William Shatner is set to make a rare public appearance in Boston this weekend, taking part in Fan Expo Boston as he reflects on his decades-long career in entertainment and shares plans for upcoming projects. The actor, best known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk on the original "Star Trek" series, has maintained an active presence in the industry while exploring new creative avenues.
Shatner’s connection to Boston runs deep. The city’s history and character resonate with him, partly due to its similarity to his native Montreal. Additionally, through his late ex-wife Nerine Kidd, a Boston native, and his professional work on Boston-set television shows "The Practice" and "Boston Legal," where he portrayed the memorable lawyer Denny Crane, Shatner developed a lasting bond with the city. In recognition of his contributions, Boston’s former mayor Marty Walsh proclaimed August 13, 2016, as “William Shatner Day.”
Reflecting on his work with "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, Shatner recalled Roddenberry’s talent for assembling strong teams and anticipating cultural trends. He compared Roddenberry to Rod Serling, creator of "The Twilight Zone," with whom Shatner had also worked, praising both as visionary producers who had a profound sense of the future. Shatner also paid tribute to his late co-star Leonard Nimoy, describing him as his “dearest friend for so many years” and expressing that Nimoy would have appreciated the current cultural and intellectual shifts.
In addition to his acting legacy, Shatner remains engaged in creative projects. He recently launched a podcast titled “No Time But Now” alongside his daughter Melanie Shatner Gretsch, where they discuss their shared experiences overcoming Stage 4 cancer. Shatner also has two books forthcoming this fall: “William Shatner ... And You” and “Wisdom & Worries: Reflections on Life, Death, and Everything in Between.”
Musically, Shatner is preparing for an unexpected venture into heavy metal. He will debut as a heavy metal performer with his band The *uckers at Chicago’s Riot Fest in September. Shatner also has scheduled performances at Coachella next year and is working on an album titled “What the f Is heavy metal,” a nod to his initial surprise at the project’s concept. “Well, the label said, ‘Why don’t we make a heavy metal album?’” Shatner joked, acknowledging his skepticism reflected in the album’s title.
On the subject of legacy, Shatner reiterated views he expressed in a 2016 interview, emphasizing the transient nature of personal fame. “Our names will be ashes in the flicker of an eyelid in terms of eternity,” he said, adding that it is the good deeds people leave behind that endure. “I’m more sure of that, the older I get,” he affirmed.
Despite decades in the spotlight and his advancing age, Shatner shows no intention of slowing down, continuing to pursue diverse projects across different media platforms.