A Perfect Cast
When Star Trek came out in 1966, the science fiction television show featured some of the most lovable characters, immortalizing its cast forever. Here are some of your favorite Star Trek stars: then and now.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
Before landing his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk, William Shatner had certainly put in the work. He was a seasoned actor, not only in movies and television but also on stage. But after starring in 79 Star Trek episodes, the actor faced a harsh reality.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
Star Trek ended in 1969, and Shatner soon realized that the work available to him just couldn't measure up to the glory of playing the beloved Captain Kirk.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
In 1975, Shatner tried to get back into the swing of things with the show Barbary Coast... but it only lasted a single season. He had no choice but to scrape the bottom of the barrel.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
To make it through, Shatner did what he had to do. He starred in commercials, went on game shows, became a guest star, and even agreed to star in low-budget films. However, there was a silver lining.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
Shatner made a real comeback in 1979 all thanks to Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which was a smashing success. The franchise would feature the actor in another six films. But this was only the beginning.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
To his credit, Shatner forged a delightful career for himself. In the 1980s, he played the lead role in T.J. Hooker and hosted Rescue 911. But he also did some things that his fans never saw coming.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
Shatner released a series of books called TekWar, which were ghostwritten. He even had these adapted into a television series in the 1990s and starred in it himself.
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
In many ways, William Shatner is a modern renaissance man. He went on to perform on Broadway, starring in a one-man show. He also became the narrative voice behind many television specials and documentaries. Heck, he's even recorded multiple albums.
However, it wasn't until 2021 that Shatner made the most shocking move of all.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
At 90 years old, William Shatner went to space on the Blue Origin NS-18. Star Trek fans were undoubtedly thrilled by this news, as it seemed the actor had come full circle. However, for Shatner, this major experience shook him to his core.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
William Shatner As Captain Kirk
At a convention, Shatner shared, “This was an immensely powerful awakening for me. It filled me with sadness. I realized that we had spent decades, if not centuries, being obsessed with looking away, with looking outside. I did my share in popularizing the idea that space was the final frontier. But I had to get to space to understand that Earth is and will stay our only home. And that we have been ravaging it, relentlessly, making it uninhabitable.”
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
Trying to make it in acting as a Black actress in the 1960s was a struggle—but Nichelle Nichols struck gold when she landed the part of Nyota Uhura on Star Trek. However, few know that the actress almost quit the show after just one season.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
It was actually Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who convinced Nichelle Nichols to continue playing Uhura. She stayed with Star Trek all the way through, even starring in the six films.
Thanks to the beloved role, she had the opportunity to work with NASA.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
In a surprising twist, NASA and Nichols ended up working together, with the actress positively affecting recruitment for the space agency. She helped attract minorities and womesn. This included the first American female astronaut and the first Black astronaut.
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
Speaking about her working with the space agency, Nichols later said, “When I began, NASA had 1,500 applications. Six months later, they had 8,000. I like to think some of those were encouraged by me. The aim was to find qualified people among women and minorities, then to convince them that the opportunity was real and that it also was a duty, because this was historic. I really had this sense of purpose about it myself.”
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
Nichelle Nichols went on to do some iconic voice acting on The Simpsons and Futurama. She also played on television series like Heroes and The Young and the Restless. However, she did a ton of work off screen.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
Turns out, Nichelle Nichols had a lovely voice, and she recorded a few albums. She also tried her hand at writing and penned two science fiction novels, Saturn's Child and Saturna's Quest.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
Sadly, in 2015, the actress's health took a scary turn when she had a minor stroke. Then, just three years later, she received a diagnosis of dementia.
On July 30, 2022, the incomparable Nichelle Nichols passed away from heart failure at the age of 89.
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Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Nobody else could have play Mr. Spock like Leonard Nimoy. But though he may be best known for his role in Star Trek, the actor went on to have one of the most successful careers compared to the rest of his cast mates.
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Unlike William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy didn't struggle to get roles after Stark Trek. In fact, he simply moved on to his next major project, Mission: Impossible, taking on the role of Paris. The show was a resounding success and ran for 49 episodes. However, Nimoy did so much more than television.
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Nimoy was a master of the stage. After finishing his run on Mission: Impossible in 1972, he went on to play the lead in Fiddler on the Roof for the national touring company. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
The actor took on many other stage roles such as Sherlock Holmes and Vincent Van Gogh. He even ended up in Broadway's Equus. But little did Spock fans know, Nimoy would one day reprise his role as Spock.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
The end of the Star Trek series was not the nail in the coffin. Leonard Nimoy would go on to play Spock in six Star Trek films alongside the original cast members. Then, in 2009, J.J. Abrams decided to make a film adaptation, and to the delight of many, Leonary Nimoy was cast as Spock Prime.
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Throughout his 83 years, Nimoy did so much. In addition to acting, he gave directing a shot. For instance, he directed 1984's Star Trek III and 1986's Star Trek IV. However, few realize that the actor and director was also a writer and photographer.
Leonary Nimoy wrote two biographies and seven books of poetry. He also has two photography books.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Sadly, Leonard Niimoy received a chilling diagnosis in 2014: He had COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The actor blamed it on a the smoking addiction he once had. However, Nimoy's end was far more tragic than we thought possible.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Leonard Nimoy's son, Adam Nimoy, later revealed that his father underwent a change as he approached the end of his life: "he mellowed out. He made his family a priority and his career became secondary."
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Leonard Nimoy As Spock
Only days before his passing, Nimoy shared a heart-wrenching, final tweet: "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP".
On February 27, 2015, he passed at the age of 83.
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George Takei as Sulu
Following his unforgettable performance as Sulu on Star Trek, George Takei's career truly reflected the phrase, "the sky is the limit."
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
George Takei as Sulu
Takei went on to star in a number of television shows like The Six Million Dollar Man and Kung Fu. In 1979, he also helped write the science fiction novel Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe.
In Los Angeles, the actor even became involved in politics. But the projects didn't end there.
George Takei as Sulu
On top of maintaining his acting career, Takei also made time for a passion project—a musical titled Allegiance. It was based on the research he'd done on the Japanese American internment of WWII, as well as his personal experiences. It first premiered in San Diego in 2012, and then had a run on Broadway in 2015.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
George Takei as Sulu
Takei also shared his family's experience of internment through a graphic novel that he co-wrote: They Called Us Enemy. Then he went on to share his own life story, releasing an autobiography.
However, the actor continued to be full of surprises.
George Takei as Sulu
In 2005, George Takei proudly came out as gay, revealing that he'd been in 18-year relationship with his partner Brad Altman. Three years later, they became the very first gay couple to marry in West Hollywood.
Today, he continues to advocate for gay rights.
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DeForest Kelley As Dr. Leonard McCoy
De Forest Kelley played Dr. Leonard McCoy, or "Bones"—a character that often functioned Captain Kirk's conscience. But ironically, Kelley's career began with him playing villainous characters on television and in Westerns.
DeForest Kelley As Dr. Leonard McCoy
However, after the end of Star Trek, De Forest Kelley ran into a classic problem—typecasting. The roles available to him were...limited. In 1972, he acted in a film about massive, blood-thirsty bunnies called Night of the Lepus.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
DeForest Kelley As Dr. Leonard McCoy
Despite appearing in a few television and film projects, included some Star Trek features, the end of Star Trek was truly the end of De Forest Kelley's career. His final film? In 1998, he was a voice actor in The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
DeForest Kelley As Dr. Leonard McCoy
DeForest Kelley lived until the age of 79, passing away from stomach cancer on June 11, 1999.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
Before taking on the role of Scotty in Star Trek, James Doohan personally estimated that he'd already performed on 450 television shows and 4,000 radio programs.
James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
Like many of his co-stars, he starred in the six Star Trek films after the series finished, but he also continued making movies.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
Doohan starred in films like 1971's Pretty Maids All in a Row alongside Rock Hudson, as well as Man in the Wilderness—but the highlight of his career was undoubtedly Star Trek.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
He ended up doing many conventions, and even wrote an autobiography, Beam Me Up, Scotty: Star Trek's "Scotty" in His Own Words.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
On July 20, 2005, James Doohan passed away at the age of 85 from complications associated with pulmonary fibrosis.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Walter Koenig as Chekov
Following his two-season run on Star Trek as Chekov, Walter Koenig continued his career in the world of television, including a recurring role in Babylon 5. He also returned to the Star Trek universe for seven of the films.
At UCLA, the actor taught acting and directing classes.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Walter Koenig as Chekov
Koenig also began writing for primetime television; for instance, he wrote scripts for single episodes of What Really Happened to the Class of '64? and Land of the Lost. He has also written multiple one-act plays.
Paramount, Star Trek (1966–1969)
Walter Koenig as Chekov
The actor's writing talents also trickled down into his own set of memoirs, a sci-fi novel, and the comic books Walter Koenig's Things to Come and Raver.
Walter Koenig as Chekov
Sadly, there has been some tragedy in Koenig's life as his son Andrew passed away in 2010. But that wasn't all. Married to his wife Judy since 1965, the actor suffered her loss in 2022.
