Key Takeaways:
– William Shatner known for his role as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, shares the real reason behind his feud with Leonard Nimoy, who portrayed Spock.
– The feud reportedly started due to fear of shifting the show’s perspective from Shatner’s Kirk to Nimoy’s Spock due to the character’s increased popularity.
– Despite the early clashes, Shatner admits to admiring Nimoy for his portrayal of Spock – the two maintaining a friendship for over 50 years.
– Towards the end of Nimoy’s life, the duo was reported not being on talking terms, a fallout relating to Shatner’s documentary where Nimoy had refused to participate.
Behind the Feud: The William Shatner – Leonard Nimoy Standoff
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, the iconic duo who brought Captain Kirk and Spock to life in the Star Trek series, had their moments of discord. The two, reported to have ego clashes during the early days of filming, managed to build a strong bond, which later succumbed to a fallout, especially towards the end of Nimoy’s life.
Shatner Gives Insight into the Initial Dispute
In his memoir, Shatner talks about Nimoy being his only friend and opens up about the infamous feud. Reports suggested that the two had ego clashes, but Shatner clarified it as his anxiety stemming from the growing popularity of Nimoy’s character, Spock. He was worried that the show might shift its focus from his character, Captain Kirk, to Spock.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Shatner recalls, “I remember going to the producers and wondering whether they were going to change the thrust of the show as a result of the popularity of Spock. So, my anxieties were never directed at Leonard per se, it was about ‘How was the show going to go?’”
With time, Shatner started to appreciate Nimoy’s portrayal of Spock, and the two built a friendship that lasted for more than fifty years.
The Fallout: Breaking a Lifelong Friendship
While the duo shared a lifelong bond, reports suggest that Nimoy and Shatner did not speak during the final years of Nimoy’s life. Shatner did not attend Nimoy’s funeral due to a prior commitment at a Red Cross fundraiser, according to Variety.
The cause of this fallout, as Shatner mentions in his memoir, related to Nimoy’s refusal to appear in a documentary he was directing. Shatner still seems puzzled and saddened about Nimoy’s decision. In his memoir, Shatner recounts an incident where Nimoy was unhappy about footage of him and Shatner from a convention being included in the documentary without his consent.
Despite the feud and the unfortunate ending of their friendship, the legacy of Captain Kirk and Spock continues. Star Trek: The Original Series is available to stream on Paramount+, allowing fans to revisit the iconic moments that made Shatner and Nimoy household names and pop culture icons.
Even after the curtains fell on their friendship, the duo, especially during the initial days of the series, managed to put aside their differences, professionally portraying their roles and leaving an indelible mark in the Star Trek franchise and, more broadly, in the sci-fi genre.
