Acting
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
Film · 2026
For the Love of Star Trek
Film · 2026
Hey Jonas!
Series · 2026
Star Trek: Legenden
Series · 2026
The Eagle Obsession
Film · 2025
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill
Film · 2024
Aliens Among Us with William Shatner
Film · 2024
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
Series · 2024
The UnXplained: Mysteries of the Universe
Series · 2024
The D-Con Chamber
Series · 2024
Full Moon's Roadshow Revisited
Film · 2023
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
Film · 2023
Stars on Mars
Series · 2023
The UnXplained Special Presentation
Series · 2023
A Tear in the Sky
Film · 2022
Fireheart
Film · 2022
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
Film · 2022
Piers Morgan Uncensored
Series · 2022
Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg
Series · 2022
Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek
Film · 2021
Shatner in Space
Film · 2021
2021 and Done with Snoop Dogg & Kevin Hart
Film · 2021
Senior Moment
Film · 2021
WWE Hall Of Fame 2020
Film · 2021
Creators: The Past
Film · 2020
To Your Last Death
Film · 2019
Devil's Revenge
Film · 2019
The Masked Singer
Series · 2019
The Masked Singer
Series · 2019
My Life Is Murder
Series · 2019
WWE Backstage
Series · 2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Series · 2019
The UnXplained
Series · 2019
Aliens Ate My Homework
Film · 2018
The Steam Engines of Oz
Film · 2018
Star Trek: Short Treks
Series · 2018
Heroes Manufactured
Film · 2017
The Truth Is in the Stars
Film · 2017
Batman vs. Two-Face
Film · 2017
Not a War Story
Film · 2017
The Indian Detective
Series · 2017
A Sunday Horse
Film · 2016
The Colorful Montreal Expos
Film · 2016
When Elephants Were Young
Film · 2016
For the Love of Spock
Film · 2016
They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé
Film · 2016
Range 15
Film · 2016
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
Film · 2016
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
Film · 2016
Better Late Than Never
Series · 2016
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed
Series · 2016
Private Eyes
Series · 2016
The Shannara Chronicles
Series · 2016
Star Trek: The Original Series – The Roddenberry Vault
Series · 2016
Being Canadian
Film · 2015
A Christmas Horror Story
Film · 2015
Tom Felton Meets the Superfans
Film · 2015
Just in Time for Christmas
Film · 2015
Baby, Baby, Baby
Film · 2015
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Series · 2015
WWE Breaking Ground
Series · 2015
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Series · 2015
To Be Takei
Film · 2014
Chaos on the Bridge
Film · 2014
A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con
Film · 2014
The Real History of Science Fiction
Series · 2014
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Series · 2014
Escape from Planet Earth
Film · 2013
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
Film · 2013
The Captains: Still Kicking
Film · 2013
Return to the Forest
Film · 2013
The Captains Close Up
Series · 2013
Get a Life!
Film · 2012
Horrorween
Film · 2012
Comic Book Men
Series · 2012
Gotham Comedy Live
Series · 2012
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Film · 2011
The Captains
Film · 2011
Corman's World
Film · 2011
The Space Shuttle
Film · 2011
Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen
Film · 2011
William Shatner Sings O Canada
Film · 2011
Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner
Film · 2011
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
Film · 2011
Eat, Fry, Love
Film · 2011
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
Film · 2010
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
Film · 2010
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Closing Ceremony
Film · 2010
Weird or What?
Series · 2010
$#*! My Dad Says
Series · 2010
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Series · 2010
Haven
Series · 2010
The Talk
Series · 2010
The Fran Drescher Show
Series · 2010
Aftermath with William Shatner
Series · 2010
Hot in Cleveland
Series · 2010
Rookie Blue
Series · 2010
The Talk
Series · 2010
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit
Film · 2009
Fanboys
Film · 2009
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet
Film · 2009
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
Series · 2009
Gotta Catch Santa Claus
Film · 2008
Million Dollar Password
Series · 2008
Shatner's Raw Nerve
Series · 2008
Extraordinary Animals
Series · 2008
Everest
Series · 2008
Murdoch Mysteries
Series · 2008
The Pixar Story
Film · 2007
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Film · 2007
The Big Bang Theory
Series · 2007
Mars Rising
Series · 2007
Over the Hedge
Film · 2006
The Wild
Film · 2006
Stalking Santa
Film · 2006
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
Film · 2006
William Shatner in Concert
Film · 2006
40 Years of Star Trek
Film · 2006
Show Me the Money
Series · 2006
The Henry Rollins Show
Series · 2006
Psych
Series · 2006
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Film · 2005
How William Shatner Changed the World
Film · 2005
Merry F#%$in' Christmas
Film · 2005
Lil' Pimp
Film · 2005
Last Laugh '05
Film · 2005
The Colbert Report
Series · 2005
Invasion Iowa
Series · 2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Series · 2005
Hell's Kitchen
Series · 2005
The Reichen Show
Series · 2005
The Annie Awards
Series · 2005
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
Film · 2004
Sci-Fi Visionaries
Film · 2004
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
Film · 2004
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
Film · 2004
Last Laugh '04
Film · 2004
The Rose Parade: A Pageant for the Ages
Film · 2004
The Tony Danza Show
Series · 2004
Best Week Ever
Series · 2004
Atomic Betty
Series · 2004
Boston Legal
Series · 2004
A Carol Christmas
Film · 2003
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
Film · 2003
Christmas from Hollywood
Film · 2003
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Film · 2003
William Shatner's Spplat Attack II
Film · 2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Series · 2003
Real Time with Bill Maher
Series · 2003
Comedy Central Roasts
Series · 2003
Chilly Beach
Series · 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Series · 2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Series · 2003
American Psycho II: All American Girl
Film · 2002
Showtime
Film · 2002
Shoot or Be Shot!
Film · 2002
Groom Lake
Film · 2002
Spplat Attack
Film · 2002
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Film · 2002
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: The Rivalry Continues
Film · 2002
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
Film · 2002
Cosmic Odyssey
Series · 2002
One-Hit Wonders
Series · 2002
After They Were Famous
Series · 2002
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
Film · 2001
Falcon Down
Film · 2001
Whale Shark Hunters of the Philippines
Film · 2001
Osmosis Jones
Film · 2001
Remembering 'The Intruder'
Film · 2001
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 1
Film · 2001
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 2
Film · 2001
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3
Film · 2001
Gahan Wilson's The Kid
Film · 2001
Festival in Cannes
Film · 2001
Bob Patterson
Series · 2001
Good Day Live
Series · 2001
Miss Congeniality
Film · 2000
Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
Film · 2000
Click
Series · 2000
Nukes in Space
Film · 1999
Saturday Night Live: Christmas
Film · 1999
Futurama
Series · 1999
A Twist in the Tale
Series · 1999
The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn
Series · 1999
Free Enterprise
Film · 1998
Hollywood Ghost Stories
Film · 1998
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
Film · 1998
Land of the Free
Film · 1998
Hercules
Series · 1998
Trekkies
Film · 1997
Jefftowne
Film · 1997
TV Guide Looks at Science Fiction
Film · 1997
Perversions of Science
Series · 1997
The View
Series · 1997
Space Cadets
Series · 1997
The View
Series · 1997
The Practice
Series · 1997
Star Trek Story
Film · 1996
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
Film · 1996
Dead Man's Island
Film · 1996
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
Film · 1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Film · 1996
Corwin
Film · 1996
E! True Hollywood Story
Series · 1996
Muppets Tonight
Series · 1996
3rd Rock from the Sun
Series · 1996
The Daily Show
Series · 1996
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
Film · 1995
Virtuosity
Film · 1995
Star Trek: Generations
Film · 1994
TekWar: TekLords
Film · 1994
TekWar: TekJustice
Film · 1994
TekWar: TekLab
Film · 1994
UFO Cover-Up Live with Larry King
Film · 1994
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Film · 1994
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
Film · 1994
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
Film · 1994
William Shatner: Captain's Log
Film · 1994
TekWar
Film · 1994
Janek: The Silent Betrayal
Film · 1994
TekWar
Series · 1994
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Series · 1994
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
Film · 1993
Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations
Film · 1993
Family of Strangers
Film · 1993
seaQuest DSV
Series · 1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Series · 1993
Raw
Series · 1993
Raw
Series · 1993
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Series · 1993
Late Show with David Letterman
Series · 1993
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Series · 1993
The Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
Film · 1992
The Larry Sanders Show
Series · 1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Series · 1992
Eek! The Cat
Series · 1992
Eek! The Cat
Series · 1992
Gottschalk Late Night
Series · 1992
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Film · 1991
Voices That Care
Film · 1991
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Film · 1991
The Horror Hall of Fame II
Film · 1991
Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest
Film · 1990
Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years
Film · 1990
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Series · 1990
Dream On
Series · 1990
Have I Got News for You
Series · 1990
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Film · 1989
Hollywood on Horses
Film · 1989
Rescue 911
Series · 1989
Broken Angel
Film · 1988
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
Film · 1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Series · 1988
Seasons
Film · 1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Film · 1987
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Film · 1986
William Shatner's Mysteries of the Way We Feel
Film · 1986
Super Duper Bloopers
Film · 1986
The Canadian Conspiracy
Film · 1986
T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport
Film · 1986
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Film · 1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Film · 1985
North Beach and Rawhide
Film · 1985
The Ray Bradbury Theater
Series · 1985
Television
Series · 1985
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Film · 1984
Secrets of a Married Man
Film · 1984
Prime Times
Series · 1983
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Film · 1982
Airplane II: The Sequel
Film · 1982
Visiting Hours
Film · 1982
Night of 100 Stars
Film · 1982
T. J. Hooker
Series · 1982
Late Night with David Letterman
Series · 1982
Police Squad!
Series · 1982
Madame's Place
Series · 1982
The Kidnapping of the President
Film · 1980
The Babysitter
Film · 1980
Hypnosis and Beyond
Film · 1980
Fridays
Series · 1980
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Film · 1979
Disaster on the Coastliner
Film · 1979
Riel
Film · 1979
Land of No Return
Film · 1978
The Third Walker
Film · 1978
The Crash of Flight 401
Film · 1978
Little Women
Series · 1978
The Bastard
Series · 1978
Kingdom of the Spiders
Film · 1977
The Oregon Trail
Series · 1977
How the West Was Won
Series · 1977
Testimony of Two Men
Series · 1977
Mysteries of the Gods
Film · 1976
Universe
Film · 1976
The Tenth Level
Film · 1976
Microworld
Film · 1976
A Whale of a Tale
Film · 1976
Perilous Voyage
Film · 1976
Battle of the Network Stars
Series · 1976
Mitzi & 100 Guys
Film · 1975
The Devil’s Rain
Film · 1975
The Star Trek Dream
Film · 1975
Barbary Coast
Series · 1975
Saturday Night Live
Series · 1975
Saturday Night Live
Series · 1975
Impulse
Film · 1974
Big Bad Mama
Film · 1974
Pray for the Wildcats
Film · 1974
Indict and Convict
Film · 1974
Police Woman
Series · 1974
Amy Prentiss
Series · 1974
The Six Million Dollar Man
Series · 1974
Flick Flack
Series · 1974
Kodiak
Series · 1974
Police Woman
Series · 1974
Petrocelli
Series · 1974
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
Film · 1973
Go Ask Alice
Film · 1973
Pioneer Woman
Film · 1973
Incident on a Dark Street
Film · 1973
Star Trek
Series · 1973
Police Story
Series · 1973
The Magician
Series · 1973
Barnaby Jones
Series · 1973
The People
Film · 1972
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Film · 1972
The Rookies
Series · 1972
The Sixth Sense
Series · 1972
Kung Fu
Series · 1972
Columbo
Series · 1971
Vanished
Series · 1971
Columbo
Series · 1971
Sole Survivor
Film · 1970
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Film · 1970
The Andersonville Trial
Film · 1970
Shadow Game
Film · 1969
Hawaii Five-O
Series · 1969
White Comanche
Film · 1968
Alexander The Great
Film · 1968
The Name of the Game
Series · 1968
The Name of the Game
Series · 1968
Space Seed
Film · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Off to See the Wizard
Series · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Mannix
Series · 1967
Incubus
Film · 1966
Star Trek
Series · 1966
Mission: Impossible
Series · 1966
CBS Playhouse
Series · 1966
Mission: Impossible
Series · 1966
The F.B.I.
Series · 1965
The Big Valley
Series · 1965
For the People
Series · 1965
The Outrage
Film · 1964
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Series · 1964
Reporter
Series · 1964
12 O'Clock High
Series · 1964
Operation Bikini
Film · 1963
Burke's Law
Series · 1963
The Fugitive
Series · 1963
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Series · 1963
The Outer Limits
Series · 1963
Channing
Series · 1963
Arrest and Trial
Series · 1963
Miss USA
Series · 1963
The Intruder
Film · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
Judgment at Nuremberg
Film · 1961
The Explosive Generation
Film · 1961
The Grim Reaper
Film · 1961
The Dick Powell Show
Series · 1961
Dr. Kildare
Series · 1961
The Defenders
Series · 1961
The Defenders
Series · 1961
The Defenders
Series · 1961
The Defenders
Series · 1961
The Defenders
Series · 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
Dr. Kildare
Series · 1961
Alcoa Premiere
Series · 1961
Police Surgeon
Series · 1960
Route 66
Series · 1960
Outlaws
Series · 1960
Thriller
Series · 1960
Thriller
Series · 1960
Festival
Series · 1960
City Out of Time
Film · 1959
The Twilight Zone
Series · 1959
One Step Beyond
Series · 1959
The Twilight Zone
Series · 1959
A Town Has Turned to Dust
Film · 1958
The Brothers Karamazov
Film · 1958
The Christmas Tree
Film · 1958
Naked City
Series · 1958
Naked City
Series · 1958
77 Sunset Strip
Series · 1958
Oedipus Rex
Film · 1957
The Defender (Studio One)
Film · 1957
Suspicion
Series · 1957
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
Climax!
Series · 1954
On Camera
Series · 1954
Space Command
Series · 1953
The Oscars
Series · 1953
Omnibus
Series · 1952
Omnibus
Series · 1952
General Motors Theatre
Series · 1952
The Butler's Night Off
Film · 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Series · 1951
Studio One
Series · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
Lamp Unto My Feet
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Studio One
Series · 1948
Kraft Television Theatre
Series · 1947
Kraft Television Theatre
Series · 1947
Golden Globe Awards
Series · 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Series · 1944
Golden Globe Awards
Series · 1944
The Atomic Bomb Collection
Film
Keeper of the Cup
Film
Have I Got a Bit More News for You
Series
Inner Space
Series
Science Fiction Film Awards
Series