Star Trek: The Original Series Cast - Now VS Then

which Star Trek actor was shot six times on D-Day but survived thanks to a cigarette case which actress had a romantic relationship with the show's Creator Jean rotenberry and who became the oldest person to ever travel to space in 2021 these are just the tastes of the interesting tidbits we'll uncover today as we catch up with the original cast of Star Trek the Original Series thanks for tuning back in to Hollywood Revisited my name is Sam and we've got a lot to cover so let's get rolling [Music] number one William Shatner William Shatner was born on March 22nd 1931 in Montreal Quebec Canada from an early age he was drawn to the stage a passion that would eventually make him a household name after earning a degree from Mill University he started his career in Canadian theater and television quickly gaining attention for his talent in 19 1966 Shatner took on the role that would define his career Captain James T Kirk in Star Trek the show though initially struggling with ratings became a cultural phenomenon Shatner's portrayal of The Bold and charismatic Captain Kirk captivated audiences and cemented his place in television history behind the scenes however the atmosphere was not always harmonious Shatner's relationships with his co-stars were often strained particularly with George teay and James duon these tensions added an unexpected layer of drama to the show's Legacy after Star Trek was canceled in 1969 Shatner faced significant financial difficulties in a startling turn of events the once prominent actor found himself living out of his truck as he struggled to find work this period known as the lean years highlighted the unpredictability of Hollywood Fame despite these hardship Shatner's career was far from over he ventured into writing creating the tech Wars series and several other significant novels showcasing his versatility Beyond acting his love for horses also became a significant part of his life an accomplished equestrian Shatner won numerous Awards in horse shows a surprising passion for the Sci-Fi icon in the 1980s Shatner experienced a career Resurgence with his role as the hardn cop in TJ hooker and later as The Eccentric attorney Denny Crane in Boston Legal his performance in the latter earned him two Emmy Awards proving his enduring talent and adaptability tragedy struck in 1999 when Shatner's third wife nen kid drowned in their swimming pool the incident was ruled in accidental drowning but it profoundly affected Shatner who has spoken openly about his grief and the dark period perod that followed however Shatner's most astonishing achievement came much later in 2021 at the age of 90 he became the oldest person to travel to space aboard blue origins new Shepherd rocket Shatner fulfilled a lifelong dream capturing the world's attention and further solidifying his status as a pop culture Legend through all the ups and downs Shatner has remained active and engaged crediting his longevity to a positive outlook and an unrelenting drive to pursue new Ventures from commanding the USS Enterprise to touching the edge of space William Shatner's life story is a remarkable Testament to his resilience and versatility number two Leonard nemoy Leonard Simon nemoy born on March 26th 1931 in Boston Massachusetts was destined to become an iconic figure in science fiction from local theater Productions as a child his passion for acting led him to Hollywood before achieving Fame nemoy took on various roles but his portrayal of Spock and Star Trek immortalized him in 1966 nemoy was cast a Spock a half human half Vulcan science officer on the USS Enterprise originally Spock was conceived with red skin but this idea was scrapped due to concerns over how it would appear on black and white television Nemo's contribution to Spock's character was profound exemplified by his invention of the Vulcan nerve pinch a nonviolent way to incapacitate opponents that showcased Vulcan superiority over human violence behind the scenes nemoy faced significant personal challenges the immense pressure of playing such a high-profile role led him to struggle with alcoholism despite maintaining a cleancut Public Image nemoy had to check into rehab to recover additionally his relationship with co-star William Shatner was tumultuous culminating in Shatner not attending Nemo's funeral in 2015 a decision which shocked many fans Nemo's creativity extended Beyond acting in 1967 he released an album titled Mr Spock's music from outer space followed by four more albums this music career initially perceived as a publicity stunt was a genuine passion for nemoy despite his success Nemo's personal life also had its share of turmoil he left his first wife Sandra zobar after more than three decades of marriage on her birthday an event that starkly contrasted with his otherwise logical and gentle public Persona Theo influence reached far beyond his lifetime his portrayal of Spock inspired many including celebrities like Fel Williams who named his first album after Nemo's show and considered him a significant inspiration furthermore Nemo's Legacy continued through Zachary Quinto who not only played Spock in the reboot films but also hosted the Revival of Nemo's show in search of carrying on his mentor's legacy Leonard nemoy passed away on February 27th 2015 but his impact on Pop culture Endo his final tweet encapsulated his life philosophy a life is like a garden perfect moments can be had but not preserved except in memory live long and prosper Leonard Nemo's Journey from a young Bostonian with dreams of acting to an enduring cultural icon is a testament to his talent resilience and enduring Legacy number three DeForest Kelly Jackson DeForest Kelly was born on January 20th 1920 in tcoa Georgia named after pioneering electronics engineer Lee Deforest growing up in a modest household Kelly aspired to follow in his uncle's footsteps and become a doctor but his family couldn't afford to send him to medical school his early interest in the Arts saw him singing in church choirs and local radio shows which eventually led him to California to pursue an acting career mellie's early career was marked by roles in westerns and films like fear in the night during this period he often portrayed villains a stark contrast to the Beloved character he would later embody however it was his Service as a medic in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II that provided him with experiences that would lend authenticity to his later role as Dr Leonard bones McCoy on Star Trek in 1966 Jean Roddenberry the creator of Star Trek initially offered Kelly the role of Spock which he turned down instead he accepted the role of Dr McCoy a decision that would define his career Kelly's portrayal of the compassionate yet erasable doctor became a Cornerstone of the series and his catchphrases became legendary despite the initial cancellation of Star Trek after three seasons due to low ratings the series found new life in syndication and Kelly's Dr McCoy became a fan favorite Kelly reprised his role in Six Star Trek films and even made a cameo in the pilot episode of Star Trek the Next Generation bridging a gap between generations of fans J's life offscreen was just as remarkable known for his kindness and humility he formed a close friendship with coar Leonard nemoy a bond that lasted until his death unlike many of his peers Kelly was married to the same woman Carolyn for over 50 years his private life was marked by deep personal and health challenges including a battle with stomach cancer which he kept secret from his fans to spare them worry in his later years Kelly's Legacy continued to grow he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1991 and was posthumously inducted into the television Hall of Fame in 2008 Kelly's portrayal of Dr McCoy inspired many to pursue careers in medicine a testament to his impact beyond the screen DeForest Kelly passed away on June 11th 1999 leaving behind a legacy of warmth kindness and a character that continues to inspire Generations his ashes were scattered over the Pacific Ocean A fitting tribute to a man whose career was forever linked to the stars number four Melle Nichols Michelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols on December 28th 1932 in Robins Illinois early on she showcased the passion for Performing Arts singing with Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton's bands and later starring in stage Productions her career defining role came in 1966 when she was cast to Lieutenant Miota Uhura this groundbreaking role was one of the first major television roles for an africanamerican woman that wasn't a stereotype Nichols personal relationship with Jean rotenberry added an intriguing layer to her Casting her role in the famous 1968 interracial kiss with William Shatner on Star Trek broke significant racial barriers on American television despite her initial desire to leave the show after the first season a conversation with Dr Martin Luther King Jr convinced her to stay highlighting the cultural significance of her role yond Star Trek Nicholls made significant contributions to space exploration she worked with NASA to recruit women and minorities helping to bring astronauts like Sally Ry and Guan blueford to the program in Star Trek 5 the final frontier Nicholls performed a song and dance number only to discover later that her singing was dubbed over without her consent a move that deeply upset her her impact was further recognized in 2001 when an AS destroy was named 68410 Nicholls in her honor Nicholls later lent her voice to the Animated Series gargoyles where she played Diane Maza her portrayal of Ura inspired many including wippy Goldberg who saw Nichols as a role model and proof that she could achieve her dreams Legacy of Nichelle Nichols is a testament to her groundbreaking work on Star Trek and her advocacy for diversity she broke barriers inspired generations and left an indelible mark on both television and space exploration number five James Duan James Montgomery Duan born March 3rd 1920 in Vancouver British Columbia is best known for his role as Scotty on Star Trek his life before acting was marked by heroism and versatility during World War II Duan served in the Royal Canadian artillery participating in the D-Day invasion on Juno Beach during The Invasion he was shot six times by Friendly Fire four times in the leg once in the hand and once in the chest fortunately the shot through his chest ricocheted off of a cigarette case he ended up losing his middle finger due to the incident despite his injuries he continued to serve earning a reputation as the craziest pilot in the Canadian Air Force for stunts like flying between two telephone pools after the for do and pursued acting training at the neighborhood Playhouse in New York City he performed in over 4,000 radio programs and 450 television shows showcasing his versatility in 1966 Duan began his iconic role as Scotty he suggested a Scottish accent for the character believing it the most commanding he also helped develop the Klingon and vcum languages leaving a lasting Legacy in and science fiction one touching story is D arm's dedication to his fans after receiving a letter from a suicidal fan he personally intervened inviting her to conventions and ultimately saving her life despite his War injury Duan continued to act in various Star Trek films and series remarkably he became a father again at age 80 James Duan passed away on July 20th 2005 but his legacy endorsed through his contributions to entertainment and his profound impact on fans number six George teay George hosato te's life is a tapestry woven with threads of hardship resilience and Triumph born on April 20th 1937 in Los Angeles te's early years were marked by the harrowing experiences of World War II at the tender age of five his family was uprooted and forced into internment camps following the bombing of Pearl Harbor the decays lived in the harsh conditions of the rower War relocation Center in Arkansas and later at the more secure Tuli Lake War relocation Center in California these traumatic experiences left a deep imprint on te K feeling his lifelong commitment to social justice and civil rights Ling to the family's wartime trauma te's aant and baby cousin were killed in the hero hoshima bombing this personal tragedy profoundly affected him bringing the horrors of war and loss even closer to home despite these early hardships te's determination and talent Shone through he pursued higher education at UCLA where he earned both a bachelor and master of arts in theater his acting career began with voiceover work in Japanese Monster films and guest appearances in television shows like Perry Mason and the twi Zone his role in the controversial episode The Encounter was pulled from us syndication due to its sensitive themes showcasing early his willingness to tackle challenging and provocative material the chase Big Break came in 1965 when he was cast as Lieutenant hitu Sulu in Star Trek the Original Series his portrayal of Sulu a competent and charismatic Helmsman was groundbreaking offering a non-stereotypical representation of an Asian-American character during a time when such roles were rare despite occasional tensions with co-star William Shatner te's performance helped solidify Star Trek as a cultural phenomenon offscreen te's life continued to be as Dynamic and impactful as his onscreen roles in 1973 he R for mayor of Los Angeles finishing second in the race this political Endeavor highlight highed his early and ongoing engagement in Civic issues in 2008 he married Brad Altman and a Star Trek theme ceremony with co-stars Walter KCK and Michelle Michels serving as best man and matron of honor respectively K's Legacy extends Beyond acting into activism and advocacy his Broadway musical Allegiance inspired by his interment Camp experiences broke records at the old Globe Theater before heading to Broadway further menting his status as a powerful Storyteller and advocate for justice Today George teay is a social media sensation known for his witty commentary and his signature phrase oh my popularized by Howard Stern he continues to use his platform to fight for social justice causes proving that his influence is as enduring as it is far-reaching number seven Walter kig Walter kanig born on September 14th 1936 in Chicago Illinois had an early interest in acting that led him to the neighborhood Playhouse School of the theater before joining star Chet he appeared in shows like the lieutenant and combat King's entry into Star Trek as paddle checked off was unconventional he learned he got the part when a costumer began measuring his inseam without any formal announcement the addition of checkov a Russian character was a promotional tactic by NBC to attract younger viewers despite budget constraints episodes like Spectre of the Gun became unique due to creative filming techniques kik's portrayal of COV brought youthful energy and humor to the series quickly becoming a fan favorite hanig continued to find success Post Star Trek notably in Babylon 5 he also wrote scripts and published his Memoir revealing he wore a tupe during his time on Star Tre open about his struggles with depression kanig became an advocate for mental health awareness one pivotal moment in his career was recognizing Star Trek was doomed when it was moved to the 10 p.m. Friday slot historically unfavorable for TV shows despite challenges kaned remains an iconic figure in entertainment inspiring fans and actors alike number eight major Barrett Mel Barrett born Mel Le hudic on February 23rd 1932 in Cleveland Ohio initially pursued law but switched to acting after failing a contracts course a chance meeting with Lucille Ball led to an exclusive contract with theu Productions boosting her early career Barrett is best known for her role in Star Trek where she played Nurse Christine Chapel and voiced the Star Trek Enterprises computer the despite being initially cast as number one network Executives rejected a woman in the commanding role her relationship with Star Trek Creator Jean Roddenberry began as an affair while he was still married the two later married in Japan in 1969 Barrett's voice as the ship's computer inspired modern virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa Beyond acting Barrett advocated for space exploration serving on the board of the national space Society magel Barrett passed away on December 18th 2008 but her Legacy as the first lady of Star Trek endures now the big question is which of these two videos are you going to watch next I think you enjoy the one on the right but then again the one on the left might be right up your alley either way it's your choice thanks for revisiting Star Trek with us see you in the next one