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William Shatner

Actor / Director

"The director given enough money and time realizes a dream that he has of the way the story is told -- the big picture. The actor focuses on that tiny picture of the words, the relationship of how to make this moment work, and he's involved in the minutia. Both are equally interesting."

About This Interview

William Shatner was interviewed for three-and-a-half hours (in two interview parts) in Studio City, CA. Shatner described his early years in Canadian theater, and his debut on American television. He discussed appearances on many live shows including Playhouse 90, Studio One, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Omnibus, and others. Shatner went on to star as Captain Kirk in Star Trek and subsequent feature films. He starred in T.J. Hooker and later hosted Rescue 911.  In part two of his interview, Shatner talked about his work as "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal.  The interviews were conducted by Ramin Fathie on September 15, 1999 and Stephen J. Abramson on January 22, 2009.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • 3rd Rock From the Sun
  • Boston Legal
  • Star Trek
  • T.J. Hooker
  • Twilight Zone, The
  • Twilight Zone, The: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"

People

  • Candice Bergen
  • Leonard Nimoy

Topics

  • Characters & Catchphrases
  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
  • Pop Culture

Professions

  • Director
  • Performers

Featured Content

William Shatner was inducted into the 17th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.Emmy Hall of Fame Logo

Embeddable clip: William Shatner on his legacy

Resources

Autobiography

YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
  • Highlights
  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Genres
  • Professions

Highlights

  • William Shatner on the pressures of production during <i>Star Trek</i> <BR/>William Shatner on the pressures of production during Star Trek
    Clip begins at: 00:57, Duration: 02m 51s
  • William Shatner on why he felt <i>Star Trek</i> has had such a followingWilliam Shatner on why he felt Star Trek has had such a following
    Clip begins at: 10:32, Duration: 00m 43s
  • William Shatner on <i>Star Trek</i> co-star Leonard NimoyWilliam Shatner on Star Trek co-star Leonard Nimoy
    Clip begins at: 04:44, Duration: 00m 33s
  • William Shatner on his legacy<BR/>William Shatner on his legacy
    Clip begins at: 00:00, Duration: 01m 03s
  • William Shatner on his experience starring in <i>T.J. Hooker</i>, and how he wished it could have sustained fully its original premiseWilliam Shatner on his experience starring in T.J. Hooker, and how he wished it could have sustained fully its original premise
    Clip begins at: 21:10, Duration: 00m 50s
  • William Shatner on <i>Boston Legal </i> co-star Candice BergenWilliam Shatner on Boston Legal co-star Candice Bergen
    Clip begins at: 53:56, Duration: 00m 28s
  • William Shatner on his <i>Boston Legal</i> character “Denny Crane’s” penchant for saying his name as a non sequitur<BR/>William Shatner on his Boston Legal character “Denny Crane’s” penchant for saying his name as a non sequitur
    Clip begins at: 29:00, Duration: 01m 01s
  • William Shatner on his rationale for "breaking the fourth wall" while playing "Denny Crane" on <i>Boston Legal</i>William Shatner on his rationale for "breaking the fourth wall" while playing "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal
    Clip begins at: 24:37, Duration: 01m 32s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • Full Chapter One
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 2
  • Full Chapter Two
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 3
  • full chapter three
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 4
  • Full Chapter four
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 5
  • Full Chapter Five
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 6
  • Full Chapter 6 (Part Two of a two-part interview): begins with Saturday Night Live and covers his later years on Boston Legal
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 7
  • Full Chapter Seven
    Clip begins at: 0:0

Shows

  • 3rd Rock From the Sun
    • William Shatner on how his background doing farce onstage helped him on his guest appearance on 3rd Rock from the Sun playing the "Big Giant Head" (and his and John Lithgow's Twilight Zone connection)
      Clip begins at: 13:20, Duration: 02m 28s
  • Boston Legal
    • William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" penchant for saying his name as a non sequitur
      Clip begins at: 29:00, Duration: 01m 01s
    • William Shatner on Boston Legal co-star James Spader
      Clip begins at: 53:34, Duration: 00m 22s
    • William Shatner on Boston Legal co-star Candice Bergen
      Clip begins at: 53:56, Duration: 00m 28s
    • William Shatner on his rationale for "breaking the fourth wall" while playing "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal
      Clip begins at: 24:37, Duration: 01m 32s
  • Star Trek
    • William Shatner on the pressures of production during Star Trek
      Clip begins at: 00:57, Duration: 02m 51s
    • William Shatner on Star Trek co-star Leonard Nimoy
      Clip begins at: 04:44, Duration: 00m 33s
    • William Shatner on why he felt Star Trek has had such a following
      Clip begins at: 10:32, Duration: 00m 43s
  • T.J. Hooker
    • William Shatner on his experience starring in T.J. Hooker, and how he wished it could have sustained fully its original premise
      Clip begins at: 21:10, Duration: 00m 50s
  • Twilight Zone, The
    • William Shatner on the enduring popularity of the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 03:12, Duration: 00m 37s
    • William Shatner on the experience of filming "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," directed by Richard Donner
      Clip begins at: 06:40, Duration: 01m 06s
    • William Shatner on how his background doing farce onstage helped him on his guest appearance on 3rd Rock from the Sun playing the "Big Giant Head" (and his and John Lithgow's Twilight Zone connection)
      Clip begins at: 13:20, Duration: 02m 28s
  • Twilight Zone, The: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
    • William Shatner on the claustrophobic feeling he got shooting his episodes of The Twilight Zone
      Clip begins at: 01:00, Duration: 00m 21s
    • William Shatner on the enduring popularity of "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
      Clip begins at: 03:12, Duration: 00m 37s
    • William Shatner on the experience of filming "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," directed by Richard Donner
      Clip begins at: 06:40, Duration: 01m 06s
    • William Shatner on how his background doing farce onstage helped him on his guest appearance on 3rd Rock from the Sun playing the "Big Giant Head" (and his and John Lithgow's Twilight Zone connection)
      Clip begins at: 13:20, Duration: 02m 28s

People

  • Candice Bergen
    • William Shatner on Boston Legal co-star Candice Bergen
      Clip begins at: 53:56, Duration: 00m 28s
  • Leonard Nimoy
    • William Shatner on Star Trek co-star Leonard Nimoy
      Clip begins at: 04:44, Duration: 00m 33s
  • James Spader
    • William Shatner on Boston Legal co-star James Spader
      Clip begins at: 53:34, Duration: 00m 22s

Topics

  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
    • William Shatner on his rationale for "breaking the fourth wall" while playing "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal
      Clip begins at: 24:37, Duration: 01m 32s
  • Pop Culture
    • William Shatner on why he felt Star Trek has had such a following
      Clip begins at: 10:32, Duration: 00m 43s
  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" penchant for saying his name as a non sequitur
      Clip begins at: 29:00, Duration: 01m 01s
    • William Shatner on his rationale for "breaking the fourth wall" while playing "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal
      Clip begins at: 24:37, Duration: 01m 32s

Genres

  • Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
    • William Shatner on why he felt Star Trek has had such a following
      Clip begins at: 24:07, Duration: 01m 00s

Professions

  • Director
    • William Shatner on comparing directing to acting
      Clip begins at: 24:07, Duration: 01m 00s
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Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-12-07 07:18.

Holy Christ is this interviewer stiff and uninspiring...

Submitted by MrSkateduck on Sat, 2011-03-12 03:08.

so kool to listen to the captain

Submitted by rainbowsalads on Sun, 2010-12-05 07:39.

@m001900 its bizzarre. it must have been Bone's adrenaline in "the deadly years" he looks about 60 : P

Submitted by SamDeRe81 on Thu, 2010-11-11 12:59.

Amazing, absolutely amazing to see this, I'm so thrilled. Wow this is so cool Shatner looks very tired I wonder what he does everyday :D I wanna know

Submitted by SamDeRe81 on Thu, 2010-11-11 11:53.

Alright, I'd love to have seen Deathtrap done with him! OMG

Submitted by prodigalson56 on Thu, 2010-10-21 17:49.

Shatner is the man! :-)

Submitted by musicispower84 on Sat, 2010-07-24 09:39.

James T. Kirk. Shatner is boss!

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