star trek cast captain kirk

‘Star Trek’: Every Actor Who Played Captain James Kirk, From Shatner to Chris Pine (Photos)

Several. Different. James Kirks. Have. Sat. In. That. Chair.

With yet another actor cast to play James Tiberius Kirk on a “Star Trek” project (“Vampire Diaries” star Paul Wesley in “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”), it’s time to talk about everyone who has boldly gone before him. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist.)

William Shatner — “Star Trek: The Original Series” The one, the only, THE Captain. Shatner originated the character in 1966 and since then his every line as Kirk — and his unique style of line reading — is embedded in our consciousness as if placed there by a Vulcan mind meld. Admit it, you’re reading this like. Williamshatner. Is. speak. ingit. out. loud.

Sandra Smith — “Star Trek: The Original Series” Season 3, Episode 24, “Turnabout Intruder” Smith deserves special mention for a brilliant performance in a very problematic episode. Janice Lester (Smith), is a Starfleet officer and former lover of Kirk who forcibly switches bodies with Kirk in order to become a captain. She spends the entire episode trying to kill her own body (and Kirk’s mind) but is of course thwarted. Her performance as Kirk-in-Lester is extremely fun. The sexist premise not so much.

Chris Pine — “Star Trek” (2009) became the second most famous version of Captain Kirk in JJ Abram’s 2009 reboot, “Star Trek,” which takes place in an alternate universe created by a time traveling Romulan. As a result, Kirk becomes Enterprise captain a decade early — and also is revealed to be a classical music fan (the Beastie Boys are classical music to people in the future).

Jimmy Bennett — “Star Trek” (2009)  Bennett plays Kirk as a child during an early scene in the film, when we learn that in the new timeline, Kirk is something of a delinquent. In his one scene, he steals his stepdad’s car and blasts “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys at top volume. 

Paul Wesley — “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” We know next to nothing about Wesley’s take on Kirk, as he won’t debut in the role until the second season of “Strange New Worlds” in 2023. What we do know is it’ll take place close to a decade before the events of “The Original Series,” which means he won’t yet be a Starfleet captain. Likely we’ll encounter him as a lieutenant on the U.S.S. Farragut, the ship Kirk served on before being promoted to Captain and given command of The Enterprise. Unless of course, the show does something stupid with continuity like “Discovery” did with the awful Klingon redesign. Please don’t, guys.

HONORABLE MENTION: James Cawley/Brian Goss — “Star Trek: New Voyages” This 2008-2013 web series attempted to imagine what if the original “Star Trek” had continued past Season 3. Originally titled “Star Trek: Phase II,” Cawley played Kirk for the first 8 episodes, with Goss stepping in for the last 2.

HONORABLE MENTION: Vic Mignogna — “Star Trek Continues” Another fan production that attempted to emulate the look and feel of the original series, and key to pulling that off was Mignogna as Kirk. While not doing a parody, he did manage to nail Shatner’s weird swagger. 

Star Trek: Every Actor Who Played James T. Kirk, Ranked

Star Trek has been revamped again with The Vampire Diaries star Paul Wesley cast to play the captain himself, James T. Kirk. However, audiences can’t forget those who have boldly taken the chair before him. William Shatner was the original and most iconic James T. Kirk and has subsequently cast such a huge shadow on any future Enterprise captains. Not only is he iconic, but the adventures of Kirk and Spock set the tone for the Starfleet crew. So, it’s not a surprise that the Star Trek franchise would continue to resurrect these characters. Now that a new actor is playing the Captain of the Enterprise, it is the perfect time to go through the other actors who have taken on this role.

Paramount Pictures first decided to relaunch the franchise back in 2009 , and with that, they also decided to revamp the entire original Enterprise crew. Back in 2022, Paramount Plus again decided to revisit the Star Trek universe with another new Kirk. This version of the Captain is set in an alternate universe version that audiences have not quite seen before. The collection of Kirks has typically been based in the prime Star Trek universe or the Kelvin timeline. Here is every actor who has ever played Captain James T. Kirk within the Star Trek TV shows and movies.

Jimmy Bennett — Star Trel

Young Kirk, played by Jimmy Bennett , is a troubled kid who's had a rather rough childhood. In an early scene of 2009's Star Trek , Kirk steals an antique car and drives it off the cliff as the Beastie Boys plays in the background. The prime timeline for Star Trek has Kirk living off-world with his parents, but the Kelvin timeline changed Young Kirk's story by having him live on Earth with a not-so-great childhood.

Bennett was perfectly cast in the role of young Kirk as he was able to take on the "I don't care" attitude that the older Kirks embodied. His grand theft auto moment also gives a nice nod to Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as Kirk says he thought he'd die young.

Paul Wesley — Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Paul Wesley is the current James T. Kirk in the Star Trek universe. He made his debut in the Strange New Worlds Season 1 finale and giving audiences an alternate version than seen in the original series. The Wrap reports that this means Wesley's Kirk won't be captain of the Starfleet in this series. Pike is shown the potential future as a way to get him to accept his fate in Star Trek and handing the captaincy of the Enterprise to Kirk. T

his is a complete change to the Pike and Kirk relationship that have been seen in the J.J Abrams movies as Pike realizes how important Kirk and Spock are in the future. Wesley has made the decision to play his iteration of Kirk different from what was seen in Shatner and Chris Pine's previous takes on the character. It would make sense that he would make this decision as he's a younger version of Kirk that audiences know very little about.

Related: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Best Moments

Sandra Smith — Star Trek: The Original Series

Body swapping within Star Trek universe has become a trope within the series. It was recently seen in Strange New Worlds where Spock swapped bodies. In the original Star Trek series, the body swap took a darker turn with one of Kirk's ex-girlfriends. Janice Lester, played by Sandra Smith , is a bitter scientist because her options are limited due to the fact that she is a woman.

In this Star Trek episode, Lester decides to come up with a scheme to make her dream come true of becoming the starship captain by body-swapping with Kirk. The episode had well-intentions to show gender inequality, but it seemed to miss the mark as the series was canceled shortly after. Smith deserves to be recognized for her portrayal of Shatner's Kirk by perfectly getting his mannerisms and delivery as if she were Shatner herself.

Chris Pine — Star Trek

Chris Pine plays Captain Kirk in the Kelvin timeline in the Star Trek movies. Abrams rebooted the Star Trek series 40 years after the show was canceled. The new reboot focused on the internal struggles on Romulus that was first seen in Star Trek: Nemesis. The Romulan home world becomes destroyed after the Federation failed to give sufficient support. Spock follows Nero into his own past, which than triggers a domino effect that leads to the death of Kirk's father on the USS Kelvin, which, in turn, created the Kelvin timeline .

All these changes led to a different version of Kirk played by Pine and a change in his origin story. Pine's Kirk is a bit more rebellious as he acted out due to feeling abandoned by his parents. It also showed him throwing out the rule book, which gave Pine the ability for his character to have his own swagger and charisma. His Kirk is more vulnerable than past iterations as he is trying to fill the void left by his absent father, but he also needs Spock's assistance more to keep him in check.

Related: Star Trek 4: Development History & Why It's Taken So Long

William Shatner — Star Trek: The Original Series

The original Captain Kirk was played by William Shatner in the 1966 TV series. Gene Roddenberry needed a new captain to helm the Enterprise after Jeffrey Hunter stepped down as Christopher Pike. This is when the character of James Kirk was born and played by Shatner for three years until the series was canceled . The show, however, was very popular among audiences and was brought back for an animated series and six movies, with Shatner still voicing the infamous captain.

Shatner's Kirk oozed swagger and was the definition of a hero that had a unique approach to the rule book than the stereotypical captains of the '90s. James Kirk is a space cowboy who makes it his mission to make a name for himself in the space frontier. Shatner was the perfect person to embody this with his charisma and machismo making him the best Captain Kirk the Star Trek universe will ever see.

The 10 Best Captain Kirk Episodes in 'Star Trek: The Original Series'

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A good Captain in Star Trek is the embodiment of the ideals of the Federation. Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) came first, so he set the standard. He taught all of us Trekkers what it means to believe in this future: standing up to bigotry, treating everyone as equals, and always helping when possible. Equality in Star Trek is not leaving the less fortunate to suffer; it is lifting each other up so that they, too, can go forward and lift others.

Captains must also be tested, forged, and tempered. Kirk relishes conquering a challenge. He has faced sacrifices that tempered him and taught him when to bluff to the last breath and when to have mercy. The crew has absolute loyalty and trust in Kirk, and they know that to serve him is to stand by the same ideals as their Captain. To do otherwise would be to fail him. The following are shining examples of what it means to live by the values of Star Trek. As well as reasons why Captain Kirk of Star Trek: The Original Series will always be one of the finest Captains in Starfleet .

Star Trek: The Original Series

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10 "Obsession"

Season 2, episode 13.

This is Kirk's Captain Ahab moment long before Khan , but how he handles it shows that while he is not faultless, he can be brought back to reason. In this episode, Kirk confronts a familiar creature, one he previously battled and felt he had failed to defeat. He feels guilt and shame about the incident. When young Ensign Garrovick ( Stephen Brooks ) shows the same hesitation, Kirk is harsh, and the young ensign quickly shows the same shame. The Captain is at first uncharacteristically illogical in his obsession with the creature's demise.

It's only once he sees that a phaser blast does not affect the beast that he's able to forgive himself, and in doing so, the young ensign can forgive himself as well. This shows that the Captain can still make mistakes. He, too, is human, but he can still learn. He doesn't stay stubborn and hateful; he learns, adjusts, and forgives.

9 "A Taste of Armageddon"

Season 1, episode 23.

In "A Taste of Armageddon," Kirk and Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ) land on a planet that has learned how to sanitize war. The society of Eminiar VII is at war with a neighboring planet, but in a way that avoids damage to their buildings and materials. Computers initiate the attacks and provide the leaders with the projected casualties if the attack had been real. The people then surrender themselves to suicide booths. They consider this a cleaner and superior way to go to war.

Kirk is disgusted once he fully comprehends the situation. He decides to destroy the suicide booths , despite the possible consequences, to force them to face the horrors of war once again. Thousands have died. Kirk knows if they see the truth of war again—the ugliness of it—they will be forced to strive for peace. "That's all it takes...knowing that we're not going to kill today."

8 "The Corbomite Maneuver"

Season 1, episode 10.

"The Corbomite Maneuver" is a classic episode, often cited as one of Star Trek's best . It opens with Kirk in his quarters. Faced with dietary restrictions from Doctor McCoy ( DeForest Kelley ), and served by Yeoman Janice ( Grace Lee Whitney ), Kirk tells McCoy the only female he can worry about is The Enterprise. It's a slice-of-life moment, giving us a glimpse of the Captain's downtime and his commitment to the ship .

The Enterprise then comes across a new foe seemingly intent on trapping them. Kirk won't abide an unwinnable scenario, so he bluffs his way through. The crew is surprised to meet Balok ( Clint Howard ), a jovial character who only wished to learn about the ship's inhabitants by testing them. When Lt. Bailey volunteers to stay with Balok and teach him about us, Balok asks if he's Earth's best. Bailey answers no, that he will make mistakes, but Kirk states that he'll "...find out more about us that way." After all, to err is to be human.

7 "The Cloud Minders"

Season 3, episode 21.

Kirk and Spock land on a planet ruled by a literal upper class . Below them live the Troglytes, a people responsible for mining the planet's goods but prevented from enjoying the toils of their labor. The Enterprise is there on a mission for zenite, which can save another planet from a plague. Unfortunately, the citizens of Stratos made the deal while the people in charge of mining were busy fighting for their freedom.

Kirk is repulsed to see the High Advisor Plasus and his daughter Droxine (who claimed that Stratos was rid of violence) use torture, a violent and futile tactic , on one of the fighters. Plasus considers the Troglytes less evolved and incapable of learning civility, but McCoy quickly finds that the mines are filled with a gas that lowers IQ. When Plasus refuses to let Kirk dispense filtered masks, the Captain takes the masks straight to the Troglytes. No matter the politics and the zenite, he cannot stand seeing such inequity.

6 "The Omega Glory"

Season 2, episode 23.

Responding to a distress signal, Kirk finds a member of Starfleet, Captain Tracey ( Morgan Woodward ), manipulating two cultures in the hopes of commandeering what he believes to be their fountain of youth. Kirk has no desire to take down a fellow Captain, but he firmly believes that his morality outweighs that of any individual . The message, written by Gene Roddenberry himself, is undeniably overhanded. Its intention must nonetheless be acknowledged.

When Kirk begins to quote the Constitution, the words ring clear and sincere. "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty....They must apply to everyone, or they mean nothing!" To Spock and Bones, he states, "Liberty and freedom must be more than just words." There are few instances in which the message is so absent of subtext or metaphor. Here, Roddenberry has Kirk say it plainly, hoping that viewers will hear it.

5 "Balance of Terror"

Season 1, episode 14.

"Balance of Terror" shows Kirk once again facing bigotry, but this time on his own bridge . The Enterprise faces an unknown ship led by a Romulan Commander played brilliantly by Mark Lenard , who would later play Spock's father, Sarek. When the crew sees their likeness to Vulcans, Lt. Stiles ( Paul Comi ), whose family had lost members to Romulan attacks, grows suspicious of Spock and his pointy ears. Kirk immediately makes it clear what he thinks of prejudice aboard his ship.

Kirk and the Romulan Commander then enter an intense battle of wits. While the Romulan ship has cloaking capabilities and powerful plasma torpedoes, the Enterprise is swifter and more maneuverable, packing quite a punch herself. The two commanders grow a healthy respect for one another's shrewd strategy as the game unfolds. The Enterprise is ultimately victorious, and the Romulans choose to self-destruct, showing the crew of the Enterprise their resolve as warriors. The encounter is later revisited in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds with Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ).

4 "The Enemy Within"

Season 1, episode 5.

A transporter malfunction tore Kirk's psyche asunder, creating two physical forms of the Captain. One embodies kindness and timidity, while the other exudes aggression and a cavalier attitude. This episode gives Shatner a chance to chew up the scenes with some Olympian acting and shows what Kirk would be like if he were to lose balance. When the "bad" Kirk attacks Yeoman Janice, his crew's devotion is again shown in her hesitation to blame the Captain or "get him in trouble." Spock immediately deduces that there must be an imposter aboard because the possibility of his Captain committing such a heinous act is illogical.

When Kirk fears that his darker half has all of his best traits, McCoy reminds him that his softer side is the bravest. It takes courage to stand by your principles. As the situation comes to a head, he is given a choice: risk death by attempting to rejoin his worse half or deprive the Enterprise of her Captain. For Kirk, it is no choice at all.

3 "Space Seed"

Season 1, episode 22.

"Space Seed" begins Kirk's most significant arc as a character and sows the seed for the greatest Star Trek movie : The Wrath of Khan . The Enterprise happens on the U.S.S. Botany Bay, a ship from the 20th century. Kirk finds the vessel full of genetically modified warriors, led by Khan, who is played exquisitely by Ricardo Montalban . Lt. Marla McGivers, the ship's historian, is undone by an immediate attraction to this living embodiment of the ancient Sikh warriors of her texts.

Despite Khan's ability to lure Marla to his side, Kirk clocks Khan's instincts and sees the danger inherent. Kirk must stay in step with Khan's intellect without any genetic advantages or lose the ship entirely. There are multiple instances throughout the show where Kirk outsmarts robots and A.I., but none deliver the challenge that Khan does. Kirk regains command of the Enterprise with help from his crew and still offers Khan mercy: a planet of his own with which to make his destiny. He goes, a sign of the respect Khan now holds for Kirk.

2 "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"

Season 3, episode 15.

"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" perfectly encapsulates the road of futility that prejudice will take you down . Commissioner Bele ( Frank Gorshin, fresh off 1966's Batman as The Riddler ) and Lokai ( Lou Antonio ) are two beings locked in an eternal duel, all because one is black on the right side and the other on the left. Bele seizes control of the ship to escort Lokai to their home world of Cheron, but Kirk chooses to activate the ship's self-destruct sequence rather than let anyone take his Enterprise. "You can use your will to drag this ship to Cheron, but I command the computer. MINE is the final command ."

Once control of the ship is back in his hands, he offers mercy yet again. He explains that the Federation is ruled by peace and implores them to consider finding a new purpose. But the two are so entrenched in their hatred that they choose instead to continue to pursue each other, presumably until the end of time, on a dead planet, ravaged by their resentment.

1 "Court Martial"

Season 1, episode 20.

The original trial episode, "Court Martial," started a fan-favorite tradition in the form of the courtroom drama. Kirk stands accused of murder by a crewman's daughter, Jame ( Alice Rawlings ). He recalls perfectly not jettisoning the pod until he had activated red alert and had no choice . Yet, the computer's record doesn't match his recollection. Kirk, unafraid to dig for the truth and steadfast in the knowledge that he would never doom a man without cause, demands a trial.

During the trial, Spock explains, "It is impossible for Captain Kirk to act out of panic or malice. It is not his nature." Even an angry young daughter is later shaken by her conviction and pleads with Kirk's defense attorney, Cogley ( Elisha Cook ), to help him. Kirk has no resentment toward her for the accusation. Even once he finds the man responsible for putting him in this position, he wants only to help him. "Court Martial" shows Kirk strong and steady in his principles, his crew's utter faith in him, and his unfailing belief in mercy over violence. Star Trek continues the tradition most recently through Strange New Worlds ' second season.

NEXT: What We Know About Captain Pike's Next Voyage in 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 3

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‘star trek: strange new worlds’ casts captain kirk: paul wesley to play iconic character.

The 'Vampire Diaries' actor will step into the sci-fi role made famous by William Shatner.

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

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There is a new James T. Kirk.

Star Trek : Strange New Worlds has cast actor Paul Wesley in the iconic sci-fi role.

The Vampire Diaries actor will join the upcoming Paramount+ series in the show’s second season, which is in production in Toronto. In an unusual move, the second-season casting is being announced before the first season has debuted.

Above is a first-look image of Wesley in character on what’s presumably the U.S.S. Enterprise bridge.

“Paul is an accomplished actor, an astonishing presence and a welcome key addition to the show,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman and co-showrunners Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Myers in a statement. “Like all of us, he is a life-long Star Trek fan and we are excited by his interpretation of this iconic role.”

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Kirk was first immortally first portrayed by William Shatner in 1966’s Star Trek and across many films. The character was also played by Chris Pine in the newer Trek feature films.

Strange New Worlds follows Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) as he leads the U.S.S. Enterprise. The show is billed as a return to the classic planet-of-the-week space exploration format of The Original Series . It also stars Rebecca Romijn as Number One and Ethan Peck as Science Officer Spock.

The series is a spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery , which introduced these new iterations of Pike, Number One and Spock during its second season.

While Pike is the ship’s captain, and Kirk will eventually be the ship’s captain, Mount will continue as a series regular on the program in season two.

Wesley is best known for his leading Vampire Diaries role across eight seasons. He also starred in the series Tell Me a Story and the miniseries Medal of Honor . He will next be seen in the film History of Evil .

Previously, Goldsman confirmed that one of the CBS Studios series’ new castmembers has a link to the show’s most iconic villain, the infamous Khan Noonien-Singh. Actress Christina Chong was announced as playing a series regular named La’an Noonien-Singh in the show. Goldsman hinted that Khan might eventually appear on the show, but not in its debut season.

Strange New Worlds launches May 5 on Paramount+. Here’s the trailer:

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The cast of 'Star Trek: The Original Series'

• " Star Trek " debuted 56 years ago on September 8, 1966.
• After the show, the cast of the original series remained sci-fi icons.
• Only three stars of " The Original Series " are alive today, after Nichelle Nichols' death in July.

William Shatner led the crew of the USS Enterprise as Captain James T. Kirk.

"Star Trek" was originally going to be focused on a different  captain, Captain Christopher Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter. A pilot was even filmed, called "The Cage," but it didn't make it to airwaves until the '80s. Gene Roddenberry, the creator, eventually retooled the show and cast Shatner as a new captain, Kirk. Some footage from "The Cage" was then reused for a season one episode called "The Menagerie."

Before "Star Trek," Shatner was famous for his role in an iconic " Twilight Zone " episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," in which he played a man recently released from a mental hospital who becomes convinced he can see a creature on the wing of the plane he's flying on. It aired in 1963, three years before "Star Trek."

In addition to his "Star Trek" roles, Shatner acted in "T.J. Hooker" and "Boston Legal," hosted "Rescue 911," and he has written numerous books. He finally made it to the final frontier in October 2021.

Though he's 91 years old, Shatner has shown no signs of slowing down. After "Star Trek" was canceled in 1969, he briefly returned to voice Kirk for the "Star Trek" animated series. In 1979, he again reprised his role as Kirk in " Star Trek: The Motion Picture ." He'd continue to do so regularly until 1994's "Star Trek Generations." He even directed one of the "Star Trek" movies: " Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. "

Besides "Star Trek," Shatner starred as the titular police officer on the '80s procedural "T.J. Hooker" and narrated " Rescue 911 ," a show that consisted of dramatic reenactments of real crimes.

Other roles that you might recognize Shatner from: a pageant host in " Miss Congeniality ," attorney Dennis Crane in " The Practice " and its spin-off " Boston Legal " for which he won two Emmys , and in the 2016-2018 reality show " Better Late Than Never ," in which Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Terry Bradshaw traveled around the world and experienced different cultures.

The actor is set to appear in the upcoming "Masters of the Universe: Revolution" series on Netflix. He also finally made it to space himself during a Blue Origin flight in October 2021, making him the oldest person to go into space at 90.

Shatner has written multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction over the course of his career. His 2016 book, " Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man ," was about his friendship with "Star Trek" co-star Leonard Nimoy, who played his on-screen better half, Commander Spock.

Walter Koenig was cast as Ensign Pavel Chekov because of his resemblance to the Monkees' Davy Jones.

While Chekov was Russian, Koenig was born in America and based his accent on his parents' accents — they were Russian immigrants. Koenig was cast because, according to legend, he was supposed to help attract young girls as viewers due to his resemblance to teen idol Davy Jones. He even wore a Davy Jones-esque women's wig for the first seven or eight episodes, he told TV Insider in 2016.

Koenig's mainly recognized for his on-screen role as Chekov, though he became a pretty prolific screenwriter in the '70s. He wrote episodes for the "Star Trek" animated series, anthology series "What Really Happened to the Class of '65?" and children's series "Land of the Lost."

Koenig appeared in the 2018 film "Diminuendo."

Koenig, 85, (he's turning 86 on September 14) still makes frequent appearances on the "Star Trek" convention circuit, as well as acting in the occasional film. He appeared in 12 episodes of " Babylon 5 " in the '90s, voiced himself in an episode of "Futurama," and also voiced Mr. Savic on the Netflix animated series " Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters. "

While not all of the "Star Trek" cast were on great terms, Koenig and his co-star George Takei remain close. Koenig was even the best man in Takei's wedding in 2008.

George Takei played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, a helmsman on the Enterprise.

Over the course of the show, Sulu was revealed to have many interests outside of Star Fleet, most famously fencing. At the time, Sulu was one of the first Asian characters on TV who wasn't explicitly a villain, and instead was a fully formed hero.

"Up until the time I was cast in 'Star Trek,' the roles were pretty shallow — thin, stereotyped, one-dimensional roles. I knew this character was a breakthrough role, certainly for me as an individual actor but also for the image of an Asian character: no accent, a member of the elite leadership team," Takei told Mother Jones in 2012.

Takei originally was supposed to play Sulu as an astrophysicist, but the role was changed to helmsman. Before "Star Trek," Takei also appeared in " The Twilight Zone " like his co-star William Shatner, among other '50s and '60s procedurals.

Takei is still acting to this day, though many people know him now for his social media presence.

Who says an 85-year-old doesn't know how to use social media? Takei's Facebook page has 9.5 million likes to date, and he has 3.4 million followers on Twitter .

In addition to his continued acting in films like "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank," " Kubo and the Two Strings ," "Blazing Samurai," and "Mulan," and TV shows like "Heroes," "Supah Ninjas," and " Star Wars: Visions ," Takei is an activist. He came out as gay in 2005  and began working as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.

Takei also starred in the 2012 musical "Allegiance," which was based on his and his family's experiences during Japanese internment in World War II.

Nichelle Nichols played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, a translator, communications officer, and linguistics expert.

Uhura was one of the first Black television characters that didn't have a menial job — instead, she was in a position of power. She and Shatner were also involved in what is thought to be the first interracial kiss on American TV.

Nichols stayed with the show for all three seasons, but it wasn't without drama. She was tempted to leave during the first year, but none other than Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay. She told the New York Post in 2011 that when she told him that she wanted to leave, he told her, "You can't do that. You have the first non-stereotypical, non-menial role on television. You have created strength and beauty and intelligence. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen. It's what we're marching for. You're a role model and whether you like it or not, you belong to history now."

She also released an album in 1967, "Down to Earth." In between "Star Trek's" cancellation and its return on the big screen, Nichols starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film " Truck Turner ," as Dorinda, a madam.

Nichols died in 2022 at the age of 89. She had retired from public appearances in 2018.

From 1977 until 2015, Nichols was involved with Women in Motion, a recruiting program for NASA to help get more women involved in the space program. In July 2020, a documentary about the program finally secured distribution and will be released in 2021, Deadline reported. 

"Nichelle Nichols not only was a trailblazer in Hollywood, she was a trailblazer for the future of our society. She took the fight for Civil Rights, diversity and inclusion and gender equality to new frontiers with NASA which continue to serve America's space program today. She was ahead of her time," said executive producer Ben Crump.

Nichols also appeared in " The Young and the Restless, " "Heroes," and " Futurama ." She was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 and subsequently retired from public appearances.

In July 2022, Nichols' son announced on social media that Nichols had died at the age of 89 .

Leonard Nimoy played Captain Kirk's first officer and close friend Commander Spock.

Spock was the only alien member of the original crew, as he was half-human, half-Vulcan — an alien race from the planet Vulcan whose residents operate solely from a point of logic, not feelings. Much of the show's comedy came from Spock and Kirk's differences and their amusement at each other. His frequent farewell, " Live Long and Prosper ," accompanied by the Vulcan Salute, are among the most recognizable pieces of the "Star Trek" canon.

Nimoy had multiple small parts in B movies and TV shows before booking "Star Trek," including an episode of " The Man from U.N.C.L.E. " alongside future co-star William Shatner, as well as an episode of " The Twilight Zone ."

But once "Star Trek" premiered, Nimoy would be forever linked with his Vulcan counterpart, and he mainly did voice work after the show ended. He also reunited with Shatner for an episode of his show, "T.J. Hooker."

Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83. He played Spock for the final time in 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness," meaning he played the role for almost 50 years.

Nimoy is the only actor from the original series to appear in JJ Abrams' rebooted films, as he appeared in 2009's "Star Trek" and its 2013 sequel " Star Trek Into Darkness " as an older version of Spock who was trapped in an alternate universe.

In addition to acting, Nimoy was a photographer, recording artist, author, and director. He directed two "Star Trek" movies (" The Search for Spock " and "The Journey Home"), and "Three Men and a Baby," which became the highest-grossing film of 1987 .

Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

DeForest Kelley played the ship's curmudgeonly chief medical officer, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

Bones, as he was affectionately called, was one of the oldest members of the crew, and thus got to be a bit more obnoxious than the rest of them. His frequent catchphrase, " I'm a doctor, not a ___, " is one of the most parodied lines of dialogue from the show.

Like his character, Kelley was older and a more established actor than the rest of the cast. Before the show, he had appeared in Westerns and historical films like " Gunfight at the O.K. Corral ," "Warlock," and " Raintree County " in the '50s.

Kelley died in 1999 at the age of 79, nine years after playing McCoy for the last time.

Kelley essentially retired from acting, besides playing McCoy, after the success of "Star Trek." He appeared in all six films starring the original cast, and appeared in an episode of " Star Trek: The Next Generation " as McCoy, as well.

While he wasn't much of a sci-fi fan, Kelley was proud of his "Star Trek" legacy. When asked what he thought his legacy would be, he explained that his character inspired people to enter the medical field. He told the New York Times , "These people [fans] are doctors now, all kinds of doctors who save lives. That's something that very few people can say they've done. I'm proud to say that I have.''

He died in 1999 at the age of 79 due to stomach cancer .

Majel Barrett had a recurring role as Nurse Christine Chapel.

Barrett was originally cast in the first version of "Star Trek" as Pike's first officer, but when that episode was scratched, so was her character. However, due to her romantic relationship with "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry (who she later married), she was brought back as Nurse Chapel (a divisive character).

Before the show, Barrett was in various bit parts in '50s and '60s shows, but her big break was " Star Trek ," which she stayed involved in for the rest of her life.

Barrett died in 2008 when she was 76 years old. Up until her death, she had been involved with every "Star Trek" series in some way, leading fans to call her the First Lady of "Star Trek."

Barrett reprised her role as Chapel in " Star Trek: The Motion Picture " and " Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ." She also appeared in " Star Trek: The Next Generation " and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as Lwaxana Troi, the mother of Deanna Troi, a main character in "Next Generation." Her other involvement in the series was the voice of the computer in many of the other " Star Trek" films: "Generations ," " First Contact ," "Nemesis," and 2009's reboot.

She died in 2008 at the age of 76 due to leukemia . 

James Doohan played chief engineering officer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott.

Contrary to popular belief, the phrase " Beam me up, Scotty " is never actually uttered in the original series. The man on the other end of that command, Scotty, was played by Doohan, who was Canadian in real life, not Scottish.

Before "Star Trek," Doohan served in the Canadian military and was even on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, and was a pilot as well. After the war, he began acting and became a successful radio actor. Like his co-stars, he also appeared in an episode of " The Twilight Zone ," and other popular procedurals. 

In the animated series, Doohan proved to be indispensable, with his talent for voice acting and accents. He voiced over 50 characters during the show's run.

James Doohan died at the age of 85 in 2005.

Doohan didn't find much success outside of the world of "Star Trek," and thus embraced his role as Scotty. He appeared in "Generations," as well as an episode of " The Next Generation ." 

However, his impact on the field of engineering cannot be overstated. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering "after half the students there said that Scotty had inspired them to take up the subject," according to the BBC .

Towards the end of his life, Doohan suffered from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and retired from public life in 2004. He died the following year, at 85, due to complications from pneumonia .

Grace Lee Whitney appeared in the first season of the show as Yeoman Janice Rand.

Rand appeared in eight episodes of the show's first 15-episode season as a clerical and administrative worker aboard the ship, before Whitney was released from her contract. At the time, the story was that the show didn't have enough money to keep everyone, but years later in her autobiography, Rand accused an unnamed executive producer , whom she called "The Executive," of sexually assaulting her.

"I tried to do what he wanted me to, so I could get it over with. I knew, deep down inside, that I was finished on 'Star Trek.' At that moment, however, I didn't care about that. Nothing else mattered — not my tarnished virtue, not my career, not my role on 'Star Trek.' The only thing that mattered was getting out of that room alive," she wrote.

Whitney died in 2015 at the age of 85.

After getting written off the show, Whitney struggled with her career, and alcoholism. She credited co-star Leonard Nimoy with helping her get back on her feet and involved with "Star Trek" once again. She reprised her role in four of the original "Star Trek" films, and in an episode of " Star Trek: Voyager " alongside George Takei.

She died in 2015 due to natural causes at the age of 85.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike.

• Akiva Goldsman
• Alex Kurtzman
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• Anson Mount
• Christina Chong
• 1K User reviews
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• 11 wins & 35 nominations total

Episodes 31

Top cast 99+

• Captain Christopher Pike …

• La'an Noonien-Singh …

• Lt. Erica Ortegas …

• Una Chin-Riley …

• Nurse Christine Chapel

• Nyota Uhura …

• Dr. M'Benga

• USS Enterprise Computer …

• Lieutenant George Samuel 'Sam' Kirk

• Jenna Mitchell

• Captain Batel …

• Admiral Robert April

• Captain James T. Kirk …

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• Trivia Bruce Horak , the actor who plays Hemmer, is legally blind, just like his character's species, the Aenar, who are also blind.
• Goofs There are some rank insignia mistakes. Number One is introduced as "Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley" yet she is wearing the rank insignia of a full commander: two full stripes. A Lieutenant Commander's rank insignia is a full stripe under a thin stripe (in TOS it is a full stripe and a staggered stripe). It is not uncommon for a ship's first officer to be a Lt. Commander if they have not been in the position long. Spock at this point is a Lieutenant but he is wearing Lieutenant Commander's stripes; a Lieutenant just has one stripe. La'an is the ship's chief of security and the ship's second officer. She is also wearing Lt. Commander stripes but is addressed as a Lieutenant, but it would make more sense for her to be a Lieutenant Commander. Either way both of their rank insignia are not matching the rank they are addressed by. Ortegas is addressed as a Lieutenant but is wearing Lieutenant Commander's strips. A Lieutenant Commander may be addressed as a Commander or Lieutenant Commander but never as just a Lieutenant, so either her rank insignia or the manner she is addressed by the rest of the crew is in error.

[opening narration]

Captain Christopher Pike : Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

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• May 4, 2022

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• Runtime 52 minutes
• D-Cinema 48kHz 5.1
• Dolby Digital
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​​Star Trek: The Vulcan Nerve Pinch, Explained

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Star Trek Fans Debate Who Deserves Credit For Defeating Khan

Star trek: how discovery changed the way we see spock, 15 spock memes only true star trek fans will understand, quick links, what is the vulcan nerve pinch, notable uses of the vulcan nerve pinch in star trek, is anyone immune to a vulcan nerve pinch, is the vulcan nerve pinch based on a real-life technique, key takeaways.

• Spock first introduced the Vulcan nerve pinch in Star Trek: The Original Series and it's been used over 60 times since.
• While Spock's originator Leonard Nimoy invented the ability, there's no set in-universe explanation about how it works so effectively.
• The nerve pinch is not exclusive to Vulcans but is difficult to learn and not effective against every opponent.

Star Trek has served up many distinctive races, but the definitive alien character will always be Spock. Leonard Nimoy established a relatable non-human character on TV like never before, setting many characteristics that have pushed the Vulcan species into pop culture. Everyone knows the traits that mark Vulcans out — pointy ears, eyebrows, logic, and mind melds. But there’s also a particularly effective technique to subdue enemies.

It didn’t take long for Spock to introduce the Vulcan nerve pinch to the show — a skill that arguably became more ubiquitous in the broader franchise than the race that created it. While Spock has popped up more iterations of Star Trek than any other character, the technique he first demonstrated has appeared in every series and most films.

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Simply put, the nerve pinch is a technique by which Vulcans and some non-Vulcans can induce unconsciousness by pinching a pressure point at the base of the neck. It’s a highly effective stealth technique — while not guaranteed, a nerve pinch will often render a victim unconscious before they can cry out, without causing them any serious harm.

Spock first demonstrated the nerve pinch in the first season of the Original Series . “The Enemy Within” saw a transporter accident create an evil ‘negative’ Kirk, who at one point is subdued with a nerve pinch by the Enterprise’s first officer. It quickly became a staple and has subsequently appeared in the franchise over 60 times.

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The technique is not exclusive to Vulcans. Characters like Borg Seven of Nine and Changeling Odo have successfully used the nerve pinch. However, it's notoriously difficult to teach. Spock couldn’t pass the skill on to James T. Kirk, and Dr McCoy was terrible at it when possessed by Spock’s katra In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Captain Jonathan Archer proved to be inexplicably proficient at it in the Enterprise episode “Kir'Shara,” while Jean-Luc Picard seemed to learn it following his intense mind meld with Spock’s father Sarek.

In Star Trek lore the technique is regarded as a quintessential part of being a Vulcan. Outside the franchise, it’s quickly spread into pop culture, earning references in Spaceballs , The O.C. , and a playful Audi advert called ' Leonard Nimoy vs. Zachary Quinto .’

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Even Star Trek’s most rational minds like Spock must grapple with the inherent chaos imperfection.

While mostly reserved for humanoids, the nerve pinch was effective on non-humanoids. In The Animated Series episode “Yesteryear,” Spock successfully nerve-pinched a horse. In Star Trek: Voyager , Tuvok could also use the technique on a member of Species 8472, albeit in the guise of a human.

Spock is clearly a master of the technique, even employing a two-handed version to knock out an Andorian and a Tellarite in “Whom Gods Destroy.” Probably the most famous use of the nerve pinch came in 1986’s Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home when Spock used it to knock out a punk playing loud music on a San Francisco bus, earning a round of applause from his fellow passengers.

Star Trek fans love the villain Khan and his eventual defeat, but which principal cast member is responsible for stopping the foe's wrath?

The Vulcan nerve pinch has proved widely effective against humanoid life forms across the galaxy, although there were exceptions. The Vians of Minara were notably immune, as evidenced during the Original Series . While Cardassians and Ferengi have shown resistance to Vulcan mind melds, both species were susceptible to the nerve pinch.

Humans were highly susceptible, although highly-tuned individuals have proved immune. During “Assignment: Earth” the flawlessly conditioned human Gary Seven resisted the Vulcan nerve pinch. Similarly, Khan Noonien Singh felt severe pain but could withstand the technique when subjected to Spock’s attempt in Star Trek Into Darkness .

For better or for worse, Star Trek: Discovery has thrown a wrench in how fans see First Officer Spock. Let's explore this portrayal's cultural impact!

The nerve pinch is entirely fictional. Behind the scenes, it was Nimoy who invented the move. While the script suggested that Spock knock out the Kirk duplicate in “The Enemy Within” the actor, with his quick and brilliant grasp of the character, sought a more dignified maneuver that befitted the Vulcan. In the 1992 VHS documentary 25 Year Mission Tour , Nimoy credited William Shatner with finally persuading the episode’s director, Leo Penn, that the nerve pinch was the right move.

Despite inventing it, Nimoy’s preferred explanation for the technique hasn’t held up in Star Trek Lore. Despite the creator suggesting it connects to Vulcan telepathy, it has been successfully deployed by artificial lifeforms like The Next Generation ’s Data and Voyager ’s holographic Doctor.

Spock is one of the most beloved characters in Star Trek. Here's a look at some amazing memes only true fans will understand.

Another authoritative source offered a simple solution in The Making of Star Trek . Published in 1968, when the Original Series was still on air, Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry’s book suggested that the ‘Spock pinch’ temporarily blocked blood and nerve responses heading to the brain. For a more scientific explanation, the EMH is on hand — the holographic Doctor described the pinch as rupturing nerve fibers in the trapezius neck bundle during the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Cathexis."

Part of the nerve pinch’s appeal lies in the lack of a full in-universe explanation. But despite being as impossible to learn in reality as it is challenging to master in-universe, it remains a perfect gift for young Star Trek fans nearly six decades after it first appeared. It’s a distinctive character trait, non-fatal, and ideal for roleplaying without any props. It’s no wonder the timeless technique has remained such a recognizable part of Star Trek .

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Star trek: how old kirk was when he became captain (in both timelines).

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William Shatner Kirk’s Best Line In 7 Star Trek Movies

Got star's sci-fi thriller & king arthur shows cancelled (but may find life elsewhere), young sheldon heartbreakingly explains why his tbbt apartment didn't have a dining table.

• James T. Kirk was the youngest Captain in Starfleet, rising fast in both timelines.
• Kirk went from Cadet to Lieutenant to full Captain in Star Trek 2009's Kelvin Timeline.
• Chris Pine's Kirk became Captain of the Enterprise at just 25 years old.

Star Trek 's James T. Kirk was a young man when he became Captain of the USS Enterprise, but in the Kelvin Timeline of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies, Kirk gets his promotion a lot faster than he does in Star Trek's Prime Timeline. Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, William Shatner portrayed the original Captain James T. Kirk, who was the hero of Star Trek: TOS for 3 seasons before he starred in 7 Star Trek movies from 1979-1994. Chris Pine took over the role of Captain Kirk in Abrams' reboot films, which resulted in a successful Star Trek trilogy from 2009-2016.

In the annals of Starfleet, the five-year mission of Captain Kirk and the Starship Enterprise is legendary. Along with Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Kirk's Enterprise boldly explored the final frontier, initiated numerous First Contacts with new species, and saved the galaxy on several occasions. At the end of his five-year mission, Kirk was promoted to Admiral and became Chief of Starfleet Operations. However, Admiral Kirk yearned to be on the bridge of his beloved Enterprise. Star Trek: The Original Series ' movies chronicle Kirk's journey to stay in the center seat. This resulted in his demotion back to Captain, the rank James Kirk preferred and would retain until his death in Star Trek Generations . But how old was James T. Kirk when he became Captain of the Enterprise in both Star Trek timelines ?

William Shatner's best lines as Captain James T. Kirk show his evolution through each installment in the Star Trek movies featuring the TOS cast.

How Old William Shatner's Kirk Was When He Became Enterprise Captain

Kirk was the youngest starship captain in starfleet.

In Star Trek 's Prime Universe's canon, James T. Kirk was born on March 22, 2233, in Iowa, and he joined Starfleet Academy in 2252. Cadet Kirk entered the Command Training Program (where he infamously cheated to beat the Kobayashi Maru no-win scenario ), and he served aboard the USS Republic, where Ensign Kirk was promoted to Lieutenant. Kirk became an instructor at Starfleet Academy before he joined the crew of the USS Farragut, where Kirk became the youngest First Officer in Starfleet in 2259. In 2265, Kirk was promoted to Captain and assumed command of the USS Enterprise at the remarkable age of 32.

Lt. James T. Kirk becoming Starfleet's youngest First Officer at 26 years old beat the record set by his own father, Lt. George Kirk.

How Old Chris Pine's Kirk Was When He Became Enterprise Captain

Kirk went from cadet to captain in one mission.

William Shatner's Kirk had nothing on the improbably meteoric rise of his Kelvin timeline doppelgänger because Chris Pine's Kirk became Captain of the Enterprise at 25 ! As seen in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009), Kirk was born in outer space when his father, Lieutenant George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), was killed during the USS Kelvin's encounter with the time-traveling Romulan, Nero (Eric Bana). Kirk grew up in Iowa, but it was a chance encounter with Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) in a bar in 2255 that led Jim to enlist in Starfleet. 3 years later, Cadet Kirk stowed away aboard the USS Enterprise and earned his Captaincy by saving Earth from Nero.

Chris Pine's James T. Kirk was born on January 4, 2233, in the Kelvin Timeline - 3 months before William Shatner's Kirk's birth.

It may seem like Kirk jumped directly from Cadet to Captain in Star Trek 2009, but James actually rose through the ranks throughout the film. Before Pike beamed over to Nero's ship, he shocked the crew by promoting Kirk to Acting First Officer to serve alongside Acting Captain Spock. This meant Kirk received an instant field promotion to the temporary rank of Lieutenant. Kirk later tricked Spock into stepping down from command due to being emotionally compromised from the destruction of Vulcan.

Kirk then promoted himself to Acting Captain and teamed with Spock to lead the Enterprise. After the successful defeat of Nero, Starfleet formally promoted Kirk to full Captain, and James assumed command of the Enterprise relieving the injured Captain Pike. But considering the events of Star Trek (2009) 's main story only lasted the span of a few days, Kirk was still just 25 when he went from Cadet to Lieutenant to Captain at warp speed.

When William Shatner & Chris Pine's Kirks Became Captain Of The USS Enterprise-A

There's an even greater age gap.

In Star Trek Beyond , which took place in 2363 in the Kelvin Timeline, the Starship Enterprise was destroyed and Chris Pine's Captain Kirk assumed command of the USS Enterprise-A at the age of 30. In comparison, William Shatner's Captain Kirk was 53 in 2286 when he got the Enterprise-A at the end of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . So, it seems nearly everything about J.J. Abrams' version of James T. Kirk was designed to consistently beat Shatner's version to the punch.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Can Show How Kirk Becomes Enterprise Captain

Kirk's promotion in the prime timeline hasn't been depicted.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds introduced Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) , the younger version of William Shatner's Kirk in the Prime Timeline. Lt. Kirk is about 26 years old in Strange New Worlds ' era (2259 onward), and James was promoted to First Officer of the USS Farragut in Strange New Worlds season 2. It's possible that Strange New Worlds could eventually end by depicting James T. Kirk's promotion to Captain and his inheriting the USS Enterprise from Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has already shown Kirk's first meeting with Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) and Ensign Nyota Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), and the Prime Timeline's Lt. Kirk becoming Captain Kirk could be a pivotal Star Trek event audiences will finally see.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: The Original Series movies are streaming on Max.

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