William Shatner’s Top 5 Hilarious Captain Kirk Performances In Star Trek

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Captain James T. Kirk is a classic hero in the original Star Trek series, but William Shatner’s comedic talent makes the character genuinely funny. Shatner first played Kirk in Star Trek in the 1960s, later voiced the character in Star Trek: The Animated Series, and continued the role in seven Star Trek films.

While known for its serious themes, Star Trek has always included humor, and several episodes and movies have been purely comedic. The dynamic between Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy in Star Trek: The Original Series was particularly built on their witty and playful back-and-forth.

Even when William Shatner played Captain Kirk seriously, some scenes were unintentionally funny. A good example is Kirk’s fight with the Gorn in the first season of Star Trek: The Original Series, specifically the episode “Arena.” The awkward struggle with an actor wearing a stiff rubber suit remains a famously cheesy moment, highlighting the challenges of the original Star Trek series.

William Shatner occasionally embraced the comedic side of Captain Kirk, both on and off the set of Star Trek, creating some truly hilarious moments. Here are five of the best times he had audiences laughing as the iconic character.

5. Star Trek: The Original Series – “The Enterprise Incident”

When you first watch Star Trek: The Original Series season 3, episode 2, “The Enterprise Incident,” it appears Captain Kirk has unexpectedly lost control and deliberately leads the Enterprise into forbidden Romulan territory, breaking a peace treaty. His behavior seems erratic, and even Spock distances himself from Kirk’s actions.

Once you discover Captain Kirk is pretending to be insane – all as part of a plan to steal a Romulan cloaking device – “The Enterprise Incident” becomes incredibly funny, thanks to William Shatner’s over-the-top and wildly entertaining performance. He really goes for it as a Captain Kirk who appears completely unhinged.

Okay, so “The Enterprise Incident” is seriously one of my favorite episodes. It’s hilarious because William Shatner, as Captain Kirk, gets this whole Romulan makeover – we’re talking pointy ears and those iconic eyebrows! The best part? Shatner was the only one who knew it was all played for laughs, except for Spock, of course. It’s a comedic masterpiece, honestly.

4. Star Trek Generations

I remember when Star Trek Generations came out, everyone was talking about how it was built around Captain Kirk finally meeting Captain Picard – and ultimately, his death. But honestly, even with all that, William Shatner just completely owned the movie. His charisma and sense of humor really shone through and made it a joy to watch, even knowing what was coming.

I always enjoy the beginning of Star Trek Generations – it’s fun seeing Kirk hand things over to Captain Harriman and the Enterprise-B. But what really gets me is when Picard finds Kirk in the Nexus. Shatner just turns on the charm, and it’s hilarious seeing him interact with the current Enterprise captain!

William Shatner’s Captain Kirk offered a lighthearted and humorous contrast to Patrick Stewart’s more serious Picard. From playfully disregarding Picard’s requests for cooperation – even getting him involved in cooking – to offering sage advice when Kirk decided to avoid conflict with the Enterprise’s captain, Shatner consistently brought a cheerful wit to the screen. His final live-action portrayal of Kirk was both funny and enjoyable.

3. Futurama – “Where No Fan Has Gone Before”

Eight years after Captain Kirk’s death in Star Trek Generations, William Shatner reprised the role on Futurama. The Futurama episode “Where No Fan Has Gone Before” from season four brought together most of the original cast of Star Trek: The Original Series, with the notable exception of James Doohan, who played Scotty.

In this episode, William Shatner essentially plays a version of himself – just his head! The other actors from Star Trek, along with the Planet Express crew, are also portrayed as disembodied heads. Everything changes when a crazed alien fan named Melllvar demands they act out his fantasies, ultimately giving them back their bodies.

As a total movie and TV buff, I have to say William Shatner is a genius in Futurama’s “Where No Fan Has Gone Before.” He’s brilliantly funny playing a version of himself who’s also Captain Kirk – he even rips his shirt open before anyone asks and shares a kiss with Leela! The episode is a fantastic, heartfelt tribute to Star Trek, and it’s clear Shatner and the rest of the Enterprise crew really embraced the fun of it all.

2. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

The first three Star Trek movies tackled weighty themes like life, death, and the importance of relationships. However, director Leonard Nimoy shifted gears with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, opting for a lighter, more upbeat tone, and William Shatner led the charge with his fantastic comedic performance.

Star Trek IV really lets William Shatner shine as a comedian. While Admiral Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise feel out of place in 1986 San Francisco, Shatner is perfectly comfortable and provides most of the film’s humor.

Whether he’s playfully scolding a careless driver, sharing comical moments with Spock, or casually asking a scientist for help over pizza and beer, William Shatner delivers a particularly charming and funny performance in Star Trek IV. It’s arguably his most endearing portrayal in a Star Trek movie.

1. Star Trek: The Original Series – “The Trouble With Tribbles”

While Star Trek: The Original Series often included funny scenes in its early seasons, the episode “The Trouble With Tribbles” was its first dedicated comedy – and it remains a beloved classic nearly 60 years on.

William Shatner delivers a wonderfully over-the-top performance in “The Trouble With Tribbles,” playing Captain Kirk as constantly shocked and exasperated. He’s hilarious throughout the episode, whether he’s dealing with the arrogant Klingon captain Koloth (William Campbell) or finding himself completely covered in Tribbles.

William Shatner’s portrayal of Captain Kirk in “The Trouble With Tribbles” is considered a classic example of humor in Star Trek. Later, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine revisited this iconic episode with “Trials and Tribble-ations,” offering a fresh perspective on Kirk’s misadventures as the DS9 crew cleverly disguised themselves as members of the original Star Trek cast.

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2025-12-15 01:26