3 Years Before Star Trek Made Him Famous, William Shatner Starred In One Of The Greatest Horror Episodes Of All Time

William Shatner could also be most recognizable as Captain James T. Kirk from Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence, however he had starred in an iconic horror tv episode three years earlier than. Alongside Leonard Nimoy’s Spock, William Shatner helped make Captain Kirk probably the most recognizable figures in science fiction. Shatner started his performing profession within the Fifties, showing in Canadian tv reveals and stage productions. He later moved to New York Metropolis and started making a reputation for himself on American tv, with visitor appearances on a number of in style reveals, together with The Howdy Doody Present and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

One in every of William Shatner’s most well-known tv appearances outdoors of Star Trek got here in a 1963 episode of The Twilight Zone. Created and hosted by Rod Serling, The Twilight Zone was an anthology collection that includes sci-fi and horror tales that normally ended with a twist and an ethical lesson. Many episodes of The Twilight Zone stay well-known right this moment, and several other up-and-coming actors appeared on the present earlier than their huge break, together with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Shatner truly appeared in two episodes, certainly one of which continues to be thought of top-of-the-line episodes of horror tv of all time.

William Shatner Starred In The Twilight Zone’s “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet” 3 Years Earlier than Star Trek’s Debut

William Shatner Performed A Man Afraid Of Flying Earlier than He Took Command Of The USS Enterprise

Three years earlier than Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence premiered, William Shatner starred in The Twilight Zone season 5, episode 3, “Nightmare at 20,000 Toes.” Based mostly on a brief story by Richard Matheson, the episode follows airplane passenger Robert Wilson (Shatner), who sees an odd and terrifying creature on the airplane’s wing. Each time Wilson tries to level out the creature to his spouse or one of many flight attendants, the monster is nowhere to be seen. Wilson had beforehand had a nervous breakdown on a airplane, and his spouse begins to assume he must return to the psychological establishment.

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Wilson finally takes issues into his personal arms, stealing a police officer’s revolver, opening an emergency exit, and taking pictures on the creature. When the airplane lands, Wilson is carted away to an establishment, whereas the digital camera reveals actual harm to the airplane’s engine. William Shanter helps make Robert Wilson a compelling character, and he’s a part of the explanation why this episode continues to endure. Shatner continued showing in tv reveals and movies all through the early Sixties till he landed the position of Captain Kirk in 1966, and science fiction was modified endlessly.

“Nightmare At 20,000 Feet” Is One Of The Twilight Zone’s Finest-Ever Horror Episodes

The Episode Stays One Of The Twilight Zone’s Most Referenced, Parodied, And Remade Tales

“Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” offers with the concern of dropping one’s thoughts, but in addition the paranoia of being proper when nobody believes you. It stays an entertaining and upsetting episode of tv even right this moment, and is certainly one of The Twilight Zone’s most parodied and referenced episodes. As an anxious flyer, the concept of a creature messing with a airplane, notably at excessive altitude, is terrifying sufficient by itself. That is, after all, made a lot worse by the truth that just one particular person sees the creature and nobody believes him.

“Nightmare at 20,000 Toes” taps into relatable fears, like the fear of flying, that remain relevant today. In some ways, the episode also foreshadows William Shatner’s future as the heroic Captain Kirk. On the one hand, it’s funny that Wilson has a fear of flying, considering Shatner will soon be captain of a starship. But Wilson is also the unsung hero of the story, as he saves the plane and its other passengers from the very real damage caused by the creature.

William Shatner Appeared In One other Basic Twilight Zone Episode Earlier than “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet”

William Shatner Additionally Appeared In The Season 2 Episode, “Nick Of Time”

Though “Nightmare at 20,000 Toes” is his most well-known episode, William Shatner had previously appeared in an earlier episode of The Twilight Zone — season 2, episode 7, “Nick of Time.” Shatner performs Don Carter, who arrives at a diner together with his spouse whereas touring to their honeymoon. On the desk is a fortune-telling machine that solutions sure or no questions for a penny. Don turns into obsessive about the machine, as its predictions look like appropriate. His spouse finally convinces him to depart, saying that they’ll make their very own future no matter what the so-called seer says.

As Don and his spouse depart, an older couple enters the diner and frantically start asking the seer questions, proving that some others weren’t so fortunate. Whereas “Nick of Time” is a strong episode of The Twilight Zone, it isn’t fairly as scary or memorable as “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” Nonetheless, “Nick of Time” gives an enchanting exploration of hysteria and the paralysis that may accompany decision-making. William Shatner helped make each of those Twilight Zone episodes memorable, earlier than his most well-known Star Trek: The Authentic Sequence launched him to a different degree of stardom.