Walter Koenig Praises William Shatner’s Versatility As Captain Kirk

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Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov on the original Star Trek, admires William Shatner’s bold choices when portraying Captain James T. Kirk. Koenig appeared alongside Shatner in seven Star Trek movies after being part of the series for two seasons.

Each month, Walter Koenig teams up with Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk on their podcast, The 7th Rule, to discuss his appearances in Star Trek: The Original Series. In February 2026, they covered season 2, episode 22, “Return to Tomorrow,” featuring a guest appearance by Diana Muldaur, who later became known for playing Dr. Katherine Pulaski on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Cirroc Lofton shared how much he enjoys watching classic Star Trek with Walter Koenig. He also spoke highly of William Shatner, praising Shatner’s ability to make even the most unbelievable situations in Star Trek: The Original Series feel real and engaging, essentially guiding the audience through the story.

Walter Koenig also shared his admiration for William Shatner. He highlighted Bill’s ability to play many different sides of a character and praised his willingness to show Captain Kirk’s flaws – something Koenig believes is uncommon for a lead actor. You can read Walter’s comments and see the video, The 7th Rule, below.

Bill Shatner’s portrayal of Captain Kirk was unique because he wasn’t afraid to take risks and show a more flawed, complex side to the character – something most leading actors avoid. They usually aim to be like Edgar Bergen, a famous ventriloquist who was known for keeping a straight face and not moving his lips while ‘speaking’ through his puppets. The goal was to create the illusion that the puppet was talking on its own.

Most actors tend to play it safe, but Bill always took risks. He wasn’t just gambling, though; he had a real understanding of his own range and abilities. I always admired that about him. There were moments, like in the first Star Trek film, where he seemed a bit selfish, wanting to regain the captaincy from Stephen Collins. And I actually liked that—it showed us he wasn’t trying to be a perfect hero like his father, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., but a real, complex character.

The Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Return to Tomorrow” is particularly well-known for featuring William Shatner’s iconic “Risk is our business!” speech. This moment has lived on through internet memes and GIFs, becoming a defining moment for Captain Kirk.

Despite being a great leader, Kirk occasionally acted in ways that seemed small-minded. Walter Koenig recalled an instance in Star Trek: The Motion Picture where Admiral Kirk insisted on regaining command of the USS Enterprise. He wanted to demote Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins) back to the rank of Commander, even though Decker had more experience with the ship after its major overhaul.

William Shatner’s skillful acting brought James T. Kirk to life as more than just a fearless space captain. He portrayed Kirk as a fully realized person – someone capable of great heroism, but also burdened by inner struggles, insecurities, and imperfections, making him deeply relatable and human.

Walter Koenig, like several other actors from the original Star Trek series, has had a complicated relationship with William Shatner. Recently, though, Koenig has been speaking more positively about working with Shatner, possibly because his involvement in The 7th Rule allows him to revisit his experiences from the early days of Star Trek, almost six decades ago.

Fortunately, William Shatner, Walter Koenig, and George Takei are still alive today. As Star Trek marks its 60th anniversary, the lasting impact of Star Trek: The Original Series becomes even more important. William Shatner’s portrayal of Captain Kirk remains the benchmark for all subsequent lead actors in the Star Trek universe.

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2026-02-02 03:08