Shatner's weight gain across the series

[Rackon]

He was an avid horse rider so feel sorry for the horses. QUOTE]

Naw.

Shat's weight on a 1100-1200 pound American Saddlebred horse is negligible. No problem unless the rider's bouncing around or unbalanced. Horses mind you hitting their mouths via trying to balance yourself with the reins, but Bill's horses were plenty strong enough for the Shat-weight.

In fact, the difficulty for Shat would be in mounting - that's much harder when you're heavy. I know from personal experience!

Bill's weight has gone up and down over the years. It gets really hard to keep it off for most people after a certain age.

Also, having stood next to Bill on many occassions, I think he was around 5'9". He seems to have shrunk lately though, so if I see him at KSF this month I'll be interested to see if he's still shrinking.

 

[Gotham Central]

I've always wondered why they did not give him a bigger uniform. His tunics always seemed far tighter than everyone else's. That had to be intentional.

 

[Biggshow]

Hell, if I'm half as active as Shatner when I get to be his age without drinking my meals out of a straw -- IF I even reach his age (he's almost 80!) -- I'll consider myself doing alright. I say give the man a break.

At the Vegas convention this week, he actually did a fairly impressive (given weight/age) high-kick. Nimoy himself has remarked on Shatner's energy. It also seems from his Conan appearances (hilarious) and this weekend that he may be trying to lose a little bit of weight.

 

[Ward Fowler]

^At his age, I wouldn't try to lose weight. I'd eat and drink whatever I wanted and enjoy every last minute of it.

 

[VulcanVixen]

Call me weird, but I noticed it within the first few episodes of the first season, after Charlie X... and someone else stated that they noticed Shatner wearing a girdle, in which you can clearly tell in the aforementioned program where he is teaching Charlie Evans self defense. I say no one is at fault here by noticing weight gain, it's life, it happens.

 

[Anji]

Are you sure that's a girdle he's wearing or just flesh colored underwear? Seems to me they'd want to go with skin colored undies just in case the waistband of those pants slipped.

And yeah, he gained weight by Season 3, but look at him. He's built. Guys who are built always show their weight gain more readily, even if it's just a couple of pounds. And if it's because he quit smoking, well, good for him! Then the gain is worth it.

As far as Nimoy being skinnny, I heard he was a vegetarian? I don't know if that is true or not.

 

[Ssosmcin]

I think it's only natural to have the produceras concerned over Shatner's weight in the original series. He was, remember, supposed to be the action / romantic hero of the galaxy. Having a gut or an extra chin takes away from the stereotype of perfection Hollywood fuels to this very day. He's actually lucky he was a lead in the 60's and not 20 - 40 years later. At least up to the late 60's, actors were not required to be totally ripped with zero percent body fat. Men and women were allowed to be softer, more realistic. Slender with muscles, but not chiseled.

Shatner's actual weakness was his skinny chicken legs. :-)

However, in Real Life, even third season Shatner looked amazing and most men would have given their eyeteeth to look that good. The costume was the problem. Seeing Shatner in regular clothing back then was seeing a good looking guy in nice shape.

 

[Cakes488]

I've always wondered why they did not give him a bigger uniform. His tunics always seemed far tighter than everyone else's. That had to be intentional.

Yes and thank God for that intent!

 

[Iowagirl]

I've always wondered why they did not give him a bigger uniform. His tunics always seemed far tighter than everyone else's. That had to be intentional.

Yes and thank God for that intent!

Yep, you're absolutely right... Here's to tight tunics!

 

[Kirk1980]

You girls are....nuts!:P

But yeah, I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm 5'10", I workout but I still have a gut.

There's also another line from Solow/Justman's book in which they mentioned how mortified Shatner was when shown evidence of his weight gain. Give the guy even more credit that he then would diet and exercise to lose it.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Y'all are leaving out one critical bit of information.

Velour shrinks when dry cleaned. Every time it's dry cleaned. Which the costumes were, every night. Compare the slightly baggy look in "The Corbomite Maneuver" with the snug fit of "Operation: Annihilate!"

So, combine Shatner's putting on a few pounds with a constantly shrinking wardrobe, and you have a nice case of exaggerated weight gain.

You want a shocker, check out the episode of "Boston Legal" where Denny wrestles Alan. Shatner in wrestling tights now is a far cry from his barechested scenes in the good ol' days. *shudder*

 

[Timewalker]

Speaking of Denny Crane, somebody made this on I Can Has Cheezburger?

Quite a good resemblance, I'd say!

 

[AtoZ]

Even at his worst Shatner always had a nice v-taper. Sorry, despite how puffy his face became at points in the series he had an admirable physique. He may not have been Robert Conrad but he wasn't Raymond Burr either.

 

[Captain Robert April]

It would've been a kick to see Robert Conrad do a guest spot as a crazed Starfleet Marine colonel.

Hey, there's an idea for a Phase II episode...