The 60th anniversary of the “Star Trek” debut, which took place on NBC on September 8, 1966, is rapidly approaching. Even though the first series lasted only three years, it gave rise to a media empire that is still among the largest in the world today and permanently altered the genre of science fiction.
“Star Trek,” which is primarily responsible for the modern style of fan fiction, shipping, and contemporary fanzines, among other things, may have prevented fandom from developing as it does now.
How Many Actors From the Original Star Trek Are Still Living?
Unfortunately, the majority of the actors that contributed to the series’ uniqueness have died out in the years following its debut because it has been so long. The creator of the unique Spock, Leonard Nimoy, died in 2015.
Nichelle Nichols, who played Nyota Uhura, died in 2022 at the age of 89; Scotty actor James Doohan died in 2005; and DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, died in 1999.
Sadly, many of the other supporting cast members from the show’s three seasons have also passed away, but taken as a whole, they leave a legacy that will endure.
However, not all of the original “Star Trek” cast members have died. Some are still acting in their old age and leaving their impact on the world. Out of the primary cast of “Star Trek: The Original Series,” these three actors are the only ones still alive.
Captain James T. Kirk, played by William Shatner
As of this writing, Captain James Tiberius Kirk, played by William Shatner, is 92 years old and still going strong, as any “Star Trek” fan would know. Furthermore, he is by no means in what is commonly referred to as retirement.
His lengthy and distinguished career includes a number of science-fiction novels that he either wrote or co-wrote, such as the “TekWar” series, “Star Trek: The Original Series,” the later films in which he reprised his role as Kirk, other successful films like “Miss Congeniality,” and a significant period of time spent as a recording artist.
It would seem that Shatner would be content to live a quiet life in his 90s after achieving so much, but that is not the case. As Keldor on Netflix’s “Masters of the Universe: Revolution,” he has continued to do voice acting.
Most recently, he has appeared in the 2022 season of “The Masked Singer” and served as host of the 2023 season of the reality TV show “Stars on Mars.” In addition to Shatner’s “Star Trek” background, the latter position was a fitting one given his own well-publicized 2021 space voyage, which made him the oldest person to travel into space.
Shatner has been quite open about his age in recent years, despite the fact that he is still very active. In a 2023 interview with Variety, Shatner stated, “The sad thing is that the older a person gets, the wiser they become, and then they die with all that knowledge.”
“But good deeds are what endure. When you accomplish something excellent, it will be remembered for eternity.
George Takei: Hikaru Sulu
George Takei has aged perfectly, much like his former co-star William Shatner. Takei began his career in the late 1950s, providing English voiceovers for a few Toho kaiju films and a few other supporting parts.
He rose to prominence as Hikaru Sulu on “Star Trek: The Original Series.” He has continued to be quite active as an actor and political activist in the decades since the show’s conclusion.
Similar to Shatner and the other key players from the first “Star Trek,” Takei made a comeback for the theatrical sequels, which started in 1979. However, Takei’s deep voice is just as legendary as his physical presence because the majority of his recent acting work has been in the animation industry.
His roles have appeared in everything from “Star Wars: Visions” to “Avatar: The Last Airbender” to “The Simpsons” and “BoJack Horseman.” In fact, he plays Sulu again in the adult animated comedy “Star Trek: Lower Decks.”
Takei has made time for a great deal of political action in between these concerts, regularly speaking out in public on topics such as LGBTQ+ rights and racial equality.
Takei is still juggling a lot of acting and serving as a political spokesperson at the age of 86. The University of South Australia awarded him an honorary degree in 2022, and he voiced important parts in the critically praised “Blue Eye Samurai” and “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai” in 2023.
Walter Koenig: Pavel Chekov
Walter Koenig, who is currently 87 years old, is the only member of the primary cast of “Star Trek: The Original Series” still living. Koenig played Ensign Pavel Chekov in both the television series and the subsequent motion picture adaptations.
Before being chosen for the show, he primarily worked in tiny roles on other television shows, such as “General Hospital,” “Mr. Novak,” and “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour.” However, Koenig’s most prominent work for the remainder of his career has mostly been in the field of science fiction, following his breakthrough as Chekov.
Apart from his numerous Trek roles, Koenig portrayed Alfred Bester on “Babylon 5.” Although he hasn’t been working as much in the past ten years, he still occasionally appears in films like the 2017 cartoon series “Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters” and the 2018 sci-fi film “Diminuendo.”
He made a brief comeback as Chekov for “Star Trek: Picard” Season 3 in 2023.
In 2023, it was also revealed that Koenig would be contributing to the “7th Rule” podcast to discuss “Star Trek: The Original Series” episodes. Koenig praised his time on the series and lamented the passing of Anton Yelchin, who portrayed Chekov in the J. J. Abrams “Star Trek” movies, in an interview with Screen Rant to promote the show.
“I met him,” Koenig’s statement was. “Very intelligent and charming young man. incredibly gifted. My God, he completed many times as many jobs as I ever accomplished in the few time he had. Therefore, you must recognize his talent. terribly, terribly depressing.
Celebrate the enduring legacy of Star Trek’s legendary cast members as we mark the show’s 60th anniversary. Do you like to learn more about the journey of the iconic actors and the original series? For additional information and to stay up to date on anything Star Trek, visit our website!