William Shatner
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.
Filmography
The Sixty Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World
as Self
The Sixty Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World
as Self
The Eagle Obsession
as Self
The Eagle Obsession
as Self
Aliens Among Us with William Shatner
Aliens Among Us with William Shatner
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill
as Self
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill
as Self
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
as Self
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
as Self
Full Moon's Roadshow Revisited
as Self (archive footage)
Full Moon's Roadshow Revisited
as Self (archive footage)
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
as Self - (archive footage)
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
as Self - (archive footage)
A Tear in the Sky
A Tear in the Sky
Fireheart
as Mayor of New York (voice)
Fireheart
as Mayor of New York (voice)
2021 and Done with Snoop Dogg & Kevin Hart
as Self
2021 and Done with Snoop Dogg & Kevin Hart
as Self
Shatner in Space
as Self
Shatner in Space
as Self
Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek
as Self
Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek
as Self
WWE Hall Of Fame 2020
as Himself
WWE Hall Of Fame 2020
as Himself
Senior Moment
as Victor Martin
Senior Moment
as Victor Martin
Creators: The Past
as Lord Oghma
Creators: The Past
as Lord Oghma
To Your Last Death
as The Overseer (voice)
To Your Last Death
as The Overseer (voice)
Devil's Revenge
as Hayes
Devil's Revenge
as Hayes
The Steam Engines of Oz
as Oscar 'Oz' Diggs (voice)
The Steam Engines of Oz
as Oscar 'Oz' Diggs (voice)
Aliens Ate My Homework
as Phillogenus esk Piemondum (Phil) (voice)
Aliens Ate My Homework
as Phillogenus esk Piemondum (Phil) (voice)
Batman vs. Two-Face
as Harvey Dent / Two-Face (voice)
Batman vs. Two-Face
as Harvey Dent / Two-Face (voice)
Not a War Story
Not a War Story
The Truth Is in the Stars
as Self
The Truth Is in the Stars
as Self
Heroes Manufactured
as Self (archive footage)
Heroes Manufactured
as Self (archive footage)
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
as Self
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
as Self
For the Love of Spock
as Self
For the Love of Spock
as Self
When Elephants Were Young
as Narrator
When Elephants Were Young
as Narrator
Range 15
as Richard Chindler
Range 15
as Richard Chindler
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
as Self (archive footage)
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
as Self (archive footage)
They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé
as Himself (voice only)
They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé
as Himself (voice only)
A Sunday Horse
as Kenneth Roubidoux
A Sunday Horse
as Kenneth Roubidoux
The Colorful Montreal Expos
as Narrator (voice)
The Colorful Montreal Expos
as Narrator (voice)
Just in Time for Christmas
as Coachman Nick
Just in Time for Christmas
as Coachman Nick
Baby, Baby, Baby
as Actor
Baby, Baby, Baby
as Actor
Being Canadian
as Self
Being Canadian
as Self
A Christmas Horror Story
as Dangerous Dan
A Christmas Horror Story
as Dangerous Dan
Tom Felton Meets the Superfans
as Self
Tom Felton Meets the Superfans
as Self
A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con
as Self
A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con
as Self
Chaos on the Bridge
as Self
Chaos on the Bridge
as Self
To Be Takei
as Self
To Be Takei
as Self
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
as Self
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
as Self
Return to the Forest
as Narrator
Return to the Forest
as Narrator
Escape from Planet Earth
as General Shanker (voice)
Escape from Planet Earth
as General Shanker (voice)
The Captains: Still Kicking
as Self
The Captains: Still Kicking
as Self
Horrorween
as Self
Horrorween
as Self
Get a Life!
as Self
Get a Life!
as Self
Corman's World
as Self - Actor
Corman's World
as Self - Actor
Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen
as Self - Roaster
Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen
as Self - Roaster
William Shatner Sings O Canada
as Himself
William Shatner Sings O Canada
as Himself
The Captains
as Self
The Captains
as Self
The Space Shuttle
as Narrator
The Space Shuttle
as Narrator
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
as Captain James T. Kirk (archive footage)
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
as Captain James T. Kirk (archive footage)
Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner
Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
as Core (voice)
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
as Core (voice)
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
as Self
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
as Self
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Closing Ceremony
as Himself
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Closing Ceremony
as Himself
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet
as Himself
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet
as Himself
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit
as Self
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit
as Self
Fanboys
as Himself
Fanboys
as Himself
Gotta Catch Santa Claus
as Santa Claus (voice)
Gotta Catch Santa Claus
as Santa Claus (voice)
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Himself
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
as Himself
The Pixar Story
as James T. Kirk (archive footage)
The Pixar Story
as James T. Kirk (archive footage)
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
as Self
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
as Self
Over the Hedge
as Ozzie (voice)
Over the Hedge
as Ozzie (voice)
The Wild
as Kazar (voice)
The Wild
as Kazar (voice)
Stalking Santa
as Narrator
Stalking Santa
as Narrator
William Shatner in Concert
as Self
William Shatner in Concert
as Self
40 Years of Star Trek
as Self
40 Years of Star Trek
as Self
Last Laugh '05
as Lucifer
Last Laugh '05
as Lucifer
Merry F#%$in' Christmas
as Self
Merry F#%$in' Christmas
as Self
How William Shatner Changed the World
as Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
How William Shatner Changed the World
as Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
as Stan Fields
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
as Stan Fields
Lil' Pimp
as Tony Gold (voice)
Lil' Pimp
as Tony Gold (voice)
Last Laugh '04
as Self
Last Laugh '04
as Self
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
as Dodgeball Chancellor
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
as Dodgeball Chancellor
The Rose Parade: A Pageant for the Ages
as Self
The Rose Parade: A Pageant for the Ages
as Self
Sci-Fi Visionaries
Sci-Fi Visionaries
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
A Carol Christmas
as Dr. Bob / Ghost of Christmas Present
A Carol Christmas
as Dr. Bob / Ghost of Christmas Present
Christmas in Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Christmas in Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
as Self
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
William Shatner's Spplat Attack II
as Wild Bill
William Shatner's Spplat Attack II
as Wild Bill
Spplat Attack
Spplat Attack
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
as Self
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
as Self
Groom Lake
as John Gossner
Groom Lake
as John Gossner
American Psycho II: All American Girl
as Starkman
American Psycho II: All American Girl
as Starkman
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
as Self
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
as Self
Showtime
as William Shatner
Showtime
as William Shatner
Shoot or Be Shot!
as Harvey Wilkes
Shoot or Be Shot!
as Harvey Wilkes
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: The Rivalry Continues
as Self
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: The Rivalry Continues
as Self
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
as Self
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
as Self
Festival in Cannes
as Self
Festival in Cannes
as Self
Gahan Wilson's The Kid
as Professor
Gahan Wilson's The Kid
as Professor
Whale Shark Hunters of the Philippines
as Self
Whale Shark Hunters of the Philippines
as Self
Osmosis Jones
as Mayor Phlegmming (voice)
Osmosis Jones
as Mayor Phlegmming (voice)
Falcon Down
as Major Robert Carson
Falcon Down
as Major Robert Carson
Remembering 'The Intruder'
as Self
Remembering 'The Intruder'
as Self
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 1
as Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 1
as Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3
as Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3
as Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 2
as Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 2
as Narrator
Miss Congeniality
as Stan Fields
Miss Congeniality
as Stan Fields
Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
as Narrator (Voice)
Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
as Narrator (Voice)
Nukes in Space
as Narrator
Nukes in Space
as Narrator
Land of the Free
as Aidan Carvell
Land of the Free
as Aidan Carvell
Hollywood Ghost Stories
as Self
Hollywood Ghost Stories
as Self
Free Enterprise
as Bill
Free Enterprise
as Bill
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
as James T. Kirk
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
as James T. Kirk
Trekkies
as Self
Trekkies
as Self
Jefftowne
as Self
Jefftowne
as Self
TV Guide Looks at Science Fiction
as Self
TV Guide Looks at Science Fiction
as Self
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
as Self
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
as Self
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
as Michael Gatewick
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
as Michael Gatewick
Star Trek Story
as Self (archive footage)
Star Trek Story
as Self (archive footage)
Corwin
as Self
Corwin
as Self
Dead Man's Island
as Chase Prescott
Dead Man's Island
as Chase Prescott
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
as Host
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
as Host
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
as Narrator
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
as Narrator
Virtuosity
as Captain James T. Kirk (archive footage) (uncredited)
Virtuosity
as Captain James T. Kirk (archive footage) (uncredited)
Janek: The Silent Betrayal
as Bodosh
Janek: The Silent Betrayal
as Bodosh
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
as Self - Host
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
as Self - Host
William Shatner: Captain's Log
as Self
William Shatner: Captain's Log
as Self
Star Trek: Generations
as Captain James T. Kirk
Star Trek: Generations
as Captain James T. Kirk
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
as Adam Harland (uncredited)
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
as Adam Harland (uncredited)
TekWar: TekJustice
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekJustice
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLab
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLab
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLords
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLords
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar
as Walter H. Bascom
TekWar
as Walter H. Bascom
UFO Cover-Up Live with Larry King
as Self
UFO Cover-Up Live with Larry King
as Self
Family of Strangers
as Earl
Family of Strangers
as Earl
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
as General Mortars
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
as General Mortars
Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations
as Self
Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations
as Self
The Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
as Self
The Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
as Self
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
as Captain James T. Kirk
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
as Captain James T. Kirk
The Horror Hall of Fame II
as Self - Presenter
The Horror Hall of Fame II
as Self - Presenter
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
as Self - Host
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
as Self - Host
Voices That Care
as Self - Choir Member
Voices That Care
as Self - Choir Member
Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years
as Self
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
as Captain James T. Kirk
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
as Captain James T. Kirk
Hollywood on Horses
as Self
Hollywood on Horses
as Self
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
as Self
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
as Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
as Admiral James T. Kirk
William Shatner's Mysteries of the Way We Feel
as Host
William Shatner's Mysteries of the Way We Feel
as Host
The Canadian Conspiracy
as Self
The Canadian Conspiracy
as Self
T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport
as Sgt. T.J. Hooker
T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport
as Sgt. T.J. Hooker
Super Duper Bloopers
as Self
Super Duper Bloopers
as Self
North Beach and Rawhide
as Rawhide MacGregor
North Beach and Rawhide
as Rawhide MacGregor
Night of 100 Stars II
as Self
Night of 100 Stars II
as Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Secrets of a Married Man
as Chris Jordan
Secrets of a Married Man
as Chris Jordan
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Airplane II: The Sequel
as Cdr. Buck Murdock
Airplane II: The Sequel
as Cdr. Buck Murdock
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Visiting Hours
as Gary Baylor
Visiting Hours
as Gary Baylor
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
Night of 100 Stars
as Self
The Babysitter
as Dr. Jeff Benedict
The Babysitter
as Dr. Jeff Benedict
The Kidnapping of the President
as Jerry O'Connor
The Kidnapping of the President
as Jerry O'Connor
Hypnosis and Beyond
as Self
Hypnosis and Beyond
as Self
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
as Admiral James T. Kirk
Disaster on the Coastliner
as Stuart Peters
Disaster on the Coastliner
as Stuart Peters
Riel
as The Barker
Riel
as The Barker
The Crash of Flight 401
as Carl Tobias
The Crash of Flight 401
as Carl Tobias
The Third Walker
as Munro Maclean
The Third Walker
as Munro Maclean
Kingdom of the Spiders
as Dr. Robert 'Rack' Hansen
Kingdom of the Spiders
as Dr. Robert 'Rack' Hansen
A Whale of a Tale
as Jack Fredericks
A Whale of a Tale
as Jack Fredericks
The Tenth Level
as Prof. Stephen Turner
The Tenth Level
as Prof. Stephen Turner
Perilous Voyage
as Steve Monroe
Perilous Voyage
as Steve Monroe
Mysteries of the Gods
as Host
Mysteries of the Gods
as Host
Universe
as Narrator
Universe
as Narrator
The Star Trek Dream
as Self
The Star Trek Dream
as Self
The Devil’s Rain
as Mark Preston
The Devil’s Rain
as Mark Preston
Mitzi & 100 Guys
as Self
Mitzi & 100 Guys
as Self
Big Bad Mama
as William J. Baxter
Big Bad Mama
as William J. Baxter
Pray for the Wildcats
as Warren Summerfield
Pray for the Wildcats
as Warren Summerfield
Indict and Convict
as Sam Belden
Indict and Convict
as Sam Belden
Pioneer Woman
as John Sergeant
Pioneer Woman
as John Sergeant
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
as Paul Kovalik
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
as Paul Kovalik
Go Ask Alice
as Sam
Go Ask Alice
as Sam
Incident on a Dark Street
as Deaver G. Wallace
Incident on a Dark Street
as Deaver G. Wallace
The Hound of the Baskervilles
as George Stapleton
The Hound of the Baskervilles
as George Stapleton
The People
as Dr. Curtis
The People
as Dr. Curtis
The Andersonville Trial
as Col. Chipman
The Andersonville Trial
as Col. Chipman
Sole Survivor
as Lt. Col. Josef Gronke
Sole Survivor
as Lt. Col. Josef Gronke
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as John Adams
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as John Adams
Shadow Game
as Peter Hoyt
Shadow Game
as Peter Hoyt
White Comanche
as Johnny Moon / Notah
White Comanche
as Johnny Moon / Notah
Alexander The Great
as Alexander
Alexander The Great
as Alexander
The Outrage
as Preacher
The Outrage
as Preacher
Operation Bikini
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Operation Bikini
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Intruder
as Adam Cramer
The Intruder
as Adam Cramer
Judgment at Nuremberg
as Harrison Byers
Judgment at Nuremberg
as Harrison Byers
The Explosive Generation
as Peter Gifford
The Explosive Generation
as Peter Gifford
The Christmas Tree
as Philo
The Christmas Tree
as Philo
A Town Has Turned to Dust
as Jerry Paul
A Town Has Turned to Dust
as Jerry Paul
The Brothers Karamazov
as Alexi Karamazov
The Brothers Karamazov
as Alexi Karamazov
Oedipus Rex
as Chorus
Oedipus Rex
as Chorus
Keeper of the Cup
Keeper of the Cup