Kevin Winter/Getty Photographs
George Takei and William Shatner seem throughout a 2007 Spike TV occasion. Co-star Nichelle Nichols stands in between them.
Not everyone will get together with their co-workers. The actors of Star Trek are not any exception. Whereas a wide range of feuds have been reported over time, the largest is arguably between George Takei and William Shatner. Hoping to grasp why these former co-stars are always combating? We’ve constructed a timeline of each main gripe, grievance, and diss within the pair’s lengthy, lengthy historical past.
1966-1967: Early Conflicts on the Set of Star Trek
Kevin Winter/Getty PhotographsUnique sequence forged members George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and Walter Koenig in 2007.
In a 2020 interview with the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Research (APAICS), Takei reminisced about one time Shatner shut down manufacturing for half a day whereas they had been filming the unique Star Trek collectively.
Whereas Takei doesn’t give an actual date for when this anecdote passed off, he clarified within the interview that it passed off “greater than half a century in the past” and was his most memorable second on set.
Yahoo! Movies beforehand reported a extra detailed model of Takei’s account in 2016.
“One morning Leonard was getting a TV Information picture essay finished,” he recalled. “‘Leonard Nimoy turning into Mr. Spock’, the method of the make-up and so forth…Invoice got here in…made a cellphone name to the entrance workplace, and a minion got here from the entrance workplace and dismissed the photographer.”
In that interview, Takei included some essential particulars about why Shatner had the facility to drag that transfer within the first place.
“We came upon that Invoice had in his contract approval of photographer on the sound stage, and apparently he’d exercised that clause,” Takei recollects.
Takei has admitted prior to now that he wasn’t completely behaved on the set. In a 2020 interview with StarTrek.com, Takei reminsced in regards to the time he was reprimanded on set, erroneously in his opinion, for being a bit harmful whereas rehearsing along with his fencing sword for the basic first season episode, “The Bare Time”.
In actual fact, according to SyFy, Sulu was written out of the present in an early draft of the second season episode “Catspaw”. Nevertheless, he was written again in throughout later drafts, and finally survived.
1983: Arson Strikes the Star Trek Set
VideoVideo associated to inside william shatner & george takei’s decades-long feud2021-01-14T15:39:32-05:00
Watch this 1983 information clip, which options an interview with William Shatner in regards to the notorious Paramount studio fireplace.
The clip above reveals that the fireplace began within the false entrance of a tattoo parlor set, however unfold all through six acres of the backlot, and finally broken the soundstages the place Star Trek III was in manufacturing. Officers dominated the scene was a case of arson, in keeping with a UPI report from the time.
In 2017, Nerdist interviewed Shatner, and the actor was completely happy to share further particulars from his reminiscences of that day.
“A fireplace began on the set, and whereas we waited for the fireplace division, I bear in mind I used to be so determined that nothing be harmed that I ran in with a backyard hose, and I began to hose the fireplace down,” Shatner recalled.
Shatner went on to place himself as a possible hero of the day.
“The fireman mentioned if I hadn’t finished that, the set would have burned down, and they’d have needed to rebuild it. It will have delayed the movie.”
Shatner’s heroism within the face of a hearth makes for a heck of a yarn. Nevertheless, George Takei has raised considerations that Shatner’s account of the fireplace doesn’t inform the entire story.
A 1994 piece within the Buffalo Information, archived online in 2015, reported that certainly one of Shatner’s books additionally included the Paramount fireplace story, with that model that includes Shatner himself holding a fireplace hose at one level.
The identical reporting from Buffalo Information reporter Catherine Artman reveals an alternate account. Based on George Takei, Shatner’s use of the fireplace hose was nothing greater than a publicity stunt.
Takei made this assertion in his 1994 autobiography, To the Stars. In the identical ebook, he additionally alleged that Paramount publicity picked Shatner up in a automobile to drive Captain Kirk to the scene of the notorious fireplace.
1988: Takei Resists Becoming a member of The Remaining Frontier Due to Shatner Directing
EPIX Star Trek Fest – George Takei on Star Trek V: The Remaining FrontierEPIX will maintain a Star Trek Fest, a 24-hour marathon that includes the debut of StarTrek Into Darkness, on Sunday, February 16, 2014 in addition to new interviews with Leonard Nimoy and George Takei.2014-02-13T23:32:11Z
Within the 2014 interview above, Takei talks about why he nearly skipped Star Trek V, which was in production during 1988.
“I’ve plenty of pals in my Star Trek forged, apart from one. We had a pleasant stress going between us,” Takei states, referring to Shatner. “And I believed, the most effective factor to do with Star Trek V, which was being directed by him, was to demur from doing it.”
Finally, Takei agreed to hitch the forged. Nevertheless, the movie was launched to disappointing evaluations. Rogert Ebert’s review famously panned the manufacturing, calling it “the worst” of all Star Trek motion pictures.
1993: Shatner Releases Star Trek Reminiscences
ROBYN BECK/AFP/GettyImageStars of the unique tv sequence “Star Trek” pose with actor Walter Koenig (2L) as he’s honored with a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame. Shatner is conspicuously absent.
Shatner has gone on the report about one significantly intense day of filming on the unique sequence, and the story doesn’t paint Takei in a very favortable gentle.
In Chapter 5 of Shatner’s memoir, Star Trek Memories, Shatner contends that he was injured by Takei in the course of the second take of the notorious Sulu-Shatner swordfight in “The Bare Time”.
He referred to Takei as a “free cannon” within the context of filming that scene, with Shatner stating in his ebook that: “I actually do assume that some small a part of [Takei] was upset that he didn’t get to run me by means of.”
Takei has admitted to stepping into scorching water along with his fencing sword whereas filming, however his interview solely makes point out of bothering actor James Doohan and an unnamed assistant director, not Shatner.
It might be price noting that, in keeping with the Chicago Tribune, James Doohan famously refused to fulfill with Shatner when Star Trek Reminiscences was being written. The rationale given? Shatner “gained’t wish to hear the negatives,” in keeping with Doohan.
1994: George Takei’s Autobiography Is Launched
Michael Loccisano/Getty Photographs
The NY Post stories that Takei’s 1994 autobiography made a number of assertions about what filming with Shatner was actually like throughout these early Star Trek TV years.
There are two fascinating takeaways from that report. Firstly, Takei alleged that Shatner would act as if he was unaware of who Takei was when the 2 each occurred to be on set.
The second takeaway is that Takei believes Shatner altered the unique plans for the fifth Trek movie, stopping Sulu from attaining the rank of captain. Shatner did direct Star Trek V, so Shatner was arguably ready to make selections in regards to the display screen time allotted to his co-stars.
2006: The Comedy Central Roast
Takei was invited to be a “roaster” in the course of the televised Roast of William Shatner. Along with making a dig at Shatner for ingesting an excessive amount of, Takei additionally joked about Shatner’s rumored toupee, noting that “toupee” and “Takei” rhyme…in case you pronounce them correctly.
Years later, Takei regarded again on that evening whereas talking with USA Today, and recalled “I had 40 years of fabric, and so they solely gave me 4 minutes. I may have finished the entire roast myself.”
2008: George’s Marriage ceremony Drama
STAN HONDA/AFP through Getty PhotographsActor George Takei (2nd L) and accomplice Brad Altman (L) after they had been married on the Japanese American Nationwide Museum on September 14, 2008 in Los Angeles. Fellow “Star Trek” actors Walter Koenig (2nd R) and Nichelle Nichols (R) who participated within the ceremony observe.
In our complete information to understanding the Shatner-Takei wedding drama, we defined that Takei and Shatner received into a really public disagreement about whether or not Shatner was invited to Takei’s 2008 marriage ceremony to Brad Altman. The 2 actors have conflicting takes about whether or not Shatner was invited or not, with Shatner taking the fight to YouTube, shortly after Takei’s nuptials.
In 2015, Takei regarded again on this time in his life and advised reporters on the New York Times he believed that “the explanation [Shatner] raised that fuss…is as a result of he was premiering his new speak present.”
That present was Uncooked Nerve, and a 2008 report from a Washington NBC affiliate confirms Shatner did ask Takei to seem as a visitor on that present.
2011: Shatner Fires Again in New Guide
MICHELE SPATARI/AFP through Getty Photographs
In 2011, Shatner launched a ebook known as Shatner Guidelines. The Christian Science Monitor‘s protection of the ebook launch revealed a doubtlessly surprising allegation about Takei’s marriage ceremony. Based on Shatner in that ebook, Takei solely invited Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig to the marriage as a publicity stunt.
2012: Shatner’s One-Man Present
Ethan Miller/Getty PhotographsWilliam Shatner reveals a picture of George Takei from the “Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner” throughout his one-man present, Shatner’s World: We Simply Reside In It on the MGM Grand Resort/On line casino on June 19, 2014.
Shatner’s World: We Simply Reside In It first premiered on Broadway in 2012, and later ran in Las Vegas.
The Washington Post review of Shatner’s one-man present famously featured the commentary that one factor audiences would undoubtedly depart the present understanding was: “William Shatner thinks George Takei can’t stand him.”
2013: Takei Takes to the Speak Exhibits
George Takei Disses William Shatner & Leonard NimoyGeorge desires an element in J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek,” however he has robust opinions about which roles are acceptable for the unique ’60s forged. Extra CONAN @ http://teamcoco.com/video Crew Coco is the official YouTube channel of late evening host Conan O’Brien, CONAN on TBS & TeamCoco.com. Subscribe now to be up to date on the most recent movies:…2013-12-12T13:23:19Z
Along with the looks with Conan above, the place Takei takes some pot pictures at his former co-star.
When requested if he felt that older Trek stars had a spot in newer Trek motion pictures, Takei laughed and identified that seeing William Shatner operating round the way in which Chris Pine does could be “not a fairly sight.”
Takei went on to state “[Shatner] shouldn’t be enjoying Captain Kirk.”
Takei additionally appeared on Watch What Occurs Reside With Andy Cohen that very same 12 months. In that interview, he referred to Shatner as a “douche”.
2014: Takei & Shatner Attain an Settlement
George Takei On Star Trek: “We Have Our Downside Uncle” | The place Are They Now | Oprah Winfrey CommunityFrom 1966 to 1969, Star Trek boldly took viewers the place no man had gone earlier than on tv. As Mr. Sulu, actor George Takei steered the USS Enterprise into new galaxies all through the present’s three seasons and in six blockbuster movies.At the moment, George says the unique forged is sort of a household with one “drawback uncle”: William Shatner,…2014-08-18T18:15:23Z
Takei went on the report in regards to the feud with Oprah in 2014. Within the clip above, he refers to Shatner as a “drawback uncle” within the Star Trek household, and states that “all” forged members had points with Shatner on set.
Regardless of the duo’s ongoing feud, the 2 actors did really handle to succeed in some sort of accord that very same 12 months. USA Today reported that the boys had been in a position to organize a “quid professional quo” to each get one thing they wanted.
Takei wished Shatner to seem in Takei’s documentary, To Be Takei. Shatner agreed, however provided that George would permit Invoice to make use of the previous footage from the 2006 Roast to replace his one-man present, Shatner’s World: We Simply Reside In It.
With an settlement reached, for a second, it appeared just like the feud was cooling off.
2015: Shatner Calls Takei ‘Disturbed Particular person’
Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs
Issues took a flip throughout a 2015 interview in the Australian press. Shatner known as Takei “a disturbed particular person” whereas additionally claiming to not have seen him in 25 years.
That very same 12 months, Takei spoke to the New York Times and speculated about why the feud refused to die.
“It’s all coming from Invoice,” Takei said. “Every time he wants slightly publicity for a challenge, he pumps up the so-called controversy between us.”
2016: Reunion & Public sale
Mark Mainz/Getty PhotographsActor James Doohan is flanked by former fellow forged members as he receives his star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame August 31, 2004. Shatner is just not pictured.
Given all of the years of stress, it shocked some followers when Shatner and Takei reunited for a publicity photo throughout a Star Trek occasion in Europe.
Additionally in 2016, Newsweek reported that an public sale of Star Trek memorabilia was an sudden supply of readability in regards to the origins of the feud. Their report famous that one of many letters being auctioned was a hand-written word, from Shatner, about his emotions in direction of Takei.
The lot detail information from the auction house reveals among the fascinating textual content of this letter.
Probably the most fascinating passage of the letter signifies that Shatner would possibly blame himself for among the dangerous emotions which have haunted the decades-long relationship between the 2 males:
“I had by no means actually received to know [George]. He would are available in from time to time in the course of the week whereas we had been capturing Star Trek. I used to be busy studying traces and coping with my life, so I actually can’t bear in mind a significant dialog – I’m positive that may be my fault – my lack of consideration.”
2017: Takei Opens Up
ROBYN BECK/AFP/GettyImageStars of the unique tv sequence “Star Trek” pose with actor Walter Koenig (2L) as he’s honored with a star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame in 2012. Shatner is conspicuously absent.
In 2017, Takei gave a candid interview to the Edmonton Journal, in his he alludes that the feud was extra “silliness” than “warfare”.
When requested what it might take for the 2 actors to reconcile, Takei defined “We work collectively…We do conventions and we do cross paths. I’ll say, ‘Morning, Invoice.’ And he’ll say, ‘Morning, George.’ And that’s it.”
2018: Shatner Jokes About Wishing Takei Lifeless
MARK RALSTON/AFP through Getty PhotographsActors Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer and William Shatner pose for a photograph as Plummer is honored with a Hand and Footprint Ceremony outdoors the TCL Chinese language Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2015.
At a 2018 Q&A look at a theater in England, Shatner made a joke that shocked some followers and made others chortle.
The Telegram stories that Shatner was requested which Star Trek character he’d play, if he was not allowed to play Kirk.
Shatner’s response? “Sulu. So I wouldn’t must take care of George Takei.”
The actor then doubled down on his Takei-bashing. He was requested, “Do you want George Takei was lifeless as an alternative of Leonard Nimoy?”
“What a horrible query,” Shatner mentioned, earlier than jokingly including, “Sure.”
2019: Takei Jokes About His Dream Dinner Company
Consider it as a conference story. It’s George’s schtick- his obsession with my “shiny ego” will get him consideration.He follows me right here; I don’t thoughts. If I actually did one thing to anger him I’m positive he’d maintain a Press Convention to announce he blocked me. 😝 https://t.co/xBa3O7TJFu
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 13, 2019
The Guardian interviewed Takei, and requested him who his dream ceremonial dinner friends could be.
Takei’s brief response reduce straight to the purpose: “My colleagues from Star Trek, with one exception.”
2020: Shatner Accuses Takei of Making Stuff Up
George wants a brand new interest. Now he’s making issues up. We by no means noticed fan letters. 🤷🏼♂️ That’s why there’s so many secretary signed images. We barely noticed George. He was in as soon as per week at most-how would he know something? The one particular person with jealousy is George.🙄 https://t.co/Aq8vvHvVeG
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) August 25, 2020
When Takei appeared on actor David Tennant’s podcast, he used some veiled language to counsel that Shatner was accountable for the dangerous blood.
“Some actors appear to really feel that it’s a one-man present,” Takei said within the podcast section. “That’s the supply of some tensions.”
In August of that 12 months, the Radio Times printed an article on Shatner’s Twitter-based response to the podcast feedback.
In October, Takei responded through a Yahoo! interview, aruging Shatner’s at all times had a combative relationship along with his Trek co-stars.
“Jimmy Doohan used to rail at Star Trek conventions about Invoice and the most recent offense that he dedicated on him,” Takei advised reporters. “Each certainly one of us had experiences.”
2021: Is the Feud Lastly Cooling Down?
Hitting Donald the place it actually hurts… pic.twitter.com/t3G1VopUXT
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 13, 2021
To this point in 2021, there seem like no new “pictures fired” on this ongoing movie star feud. Takei seems to be focusing most of his vitriol in direction of the Trump Administration and its supporters, significantly within the wake of the occasions on the Capitol on January 6.
In the meantime, Shatner’s Twitter feed has been populated with issues like upcoming 2021 event announcements and answering fan questions about doing more sci-fi TV.
One last word, for any superfans preserving observe at house. On the time of publication, Takei’s Twitter account had considerably extra followers than Shatner’s.
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