 · Star Trek: Generations as Captain James T. Kirk
- 1994 · TekWar: TekJustice as Walter H. Bascom
- 1994 · TekWar: TekLab as Walter H. Bascom
- 1994 · TekWar: TekLords as Walter H. Bascom
- 1993 · National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1 as General Mortars
- 1991 · Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as Captain James T. Kirk
- 1991 · Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special as Self - Host
- 1991 · Voices That Care as Self - Choir Member
- 1989 · Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as Captain James T. Kirk
- 1986 · Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home as Kirk
- 1986 · William Shatner's Mysteries of the Way We Feel as Host
- 1986 · Super Duper Bloopers as Self
- 1985 · Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers as Self (archive footage)
- 1984 · Secrets of a Married Man as Chris Jordan
- 1984 · Star Trek III: The Search for Spock as Admiral James T. Kirk
- 1982 · Airplane II: The Sequel as Cdr. Buck Murdock
- 1982 · Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan as Admiral James T. Kirk
- 1982 · Visiting Hours as Gary Baylor
- 1980 · The Babysitter as Dr. Jeff Benedict
- 1980 · The Kidnapping of the President as Jerry O'Connor
- 1979 · Star Trek: The Motion Picture as Admiral James T. Kirk
- 1979 · Disaster on the Coastliner as Stuart Peters
- 1978 · Land of No Return as Curt Benell
- 1978 · The Third Walker as Munro Maclean
- 1977 · Kingdom of the Spiders as Dr. Robert 'Rack' Hansen
- 1976 · The Tenth Level as Prof. Stephen Turner
- 1976 · Mysteries of the Gods as Host
- 1976 · Universe as Narrator
- 1975 · The Devil's Rain as Mark Preston
- 1975 · Mitzi & 100 Guys as Self
- 1974 · Impulse as Matt Stone
- 1974 · Big Bad Mama as William J. Baxter
- 1974 · Pray for the Wildcats as Warren Summerfield
- 1973 · Pioneer Woman as John Sergeant
- 1973 · The Horror at 37,000 Feet as Paul Kovalik
- 1973 · Go Ask Alice as Sam
- 1972 · The Hound of the Baskervilles as George Stapleton
- 1972 · The People as Dr. Curtis
- 1970 · The Andersonville Trial as Col. Chipman
- 1970 · Sole Survivor as Lt. Col. Josef Gronke
- 1970 · Swing Out, Sweet Land as John Adams
- 1968 · White Comanche as Johnny Moon / Notah
- 1968 · Alexander The Great as Alexander
- 1966 · Incubus as Marc
- 1964 · The Outrage as Preacher
- 1963 · Operation Bikini as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- 1962 · The Intruder as Adam Cramer
- 1961 · Judgment at Nuremberg as Harrison Byers
- 1961 · The Explosive Generation as Peter Gifford
- 1958 · A Town Has Turned to Dust as Jerry Paul
- 1958 · The Brothers Karamazov as Alexi Karamazov
- Future · The Atomic Bomb Collection as Narrator
- 2022 · Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg as Self
- 2019 · WWE Backstage as William Shatner
- 2019 · The Masked Singer as Knight
- 2019 · The Masked Singer as Knight (archive footage)
- 2016 · Private Eyes as Norm Glinski
- 2016 · The Shannara Chronicles as Captain Kirk (archive footage)
- 2014 · Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as Self
- 2012 · Gotham Comedy Live as Self - Host
- 2012 · Honest Trailers as James T. Kirk (archive footage)
- 2012 · Comic Book Men as Self
- 2010 · The Talk as
- 2010 · My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic as Grand Pear (voice)
- 2010 · Haven as Croatoan
- 2010 · Hot in Cleveland as Sally
- 2008 · Shatner's Raw Nerve as Self - Host
- 2008 · Murdoch Mysteries as Mark Twain
- 2007 · The Big Bang Theory as William Shatner
- 2006 · Psych as Frank O'Hara
- 2005 · The Reichen Show as Self - Guest
- 2005 · The Colbert Report as
- 2005 · Hell's Kitchen as Self
- 2004 · Boston Legal as Denny Crane
- 2004 · The Tony Danza Show as Self - Guest
- 2003 · The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- 2003 · Real Time with Bill Maher as Self
- 2003 · Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Self
- 2001 · Good Day Live as Self
- 2000 · Click as Self
- 1999 · The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn as Self - Guest
- 1999 · Futurama as William Shatner (voice)
- 1997 · The View as Self
- 1997 · The View as Self - Guest
- 1997 · Perversions of Science as Admiral Kornfeld
- 1997 · The Practice as Denny Crane
- 1994 · Space Ghost Coast to Coast as
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1993 · seaQuest DSV as Milos Tezlof
- 1993 · Raw as
- 1993 · Raw as William Shatner
- 1992 · The Larry Sanders Show as William Shatner
- 1992 · The Tonight Show with Jay Leno as
- 1990 · The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as Himself
- 1988 · LIVE with Kelly and Mark as
- 1977 · The Oregon Trail as
- 1976 · Battle of the Network Stars as
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- 1974 · Police Woman as
- 1974 · Police Woman as Mark Ciprio
- 1974 · Petrocelli as Adam North
- 1974 · The Six Million Dollar Man as Josh Lang
- 1973 · Barnaby Jones as Phil Carlyle / Fred Williams
- 1972 · The Sixth Sense as
- 1971 · Columbo as Ward Fowler
- 1971 · Columbo as Fielding Chase
- 1968 · The Name of the Game as Peter
- 1968 · Hawaii Five-O as Sam Tolliver
- 1967 · Mannix as Adam Langer
- 1966 · Mission: Impossible as Joseph Conrad
- 1966 · Star Trek as James T. Kirk
- 1965 · The F.B.I. as Arthur Majors
- 1965 · The Big Valley as Brett
- 1963 · Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre as
- 1963 · The Outer Limits as Gen. Jeff Barton
- 1963 · Miss USA as Host
- 1962 · The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- 1961 · The Mike Douglas Show as Self
- 1961 · Alcoa Premiere as Dr William Grant
- 1961 · Dr. Kildare as Dr. Toby Cunningham
- 1961 · Dr. Kildare as Dr. Carl Noyes
- 1961 · The Dick Powell Show as Eric Tegman
- 1961 · The Defenders as Jim McCleery
- 1961 · The Defenders as Charles Terranova
- 1961 · The Defenders as Gil Rawson
- 1961 · The Defenders as Cliff Sellers
- 1961 · The Defenders as Assistant District Attorney Earl Rhodes
- 1960 · Route 66 as
- 1960 · Outlaws as
- 1960 · Thriller as Gil Thrasher
- 1960 · Thriller as Paul Graves
- 1959 · The Twilight Zone as Bob Wilson
- 1959 · The Twilight Zone as Don Carter
- 1959 · One Step Beyond as Carl Bremer
- 1958 · 77 Sunset Strip as Paul DeVinger
- 1957 · Suspicion as Eli
- 1954 · Climax! as Ben Tate
- 1953 · The Oscars as Self
- 1952 · Omnibus as
- 1952 · Omnibus as Palace Messenger
- 1948 · Lamp Unto My Feet as
- 1948 · Studio One as Dr. David Coleman
- 1948 · Studio One as Dr. Franck
- 1948 · Studio One as Kenneth Preston
- 1948 · The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- 1947 · Kraft Television Theatre as
- 1947 · Kraft Television Theatre as Charles Best
- 1944 · Golden Globe Awards as Self - Presenter
- 1944 · Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee
- 1944 · Golden Globe Awards as Self - Host
- Future · Have I Got a Bit More News for You as Self - Presenter
- 2024 · Masters of the Universe: Revolution as Keldor (voice)
- 2023 · The UnXplained Special Presentation as Self - Presenter
- 2023 · Stars on Mars as Self - Host
- 2022 · Piers Morgan Uncensored as Self
- 2019 · The UnXplained as Self - Host
- 2019 · My Life Is Murder as Barton Wallwork
- 2018 · Star Trek: Short Treks as Capt. James T. Kirk (voice) (archive footage)
- 2015 · StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson as Self
- 2014 · The Real History of Science Fiction as Self
- 2013 · The Captains Close Up as Self
- 2010 · $#*! My Dad Says as Dr. Edison Milford Goodson III
- 2010 · Rookie Blue as Henry McLeod
- 2010 · William Shatner's Weird or What? as
- 2006 · The Henry Rollins Show as
- 2004 · Atomic Betty as Jim
- 2003 · Chilly Beach as The President
- 2003 · Comedy Central Roasts as Self
- 2002 · After They Were Famous as Self
- 1999 · A Twist in the Tale as
- 1998 · Hercules as Jason of the Argonauts (voice)
- 1997 · Space Cadets as Self
- 1996 · 3rd Rock from the Sun as Big Giant Head
- 1994 · TekWar as Walter H. Bascom
- 1992 · Eek! The Cat as Santa Claus (voice)
- 1992 · Eek! The Cat as Commander Berzerk (voice)
- 1985 · The Ray Bradbury Theater as Charles Underhill
- 1982 · T. J. Hooker as Sgt TJ Hooker
- 1982 · Police Squad! as Poisoned Man
- 1982 · Late Night with David Letterman as Self
- 1977 · How the West Was Won as Captain Harrison
- 1974 · Flick Flack as Host
- 1973 · Star Trek as James T. Kirk (voice)
- 1973 · Police Story as
- 1972 · The Rookies as
- 1967 · Off to See the Wizard as Alexander the Great
- 1967 · Ironside as
- 1967 · Ironside as Bill Parkins
- 1967 · Ironside as Marty Jessup
- 1964 · The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as
- 1963 · Burke's Law as Arthur Reynolds
- 1963 · The Fugitive as Tony Burrell
- 1963 · Arrest and Trial as Larry Tavener
- 1962 · The Virginian as Luke Milford
- 1958 · Naked City as Roger Barmer
- 1958 · Naked City as Maung Tun
- 1955 · Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Jim Whitely
- 1955 · Alfred Hitchcock Presents as John Crane
- 1955 · Gunsmoke as Fred Bateman
- 1954 · On Camera as
- Future · Inner Space as Narrator
- 2023 · Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic as Self
- 2022 · 1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! as Self
- 2021 · Senior Moment as Victor Martin
- 2020 · Creators: The Past as Lord Oghma
- 2019 · Devil's Revenge as Hayes
- 2018 · Aliens Ate My Homework as Phillogenus esk Piemondum (Phil) (voice)
- 2017 · Not a War Story as
- 2017 · The Truth Is in the Stars as Self
- 2016 · Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault as Self
- 2016 · For the Love of Spock as Self
- 2015 · Baby, Baby, Baby as Actor
- 2015 · Being Canadian as Self
- 2014 · Chaos on the Bridge as Self
- 2012 · Horrorween as Himself
- 2011 · Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen as Self - Roaster
- 2006 · Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner as Self
- 2005 · Last Laugh '05 as Lucifer
- 2005 · Invasion Iowa as Col. Shane Yeager
- 2004 · Last Laugh '04 as Self
- 2004 · Birth of a Timeless Legacy as
- 2003 · Christmas in Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
- 2003 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special as Self
- 2002 · NBC 75th Anniversary Special as Self
- 2001 · Festival in Cannes as Self
- 2001 · Gahan Wilson's The Kid as Professor
- 2001 · NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3 as Narrator
- 1998 · Land of the Free as Aidan Carvell
- 1998 · Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman as James T. Kirk
- 1996 · Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond as Self
- 1994 · Star Trek: A Captain's Log as Himself/Host
- 1994 · William Shatner: Captain's Log as Self
- 1994 · TekWar as Walter H. Bascom
- 1993 · Family of Strangers as Earl
- 1990 · Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest as Narrator
- 1988 · The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next as Self
- 1988 · Broken Angel as Chuck Coburn
- 1987 · Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood as Self
- 1986 · The Canadian Conspiracy as
- 1985 · Night of 100 Stars II as Self
- 1983 · Prime Times as Self
- 1982 · Night of 100 Stars as Self
- 1978 · The Crash of Flight 401 as Carl Tobias
- 1978 · The Bastard as Paul Revere
- 1974 · Amy Prentiss as
- Future · Science Fiction Film Awards as Himself
- 2024 · 765874: Unification as Kirk
- 2024 · The D-Con Chamber as Self
- 2024 · The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe as Self - Presenter
- 2023 · Full Moon's Roadshow Revisited as Self (archive footage)
- 2022 · Fireheart as Mayor of New York (voice)
- 2021 · WWE Hall Of Fame 2020 as Himself
- 2019 · To Your Last Death as The Overseer (voice)
- 2018 · The Steam Engines of Oz as Oscar "Oz" Diggs (voice)
- 2017 · The Indian Detective as David Marlowe
- 2017 · Batman vs. Two-Face as Harvey Dent / Two-Face (voice)
- 2016 · Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed as Self
- 2016 · Better Late Than Never as Self
- 2016 · When Elephants Were Young as Narrator
- 2016 · Range 15 as Richard Chindler
- 2016 · Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People as Self
- 2016 · They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé as Himself (voice only)
- 2016 · A Sunday Horse as Kenneth Roubidoux
- 2016 · The Colorful Montreal Expos as Narrator (voice)
- 2015 · Just in Time for Christmas as Coachman Nick
- 2015 · WWE Breaking Ground as Himself (narrator)
- 2015 · A Christmas Horror Story as Dangerous Dan
- 2015 · Tom Felton Meets the Superfans as Self
- 2014 · A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con as Self
- 2013 · The Captains: Still Kicking as Himself
- 2011 · William Shatner Sings O Canada as Himself
- 2011 · Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories as
- 2011 · Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner as
- 2010 · The Fran Drescher Show as
- 2010 · Aftermath with William Shatner as Self - Host
- 2010 · Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man as Self
- 2008 · Everest as Norman Kelly
- 2008 · Million Dollar Password as
- 2008 · Extraordinary Animals as
- 2007 · WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary as Himself
- 2007 · Mars Rising as Narrator (voice)
- 2006 · Show Me the Money as
- 2006 · William Shatner in Concert as Self
- 2006 · 40 Years of Star Trek as Self
- 2005 · Lil' Pimp as Tony Gold (voice)
- 2004 · DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story as Dodgeball Chancellor
- 2004 · The Rose Parade: A Pageant for the Ages as Self
- 2004 · Best Week Ever as
- 2004 · Sci-Fi Visionaries as
- 2004 · Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century as
- 2002 · Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages as Self
- 2002 · One-Hit Wonders as
- 2002 · Cosmic Odyssey as
- 2002 · Star Wars vs. Star Trek: The Rivalry Continues as Self
- 2001 · Whale Shark Hunters of the Philippines as Self
- 2001 · Bob Patterson as Warren Wellman
- 2001 · Osmosis Jones as Mayor Phlegmming (voice)
- 2001 · Remembering 'The Intruder' as Himself
- 2001 · NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 1 as Narrator
- 2001 · NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 2 as Narrator
- 1998 · Hollywood Ghost Stories as Himself
- 1996 · E! True Hollywood Story as Self
- 1996 · Corwin as Self
- 1996 · Muppets Tonight as Self
- 1995 · William Shatner's Star Trek Memories as Host
- 1994 · Janek: The Silent Betrayal as Bodosh
- 1994 · Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown as
- 1994 · City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold as Adam Harland (uncredited)
- 1994 · UFO Cover-Up Live with Larry King as Self
- 1993 · Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations as Self
- 1992 · Boomerang as Captain James Tiberius Kirk (archive footage)
- 1990 · Dream On as
- 1989 · Rescue 911 as Self - Host
- 1989 · Hollywood on Horses as Self
- 1987 · Seasons as Narrator (voice)
- 1986 · T.J. Hooker - Blood Sport as Sgt. T.J. Hooker
- 1985 · North Beach and Rawhide as Rawhide MacGregor
- 1982 · Madame's Place as Self
- 1980 · Hypnosis and Beyond as Himself
- 1978 · Little Women as Friedrich Bhaer
- 1977 · Testimony of Two Men as Adrian Ferrier
- 1969 · Shadow Game as
- 1966 · Star Trek: The Menagerie as Captain James T. Kirk
- Future · Keeper of the Cup as
- 1976 · A Whale of a Tale as Jack Fredericks
- 1976 · Perilous Voyage as Steve Monroe
- 1976 · Microworld as
- 1975 · The Star Trek Dream as Self
- 1975 · Barbary Coast as Jeff Cable
- 1974 · Kodiak as Buzz Howard
- 1974 · Indict and Convict as Sam Belden
- 1973 · The Magician as Ed Cassidy
- 1973 · Incident on a Dark Street as Deaver G. Wallace
- 1972 · Kung Fu as Capt. Brandywine Gage
- 1971 · Vanished as Dave Paulick
- 1966 · CBS Playhouse as
- 1965 · For the People as David Koster
- 1964 · Reporter as Horner
- 1963 · Channing as Tom Ericson
- 1960 · Insight as Mike Burnett
- 1960 · Police Surgeon as Joe Flatt
- 1959 · City Out of Time as Narrator (voice)
- 1958 · The Christmas Tree as Philo
- 1957 · The Defender (Studio One) as Kenneth Preston
- 1957 · Oedipus Rex as Chorus
- 1953 · Space Command as
- 1951 · Hallmark Hall of Fame as Philo
- 1951 · The Butler's Night Off as
- Future · The Eagle Obsession as Self