At 93, the legendary William Shatner remains an enigmatic figure, revealing his perspective on a life filled with iconic roles, never-before-seen episodes, and a vision for the future of Captain Kirk.
William Shatner, a 93-year-old icon whose portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the original "Star Trek" TV series cemented his legacy in the annals of entertainment, recently shared his insights on the secrets to his enduring career. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Shatner candidly revealed that despite his decades of success, he has only seen a "few" episodes of his own work and has never watched any of the franchise's spin-offs.
"I'm going to tell you something that nobody knows," Shatner confessed. "I've never seen another ‘Star Trek’ and I've seen as few ‘Star Treks’ of the show I was on as possible. I don't like to look at myself, and I've never seen any other. I love it, I think it's great. I just don’t, you know, I don’t watch television, per se."
William Shatner's Timeless Career: Talent, Luck, and a Hint of Nostalgia
Shatner's aversion to self-scrutiny extends beyond his own performances to the television medium as a whole. "I'm watching documentaries, I’m watching the news, I'm watching sports, I’m watching things that were, documentaries that were made, but I don't watch television for some reason," he elaborated. "I've been urged to watch certain shows by my family, 'You'll love this,' and I just never get around to it."
Despite his limited consumption of his own work, Shatner remains deeply passionate about the "Star Trek" franchise and the character of Captain Kirk. In May, while promoting his documentary "You Can Call Me Bill," he admitted to The Canadian Press that it would be "an intriguing idea" to reprise his iconic role today.
William Shatner's Timeless Career: Talent, Luck, and a Hint of Nostalgia
"It’s almost impossible, but it was a great role and so well written, and if there were a reason to be there, not just to make a cameo appearance, but if there were a genuine reason for the character appearing, I might consider it," he said.
Although Captain Kirk was killed off in his last appearance in the 1994 film "Star Trek: Generations," Shatner has an imaginative solution for his character's possible return. "A company that wants to freeze my body and my brain for the future might be a way of going about it," he told The Canadian Press. "'We’ve got Captain Kirk’s brain frozen here.’ There’s a scenario. ‘Let’s see if we can bring back a little bit of this, a little salt, a little pepper. Oh, look at that. Here comes Captain Kirk!’"
William Shatner's Timeless Career: Talent, Luck, and a Hint of Nostalgia
While the chances of Kirk's return may be slim, Shatner continues to live life to the fullest. "I’ve turned down a lot of offers to do documentaries before," he revealed in an interview with Variety in 2023. "But I don’t have long to live. Whether I keel over as I’m speaking to you or 10 years from now, my time is limited, so that’s very much a factor. I’ve got grandchildren. This documentary is a way of reaching out after I die."
William Shatner's incredible career has been a testament to his exceptional talent, unwavering determination, and a touch of luck. His unique perspective on his own work and his vision for the future of Captain Kirk serve as a reminder of his enduring relevance and the timeless appeal of his iconic character.
William Shatner's Timeless Career: Talent, Luck, and a Hint of Nostalgia
