What happened to the original Star Trek cast? Looking back at the stars 60 years later

Six decades after Star Trek first took flight, we're looking back at the cast who first piloted the USS Enterprise. When developing the series, Roddenberry drew on his extensive experience writing for shows about the Old West, transposing similar formats and narratives onto a sci-fi setting. In addition to its innovative and mature storytelling — unusual for a TV sci-fi series at the time — Star Trek broke barriers with its racially diverse cast and explored themes that reflected pressing social issues of the era. However, Star Trek wasn't a hit from the get-go; in fact, it was canceled after only three seasons amid low ratings. But the series found new life in syndication, and throughout the 1970s it achieved cult-classic status and attracted a devoted fanbase, eventually fueling an all-out media takeover through books, games, toys, and numerous spinoff series and movies. The original Star Trek series from creator Gene Roddenberry made its U.S. debut on Sept. 8, 1966, and aired through 1969, charting the galactic adventures of the USS Enterprise, whose diverse and intrepid crew was led by Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ). Six decades later, Star Trek is not only iconic; it's a foundational pop cultural artifact that left an indelible mark on science-fiction storytelling. Sixty years ago, we learned that space was the final frontier — and the rest was history. 01 of 08 William Shatner (James T. Kirk) William Shatner on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Shatner attends the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards held at Hilton Universal City Hotel on March 8, 2026. CBS via Getty; JB Lacroix/WireImage William Shatner immortalized the role of James T. Kirk, swashbuckling captain of the USS Enterprise, but a different captain was almost in charge of the ship. The first pilot for Star Trek, titled 'The Cage,' starred Jeffrey Hunter as Captain Christopher Pike. NBC turned down the pilot but liked the concept enough to order a second one. This time, Shatner starred as Kirk, while Leonard Nimoy returned as Spock, the only character retained from the first pilot. Majel Barrett, who had played Pike's first officer, Number One, in 'The Cage,' later returned to the series as Nurse Christine Chapel. NBC approved the second pilot and greenlit the series. Before becoming a household name with Star Trek, Shatner made memorable appearances in two Twilight Zone episodes: 'Nightmare at 20,000 Feet' and 'Nick of Time.' Following the cancellation of Star Trek, Shatner returned to the role numerous times, starring in all six movies centered on the original Enterprise crew, as well as Star Trek Generations (1994), and voicing Kirk for Star Trek: The Animated Series. But Shatner has had a career outside of Star Trek (and signing autographs at fan conventions). He starred as police officer T.J. Hooker in the series of the same name in the 1980s and as attorney Denny Crane on The Practice and its spinoff, Boston Legal, during the 2000s. Other notable late-career appearances include Miss Congeniality (2000), Psych, The Masked Singer, and a voice role on Netflix's animated Masters of the Universe: Revolution. Shatner is also an author and has written numerous books of both fiction and nonfiction over the years, including a book about his friendship with Spock actor Leonard Nimoy titled Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man. In 2021, the nonagenarian flew to space aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard spacecraft, a trip he later said felt like a 'funeral' instead of a 'celebration.' 'The contrast between the vicious coldness of space and the warm nurturing of Earth below filled me with overwhelming sadness,' Shatner wrote in a 2022 essay for Variety, reflecting on the experience. 02 of 08 Leonard Nimoy (Spock) Leonard Nimoy as Spock on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Nimoy attends 'The Glass Menagerie' Broadway Opening Night at Booth Theater on Sept. 26, 2013. CBS via Getty; Ben Gabbe/Getty Spock was the only nonhuman member of the Enterprise's core bridge crew, a half-human, half-Vulcan whose two sides were frequently at odds. Spock's famous 'Live long and prosper' blessing and accompanying Vulcan salute are just two of the most recognizable pieces of iconography in the Star Trek franchise. Prior to the show, Leonard Nimoy had mostly appeared in supporting roles in movies and TV shows, including The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and The Twilight Zone. After the conclusion of Star Trek, Nimoy continued to play Spock in the subsequent films and animated series, eventually reprising the role in the rebooted 2009 and 2013 Star Trek films starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness would mark Nimoy's final performance as Spock before his death in 2015. Outside the franchise, he also did extensive voice work and appeared on shows including Columbo and Fringe, and reunited with Shatner for an episode of T.J. Hooker. In addition to his acting career, Nimoy was an accomplished author, director, recording artist, and photographer. He directed the 1987 comedy Three Men and a Baby, which became the year's highest-grossing release at the domestic box office. Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83 from complications of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 03 of 08 George Takei (Hikaru Sulu) George Takei on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Takei attends the 'Chinese Republicans' opening night at Laura Pels Theatre on Feb. 26, 2026. CBS via Getty; John Nacion/Getty George Takei played skilled helmsman Hikaru Sulu, who piloted the USS Enterprise during its five-year mission. At the time, Sulu was notable as one of the first major Asian American characters on American television who wasn't portrayed as a villain or ethnic stereotype. Sulu initially served as an astrophysicist in the show's second pilot, 'Where No Man Has Gone Before,' before becoming the Enterprise's helmsman. 'I desperately wanted the role,' Takei told AARP in a May 2026 interview. It was 'the first time that I was being asked to portray a character that was fully developed,' he said. 'It was a human being, not a cartoon or a stereotype, a comic buffoon or a villain, Fu Manchu. This was an identifiable, sharp, intelligent, qualified member of a Star Fleet team.' Prior to his career-defining role on Star Trek, Takei had appeared on The Twilight Zone, like his colleagues Shatner and Nimoy, along with small roles on TV series such as Perry Mason, Assignment: Underwater, and Hawaiian Eye. Following Star Trek, Takei became active in Los Angeles politics and civic affairs, running for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council in 1973. In 2005, Takei came out as gay and later became a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign's Coming Out Project. In his later years, Takei became a beloved presence on social media, with his Facebook page currently boasting nearly 10 million followers. While he appeared sporadically in live-action films like You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008) and Larry Crowne (2011), Takei continued his entertainment career largely through television appearances and voice acting. His distinctive voice has graced animated shows like Samurai Jack, Archer, and Adventure Time, as well as several video games. In 2012, Takei starred in the world premiere of the musical Allegiance, which was inspired in part by his childhood incarceration with his family in Japanese American camps during World War II. 04 of 08 Nichelle Nichols (Nyota Uhura) Nichelle Nichols on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Nichols attends Comedy Central's roast of William Shatner on Aug. 13, 2006. CBS via Getty; CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Like Takei, Nichelle Nichols' role as Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, the Enterprise's communications officer and translator, was groundbreaking at the time. Uhura was one of the first Black women to hold a prominent, non-stereotypical role on American television. However, Nichols almost didn't continue in the role beyond the first season. She considered leaving the series but was persuaded to stay on board by none other than Martin Luther King Jr., who emphasized the cultural importance of seeing a Black woman portrayed as an intelligent, capable professional on television. In 2011, Nichols spoke to The New York Post about her experience meeting King. 'He told me he was my greatest fan and how wonderful and inspiring it was to see me on television,' she recalled. 'When I told him I was planning to leave, he said, 'You can't do that. You have the first non-stereotypical, nonmenial role on television. You have created strength and beauty and intelligence. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen. It's what we're marching for. You're a role model and whether you like it or not, you belong to history now.'' Aside from Star Trek, Nichols released two albums: Down to Earth (1967) and Out of This World (1991). She also starred in the Blaxploitation film Truck Turner (1974) and appeared in the 2002 Disney live-action movie Snow Dogs. But arguably Nichols' most crucial work came through her relationship with NASA. In 1977, the agency contracted her for a recruiting campaign aimed at encouraging more women and people of color to apply to its astronaut program. Her efforts helped attract thousands of applicants ahead of NASA's landmark 1978 astronaut class. Her work with NASA was chronicled in the 2021 documentary Woman in Motion: Nichelle Nichols, Star Trek and the Remaking of NASA. Nichols continued acting and doing voice work later in life, including appearances on Heroes, The Young and the Restless, and Futurama. She was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 and died in 2022 at the age of 89. Every single 'Star Trek' series, ranked from worst to best 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture' is the most beautiful 'Trek' film, and the least human 05 of 08 DeForest Kelley (Leonard McCoy) DeForest Kelley on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Kelley at a 'Star Trek' Universal Studios tour on June 9, 1988. CBS via Getty; Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty DeForest Kelley was the oldest member of the original Star Trek cast and had already cultivated a film and television career spanning nearly two decades by the time he debuted as the USS Enterprise's chief medical officer, Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy. He had appeared on numerous television shows before Star Trek, including The Lone Ranger, Gunsmoke, and Rawhide, in addition to films like Fear in the Night (1947) and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). Following Star Trek, Kelley made occasional appearances outside the franchise but largely stepped away from acting, aside from reprising the role of Bones on Star Trek: The Animated Series and the six feature films centered on the OG crew. He also returned as an elderly McCoy for the premiere episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Though Kelley was grateful for the fame that Star Trek brought him, he also found himself typecast by the role. During a press junket for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (via MeTV) Kelley called Star Trek a 'mixed blessing,' saying, 'They figure, 'He's there. That's what he does best.' They forget about your background and what you've done and how you started out and how you got to where you are.' Still, Kelley gave Star Trek plenty of credit. 'I've enjoyed the role tremendously and, as the years have gone by, I have considered myself very fortunate to be a part of this show, which has become the phenomenon that it has. Many actors never get the opportunity to even be in a successful series, and here I have had the opportunity to be a part of what has become something most unusual in this country. So I have to look at it with all gratefulness.' In 1999, Kelley died from stomach cancer at the age of 79. 06 of 08 James Doohan (Montgomery Scott) James Doohan on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Doohan at the TV Land Awards. CBS via Getty; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic The Scotty of the popular catchphrase 'Beam me up, Scotty' — a phrase that was never actually uttered in the show, fun fact — was played by James Doohan. Although Doohan sported a convincing Scottish accent as chief engineer Montgomery Scott, the actor was actually Canadian. Before he starred on Star Trek, Doohan joined the Army Cadet Corps in 1938 and enlisted in the Canadian Army the following year. He saw combat during World War II and landed at Juno Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy. After the war, Doohan pursued his interest in acting and began working extensively in radio for the CBC before moving into television. By the 1950s and early '60s, he was accumulating numerous TV credits, including on The Twilight Zone. After Star Trek ended, Doohan appeared on projects including Magnum P.I., MacGyver, Knight Rider 2000, and Jason of Star Command. He reprised Scotty in seven Star Trek feature films and an episode of The Next Generation, and voiced Scotty and numerous other characters on the Star Trek animated series. He also cowrote the autobiography, Beam Me Up, Scotty: Star Trek's 'Scotty' in His Own Words with Peter David, as well as the three-book Flight Engineer sci-fi series with S.M. Stirling. Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter. Doohan also left a lasting impression on aspiring engineers, as his role on Star Trek inspired numerous young people to pursue careers in the field. In recognition of that influence, the Milwaukee School of Engineering awarded him an honorary doctorate in engineering in 1993. Doohan withdrew from public life in 2004 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease; he had also been suffering from Parkinson's disease and other health problems. He died the following year at the age of 85 from pneumonia and Alzheimer's. 07 of 08 Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov) Walter Koenig on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Koenig attends the Los Angeles premiere of 'Raging Midlife' at Laemmle Royal on March 16, 2025. CBS via Getty; Victoria Sirakova/Getty Though a rumor spread that the Russian character of Pavel Chekov, navigator of the USS Enterprise, was created to appease the Soviet Union, actor Walter Koenig has denied that it was ever true. Instead, Chekov was created to appeal to younger viewers. 'Chekov was all about demographics,' the actor told TV Insider in 2016. 'They wanted a male character who could bring in the 8- to 12-year-olds.' So who was Chekov styled to look like? Davy Jones, of The Monkees fame. 'Gene once showed me a memo that he'd sent to his staff that said, 'Let's look for somebody who has the same appeal as that young Davy Jones fellow on The Monkees,'' Koenig explained. And there was a different reason for making the character Russian: 'The reason Gene made Chekov a Russian was because he recognized that the Russians had beaten the Americans into space and he felt that their achievement should be honored.' Koenig is still kicking at 89 years old, and after Star Trek he also cultivated a career as a screenwriter for television, writing episodes of Land of the Lost, Family, and even Star Trek: The Animated Series during the 1970s. Koenig has continued to make appearances on the Star Trek convention circuit and act in occasional films, including 2018's Diminuendo and, more recently, Raging Midlife (2025). In 2023, he returned to the Star Trek universe in the series finale of Star Trek: Picard, providing the voice of Federation President Anton Chekov, the son of his original character. 08 of 08 Majel Barrett (Nurse Christine Chapel) Majel Barrett on 'Star Trek: The Original Series'; Barrett-Roddenberry attends a 'Star Trek: Voyager' DVD Release Celebration. CBS via Getty; Albert L. Ortega/WireImage Majel Barrett played the recurring role of Nurse Christine Chapel, though she was originally cast as Number One, first officer to Captain Pike, in Star Trek's original pilot. Roddenberry later brought Barrett back to the series as Nurse Chapel; the two were romantically involved and married in 1969. Often referred to as the 'First Lady of Star Trek,' Barrett appeared in or lent her voice to every Star Trek series produced during her lifetime, as well as several of the movies, before her death in 2008 from leukemia. Her final performance as the Enterprise computer was heard posthumously in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Star Trek film, and archival recordings of her voice were later used in Star Trek: Picard.