Celebrating William Shatner in and out of Star Trek on his birthday.
William Shatner is 91 today, and the Star Trek legend has done it all. We are all acutely aware of his contributions to Star Trek. He helped make the Original Series into a phenom and was the backbone of the film franchise across three decades.
That’s not all he’s done though. He was the star of T.J. Hooker and a centerpiece of Boston Legal, but that’s not all he’s done during his career. He’s had numerous cameos, films, and other acting appearances that have helped shape Shatner’s career.
So we’re looking at three of our personal favorite roles from his career. These aren’t “the best”, just three of our favorites.
Three of our favorite non-Star Trek roles from William Shatner’s career
Psych – S6 E7 In for a Penny/ S6 E11 Heeeeere’s Lassie
Psych is one of my personal favorite shows of all time. A story about a hyper-aware regular guy, who pretends to be a psychic to get out of a potential felony. Six seasons in, William Shatner co-stars as the father of Juliet O’Hara, played by Maggie Lawson. Shatner’s Frank O’Hara is a con-man, who wants to do right by his daughter but rarely does. He cares for his daughter, and despite his antics, does come through in the end. He had one full appearance with In for a Penny, and later cameoed in the same season with Heeeeere’s LAssie.
The Twilight Zone – S5 E 3 Nightmare at 20,000 Feet
Before he was James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise, William Shatner was Robert Wilson, a mild-mannered man, traveling via plane on a stormy night. That’s when he sees something. Some….THING on the wing. It’s a gremlin, and no, not Gizmo. Shatner’s turn in the fifth season episode is still a pop culture fixture to this very day and no doubt helped raise the Twilight Zone’s profile in later years.
Fanboys (2009)
William Shatner and his James T. Kirk persona popped up in the 2009 film Fanboys, which follows four friends as they attempt to steal the then-unreleased Star Wars: Episode I. Usually, a cameo wouldn’t be enough to score a spot on this list, but his Kirk persona from Star Trek is practically in half the movie in one way or another. There’s even a bit where the gang ends up at a Trek tour site, looking at a Kirk-inspired statue. This movie is certainly bluer than I remember and not recommended for those easily offended, but if you can get past the dated humor at points, it’s worth the watch.