Few TV characters have transcended their genre to such an extent that they have become an intricate part of the very fabric of pop-culture. One of those few characters, however, is Captain James T. Kirk of the Star Trek franchise.
Originally appearing in the legendary Star Trek TV series of the 1960s, Captain Kirk was brought to life by a revolutionary performance from William Shatner. It's a bold word to use, revolutionary, but it's completely earned here, for Shatner's portrayal of the character quickly became synonymous with the Star Trek franchise and science fiction as a whole, and it has stood the test of time too. It's one of the many reasons that Star Trek is so enduring.
Speaking of the franchise's endurance, this has opened the door for other actors to take their own unique spins on the classic role. Yep, with stories in this legendary shared universe still very much alive and well (on both the big and small screen once again), there have been opportunities for the character to return over the years. Although Shatner played the role most of the time (in many movie comebacks), other actors have since taken over in their particular timeline and / or universe. And there were even a number of unexpected, alternate versions of Kirk too, requiring other actors to step in. But which one of them played the role best? Let's find out!
5. Jimmy Bennett - Star Trek (2009)
From the moment that Jimmy Bennett introduced himself as "James Tiberius Kirk" in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek movie, it was clear that he meant business. And if you know anything about Captain James T. Kirk, you know that he means business.
Bennett plays a younger version of Chris Pine's Captain Kirk in that movie and he does a great job of setting the scene for the more modernized version of the character that ultimately leads the Kelvin-timeline movies. His rebellious nature is clear as is his control - even when things get out of hand - which, again, understands the nature of the future captain of the USS Enterprise.
Bennett only appeared in one scene so it's hard to rank his performance any higher on this list, but there is no denying that he made a strong impression on audiences in a short amount of time.
4. Sandra Smith - Star Trek: The Original Series
The Star Trek franchise is no stranger to tackling important issues, becoming a symbol of representation and a beacon of hope for so many. This has become a prominent theme in the shows and films within the series but it all started back in Star Trek: The Original Series. One example of this is the series finale, "Turnabout Intruder", which saw Dr. Janice Lester swap bodies with Captain Kirk as she was frustrated by the fact that options within her field as a scientist were limited for her due to the fact that she was a woman. Fans have taken this as an attempt from the show to highlight the limitations placed upon women at the time, but the execution of that narrative left something to be desired, with some of those fans feeling that it's one of the worst episodes of the series.
Nevertheless, that shouldn't discount Sandra Smith's impeccable performance as Dr. Lester-turned-Captain-Kirk. As the body-swapped captain of the Enterprise, she matches William Shatner's movements to perfection, capturing the essence of his performance. The confidence with which she delivers the lines really drives home the idea that this is the beloved character trapped in Lester's body. And given that Shatner had played the role for three whole seasons at this point, that's no small feat.
Sandra Smith understood the assignment, and even though it was only for one episode, she delivered one of the most memorable performances from the show's run.
3. Chris Pine - Star Trek (Kelvin timeline film series)
Chris Pine might just be the Captain Kirk actor most commonly recognized by younger audiences. The star of the rebooted Star Trek movies (before the original franchise was revisited), he took on the legendary role during a time when there weren't any shows from the beloved shared universe airing. Without all of that lore, this was the chance to reintroduce the franchise - and the character - to a whole new generation of fans.
Pine made his debut in the role in 2009's Star Trek and he made an instant impression. His version of Captain Kirk is more serious than William Shatner's legendary offering and that makes it more suited to the modern film series he appeared in. He was also more outspoken and somewhat more broody (thanks in no small part to the changes that the Kelvin-timeline movies made to his backstory). But even with some mild modifications for the time, Pine exuded the charisma that Shatner made the character famous with, proving to be equally confident, equally captivating in the role.
There is no doubt about it: Pine delivered, shining in his first performance and doing it all again in 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness and 2016's Star Trek Beyond. We now know that he will finally be back in the fourth and final installment in the not-too-distant future.
2. Paul Wesley - Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
The most recent addition to the line-up, Paul Wesley has portrayed James T. Kirk in a recurring capacity on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Wesley is no stranger to playing larger-than-life roles, with his most famous character being that of Stefan Salvatore in The Vampire Diaries, so fans were indeed very excited to see him take on another iconic role. Needless to say, he doesn't disappoint.
What makes his version of Kirk so captivating is that he walks the line between the known and the uknown. This isn't a completely rebooted version of the character like the one we see in the Kelvin movies, but he also exists at a time in the character's life that we hadn't seen from Shatner's original. He's younger than Shatner's Captain Kirk was and that allows us to see him in a new light. And it also allows Wesley to do his own thing with the role.
Kirk hasn't reached Captain level yet, operating as a lieutenant throughout his appearances, but Wesley still exudes that aura Kirk is known for. Heck, if we're being honest, he had aura in that first image that was released of him in the role; all he had to do on the show was to back that up. He did all of that and so much more.
We'd love to see more of him on-screen because Wesley's take on the character has every chance - and perhaps every right - to become the modern day definitive version of James T. Kirk. It's a thrill to see him take on the role every time he appears on Strange New Worlds.
1. William Shatner - Star Trek: The Original Series, Film series
You had to know this one was coming. When it comes to Star Trek, it simply doesn't get more recognizable than William Shatner's portrayal of James T. Kirk, the man who would go on to become a pop-culture phenomenon because of his performance. The iconic captain has been on our screens since the very first title in the Star Trek franchise, bursting into our lives in The Original Series. And he has been synonymous with the saga ever since.
We use the word "timeless" to portray Shatner's performance of Captain Kirk a lot but that's not just because it sounds nice. For we aren't simply reflecting on a one-time epic performance from the 1960s here; no, Shatner stayed with the character through the years, revisiting him for multiple movies that saw Kirk mature and evolve, eventually paving the way for the newer shows in the franchise at the time to take the reins.
Whether you remember the confident, charming Captain Kirk of The Original Series or the tougher, aged warrior from Star Trek: The Motion Picture onwards, William Shatner's performance as the character has resonated with you. He's the actor who has spent most time with Kirk, evolving his performance as the franchise became more serious and remaining every bit as formidable throughout. He is - and always will be - the Captain Kirk.