William Shatner: Summary

Recent Role:: Guest Co-Host on Live with Regis and Kelly

Gender:: Male

Birthday:: 3-22-1931

Birthplace:: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Though William Shatner first garnered fame through his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek television series, he has gone on to develop a prolific career as an actor, comedian, spokesman and "singer" over a nearly 60-year period.

His performance as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek television series and the Star Trek movie series established his place in the world of popular science fiction. He also starred in a famous episode of The Twilight Zone as a former patient who thinks he sees a monster on the wing of an airplane ("Nightmare at 20,000 Feet").

Though his career declined after the cancellation of Star Trek due to typecasting, he re-established himself as a television star in series such as T.J. Hooker and Rescue 911. He also ventured into the genre of comedy with roles in films such as Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004) and in television shows like 3rd Rock from the Sun (where William received an Emmy nomination for his performance as "The Big Giant Head").

He delved into the world of music with a decidedly strange and surreal album titled The Transformed Man (1968) in which he talk-sang through cover versions of popular hits like "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." He performed a talk-singing rendition of "Rocket Man" for the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards dressed in a tuxedo and smoking a cigarette.

William recorded his second album in 2004 in collaboration with Ben Folds. The album, Has Been, took a surprisingly melancholy look at life. William's prose poems and talk-singing garnered significant praise among critics this time around.

His 1968 album led to William's lucrative deal many years later as the spokesman for Priceline.com. His early commercial spots for the website featured him talk-singing in a manner very similar to his delivery on The Transformed Man. The long-running series of ads ventured into comedy as fellow Star Trek star Leonard Nimoy was recruited to "replace" William at one point. Later on, William appeared as the "Chief Negotiating Officer" in the Priceline commercials.

With the resurgence of the Star Trek genre due to a successful string of motion pictures and the Next Generation television series, William explored his literary creativity in science fiction by writing and publishing the first of the Tekwar series in 1989. The story focused on the character of Jake Cardigan and how he had been framed for distributing the illegal mind-altering drug, Tek. The series became popular enough to spawn a television series of the same name starring Greg Evigan as Cardigan and Shatner as Walter Bascom. It is widely rumored that the Tekwar novels were ghostwritten by another writer (Ron Goulart).

William has remained active well into his 70s. He has won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of law-firm partner Denny Crane on the television series Boston Legal and The Practice. He continues to work in movies, television shows and advertisements. He has also done voice-over work for Star Trek video games. William is also involved with the "Ahead for Horses" charity that provides horse-riding opportunities for disabled children in the Los Angeles area. Though William Shatner first garnered fame through his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek television series, he has gone on to develop a prolific career as an actor, comedian, spokesman and "singer" over a nearly 60-year period.

His performance as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek television series and the Star Trek movie series established...

The Witness - Full Episode

Hooker and Romano persuade a young woman in a murder case, but the department seems unable to protect her when she becomes the killers' target.

Posted: 03/03/09
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William Shatner's new game show moving to Tuesdays in January 2007 by 123home123 12/08/2006 11:11am
William Shatner to host new game show on ABC in November 2006 by 123home123 10/26/2006 2:14pm

T.J. Hooker Hooking Up with Big Screen
1980s cop show being rejiggered as action comedy for Cineplexes.
- 07/06/09 10:54 AM
- 5 comments \ add yours
Britain bids goodbye to Boston Legal
The hit American legal drama, starring William Shatner and James Spader, concludes this Friday on Living.
- 04/22/09 7:56 AM
- 1 comments \ add yours
SAG nominees include Dexter, Mad Men
Screen Actors Guild picks the best of 2008 for its annual awards; Steve Carell, Tony Shalhoub, Hugh Laurie, Sally Field, Tina Fey get nominations...again.
- 12/18/08 12:04 PM
- 42 comments \ add yours
A&E, Discovery hype new shows
Shatner gets his Nerve on, Chris Isaak back on TV; Discovery and its cousins stick with their bread and butter.
- 07/10/08 3:09 PM
- 8 comments \ add yours
Fey, Silverman headline Emmy comedy actress shortlist
Daisies' Friel, Samantha's Applegate also in the mix; Friday Night Lights' Britton, Lost's O'Quinn snubbed from supporting actor lists.
- 07/01/08 1:32 PM
- 15 comments \ add yours

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dangerouslydead
member since: Nov 27, 2008
James T. Kirk, T. J. Hooker, Denny Crane, these are stuffs that legend is made of. This is a man who is a true legend. An individual like no other! ...Continue »
James T. Kirk, T. J. Hooker, Denny Crane, these are stuffs that legend is made of. This is a man who is a true legend. An individual like no other! He has never been afraid to speak his mind and he has not shown the double standard that his mate Leonard Nimoy showed. Leonard time and again downplayed Star Trek and then always at the opportune moment made his comeback. Bill has always remained true to the legacy of James T. Kirk. He has contributed enough in Science Fiction alone to be called a legend.
His comic timing was on show on Star Trek but it really came to fore on the show "Boston Legal". It was no surprise that I was hooked onto the series and the way Bill lapped up each scene he was in and ate the scenery that you had to salute this gem of a man for his performance.
12/08/08 09:51am | report abuse
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koberfan
member since: Oct 2, 2006
William Shatner:A Man For All Mediums! ...Continue »
I adore William Shatner for the simple reason that he is not afraid to try anything and he can laugh at himself! I wish more of the"stars" in Lalaland were are real as Mr.Shatner. He will always be Captain Kirk, but is that such a bad way to be remembered? As a hero to a whole generation of children and young folk? If we ever do get the chance to travel to new worlds, I hope that they name a planet or some such heavenly body after Mr.Shatner. A fitting tribute to an actor that did as much for the space program in some ways as John Glenn.
06/01/07 05:04am | report abuse
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COTV
member since: May 25, 2007
Until further notice there will be no Shatner Award swag bags (Subject to change). ...Continue »
Introducing the Shatner Award. On December 20th 1986, William Shatner was the guest host on SNL. In his opening monologue Mr. Shatner mentions that one of the most interesting aspects of the Star Trek phenomenon has to be the conventions. The monologue dissolves into a sketch set at the16th Annual Star Trek Convention being held in a convention room of a local Holiday Inn. The highlight of the sketch is when Mr. Shatner growing tired of the Trekker�s nerdish questions says, "You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... Get a life, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just a TV show! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a colossal waste of time!"

I end my Child of Television column with a quote. There have been more than a few articles where I have quoted Mr. Shatner in this famous SNL sketch. I use Mr. Shatner's quote whenever I felt that someone needs to be told to, "Get a life!" because "It's just a TV show". This memorable moment and my quoting there of has inspired me to create The Shatner Award. The first meeting of the Shatner Award committee was held at the Don Knotts room of the Burbank Holiday Inn, February 1st 2006 at 7:43 P.M.: The Shatner Award committee was informed that in order to be compliant with Robert's Rules of Order they must use actual dates instead of Star Dates.

New Business:

The Shatner Award will be given to those individuals or groups who need to be told to, "Get a life!" because "It's just a TV show". The rules for winning a Shatner Award are as follows:

1) The winners need to have had made their SHATNER worthy comment in a public forum i.e. TV, Radio, Web site, Blog, Podcast etc. Since the Shatner worthy quote will be printed on the award itself, the Shatner Award committee needs to verify the actual quote with a Google Search. (Sorry we can't just give Shatner Award to your uptight Aunt Betty or self-righteous brother in-law Phil.)

2) Comments made prior to February 1st 2006 will not be considered. (It will otherwise be a fulltime job giving out retroactive Shatners. (My apologies to The Parents Television Council and The American Family Association, but we the committee are sure that there will be many Shatner Award worthy comments in your future). 3) There will be no nominees. Those who deserve a SHATNER will receive a Shatner Award.

4) To avoid any conflicts of interest, neither Mr. Shatner or any Shatner Award committee member shall be eligible for a Shatner Award, but it is an honor just being considered.

5) Shatner Award winners need not be present to win. (The Shatner Award Committee would actually prefer it that way)

6) The Shatner Award committee is currently entertaining nicknames for the Shatner Award. (So far we have rejected "The Willy", "The Shat" or "The Captain�s Log", but we are considering "The Kirk", "The Crane" or "The Hooker.") 7) The Shatner Award committee promises to give the Shatner Award the respect it deserves. Therefore we will not make comments like, "Last week we Shat on Pat Robertson". This is beneath us.

8) Unlike other awards, the Shatner Award committee encourages political statements with the understanding that your statement may make you eligible for another Shatner Award(Limit one (1) Shatner Award per statement).

9) Shatner Award winners who engage in conduct unbecoming a Shatner Award winner may win another Shatner Award.

10) Until further notice there will be no Shatner Award swag bags (Subject to change).

A motion was made to approve the Shatner Award eligibility rules.

The motion passed by a vote of 13 yes, 03 no and 01 GET A LIFE.

Respectfully submitted

Tony Figueroa,
Committee Chair
05/25/07 06:20pm | report abuse
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PerfectDark0Fan
member since: Jul 5, 2004
A very cool guy. ...Continue »
As an actor that been acting way longer then ive been living, I have to say I am a young fan and I grew up fan of William Shatner. This guy is like so cool. He is known for playing funny character on what hes doing these days. Bonston Legal, Shatner plays Denny Crane a funnny, and very crazy guy. When I was really young I watched William Shater when he was hosting a reality show called Rescue 911 which was a show that was based on real events that saved lives. William Shatner is also known for doing these funny Priceline commericals that is very funny to watch.
03/14/07 06:56am | report abuse
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minimax34
member since: Sep 20, 2005
empty ...Continue »
Great actor with lot of great accomplishment.

I think William Shatner is probably one of the most popular face on TV because of all the great work he did on every project he worked on. Hopefully, we will see him a little bit more on Big screen.
02/03/07 03:02pm | report abuse