William Shatner (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor, musician, singer, author, film director, spokesman and comedian. He gained worldwide fame and became a cultural icon for his portrayal of Captain James Tiberius Kirk, commander of the Federation starship USS Enterprise, in the science fiction television series Star Trek, from 1966 to 1969; Star Trek: The Animated Series from 1973 to 1974, and in seven of the subsequent Star Trek feature films from 1979 to 1994. He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences playing Captain Kirk and being a part of Star Trek, and has co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe. He has also authored a series of science fiction novels called TekWar that were adapted for television.
Shatner also played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1986. Afterwards, he hosted the reality-based television series Rescue 911 from 1989 to 1996, which won a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Dramatic Series. He has since worked as a musician, author, director and celebrity pitchman. From 2004 to 2008, he starred as attorney Denny Crane in the television dramas The Practice and its spin-off Boston Legal, for which he won two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.
Golden Raspberry Awards
Worst Actor
Worst Director
Known For
Star Trek: Generations
(1994)
Captain James T. Kirk
To Your Last Death
(2019)
The Overseer (voice)
Over the Hedge
(2006)
Ozzie (voice)
Fireheart
(2022)
Mayor of New York (voice)
The Wild
(2006)
Kazar (voice)
Miss Congeniality
(2000)
Stan Fields
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
(1979)
Admiral James T. Kirk
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
(2004)
Dodgeball Chancellor
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
(1986)
Admiral James T. Kirk
American Psycho II: All American Girl
(2002)
Robert Starkman
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
(1989)
Captain James T. Kirk
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
(1982)
Admiral James T. Kirk
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
(2005)
Stan Fields
Boomerang
(1992)
Captain James Tiberius Kirk (archive footage)
Airplane II: The Sequel
(1982)
Cdr. Buck Murdock
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
(1991)
Captain James T. Kirk
Full Filmography
Acting
The Butler's Night Off
(1951)
Oedipus Rex
(1957)
Chorus
The Defender (Studio One)
(1957)
Kenneth Preston
A Town Has Turned to Dust
(1958)
Jerry Paul
The Christmas Tree
(1958)
Philo
The Brothers Karamazov
(1958)
Alexi Karamazov
City Out of Time
(1959)
Narrator (voice)
Judgment at Nuremberg
(1961)
Harrison Byers
The Explosive Generation
(1961)
Peter Gifford
The Intruder
(1962)
Adam Cramer
Operation Bikini
(1963)
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Outrage
(1964)
Preacher
Incubus
(1966)
Marc
White Comanche
(1968)
Johnny Moon / Notah
Alexander The Great
(1968)
Alexander
Shadow Game
(1969)
The Andersonville Trial
(1970)
Col. Chipman
Sole Survivor
(1970)
Lt. Col. Josef Gronke
Swing Out, Sweet Land
(1970)
John Adams
The Hound of the Baskervilles
(1972)
George Stapleton
The People
(1972)
Dr. Curtis
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
(1973)
Paul Kovalik
Incident on a Dark Street
(1973)
Deaver G. Wallace
Pioneer Woman
(1973)
John Sergeant
Go Ask Alice
(1973)
Sam
Pray for the Wildcats
(1974)
Warren Summerfield
Indict and Convict
(1974)
Sam Belden
Amy Prentiss
(1974)
Bill Parkins
Impulse
(1974)
Matt Stone
Big Bad Mama
(1974)
William J. Baxter
Mitzi & 100 Guys
(1975)
Self
The Devil's Rain
(1975)
Mark Preston
The Tenth Level
(1976)
Prof. Stephen Turner
Perilous Voyage
(1976)
Steve Monroe
Universe
(1976)
Narrator
Microworld
(1976)
Mysteries of the Gods
(1976)
Host
A Whale of a Tale
(1976)
Jack Fredericks
Kingdom of the Spiders
(1977)
Dr. Robert 'Rack' Hansen
The Third Walker
(1978)
Munro Maclean
The Bastard
(1978)
Paul Revere
The Crash of Flight 401
(1978)
Carl Tobias
Land of No Return
(1978)
Curt Benell
Disaster on the Coastliner
(1979)
Stuart Peters
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
(1979)
Admiral James T. Kirk
The Babysitter
(1980)
Dr. Jeff Benedict
Hypnosis and Beyond
(1980)
Himself
The Kidnapping of the President
(1980)
Jerry O'Connor
Visiting Hours
(1982)
Gary Baylor
Night of 100 Stars
(1982)
Self
Airplane II: The Sequel
(1982)
Cdr. Buck Murdock
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
(1982)
Admiral James T. Kirk
Secrets of a Married Man
(1984)
Chris Jordan
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
(1984)
Admiral James T. Kirk
Night of 100 Stars II
(1985)
Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
(1985)
Self (archive footage)
Super Duper Bloopers
(1986)
Himself
William Shatner's Mysteries of the Way We Feel
(1986)
Host
The Canadian Conspiracy
(1986)
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
(1986)
Admiral James T. Kirk
Seasons
(1987)
Narrator (voice)
Broken Angel
(1988)
Chuck Coburn
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
(1988)
Self
Hollywood on Horses
(1989)
Self
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
(1989)
Captain James T. Kirk
Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest
(1990)
Narrator
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
(1991)
Self - Host
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
(1991)
Captain James T. Kirk
Voices That Care
(1991)
Self - Choir Member
Boomerang
(1992)
Captain James Tiberius Kirk (archive footage)
Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations
(1993)
Self
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
(1993)
General Mortars
Family of Strangers
(1993)
Earl
TekWar: TekLab
(1994)
Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekJustice
(1994)
Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLords
(1994)
Walter H. Bascom
Janek: The Silent Betrayal
(1994)
Bodosh
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
(1994)
Himself/Host
TekWar
(1994)
Walter H. Bascom
William Shatner: Captain's Log
(1994)
Star Trek: Generations
(1994)
Captain James T. Kirk
UFO Cover-Up Live with Larry King
(1994)
Self
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
(1994)
Adam Harland (uncredited)
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
(1994)
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
(1995)
Host
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
(1995)
Narrator
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
(1996)
Self
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
(1996)
Michael Gatewick
Dead Man's Island
(1996)
Chase Prescott
Star Trek Story
(1996)
Self (archive footage)
Jefftowne
(1997)
Himself
Trekkies
(1997)
Self
Hollywood Ghost Stories
(1998)
Himself
Free Enterprise
(1998)
Bill
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
(1998)
James T. Kirk
Land of the Free
(1998)
Aidan Carvell
Nukes in Space
(1999)
Narrator
Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
(2000)
Narrator (Voice)
Miss Congeniality
(2000)
Stan Fields
Festival in Cannes
(2001)
Self
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 2
(2001)
Narrator
Falcon Down
(2001)
Major Robert Carson
Gahan Wilson's The Kid
(2001)
Professor
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
(2001)
Himself
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3
(2001)
Narrator
Whale Shark Hunters of the Philippines
(2001)
Self
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 1
(2001)
Narrator
Osmosis Jones
(2001)
Mayor Phlegmming (voice)
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
(2002)
Self
Star Wars vs. Star Trek: The Rivalry Continues
(2002)
Self
Spplat Attack
(2002)
Groom Lake
(2002)
John Gossner
Shoot or Be Shot!
(2002)
Harvey Wilkes
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
(2002)
Self
American Psycho II: All American Girl
(2002)
Robert Starkman
Showtime
(2002)
William Shatner
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
(2003)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Christmas in Hollywood
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
A Carol Christmas
(2003)
Dr. Bob / Ghost of Christmas Present
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
(2004)
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story
(2004)
Dodgeball Chancellor
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
(2004)
Last Laugh '04
(2004)
Self
Sci-Fi Visionaries
(2004)
How William Shatner Changed The World
(2005)
Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
Last Laugh '05
(2005)
Lucifer
Lil' Pimp
(2005)
Tony Gold (voice)
Merry F#%$in' Christmas
(2005)
Self
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
(2005)
Stan Fields
William Shatner in Concert
(2006)
Self
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
(2006)
Self
Stalking Santa
(2006)
Narrator
The Wild
(2006)
Kazar (voice)
Over the Hedge
(2006)
Ozzie (voice)
40 Years of Star Trek
(2006)
Self
Everest
(2007)
Norman Kelly
The Pixar Story
(2007)
James T. Kirk (archive footage)
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
(2007)
Himself
Gotta Catch Santa Claus
(2008)
Santa Claus (voice)
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet
(2009)
Himself
Star Trek: The Captains' Summit
(2009)
Self
Fanboys
(2009)
Himself
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
(2010)
Self
Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
(2010)
Core (voice)
William Shatner Sings O Canada
(2011)
Himself
Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen
(2011)
Himself - Roaster
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
(2011)
Himself
The Space Shuttle
(2011)
Narrator
Corman's World
(2011)
Self - Actor
The Captains
(2011)
Himself
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
(2011)
Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner
(2011)
Get a Life!
(2012)
Himself
Horrorween
(2012)
Himself
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
(2013)
Self
Escape from Planet Earth
(2013)
General Shanker (voice)
The Captains: Still Kicking
(2013)
Himself
Chaos on the Bridge
(2014)
Self
To Be Takei
(2014)
Self
A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con
(2014)
Self
Baby, Baby, Baby
(2015)
Actor
A Christmas Horror Story
(2015)
Dangerous Dan
Tom Felton Meets the Superfans
(2015)
Self
Being Canadian
(2015)
Self
Just in Time for Christmas
(2015)
Coachman Nick
For the Love of Spock
(2016)
Himself
They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé
(2016)
Himself (voice only)
A Sunday Horse
(2016)
Kenneth Roubidoux
The Colorful Montreal Expos
(2016)
Narrator (voice)
When Elephants Were Young
(2016)
Narrator
Range 15
(2016)
Richard Chindler
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
(2016)
Self
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
(2016)
Self
Not a War Story
(2017)
Batman vs. Two-Face
(2017)
Harvey Dent / Two-Face (voice)
The Truth Is in the Stars
(2017)
Self
Heroes Manufactured
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
The Steam Engines of Oz
(2018)
Oscar "Oz" Diggs (voice)
Aliens Ate My Homework
(2018)
Phillogenus esk Piemondum (Phil) (voice)
Devil's Revenge
(2019)
Hayes
To Your Last Death
(2019)
The Overseer (voice)
Creators: The Past
(2020)
Lord Oghma
2021 and Done with Snoop Dogg & Kevin Hart
(2021)
Self
Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek
(2021)
Self
WWE Hall Of Fame 2020
(2021)
Himself
Shatner in Space
(2021)
Self
Senior Moment
(2021)
Victor Martin
A Tear in the Sky
(2022)
Fireheart
(2022)
Mayor of New York (voice)
Full Moon's Roadshow Revisited
(2023)
Self (archive footage)
Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic
(2023)
Self
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill
(2024)
Self
Directing
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
(1989)
Director
TekWar
(1994)
Director
Groom Lake
(2002)
Director
The Captains
(2011)
Director
Get a Life!
(2012)
Director
The Captains: Still Kicking
(2013)
Director
Chaos on the Bridge
(2014)
Director
Writing
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
(1989)
Story
TekWar: TekJustice
(1994)
Characters
TekWar: TekLords
(1994)
Novel
TekWar
(1994)
Novel
Groom Lake
(2002)
Writer
The Captains
(2011)
Writer
Chaos on the Bridge
(2014)
Writer
Sound
Production
Groom Lake
(2002)
Producer
Fire Serpent
(2007)
Executive Producer
The Captains
(2011)
Executive Producer
Get a Life!
(2012)
Executive Producer
Chaos on the Bridge
(2014)
Executive Producer
God Woke
(2017)
Executive Producer
The Truth Is in the Stars
(2017)
Executive Producer
William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill
(2024)
Executive Producer
Crew