William Shatner Reveals He Received No Reruns Royalties from Original 'Star Trek'
**William Shatner**, the iconic **Captain James T. Kirk** of **Star Trek: The Original Series**, recently disclosed that he didn't earn any money from the show's reruns during the 1970s. He shared the revelation in a new interview, explaining the circumstances surrounding syndication rights at the time.
The Lack of Residuals
In an interview with **The Telegraph**, **Shatner**, now 94, stated that the concept of syndication was not well-understood when **Star Trek** was canceled in 1969. He explained that reruns weren't initially considered a source of revenue for the actors. "Nobody knew about re-runs," he said. "The concept of syndication only came in after Star Trek was cancelled when someone from the unions said: 'Wait a minute, you’re replaying all those films, those shows.'"
He further clarified that union negotiations to secure residual fees happened shortly after **Star Trek** concluded its original run. "There was a big strike," he added. "But in the end, the unions secured residual fees shortly after Star Trek finished, so I didn’t benefit." This meant that **Shatner** missed out on the financial benefits that later **Star Trek** actors received from reruns.
Financial Struggles and Recovery
Despite the popularity of **Star Trek**, **Shatner** revealed that the initial salary wasn't substantial by Hollywood standards. "But by the standards of Hollywood, not very well — and with a dissolving marriage, with three children, I was broke at that point," he said. To make ends meet after the show's cancellation, **Shatner** formed a touring company during the summer, performing a Broadway play in various towns along the East Coast. This venture helped him earn a living until more acting opportunities arose in Los Angeles.
Continued Success and Legacy
While **Shatner** didn't benefit financially from the early reruns, he reprised his role as **Kirk** in multiple **Star Trek** films and the animated series. He has continued to work steadily in the entertainment industry and recently announced his forthcoming book, **William Shatner...And You**, co-authored with Joshua Brandon. He celebrated his 94th birthday with a trip to Las Vegas.
