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Star Trek follows the lives of the Captain and crew of an interstellar spaceship, the U.S.S. Enterprise, on a mission of discovery and exploration in our galaxy. The U. S. S. Enterprise is a sleek "Constitution Class" vessel with the registry number NCC-1701. It embarked with a regular crew compliment of just over 400 people under the command of Captain James Tiberius Kirk.
The crew includes a cultural cross section: the ethnic mix of the Enterprise's crew testifies to Roddenberry's faith that by the 23rd century it would be so normal for all races to live and work together that it would neither excite nor surprise.
Captain James Tiberius Kirk
Kirk's success in captaincy could not be argued even though he often bucked the system. A romantic at heart, Kirk never formed a lasting, romantic relationship due to his devotion to career (although he falls in love regularly with a succession of female other - worldly visitors). Kirk's historically rapid rise to a captaincy and command of a loyal and respectful crew of the Enterprise are reflected in the awards and commendations he had garnered It was on this Enterprise that he assembled a crew and forged friendships with fellow officers who would themselves become Starfleet legends.
William Shatner
William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931 in Montreal, Canada. He studied commerce at McGill University in Montreal, later switching to acting. While there he was in many student productions, and went on to perform with the Stratford (Ontario, Canada) Shakespeare Festivals, playing a number of Shakespearean roles. In 1956, he moved to New York, and worked in live TV dramas and on Broadway, where he attracted the attention of TV producers. After some guest appearances in TV series like the Outer Limits or Twilight Zone, he was casted for Star Trek. After the original show had finished, he starred in seven of the Star Trek movies. He played "T.J. Hooker" and "Bascom" in the "TekWar" series and made guest appearances in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O, Kung Fu, Columbo, SeaQuest DSV and even The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He has written several books, including the TEK series. He married and divorced Gloria Rand in the 50's. He married Marcy Lafferty in 1976, but later divorced. Since 1997 he has been married to Nerine Kidd. He has 3 daughters, Lesley, Lizebeth, and Melanie, and one son, Daniel and lives with them in Southern California
Science Officer Mr. Spock
Science officer Mr. Spock is half Vulcan and half Human. He endures constant torment between the stern discipline of his Vulcan side and the emotional side inherited from his human mother. Roddenberry used the persona of a half-breed to explore the personal effect of conflict between cultures, and Spock's attempts to reconcile both sides of his character generated a number of plots. It was Nimoy who invented the famous Vulcan salute, based on the gesture of Hebrew blessing that the Jewish Nimoy had grown up with, as well as the salute "Live long and prosper," now used by all Star Trek fans. He also persuaded the scriptwriters that the rational and superintelligent Vulcans would have developed a less violent means of dealing with trouble; thus the Vulcan nerve pinch was born.
Leonard Nimoy
Leonard Nimoy was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 26, 1931. His film debut came 20 years later, in 1951, when he landed a small part in the movie, "Queen for a Day." Subsequent small roles he had in obscure films and serials were a valuable training ground for him. In 1952, his first lead film role came in "Kid Monk Baroni.".
During the late 50s and early 60s, Nimoy appeared in all the well-known TV shows of the period including "Wagon Train," "Man from U.N.C.L.E.," and "Perry Mason" to name just a few. He also appeared in several feature films.
However, it was Nimoy's enormous success in the science fiction television series, "Star Trek," which gained him world-wide recognition.. Nimoy's portrayal of the Vulcan, Spock, earned him three Emmy nominations.
Nimoy also became a successful movie director, responsible for "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." Additional directional credits include for example "Three Men and a Baby". Nimoy has starred in numerous stage productions. On television, he spent two years on the "Mission: Impossible" series and appeared in a number of television movies.
Nimoy is also a well-known author. His first autobiography, I AM NOT SPOCK, was published in 1975, followed by a second autobiography, I AM SPOCK, published in 1995. A story which he co-authored with the late Isaac Asimov is the basis for "PriMortals," a new monthly comic book published by Techno Comix.
Chief Medical Officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy
The ship's Chief Medical Officer was played by DeForest Kelley. Apart from Spock, "Bones" McCoy is perhaps Kirk's closest friend, and like Spock he tries to curb Kirk's romantic enthusiasm for unsuitable targets. His temperament is sometimes argumentative, a cynic's outer crustiness masking deep caring beneath the surface. As the series developed, so did McCoy's relationship with Spock, moving from gentle mocking to genuine respect and friendship.
DeForrest Kelley
DeForest Jackson Kelley was born in Atlanta Georgia, January 20, 1920. Kelley always wanted to be a doctor, just like his uncle, but when the Depression hit, his family did not have the money for him to go to medical school. When Kelley turned 17, he went to Long Beach, California and joined a local theater group. Another member of the theater group at the time was Carolyn Dowling, who would become Mrs. Kelley in 1945. A Paramount talent scout spotted Kelley in a Navy training film during World War II, which resulted in a screen test and a studio contract. Kelley stayed with Paramount for two-and-a-half years, and while there he starred in his first feature film "Fear In The Night". After a stint working in stock companies and television in New York, Kelley returned to the West Coast to continue his acting career. He was often cast -as a "bad guy" - in westerns such as The Gunfight at OK Corral , Raintree County and Warlock. He also appeared on TV programs such as Bonanza.
Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott
Montgomery Scott, better known as "Scotty," is the Chief Engineer: he is frequently responsible for getting the U. S. S. Enterprise out of warp - speed crises with nothing more than a spanner and his Scottish accent. Even when he says that the engines are going to blow because he "canna hold them, Cap'n," we can feel reasonably that his skill and experience will win through.
James Doohan
James Doohan was born in Vancouver and spent his early years in Vancouver, British Columbia and Sarnia, Ontario. Surviving the anguish of living with an alcoholic father, he left home to join the Canadian Forces, fighting with the Allies in World War II. During war, Doohan was wounded in the leg and hand, and eventually lost a finger.
After returning home to Canada, Doohan performed a few scenes for the local radio station, and was awarded a two-year scholarship to the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City. Beginning in 1946, he trained at the Playhouse and studied alongside such future stars as Leslie Nielsen. In the ensuing eight years, Doohan shuttled between New York and Canada where he worked on many radio programs as well as variety and dramatic television shows, several films and plays, and Shakespearean productions. Though he became known as Canada's busiest actor, he eventually found himself following other fellow actors in the pilgrimage to Hollywood. There, his versatility and talent as a dialectician helped him earn parts in more than 100 motion pictures and television series, including "The Twilight Zone," "Outer Limits," "Fantasy Island," and of course, "Star Trek." He has also appeared in all seven "Star Trek" motion pictures, as well as many other films, including "Loaded Weapon". In the years since the final episode of Star Trek, the original series, Doohan has pursued a speaking career which has taken him to more than 250 colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada. In addition, he makes appearances at numerous Star Trek conventions. Doohan recently moved to Washington State, where he lives with his wife Wende, and his sons Eric and Thomas.
Communications officer Uhura
Uhura served as communications officer aboard the Enterprise The actress who played her became heartily sick of having to say "hailing frequencies open" and not much more in episode after episode, and decided to quit. She was persuaded to stay by Martin Luther King, who told her that she was a symbol and inspiration for both blacks and women. One of those women was acclaimed Whoopi Goldberg, who successfully campaigned for a recurring role in the Next Generation series because Nichols first inspired her to believe that a black woman could be a successful and accepted actress.
Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols was born in Robbins, Illinois, near Chicago. Her father was both the town mayor of Robbins and its chief magistrate. She has studied in Chicago as well as New York and Los Angeles. Nichelle toured the United States, Canada and Europe as a singer with the Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton bands. Prior to being cast as Lt. Uhura in Star Trek, Nichelle had guested on Gene Roddenberry's first series, The Lieutenant. At the end of Star Trek's first season, Nichelle was thinking seriously of leaving the show, but a chance and moving meeting with Martin Luther King changed her mind. He told her she couldn't give up... she was a vital role model for young black women in American. Needless to say, Nichelle stayed with the show and has appeared in six of the seven subsequent movies. Following Star Trek's cancellation in 1969, Nichelle went on to appear in films like "Made in Paris" and "Porgy and Bess". Turning her sights toward her music, Nichelle released an album, "Dark Side of the Moon," which includes the song she wrote in tribute to Gene Roddenberry, "Gene.".
Among the minor characters appearing regularly in the Original Series were Japanese helms officer Sulu and Russian navigator Pavel Chekov.
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