The original Star Trek series’ most popular characters have remained Captain James T. Kirk and his first officer Spock. Portrayed by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy respectively, the characters have become one of the most iconic duos in pop culture.
However, fans of the franchise were sad to know that the two actors did not get along by the end of Nimoy’s life and were not on speaking terms at the time of his death in 2015. The actor’s son revealed in a new book that Nimoy’s drinking problem began on the set of Star Trek due to his issues with Shatner among other things, which Shatner has now denied.
William Shatner Denies Leonard Nimoy’s Son’s Claims That They Were Feuding On The Sets Of Star Trek
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy spent many years together on the screen as Captain Kirk and his first officer Spock. Beginning with Star Trek: The Original Series, the cast returned for seven films in the franchise, two of which were directed by Nimoy and one by Shatner.
Shatner has spoken about his friendship with his co-star multiple times and has even mentioned how they were like brothers. However, the actor’s relationship with Nimoy seemingly deteriorated in the later years of the Spock actor’s life. Nimoy’s son, however, had a different story to tell.
Adam Nimoy reportedly wrote in his book The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy, that his father had a drinking problem that was caused by his time on the sets of Star Trek and his problems with William Shatner. However, Shatner refuted the claim and said to The Post,
He didn’t know. He was too young to know my relationship with Leonard…I don’t know what he said in his book, but my relationship with Leonard was one of joy. To be able to share something with another human being with the full knowledge that what you’re saying is sacrosanct and personal.
So, we talked about divorce and death and children and life. We were able to share knowing that what we were sharing was between us and only between us.
Shatner also mentioned that he loved Nimoy and considered him to be a brother. He said that he had never shared a relationship like that with any other male in his life.
Leonard Nimoy’s Son Was Surprised He Called William Shatner His Best Friend
While there certainly were hints of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy feuding, the former maintained that they were extremely close and that they shared one of the most specific experiences of their lives together. He has mentioned that they were not on speaking terms only in the last few years of Nimoy’s life.
However, the Spock star’s son, Adam Nimoy, revealed that he had heard various stories from his father about the clashes between him and Shatner on the sets of Star Trek and was surprised when Nimoy wrote that they were best friends in his memoir. Adam Nimoy said to PageSix,
[My sister] Julie and I were scratching our heads like … you’ve knocked heads with Bill, all your professional life. And now they had some reconciliation and it was beautiful, but it just didn’t. They just couldn’t sustain it. And that’s unfortunate…I know why [they didn’t talk for the last 5 years]. It’s unfortunate, it’s sad.
William Shatner even went on to say that part of him died when Leonard Nimoy passed away in 2015, despite not attending his funeral (via The Post).
Star Trek is available to stream on Paramount+.
