The original Star Trek series is still celebrated as arguably the best entry in the franchise. It established the tone and template of what the franchise should be with iconic characters as well as great storytelling. The series saw William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy play Captain Kirk and Spock and the roles became synonymous with the actors themselves.
Much has been said about the contentious relationship that the two actors had while shooting the series. The duo reportedly had ego clashes on set and never got along in the beginning. However as years have gone by, Shatner has considered Nimoy as the only friend he had on the show. In a 2016 interview, the Captain Kirk actor asserted that they were both responsible for what happened between them.
William Shatner Addressed His Infamous Feud With Leonard Nimoy on Star Trek: The Original Series
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy starred in the original Star Trek show that ran for three seasons from 1966-69. They paved the way for the franchise introducing iconic leading characters like Captain Kirk and Spock that were played by the aforementioned actors. However, the actors famously did not get along during the production of the show.
It has been widely known that the two actors had a conflicting relationship on the show but the real reason for it has never been known. Nimoy’s son Adam has told Page Six about the challenging dynamic they had on the show, saying “It’s unfortunate, it’s sad” while being surprised at Nimoy considering Shatner as his best friend in his memoir. He knew the reason behind the conflict but rather wants bygones be bygones.
Shatner also addressed the much-publicized conflict in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. The Captain Kirk star revealed that not one person is at fault for what happened between him and Nimoy. He agreed that they both contributed to the hostility between them but had the utmost respect for Nimoy’s contribution to Spock.
I think so. Nothing is ever one person’s fault — one hand clapping doesn’t make a sound. I’ve got to think that Leonard had his chance and he was single-minded about on maintaining that.
And at the same time he had created a unique character with Spock, and it’s a beautiful example of an actor bringing pieces of his own life to bear on a character that he’s playing. When I realized that, I found that admirable. I was filled with admiration for Leonard on many levels. His intelligence and his creativity and his passions and his focus as an actor.
Shatner would rather fight a Gorn from the famous Arena episode of the first season of the show than admit to singlehandedly causing the feud between him and Nimoy. The actor further told THR that the Spock star suddenly stopped talking to him during the last years of his life. It was indeed a chaotic dynamic that the two actors never fully were able to mend, despite wishing the best for each other.
William Shatner Has Seen Only Few Moments Of His Star Trek Show And None of The Spinoffs
William Shatner became a household name for playing Captain Kirk in the original 60s Star Trek show. However, it seems he is not a fan of watching himself on screen. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Shatner revealed that he has not watched any of the Star Trek projects that came after his show.
While the actor is all praise for the incredible way that the franchise has grown over the years, he admitted that he doesn’t watch any television content. The Star Trek star said,
I’m gonna tell you something that nobody knows. I’ve never seen another ‘Star Trek’ and I’ve seen as few ‘Star Treks’ of the show I was on, I’ve seen as few as possible,” he said. “I don’t like to look at myself, and I’ve never seen any other. I love it, I think it’s great. I just don’t, you know, I don’t watch television, per se.
The modern era has seen the J.J Abrams-produced feature films and the return of Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard in the Picard series. Shatner would certainly get a kick out of seeing how Chris Pine perfectly takes over as Captain Kirk in the films.
Fans can watch the original Star Trek series on Paramount+.
