If not Shatner, then??

[RobertScorpio]

I have heard a whole bunch of names through the years being attached to the character of Kirk, before shatner got the role. Here are the names I seem to recall..

Llloyd Bridges..Cameron Mitchell...Jack Lord...Peter Graves...even Robert Reed. I can't recall where I have read these names, but somehow, someway, I just have memories of reading something about this..

In fact, I remember reading somewhere that Dee Kelly was seen as Spock early on in the production..anyway...

Can you think of any others who were rumored for the role of Kirk? And if so, which of them do you think would have done a good job as Kirk?

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Cuhl]

I have heard a whole bunch of names through the years being attached to the character of Kirk, before shatner got the role. Here are the names I seem to recall..

Llloyd Bridges..Cameron Mitchell...Jack Lord...Peter Graves...even Robert Reed.

I can see Jack Lord making a really good Christopher Pike, but I don't know about Kirk.

 

[trevanian]

James Coburn was mentioned, but shot down as having no sex appeal, either by GR or Majel.

Fat lot they knew, he was about to have 3 terrific years of movie leading man stuff with the FLINT movies and THE PRESIDENT'S ANALYST and HARD CONTRACT among others.

Based on seeing PLANET EARTH, I thought John Saxon would have been a decent Kirk, without alot of the Shakesperian excesses.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

*sighs wistfully* Ah, what could have been...

"Ready for transport, Captain."

"Beam him, Scotto!"

 

[Nerys Myk]

Maybe get Khigh Dheigh as a Klingon?

 

[T'Girl]

James Coburn would of made for a interesting Spock. He might of been too young in 1966, but James Franciscus as Kirk, late twenty-something, leaner than Shatner bit more steely eyed, nice voice.

T'Girl

 

[RobertScorpio]

Maybe get Khigh Dheigh as a Klingon?

I love it!! Good pick!

Rob

 

[Maurice]

Maybe get Khigh Dheigh as a Klingon?

Khigh Dhiegh

 

[trevanian]

James Coburn would of made for a interesting Spock. He might of been too young in 1966, but James Franciscus as Kirk, late twenty-something, leaner than Shatner bit more steely eyed, nice voice.

T'Girl

Yeah, but Franciscus had no acting chops. He was almost a 60s/70s version of Freddie Prinze in that regard (though admittedly tons better looking), he just kept falling upward into good or high profile parts.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Maybe get Khigh Dheigh as a Klingon?

Khigh Dhiegh

TV's greatest villain..WOFAT. I just watched the NINETY SECOND WAR last night..great two parter!!!

Rob

 

[Captain Robert April]

James Colburn was Majel's suggestion, and the response that he had no sex appeal told her that those guys wouldn't know sex appeal if it walked up and slapped them.

 

[Sovay]

I like James Coburn. He certainly didn't have shatner's charming girlish looks and pretty eyelashes, but he aged a lot more gracefully IMO

 

[Captain Robert April]

Shatner was in an interesting position when Star Trek came a' knockin'. He was a highly regarded, classically trained, rising star who was in rather desperate need of a job. In a way, it was the right actor for the job becoming available at just the time he was most likely to accept. Ask him a year earlier, and he's already got a gig with "For the Defense" and might not be all that eager to sign on. If the "Alexander" pilot gets picked up, he's not available when Jeffery Hunter passes on returning. And, let's be honest, without Shatner, there's a good chance Star Trek doesn't sell.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Shatner was in an interesting position when Star Trek came a' knockin'. He was a highly regarded, classically trained, rising star who was in rather desperate need of a job. In a way, it was the right actor for the job becoming available at just the time he was most likely to accept. Ask him a year earlier, and he's already got a gig with "For the Defense" and might not be all that eager to sign on. If the "Alexander" pilot gets picked up, he's not available when Jeffery Hunter passes on returning. And, let's be honest, without Shatner, there's a good chance Star Trek doesn't sell.

And that's Nimoy's take as well. Nimoy has often said that Shatner brought that 'ummph' that the studio seemed to be promised by Roddenberry, but instead was delivered a cerebal Cage (Which I liked by the way)

Rob

 

[iluthradanar]

I just can't imagine any other actors in the roles. Each brought something unique to their characters. OMG De Kelley as Spock? I can see him arguing with himself. No no no, it was better he spar with Nimoy. I'm glad things worked out as they did, and by letting Cage go, it did create a new character to interact so to speak with the regular crew.

 

[Kirk1980]

Peter Graves!

"I'm Peter Graves, tonight's Biography....James T. Kirk. Damn, I'm handsome."

 

[Chaos Descending]

George Peppard.

He would have been 38 in 1966, so maybe a little old.

Robert Culp.

He would have been 36 in 1966, so also probably a little old.

 

[Kaziarl]

I don't know about Kirk, but I always thought Sean Connery would make a good star fleet officer. I think in this case though they wanted a good, American born man to captain the ship since they were marketing it in the US. Might of made a good Picard though.

Plus, when was Connery born? Would he have been the right age anyway?

 

[Chaos Descending]

Sean Connery was born in 1930 and would have been 36 in 1966.

 

[Kaziarl]

Ok, so that might have worked then. What do you guys think of him as Kirk?