Actor, author, director and singer William Shatner, born March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Canada, became a cultural icon when he portrayed Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the ‘Star Trek’ franchise. Shatner’s acting career began in the 50s before landing the role in the sci-fi series and has gone on to star in movies, TV shows, commercials and more. Take a look back at his stellar life and career.
Broadway director Joshua Logan, left, works with actors William Shatner, center, and France Nuyen, players in his new production “The World of Suzie Wong,” on Sept. 11, 1958.
Actor William Shatner, star of “The World of Suzie Wong” on Broadway is shown on Jan. 22, 1959, from the Village Square, in New York’s Greenwich Village.
Stage actress Julie Harris, right, with actor William Shatner star in a Broadway comedy, “A Shot In The Dark” at the Booth Theatre in New York on Jan. 11, 1962.
DeForest Kelley, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, William Shatner, George Takei and James Doohan pictured on the set of “Star Trek.”
Actors in the TV series “Star Trek,” from left, Leonard Nimoy as Commander Spock, William Shatner as Captain Kirk, DeForest Kelley as Doctor McCoy and James Doohan as Commander Scott.
William Shatner, left, DeForest Kelley, center, and Leonard Nimoy pose on the set of the television series “Star Trek” in this undated photo.
Zubin Mehta and actor William Shatner, left, appear at a news conference at Anaheim Stadium on April 1, 1978.
William Shatner, as Capt. Kirk (right) and his first officer Leonard Nimoy, as Mr. Spock, will once again command the starship U.S.S. Enterprise in a major movie film announced on March 28, 1978, in Los Angeles at a Paramount Studio press conference.
The movie, “Star Trek,” is now in production in Hollywood on Nov. 8, 1978, involving members of the original television series team. From left, Leonard Nimoy, director Robert Wise, producer Gene Roddenberry, Deforest Kelley and William Shatner.
Actor William Shatner portrays a police officer in a television show, “Sgt. Hooker.” Shatner portrays a former detective who decides to return to the police force as a uniformed officer on March 7, 1982.
George Takei, left, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, James Doohan, Kirstie Alley and Leonard Nimoy on the set of the film “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan” in 1982.
William Shatner pictured at the Emmy Awards Banquet on Sept. 19, 1982, in the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, Calif.
William Shatner is pictured during filming on Nov. 9, 1982, in Hollywood for his TV series about a hard-nosed police sergeant called “T.J. Hooker.”
William Shatner, left, with Leonard Nimoy during filming for “T.J. Hooker” on Dec. 14, 1982.
William Shatner arrives at the 55th Academy Awards on April 11, 1983, in Hollywood, Calif.
William Shatner, left, and his wife during Hollywood’s Walk of Fame ceremony, where he was presented with a star, on May 19, 1983, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Actor William Shanter, talks with people outside the set of Star Trek III on Aug. 25, 1983, on the lot of Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, where a major fire burned several sets.
William Shatner at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 29, 1984, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Actor William Shatner poses in his police sergeant uniform during a break in the taping of his TV show “T.J. Hooker” on Oct. 28, 1985.
Actor William Shatner, currently starring in “Star Trek TV,” rehearses a skit for “Saturday Night Live” with the show’s regular stars Kevin Nealon, center, and Dana Carvey, right, on Thursday, Dec. 19, 1986, in New York. In the segment, Shatner plays a television repairman who dreams of boldly going where no man has gone, but figures he will never do it.
William Shatner gets a whale of a kiss from Yaka, the 10,000-pound orca, at a Vallejo, Calif. wildlife park on March 16, 1987.
William Shatner appears dressed as Captain Kirk at a photo opportunity promoting the Paramount Studios film “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.” Shatner stars in and directs this film on Dec. 28, 1988.
William Shatner, shown during an interview in Los Angeles, on June 4, 1990.
Actor William Shatner, Captain Kirk of the television series “Star Trek,” poses with a model of the Starship Enterprise, which he presented to Planet Hollywood for their collection of movie memorabilia in New York City, Aug. 17, 1992.
William Shatner, who portrays Capt. James T. Kirk, attends a photo opportunity for the film “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” in 1998.
Actor William Shatner makes a phone call by using an AT&T prepaid Star Trek card at a news conference in New York on Feb. 18, 1998.
William Shatner poses on the set of ABC’s “Boston Legal” television drama on Sept. 13, 2004, in Manhattan Beach, Calif.
William Shatner accepts the award for best supporting actor in a series, mini-series or television movie for his work on “Boston Legal” at the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16, 2005, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Actor William Shatner poses on the set of the History Channel’s sci-fi documentary, “How William Shatner Changed the World,” on Feb. 16, 2006, in Los Angeles.
Actor William Shatner sits in his car prior to the Pro/Celebrity race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach on April 8, 2006, in Long Beach, Calif. Shatner finished 17th. Bucky Lasek won the race for the celebrity category and Todd Bodine won for the professional driver category.
Actor William Shatner waves during a photo call for the film “Over The Hedge,” at the 59th International film festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 21, 2006.
Leonard Nimoy, left, and William Shatner pose on Aug. 9, 2006, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Actor William Shatner poses in his office on April 9, 2008, in Los Angeles.
Actor William Shatner, left, appears with his wife, Elizabeth Anderson, center, at an unveiling for his wax figure as Capt. James T. Kirk from “Star Trek,” at Madame Tussauds Hollywood in Los Angeles on Nov. 4, 2009.
Actor William Shatner poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, on Jan. 30, 2011.
William Shatner hosts the Juno Awards on Sunday, April 1, 2012, in Ottawa, Ontario.
Shirley Jones and William Shatner perform a scene during the live broadcast of “Hot In Cleveland” on June 19, 2013.
Actors Patrick Stewart, left, and William Shatner attend the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” reunion event at the Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Ill. on Aug. 24, 2014.
William Shatner tips his cap before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and the Arizona Diamondbacks in Boston, Aug. 12, 2016.
New England Institute of Technology President Richard Gouse, left, presents actor William Shatner, right, with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree, on May 6, 2018, during the school’s commencement, in Providence, R.I.
