About
"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."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, William Shatner describes his early years in Canadian theater and his debut on American television. He discusses appearances on many live shows including Playhouse 90, Studio One, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Omnibus, and others. Shatner recalls starring as Captain Kirk on Star Trek and subsequent feature films. He talks about starring on T.J. Hooker and later hosting Rescue 911. In part two of his interview, Shatner discusses his work as "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal. Ramin Fathie conducted part one of the interview on September 15, 1999 and in Studio City, CA. Stephen J. Abramson conducted part two of the interview on January 22, 2009 in Studio City, CA.
Highlights
William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on radio and movies he enjoyed growing up
On making his professional acting debut at age 8; on appearing in radio dramas for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation at a young age; on performing in plays in high school, and on deciding he wanted to be an actor
Chapter 2
On working for the Canadian Repertory Theatre after graduating, and on struggling in those years; on performing various Shakespeare roles at the Stratford Festival, including Henry V, considered his break through role in the theater; on his famous halting style of delivery, and on appearing on stage in "Deathtrap"
On what he learned performing Shakespeare on stage in Canada for several years; on his early television work in Canada and on being involved in a bad car accident; on performing plays for the Canadian Broadcasting Company
Chapter 3
On dealing with the cameras and working with directors in live television; on appearing in the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "All Summer Long"; on the experience of doing live dramas in the '50s
On how he prepared to act on live television, and some of the challenges he faced; on appearing on The Defenders; on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production "A Town Has Turned to Dust" with Rod Stiger, directed by John Frankenheimer and writen by Rod Serling
On appearing in the feature "The Brothers Karamazov"; on appearing in the Sunday Showcase production of "The Indestructible Mr. Gore"
Chapter 4
On appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin
On being cast by Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek; on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"; on filming a typical episode of Star Trek, and on Gene Roddenberry's role in the production of the series
On how he felt about the success of Star Trek; on the directors of Star Trek
Chapter 5
On the process of playing "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek, and on producers Gene Roddenberry and Gene Coon guiding the show; on the cast of Star Trek; on the popularity of the show, after it was cancelled, and on individual episodes
On his awareness of the Star Trek phenomenon, and the reasons for its popularity; on the message and themes of Star Trek, and on "Captain Kirk" as role model
On starring in Andersonville; on starring in T.J. Hooker
On on directing "Star Trek: The Final Frontier", and how he feels about directing; on summing up his career, and on his future goals
Chapter 6
On the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live; on hosting Rescue 911; on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow
On being cast in the role of "Denny Crane" on The Practice for producer David E. Kelley, and on the character moving to the series Boston Legal; on his input into the character of "Denny Crane" when he moved over to Boston Legal, and on how he played him; on what made Boston Legal different from other legal shows, and on what was unique about the character of "Denny Crane"
On his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" approach to being a lawyer, and on his ego; on the development of his character "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal, and on the character's relationship with women; on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" politics and fascination with guns
On his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" having Alzheimer's; on "Denny Crane's" relationship with "Alan Shore" played by James Spader on Boston Legal, and on working with Spader, Candice Bergen, and the rest of the cast of the show
Chapter 7
On the end of Boston Legal and "Denny Crane"; on then-current projects, and how he reacts of fans who like his work; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
3rd Rock From the Sun
William Shatner on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow
Andersonville
William Shatner on starring in Andersonville
Boston Legal
William Shatner on being cast in the role of "Denny Crane" on The Practice for producer David E. Kelley, and on the character moving to the series Boston Legal
William Shatner on his input into the character of "Denny Crane" when he moved over to Boston Legal, and on how he played him
William Shatner on what made Boston Legal different from other legal shows, and on what was unique about the character of "Denny Crane"
William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" approach to being a lawyer, and on his ego
William Shatner on the development of his character "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal, and on the character's relationship with women
William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" politics and fascination with guns
William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" having Alzheimer's
William Shatner on "Denny Crane's" relationship with "Alan Shore" played by James Spader on Boston Legal, and on working with Spader, Candice Bergen, and the rest of the cast of the show
William Shatner on the end of Boston Legal and "Denny Crane"
Defenders, The
William Shatner on appearing on The Defenders
For the People
William Shatner on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
William Shatner on appearing in the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "All Summer Long"
Playhouse 90
William Shatner on appearing in the Playhouse 90 production "A Town Has Turned to Dust" with Rod Stiger, directed by John Frankenheimer and writen by Rod Serling
Practice, The (1997-2004)
William Shatner on being cast in the role of "Denny Crane" on The Practice for producer David E. Kelley, and on the character moving to the series Boston Legal
Rescue 911
William Shatner on hosting Rescue 911
Saturday Night Live
William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live
Star Trek
William Shatner on being cast by Gene Roddenberry as "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek, and on his input into the character and the stories
William Shatner on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"
William Shatner on filming a typical episode of Star Trek, and on Gene Roddenberry's role in the production of the series
William Shatner on how he felt about the success of Star Trek
William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty
William Shatner on the process of playing "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek, and on producers Gene Roddenberry and Gene Coon guiding the show
William Shatner on Leonard Nimoy as "Mr. Spock" on Star Trek
William Shatner on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy" and James Doohan as "Mr. Scott" on Star Trek
William Shatner on the popularity of Star Trek after it was cancelled
William Shatner on individual episodes of Star Trek
William Shatner on his awareness of the Star Trek phenomenon, and the reasons for its popularity
William Shatner on the message and themes of Star Trek, and on "Captain Kirk" as role model
William Shatner on on directing "Star Trek: The Final Frontier", and how he feels about directing
Sunday Showcase
William Shatner on appearing in the Sunday Showcase production of "The Indestructible Mr. Gore"
T.J. Hooker
William Shatner on starring in T.J. Hooker
Twilight Zone, The
William Shatner on appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", both written by Richard Matheson
William Shatner on the experience of filming the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" with director Richard Donner
Twilight Zone, The: "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
William Shatner on appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", both written by Richard Matheson
William Shatner on the experience of filming the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" with director Richard Donner
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
William Shatner on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"
William Shatner on the various aspects of his Boston Legal character "Danny Crane's" personality, and on how he played him
William Shatner on the various aspects of his Boston Legal character "Danny Crane's" personality, and on how he played him
Pop Culture
William Shatner on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"
TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)
William Shatner on the experience of doing live dramas in the '50s
Professions
Actor
William Shatner on his famous halting style of delivery, and on appearing on stage in "Deathtrap"
William Shatner on what he learned performing Shakespeare on stage in Canada for several years
William Shatner on dealing with the cameras and working with directors in live television
William Shatner on how he prepared to act on live television, and some of the challenges he faced
Performers
William Shatner on his famous halting style of delivery, and on appearing on stage in "Deathtrap"
William Shatner on what he learned performing Shakespeare on stage in Canada for several years
William Shatner on dealing with the cameras and working with directors in live television
William Shatner on how he prepared to act on live television, and some of the challenges he faced
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
William Shatner on appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"
Comedy Series
William Shatner on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow
Cop/Detective/Mystery Series
William Shatner on starring in T.J. Hooker
Legal Dramas
William Shatner on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin
William Shatner on playing "Denny Crane" on The Practice and Boston Legal
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live
Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series
William Shatner on playing James T. Kirk on Star Trek
William Shatner on playing "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek
Service Shows
William Shatner on hosting Rescue 911
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
William Shatner on starring in Andersonville
People
Candice Bergen
William Shatner on "Denny Crane's" relationship with "Alan Shore" played by James Spader on Boston Legal, and on working with Spader, Candice Bergen, and the rest of the cast of the show
Herbert Brodkin
William Shatner on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin
Gene Coon
William Shatner on the process of playing "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek, and on producers Gene Roddenberry and Gene Coon guiding the show
Marc Daniels
William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty
Herschel Daugherty
William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty
Richard Donner
William Shatner on the experience of filming the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" with director Richard Donner
James Doohan
William Shatner on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy" and James Doohan as "Mr. Scott" on Star Trek
James Goldstone
William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty
DeForest Kelley
William Shatner on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy" and James Doohan as "Mr. Scott" on Star Trek
David E. Kelley
William Shatner on being cast in the role of "Denny Crane" on The Practice for producer David E. Kelley, and on the character moving to the series Boston Legal
John Lithgow
William Shatner on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow
Richard Matheson
William Shatner on appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", both written by Richard Matheson
Leonard Nimoy
William Shatner on Leonard Nimoy as "Mr. Spock" on Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry
William Shatner on being cast by Gene Roddenberry as "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek, and on his input into the character and the stories
William Shatner on filming a typical episode of Star Trek, and on Gene Roddenberry's role in the production of the series
William Shatner on the process of playing "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek, and on producers Gene Roddenberry and Gene Coon guiding the show
James Spader
William Shatner on "Denny Crane's" relationship with "Alan Shore" played by James Spader on Boston Legal, and on working with Spader, Candice Bergen, and the rest of the cast of the show