Shatner beams into Charlotte at age 95: ‘What are you talking about? Who’s 95?’
William Shatner is 95 years old.
Which he finds even harder to believe than you do.
And, perhaps more remarkably, he’s still on the road — having spent the past several years traveling the country in support of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” a movie that, at its heart, is about getting older.
On Friday night, just weeks after celebrating a birthday that brought him within five years of the century mark, the famed actor will bring that road show to Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte: a full screening of the 1982 film, widely considered the best of the original “Star Trek” movies, followed by an unscripted, audience-driven Q&A with the man who played Capt. James T. Kirk.
Ahead of his appearance, Shatner spoke with The Charlotte Observer by phone about his age, the show he’s turned into something like a one-man tightrope act, and why its unscripted nature keeps him on a set of toes that, he admits, aren’t quite as steady as they used to be.
The conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
Q. You’ve been touring with “The Wrath of Khan” off and on for nearly a decade now. How many times have you seen the movie in your life?
Well, what’s interesting is, I haven’t seen it in a long time. Because I come back from wherever I’m staying, I get to the theater while it’s playing, and they’ve ordered dinner for me. So I eat and get ready for what I’m going to do and say, and then go on stage when the movie’s over.
If I were forced to see it every time I’ve done this show, I might not be as enthusiastic about it as I am.
Q. You might start to go a little bit crazy.
Right. But when I come close to the stage as it’s ending, the reaction to the film is glorious. It’s full of cheers.
Q. So you’ve probably seen the last two minutes of the movie a hundred times.
Yeah. Exactly. And even then, I avert my eyes. (Chuckling.) But I’m listening to the audience reaction to the film. And it’s always wonderful. It’s a terrific film.
Q. The movie is really about getting older, whether Kirk wants to admit it or not. Was that something that you were dealing with yourself at the time? (Shatner was 52 when “Khan” was released.)
About the age of 31, I began to realize I was declining. (Chuckling.) I no longer could play quarterback.
I’ve been lucky. I’ve been healthy and athletic for a long time. And the articles I read about aging are interesting. They’re thinking that you don’t have to lose your memory, and you don’t have to be weaker, if you follow certain protocols. And unbeknownst to me, I was following those protocols. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I was always an athlete of one kind or another.
Then they talk a lot about learning — about refreshing your mind. I’ve always been curious, and I read a lot, and I try and be informed. So I’m constantly probing, whether it’s talking to people like yourself or reading interesting articles. I’m constantly feeding information to myself, to the point where I question the reason: Why am I learning so much, when — at my age — I don’t know how much use I will have for it?
Q. Getting back to the show: Given that people can see the movie at home, they’re really coming for you. Does that responsibility ever feel —
Onerous? Oh God, I’m telling you, there’s anxiety that you be good, and worthy, and get it so they don’t resent having spent the money. Every performer feels, when they come out in front of an audience — whether they have learned a play, or whether it’s an ad-lib situation — there’s always that anxiety of, I’ve gotta be good.
And this show, it’s not just like a play that you’ve learned, that hopefully the playwright has done well, and you repeat their lines, and it’s pretty much a sure thing, otherwise you wouldn’t be on stage with it. When you’re ad-libbing for an hour and a half, you’re walking a gangplank, and you hope you don’t fall off!
Q. By the way, were you joking when you said that at 31 you already felt like you were declining?
No, at 30, you’re pretty good. You’ve still got your dreams. Then 40, you think, Gee … have I gone more than half my life, if I live to 80? And then by 50, you’re thinking, Holy moly, is this what it’s all about? Maybe there’s something more exciting. That’s when people get into trouble, trying to find something more exciting. And then by 60, you’re bent over a little. Now the back hurts. (Chuckling.)
Q. So at 95 —
The sum 95 is like a curse word. Like, what are you talking about? Who’s 95? Where’d this 95 come from? There’s an unreality to it, because you’re supposed to live, statistically — what? — to 79, or something?
Q. Yet here you are.
Staggering along, somewhat unsteadily — but still walking forward. (Laughing.)
See William Shatner’s ‘Wrath of Khan’ tour
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 17.
Where: Ovens Auditorium, 2900 E. Independence Blvd.
Tickets: $59.20 and up through Ticketmaster. A limited number of VIP upgrades with add-on options for a photo opportunity with Shatner and an autographed tour poster. Details: williamshatnertour.com.
