Actor William Shatner, 94, arguably best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, is opening up about a time he was nearly arrested while on tour.
During a September 2025 interview with On The Red Carpet, the Hollywood star said the incident occurred when he was traveling between cities for shows in the Midwest.
“I’m in the Midwest. I’m touring. I got to get from that city to that city. And it’s 400 miles. The curtain comes down [of my show] at 11 o’clock. I jump in the car. And I drive, through the night. And suddenly, there’s a cop behind me. I pull over, oh my god, [I’m going] 100 miles an hour. That’s a felony. I’m going to jail,” recalled Shatner during the interview.
The actor went on to explain that he avoided arrest after the officers realized who he was. According to Shatner, their reactions quickly shifted from official to surprised recognition.
“So a cop comes in, takes my license. I come into the police car. ‘Oh my god.’ So he goes in, and I go to the passenger seat. And I open the door to the passenger seat. The light comes on, and he goes, ‘No s–t, it’s Shatner.’ All right, go on. Three times, three different policemen, [say] ‘No s–t, Shatner,’” said Shatner with a laugh.
The story is one of several that the veteran actor has shared in more recent years as he has reflected on his long career that began more than seven decades ago.
Shatner first appeared as Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series, which premiered in 1966, according to IMDb. The show ran for three seasons before ending in 1969, but went on to inspire movies, spinoffs, and a large fandom.
Shatner reprised his iconic role in several Star Trek films, including Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), and Star Trek: Generations (1994).
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In a 2024 interview with WXYZ-TV Detroit, Shatner reflected on the franchise’s lasting impact and the surprising way it grew in popularity after its original run.
“Nobody had any idea that this mediocrely popular show, [which] finally got canceled after three years, reconstitutes itself. And becomes a show business phenomenon, the likes of which have never been seen,” he said.
At 94, Shatner continues to tour, make public appearances, and engage with fans who have followed his work for decades.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
