'Star Trek' William Shatner on cancer battle, appreciating life at 95
Actor William Shatner reflects on his career and the enduring legacy of Star Trek as the franchise approaches its 60th anniversary. Despite his age, he remains active and engaged with the cultural impact of his most famous role.
Why it matters
Star Trek remains a foundational pillar of modern science fiction, and Shatner's perspective offers insight into the evolution of pop culture over six decades.
Hear this story LOS ANGELES − In 2016, William Shatner walked into his Studio City office for a USA TODAY photo shoot marking the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek" to find his desk overrun with Tribbles, the furry creatures from the beloved 1967 episode "The Trouble with Tribbles." The star forever known as Captain Kirk unceremoniously swept the carefully arranged props off his desk and proceeded with a Tribble-free photo shoot.
A decade later, sitting in the same office, Shatner, 95, insists he has no memory of the great Tribble desk purge.
"Was it done humorously?" Shatner asks earnestly, insisting he has no beef with the furiously breeding sci-fi creatures from the comedic episode. "Tribbles are good. Tribbles are a metaphor for uncontrolled activities of humanity."
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