Hollywood legend William Shatner, best known as Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Original Series, has made a shocking revelation—he has earned zero dollars from reruns of the iconic show, despite its massive success and decades of syndication.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Shatner explained that the original series, which aired between 1966 and 1969, ended before residual payments (royalties for reruns) were negotiated by unions. As a result, none of the cast members—including Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and DeForest Kelley—received compensation for the countless times the series has been replayed on TV.
“Anything before 1973 … doesn’t pay a cent in royalties,” Shatner said bluntly.
Why the Cast Missed Out
- Residuals didn’t exist at the time Star Trek was airing.
- Union agreements that ensured royalty payments for reruns only came into effect after 1973.
- By then, the show had already been canceled and later revived in syndication, leaving the original cast with nothing from the re-airings.
Shatner’s Post-Star Trek Struggles
After the series ended in 1969, Shatner’s career faced challenges. Reports indicate he even lived out of a truck-bed camper in the San Fernando Valley at one point. Fortunately, he later revived his career with roles in T.J. Hooker, Boston Legal, and multiple Star Trek films, cementing his status as a pop culture icon.
The Legacy Outlives the Paycheck
While Shatner may not have profited from Star Trek reruns, his legacy as Captain Kirk continues to inspire generations of fans worldwide. The franchise has grown into a billion-dollar cultural phenomenon—but its original stars remind us that success on screen doesn’t always translate into financial reward.
