Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text
    Cultural icon William Shatner will be at the Austin Bass Concert Hall on Jan 12. PHOTO BY RORY LEWIS PHOTO

Catching up with the real Captain Kirk

Cultural icon visits Central Texas

William Shatner, best known for his portrayal of Capt. James T. Kirk on the original television series “Star Trek,” and numerous movies thereafter, will be in Austin at Bass Concert Hall on Jan. 12. 

After a screening of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” Shatner will take the stage and share stories from his career, which spans more than 50 years. Shatner’s vitae includes acting, producing, directing and writing. Fans will also have a chance to ask Shatner questions during an audience led question-and-answer session.

To promote the event, Shatner did a series of short interviews with Austin-area media, including the Dripping Springs Century News. He spoke about many aspects of his career, including his years as Captain Kirk and specifically “Wrath of Khan,” which is widely regarded as one of the best -- if not the best -- of the “Star Trek” movies.

“It’s one of my favorites,” Shatner said. “I think it’s got a great plot, great villain, some touching moments between the cast. ... It has a wonderful mixture of the things that have made ‘Star Trek’ as successful as it has been. It’s a really good script.”

Shatner explained that after what he called “the less-than-huge success” of the first “Star Trek” movie, Paramount was going to stop making the movies, but they let the television arm of Paramount Pictures give movie making a try with “Wrath of Khan.”

“We did it for a lot less money, and went back to the storytelling that was the strength of ‘Star Trek,’” Shatner said.

Shatner couldn’t pin down one high point of his career as Captain Kirk, noting that he enjoyed the challenges of playing his most iconic role.

“The part was extremely well written over the years while it was a series and while it was a movie,” he said. “There were some wonderful moments as an actor that challenged me. ... It was just a wonderful character to act and I think just generally, I had a good time doing it.”

Along with Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Uhura the Enterprise’s communication officer, Shatner is credited with taking part of the first network television interracial kiss.

“I kissed a girl,” he said, “and then they made a big fuss about it.”

When asked about the low point of being Captain Kirk, Shatner said, “I guess the worst moment was the [television series] cancellation.”

Of course, Shatner has done other things in his storied career and has made the transition from working actor, to author, producer, director, and even singer. As a successful businessman, he has built his own brand across several mediums-- from fiction and non-fiction books, to social media, and even music albums of which he has recently recorded some new work. His most recent recording is a Christmas album called “Shatner Claus” that includes guest appearances by other artists including Iggy Pop, Judy Collins, former Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman and fellow renaissance man Henry Rollins. 

“Henry and I over the years have become friends,” Shatner said, “and we did an album that got a great deal of notice called ‘Has Been,’ and we did a number that I wrote on ‘Has Been’ that got a lot of notice.”

“Shatner Claus” is getting a positive reception as well, Shatner said. “It’s getting extraordinary notices -- not just ‘this is good,’ but ‘work of art’ kind of thing,” he said.

Shatner also has a book out called “Live Long And ...” and recorded a country music album called “Why Not Me.”

But of all his non-”Star Trek” adventures, Shatner said, his favorite is probably a one-man show that he did on Broadway and then toured with it.

“I actually came back last week from touring Australia and New Zealand with it,” he said.

He enjoys the show so much, he said, because, “Entertaining thousands of people in a theater by yourself is, I guess, the ultimate challenge.”

The Jan. 12 event in Austin is part of a tour that Shatner has been doing this year, Shatner said.

“It’s really working very well,” he said. “We’ve been having a good time at the end of the film. ... This is quite different and really worthwhile, I think.”

Tickets for the show at Bass Concert Hall start at $39.50 plus service fees and can be purchased at texasperformingarts.org, the Bass Concert Hall ticket office and all Texas Box Office outlets, or by calling (512) 477-6060. The event is produced by Mills Entertainment and The Backlot Project.

Ever the businessman, Shatner finished the interview by saying, “I encourage your audience to come and have a good time,” Shatner said.

Dripping Springs Century-News

P.O. Box 732
Dripping Springs, Texas 78620

Phone: (512) 858-4163
Fax: (512) 847-9054