CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After boldly going where no man has gone before, William Shatner is heading to Cleveland.
“Star Trek”'s Captain James T. Kirk is headlining this weekend’s Fan Expo Cleveland. The actor, author and activist will appear on Saturday and Sunday, talking with fans and signing autographs at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
The comic con, formerly known as Wizard World Cleveland, will host more than 50 celebrities, voice actors and comic creators over its three days. Some of the names on the guestlist include Katee Sackoff (“The Mandalorian”), Ron Perlman (“Hellboy”) and a “Clerks” reunion of Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes, Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson.
None of them have the resume nor gravitas as Shatner, who also starred on “T.J. Hooker,” “Boston Legal,” “Airplane II: The Sequel,” those Priceline commercials and who, at 90 years old, became the oldest person ever to go to space, flying aboard a Blue Origin rocket back in October. The legendary actor talked about that and more during a recent phone conversation with cleveland.com.
Star Trek actor William Shatner attends a media availability on the landing pad of Blue Origin’s New Shepard after flying into space on October 13, 2021 near Van Horn, Texas. Shatner became the oldest person to fly into space on the ten minute flight. He flew with three other civilians aboard mission NS-18, the second human spaceflight for the company which is owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)Getty Images
cleveland.com: Have you been to Cleveland much and, if so, do you have any fond memories of the city?
Shatner: I’m Canadian, born in Montreal, and worked a lot in Toronto. So, I’ve been in and out of Cleveland for various reasons. “Beautiful city,” he says diplomatically (laughs). It’s a wonderfully industrious city with some good people and I truly mean it when I say I’m looking forward to coming there.
Q: Do you enjoy doing these fan expos and meeting with fans?
A: I do a number of them and it’s enjoyable from the point of view that I get in front of an audience for an hour and speak spontaneously. I don’t know what I’m going to say exactly, but a story forms. I’ve got a lot of interests and I start talking about things I’m doing, reading or working on. I try to find something unique about the city I’m in to start a conversation. It’s like when you meet somebody at a party and you look for an opening to begin a conversation and then before you know it, you’re immersed in it and it turns out to be a meaningful conversation. That’s what I look forward to most of all.
Q: What are some of the projects you’re currently involved in?
A: I’ve got quite a few including a really good show on the History Channel called “The UnXPlained.” I’ve got a talk show that was recently canceled because it was on a network that was taken off the air, but we’re reselling it. There’s a game show, an animated film (“Fireheart”) and a movie I’m going to do. The list goes on. I’m busy and working as fully and completely as I can but avoid getting ill.
William Shatner poses on the set of ABC's "Boston Legal" television drama Monday, Sept. 13, 2004, in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Shatner won two Emmy Awards for his role as attorney Denny Crane. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)ASSOCIATED PRESS
Q: You’ve done so much in your career. Is there one thing, in particular, you’re most proud of?
A: I don’t work that way. Your interview is as important to me as anything else. Maybe not when I put the phone down (laughs). But at the moment, it’s extremely important that I connect with you and hope that your audience will come to the (convention center) and enjoy themselves. And they will because it’s great fun. That’s what is important to me now. That’s the way I work.
Q: “Star Trek” lives on, on the big screen with J.J. Abrams at the helm and on various TV shows on Paramount+. How much do you keep up with the franchise?
A: It’s been a long time and a lot of things have happened since then, but it’s a great show. Just this past weekend, they asked me to help with the sale of NFTs of the Spaceship Enterprise. So, I did some interviews about that.
The Canadian actor William Shatner and the American actors Jackson DeForest Kelley and Leonard Nimoy standing inside the Starship Enterprise in a scene of the TV serial Star Trek, USA, 1966 (Photo by Mondadori Portfolio by Getty Images)Mondadori via Getty Images
Q: Any desire to return to the screen as Captain Kirk?
A: No (laughs). I don’t know how you explain the intervening time, my weight, age or sensibility. That’s a big leap even for science fiction.
Q: You actually took a flight into space last year. What was that experience like?
A: It was very, very meaningful. When I got back down to Earth, it affected me emotionally. The overwhelming emotion I felt was grief for the world. I could see the destruction happening. That’s what I’m doing the most now, trying to raise awareness of what’s happening in terms of global warming.
A screenshot taken from a live handout video on October 13, 2021 shows Jeff Bezos talks to William Shatner after Blue Origin's New Shepard crew capsule landed back in Texas. William Shatner, 90, officially became the oldest and most famous person ever to fly to space on a rocket launched from the state of Texas. (Photo by Blue Origin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Q: That’s your number one focus and concern right now, isn’t it?
A: It’s yours as well. You may not know it, but your existence is dependent on it. You better get with it and start writing about it.
Q: What is your secret to a long, happy life?
A: The secret is out there and it’s that there is no secret. The cliché is to do some good work, keep busy, love and try to help somebody. And get out of yourself. Maybe that’s the pithy thing.
Actor William Shatner promotes the "Star Trek" 40th Anniversary on the TV Land network at the Four Seasons hotel August 9, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. Episodes of the show air September 8. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)Getty Images
Fan Expo Cleveland runs April 29-May 1. Tickets, starting at $37 for a single day or $89 for a weekend pass, are on sale now at fanexpohq.com/fanexpocleveland.