Their futuristic friendship launched a ’60s TV classic that sought out new worlds and went boldly where no one had gone before.
And next weekend, Mr. Spock and Captain James T. Kirk will be reuniting at the Sheraton Wall Centre in Vancouver.
That’s right, Star Trek fans, actors Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner are headlining the official Star Trek convention Sunday, June 27.
It’s a rare joint appearance for the two men, who, at 79, continue to inspire fans across the globe and here at home.
The ever-popular Nimoy – who appeared in 2009′s Star Trek, the latest movie offering in the four-decade-long franchise – recently retired from showbiz, but Shatner’s career continues at Warp speed.
The Shakespearean actor is slated to appear in the upcoming TV series Sh*t My Dad Says, which is based on a Twitter account. When he’s not acting, Shatner keeps a high profile, recently speaking out against salmon farming on the B.C. coast and becoming the target of a Facebook campaign seeking to have him nominated as a replacement for Governor General Michaëlle Jean.
Fans of the series – and the many movies it spawned – loved the contrast between Spock’s cool, detached logic and the hot-blooded passion of Kirk, colleagues aboard the Starship Enterprise.
In real life, their personalities match their onscreen personas, with the laid back Nimoy playfully bantering with the exuberant Shatner.
Other Star Trek celebrities will be appearing at the June 25-27 convention, including Connor Trineer from Star Trek: Enterprise, Armin Shimerman, and a star ship full of Deep Space Nine alumnus: Jeffery Coombs, Vaughn Armstrong, Max Grodenchick, Casey Biggs and Chase Masterson.
Barbara March and Gwynyth Walsh, who played Klingon villains the Duras Sisters on Star Trek: The Next Generation, will also be there, along with Jacob Kogan, the actor who played the young Mr. Spock in the 2009 film.
The convention includes vending rooms, auctions, trivia and costume competitions, music performances, fan-made music videos and celebrity photo-ops.
Tickets are $20 for Friday and Saturday and $40 for Sunday. Available at www.creationent.com or at 818-409-0960.
Show hours are Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Man, I was so bummed that I couldn’t go to this! Did you go?
What if William Shatner broke out into an impromptu song and I wasn’t there to endure it?
I must remain as unemotional as Spock.
No!!! But I totally thought about it.
I was surprised to learn these guys make joint appearances – for some reason I’d assumed they were (im)mortal enemies, Hollywood-style.
Their professionalism and symbolic TV friendship is a beacon of hope for us all.
Live Long and Prosper, fellow Earthlings!