To generations of fans, he will always be Captain James Tiberius Kirk, but William Shatner’s achievements extend far beyond the worlds explored by the USS Enterprise. Shatner has headlined five TV series, starred in more than three dozen movies, and made more than 75 memorable TV guest appearances. As comfortable with comedy or Shakespearean tragedy as he is with science fiction, Shatner is also a best-selling author, an accomplished director, a respected horse breeder, and a dedicated environmentalist.
Shatner originally set his sights on a career in finance and entered McGill University as a commerce student. Midway through his studies, he changed his major to acting. In 1954, stage director Tyrone Guthrie asked Shatner to join him in a fledgling initiative called The Stratford Shakespearean Festival. After three seasons, Shatner departed Stratford for New York – and immediately earned success both on Broadway and in live television.
Dozens of high-profile TV roles followed, including a 1963 performance of The Twilight Zone. In 1965, Shatner landed his first series lead in the short-lived drama For The People. The following year, Gene Roddenberry invited him to view a pilot he’d developed that had been rejected by all the major networks. Intrigued, Shatner offered some suggestions for re-jigging the plot and agreed to accept the starring role. Star Trek debuted in September 1966 and lasted three seasons. Shatner went on to star in numerous Star Trek films before finally laying Captain Kirk to rest in Star Trek: Generations.
In 1990, Shatner tried his hand at writing. His first novel, the sci-fi adventure Tek War, proved so popular that eight sequels, and a syndicated TV series, followed. He has also written 10 other books, including two best-selling volumes of Trek reminiscences.
When asked about his seemingly boundless creative energy, he explained simply, “I was built for the long run, not the short dash.” In other words, he fully intends to live long and prosper.
