Highest rated as cast or director
Star Trek
1966 · 3 Seasons
Boston Legal
2004 · 5 Seasons
The Intruder
1962
Masters of the Universe: Revolution
2024 · 1 Season
Biography
William Shatner, OC (born March 22, 1931) is a Canadian actor. In a career spanning seven decades, he is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, from his 1966 debut as the captain of the starship Enterprise in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series to his final appearance as Captain Kirk in the seventh Star Trek feature film, Star Trek Generations (1994). Shatner began his screen acting career in Canadian films and television productions before moving into guest-starring roles in various American television shows. He appeared as James Kirk in all the episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, 21 of the 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series, and the first seven Star Trek movies. He has written a series of books chronicling his experiences before, during and after his time in a Starfleet uniform. He has also co-written several novels set in the Star Trek universe and a series of science fiction novels, the TekWar sequence, that were adapted for television. Outside Star Trek, Shatner played the eponymous veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker (1982–1986), hosted the reality-based television series Rescue 911 (1989–1996), guest starred on the detective series Columbo, and acted in the comedy film Miss Congeniality (2000). After his last appearance as Captain Kirk, Shatner's television career has embraced comedy, drama and reality shows. In seasons 4 and 5 of the NBC series 3rd Rock from the Sun, he played the alien "Big Giant Head", to which the main characters reported. From 2004 until 2008, he starred as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of the legal show The Practice and in its spinoff Boston Legal, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards, one for his contribution to each series. In 2016, 2017 and 2018, he starred in both seasons of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series in which a band of elderly celebrities toured East Asia and Europe. Aside from acting, Shatner has had a career as a recording artist, beginning in 1968 with his album The Transformed Man. His cover versions of songs are dramatic recitations of their lyrics rather than musical performances: the most notable are his versions of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man", and Elton John's "Rocket Man". His most successful album was his third, Seeking Major Tom (2011), which includes covers of Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly", David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". In 2021, Shatner flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-18, a Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. At age 90, he became the oldest person to fly in space and one of the first 600 to do so. Minutes after the flight, he described experiencing the overview effect.
Acted in 214
2020s
- 2024
Aliens Among Us with William Shatner
Movie
- 2022
A Tear in the Sky
Movie
- 2021
- 2020
2010s
- 2019
WWE Backstage
William Shatner · 1 episode
- 2018
The Steam Engines of Oz
Oscar 'Oz' Diggs (voice)
Aliens Ate My Homework
Phillogenus esk Piemondum (Phil) (voice)
- 2017
Not a War Story
Movie
- 2016
Star Trek: The Original Series – The Roddenberry Vault
TV
- 2015
Just in Time for Christmas
Coachman Nick
Baby, Baby, Baby
Actor
- 2013
- 2011
Eat, Fry, Love
Movie
Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Captain James T. Kirk (archive footage)
Life Beyond Trek: William Shatner
Movie
Billy Blackburn's Treasure Chest: Rare Home Movies and Special Memories
Movie
- 2010
The Fran Drescher Show
TV
Weird or What?
TV
2000s
- 2008
Everest
Norman Kelly · 4 episodes
Extraordinary Animals
TV
- 2007
- 2006
Show Me the Money
TV
The Henry Rollins Show
TV
- 2005
Invasion Iowa
Col. Shane Yeager · 4 episodes
Lil' Pimp
Tony Gold (voice)
- 2004
Kiss 'N' Tell: Romance in the 23rd Century
Movie
Birth of a Timeless Legacy
Movie
- 2003
A Carol Christmas
Dr. Bob / Ghost of Christmas Present
Chilly Beach
The President (voice) · 1 episode
William Shatner's Spplat Attack II
Wild Bill
- 2002
Spplat Attack
Movie
Groom Lake
John Gossner
Cosmic Odyssey
TV
Shoot or Be Shot!
Harvey Wilkes
- 2001
Gahan Wilson's The Kid
Professor
Bob Patterson
Warren Wellman · 1 episode
Falcon Down
Major Robert Carson
- 2000
1990s
- 1999
A Twist in the Tale
TV
- 1998
Land of the Free
Aidan Carvell
Free Enterprise
Bill
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman
James T. Kirk
- 1997
- 1996
The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc.
Michael Gatewick
Dead Man's Island
Chase Prescott
- 1995
- 1994
TekWar
Walter H. Bascom · 18 episodes
Science Fiction: A Journey Into the Unknown
Movie
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Adam Harland (uncredited)
TekWar: TekJustice
Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLab
Walter H. Bascom
TekWar: TekLords
Walter H. Bascom
TekWar
Walter H. Bascom
- 1993
Family of Strangers
Earl
- 1992
- 1991
- 1990
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
Broken Angel
Chuck Coburn
- 1986
T.J. Hooker: Blood Sport
Sgt. T.J. Hooker
- 1985
North Beach and Rawhide
Rawhide MacGregor
Television
TV
- 1984
- 1982
- 1980
The Babysitter
Dr. Jeff Benedict
1970s
- 1979
Riel
The Barker
- 1978
The Crash of Flight 401
Carl Tobias
Little Women
Friedrich Bhaer · 1 episode
Land of No Return
Curt Benell
The Bastard
Paul Revere · 1 episode
- 1977
The Oregon Trail
TV
Testimony of Two Men
Adrian Ferrier · 3 episodes
- 1976
A Whale of a Tale
Jack Fredericks
The Tenth Level
Prof. Stephen Turner
Perilous Voyage
Steve Monroe
Microworld
Movie
- 1975
Barbary Coast
Jeff Cable · 13 episodes
- 1974
Amy Prentiss
TV
Kodiak
Buzz Howard · 1 episode
Pray for the Wildcats
Warren Summerfield
Indict and Convict
Sam Belden
- 1973
Pioneer Woman
John Sergeant
The Horror at 37,000 Feet
Paul Kovalik
- 1972
Kung Fu
Capt. Brandywine Gage · 1 episode
The Hound of the Baskervilles
George Stapleton
The People
Dr. Curtis
- 1971
Vanished
Dave Paulick · 2 episodes
- 1970
The Andersonville Trial
Col. Chipman
Sole Survivor
Lt. Col. Josef Gronke
Swing Out, Sweet Land
John Adams
1960s
- 1969
Shadow Game
Peter Hoyt
- 1968
Alexander The Great
Alexander
- 1967
Space Seed
Captain James T. Kirk
- 1966
- 1965
For the People
David Koster · 13 episodes
- 1964
The Outrage
Preacher
- 1963
- 1962
- 1961
The Explosive Generation
Peter Gifford
- 1960
Police Surgeon
Joe Flatt · 12 episodes
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
A Town Has Turned to Dust
Jerry Paul
The Brothers Karamazov
Alexi Karamazov
- 1957
Oedipus Rex
Chorus
- 1955
- 1954
- 1952
- 1951
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Philo · 1 episode
The Butler's Night Off
Movie
1940s
- 1948
- 1947
No release date
Keeper of the Cup
Movie
Produced 13
2020s
- 2024
- 2023
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
God Woke
Executive Producer
- 2014
- 2012
- 2011
- 2010
Aftermath with William Shatner
Producer
Weird or What?
Producer
2000s
- 2007
1990s
- 1994
TekWar
Producer
Directed 10
2010s
- 2014
- 2013
The Captains: Still Kicking
Director
- 2012
- 2011
2000s
- 2002
Groom Lake
Director
1990s
- 1997
- 1994
TekWar
Director
TekWar
Director
1980s
- 1989
- 1982
Wrote 8
2010s
- 2014
- 2011
2000s
- 2005
How William Shatner Changed the World
Book
- 2002
Groom Lake
Story
1990s
- 1994
TekWar: TekJustice
Characters
TekWar: TekLords
Novel
TekWar
Novel
1980s
- 1989
Sound 2
Created 2
2010s
- 2013
The Captains Close Up
Creator
1990s
- 1994
TekWar
Creator
Other crew 1
2000s
- 2007
Appearances157
2020s
- 2026
The Sixty Year Mission: How Star Trek Changed Television and the World
Self
For the Love of Star Trek
Self
- 2025
The Eagle Obsession
Self
- 2024
- 2023
Full Moon's Roadshow Revisited
Self (archive footage)
- 2022
Way of Tomorrow: The Evolution of Science Fiction Movies
Self - (archive footage)
Piers Morgan Uncensored
Self · 1 episode
- 2021
Shatner in Space
Self
WWE Hall Of Fame 2020
Self
2010s
- 2019
- 2017
- 2016
Unlocked: The World of Games, Revealed
Self · 8 episodes
Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault
Self
Better Late Than Never
Self · 12 episodes
When Elephants Were Young
Narrator
Koko: The Gorilla Who Talks to People
Self (archive footage)
They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé
Self (voice only)
The Colorful Montreal Expos
Narrator (voice)
- 2015
WWE Breaking Ground
Self (narrator) · 11 episodes
Being Canadian
Self
Tom Felton Meets the Superfans
Self
- 2014
A Star Is Drawn: Rob Simone's Look Inside Comic-Con
Self
To Be Takei
Self
- 2013
Kelly Clarkson's Cautionary Christmas Music Tale
Self
The Captains Close Up
Self · 5 episodes
Return to the Forest
Narrator
The Captains: Still Kicking
Self
- 2012
Horrorween
Self
- 2011
William Shatner Sings O Canada
Self
The Space Shuttle
Narrator
- 2010
Aftermath with William Shatner
Self - Host · 6 episodes
Charles Beaumont: The Short Life of Twilight Zone's Magic Man
Self
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Closing Ceremony
Self
2000s
- 2009
William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet
Self
Star Trek: The Captain's Summit
Self
- 2008
Shatner's Raw Nerve
Self - Host · 39 episodes
- 2007
WWE: The Best of Raw 15th Anniversary
Self
Mars Rising
Narrator (voice) · 6 episodes
- 2006
Stalking Santa
Narrator
40 Years of Star Trek
Self
- 2005
Merry F#%$in' Christmas
Self
How William Shatner Changed the World
Self - Host / Narrator (voice)
The Annie Awards
Self - Host · 1 episode
- 2004
Last Laugh '04
Self
The Rose Parade: A Pageant for the Ages
Self
- 2003
Christmas from Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien: 10th Anniversary Special
Self
Halloween: A Cut Above the Rest
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2002
Christopher Plummer: A Man For All Stages
Self
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Self
After They Were Famous
Self · 1 episode
- 2001
Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime
Self
Festival in Cannes
Self
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 1
Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 3
Narrator
NASA: A Space Odyssey Vol. 2
Narrator
- 2000
Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
Narrator (Voice)
1990s
- 1999
Saturday Night Live: Christmas
Self (archive footage)
Nukes in Space
Narrator
- 1998
Hollywood Ghost Stories
Self
- 1997
TV Guide Looks at Science Fiction
Self
- 1996
Star Trek: 30 Years and Beyond
Self
Star Trek Story
Self (archive footage)
E! True Hollywood Story
Self · 2 episodes
William Shatner's Star Trek Memories
Host
- 1995
Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
Narrator
- 1994
Star Trek: A Captain's Log
Self - Host
- 1993
Your Guide to Star Trek: Generations
Self
- 1992
The Twenty-Five Year Mission Tour
Self
- 1991
Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special
Self - Host
Voices That Care
Self - Choir Member
- 1990
Happy Birthday, Bugs! 50 Looney Years
Self
Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest
Narrator
1980s
- 1989
- 1988
The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next
Self
- 1987
Seasons
Narrator (voice)
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
- 1986
William Shatner's Mysteries of the Way We Feel
Host
The Canadian Conspiracy
Self
Super Duper Bloopers
Self
- 1985
Night of 100 Stars II
Self
- 1982
Night of 100 Stars
Self
- 1980
Hypnosis and Beyond
Self
1970s
- 1978
- 1976
Mysteries of the Gods
Host
- 1975
The Star Trek Dream
Self
Mitzi & 100 Guys
Self
- 1974
Flick Flack
Host · 14 episodes
1960s
- 1963
Operation Bikini
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- 1962
- 1961
1950s
- 1959
City Out of Time
Narrator (voice)
- 1953
1940s
- 1948
- 1944
No release date
The Atomic Bomb Collection
Narrator
Inner Space
Narrator · 13 episodes
Science Fiction Film Awards
Self · 1 episode
