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