William Shatner

Actor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his three-and-a-half hour Archive 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 in Star Trek and subsequent feature films. He talks about starring in T.J. Hooker and later hosting Rescue 911. In part two of his interview, Shatner discusses his work as "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal. The two-part interview was conducted in Studio City, California by Ramin Fathie on September 15, 1999 and Stephen J. Abramson on January 22, 2009.

"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."

Highlights

William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live

06:46

Full Interview

Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on radio and movies he enjoyed growing up

20:11

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

09:16

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"

14:15

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

14:09

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

11:53

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

12:03

On appearing in the feature "The Brothers Karamazov"; on appearing in the Sunday Showcase production of "The Indestructible Mr. Gore"

03:49

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

10:56

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

12:19

On how he felt about the success of Star Trek; on the directors of Star Trek

05:00

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

08:10

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

08:58

On starring in Andersonville; on starring in T.J. Hooker

04:32

On on directing "Star Trek: The Final Frontier", and how he feels about directing; on summing up his career, and on his future goals

05:51

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

14:55

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"

15:44

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

12:59

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

13:27

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

05:00

Shows

3rd Rock From the Sun

William Shatner on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow

04:15

Andersonville

William Shatner on starring in Andersonville

03:23

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

04:41

William Shatner on his input into the character of "Denny Crane" when he moved over to Boston Legal, and on how he played him

06:50

William Shatner on what made Boston Legal different from other legal shows, and on what was unique about the character of "Denny Crane"

04:13

William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" approach to being a lawyer, and on his ego

05:30

William Shatner on the development of his character "Denny Crane" on Boston Legal, and on the character's relationship with women

03:24

William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" politics and fascination with guns

04:06

William Shatner on his Boston Legal character "Denny Crane's" having Alzheimer's

03:38

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

09:45

William Shatner on the end of Boston Legal and "Denny Crane"

00:49

Defenders, The

William Shatner on appearing on The Defenders

05:02

For the People

William Shatner on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin

03:04

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

William Shatner on appearing in the Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse production of "All Summer Long"

04:37

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

04:27

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

04:41

Rescue 911

William Shatner on hosting Rescue 911

03:54

Saturday Night Live

William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live

06:46

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

04:08

William Shatner on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"

05:56

William Shatner on filming a typical episode of Star Trek, and on Gene Roddenberry's role in the production of the series

02:15

William Shatner on how he felt about the success of Star Trek

02:18

William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty

02:42

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

04:06

William Shatner on Leonard Nimoy as "Mr. Spock" on Star Trek

00:41

William Shatner on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy" and James Doohan as "Mr. Scott" on Star Trek

00:53

William Shatner on the popularity of Star Trek after it was cancelled

00:39

William Shatner on individual episodes of Star Trek

01:51

William Shatner on his awareness of the Star Trek phenomenon, and the reasons for its popularity

03:59

William Shatner on the message and themes of Star Trek, and on "Captain Kirk" as role model

04:59

William Shatner on on directing "Star Trek: The Final Frontier", and how he feels about directing

02:56

Sunday Showcase

William Shatner on appearing in the Sunday Showcase production of "The Indestructible Mr. Gore"

01:42

T.J. Hooker

William Shatner on starring in T.J. Hooker

01:09

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

06:03

William Shatner on the experience of filming the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" with director Richard Donner

01:16

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

06:03

William Shatner on the experience of filming the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" with director Richard Donner

01:16

Topics

Characters & Catchphrases

William Shatner on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"

05:56

William Shatner on the various aspects of his Boston Legal character "Danny Crane's" personality, and on how he played him

20:50

William Shatner on the various aspects of his Boston Legal character "Danny Crane's" personality, and on how he played him

20:50

Pop Culture

William Shatner on his Star Trek character "Captain James T. Kirk"

05:56

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

William Shatner on the experience of doing live dramas in the '50s

04:00

Professions

Actor

View Profession

William Shatner on his famous halting style of delivery, and on appearing on stage in "Deathtrap"

03:39

William Shatner on what he learned performing Shakespeare on stage in Canada for several years

06:14

William Shatner on dealing with the cameras and working with directors in live television

03:18

William Shatner on how he prepared to act on live television, and some of the challenges he faced

02:34

Performers

View Profession

William Shatner on his famous halting style of delivery, and on appearing on stage in "Deathtrap"

03:39

William Shatner on what he learned performing Shakespeare on stage in Canada for several years

06:14

William Shatner on dealing with the cameras and working with directors in live television

03:18

William Shatner on how he prepared to act on live television, and some of the challenges he faced

02:34

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

William Shatner on appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"

07:19

Comedy Series

William Shatner on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow

04:15

Cop/Detective/Mystery Series

William Shatner on starring in T.J. Hooker

01:09

Legal Dramas

William Shatner on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin

03:04

William Shatner on playing "Denny Crane" on The Practice and Boston Legal

43:09

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

William Shatner on the experience of hosting Saturday Night Live

06:46

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

William Shatner on playing James T. Kirk on Star Trek

17:19

William Shatner on playing "Captain James T. Kirk" on Star Trek

17:08

Service Shows

William Shatner on hosting Rescue 911

03:54

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

William Shatner on starring in Andersonville

03:23

People

Candice Bergen

View Person Page

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

09:45

Herbert Brodkin

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William Shatner on his first lead role in a series playing David Koster in For the People, produced by Herbert Brodkin

03:04

Gene Coon

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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

04:06

Marc Daniels

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William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty

02:42

Herschel Daugherty

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William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty

02:42

Richard Donner

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William Shatner on the experience of filming the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" with director Richard Donner

01:16

James Doohan

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William Shatner on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy" and James Doohan as "Mr. Scott" on Star Trek

00:53

James Goldstone

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William Shatner on the directors of Star Trek including Vincent McEveety, Leo Penn, Marc Daniels, James Goldstone, Michael O'Hurlihy, and Herschel Daugherty

02:42

DeForest Kelley

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William Shatner on DeForest Kelley as "Dr. Leonard McCoy" and James Doohan as "Mr. Scott" on Star Trek

00:53

David E. Kelley

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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

04:41

John Lithgow

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William Shatner on guest-starring on 3rd Rock From the Sun, with John Lithgow

04:05

Richard Matheson

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William Shatner on appearing in the Twilight Zone episodes "Nick of Time" and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", both written by Richard Matheson

06:03

Leonard Nimoy

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William Shatner on Leonard Nimoy as "Mr. Spock" on Star Trek

00:41

Gene Roddenberry

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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

04:08

William Shatner on filming a typical episode of Star Trek, and on Gene Roddenberry's role in the production of the series

02:15

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

04:06

James Spader

View Person Page

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

09:45