After 93 years on this planet — and ten minutes off it when he became the oldest human to head into outer space on the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket — William Shatner retains the wide-eyed wonder and appreciation for adventure evident in his most iconic role. He played USS Enterprise captain James T. Kirk in three seasons of Star Trek, and reprised in seven hit spinoff films. Shatner, who has also starred in series including T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal, and made indelible impressions in short doses in series like Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone and Stanley Kramer’s Judgment at Nuremberg, had long turned down chances to make a film about his grand life. But he finally gave in for the Alexandre O. Philippe-directed You Can Call Me Bill, a just-released crowdfunded film that will be catnip for his legion of fans. The film covers his career in drama, comedy and song. But the most touching moments come from reflecting on a life that has such so many poignant moments including the time, after Star Trek got canceled and he couldn’t find a job, he watched on a small black & white TV from the back of a truck he was living in as Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. The man who so long had been the face of space travel, found the resolve to rebound.
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Here, Shatner shares his formative influences on his path, and the lessons learned that informed a great career that shows no signs of slowing. That started when he was a young actor who played a small part and understudied Christopher Plummer in Henry V. When The Sound of Music star turned up ailing, Shatner stepped in and crushed the role and learned a lesson that sustained him: it is best to succeed or fail on your own terms. That includes a moment on a real rocket ship when, following a pre-launch announcement there was an “anomaly” in the engine, panic set in as he wondered whether he should get off. Only to remember that was not an option, not for Captain Kirk.
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