10 Things You Might Not know About WILLIAM SHATNER

Geek.... Dave.... reveals 10 things... you may... not... know.... about William Shatner.

1. If you've seen the movie Galaxy Quest then you know it was, of course, a parody on Star Trek, its fandom and geek culture in general, with Tim Allen's character of Jason Nesmith being loosely based on William Shatner and Captain Kirk. There is a scene when Tim Allen is in the men's room and overhears how all his co-stars can't stand him, this mirrors an actual event in William Shatner's life. For years he refused to attend Star Trek conventions, feeling they were beneath him, but after changing his mind, in one of his early convention appearances, Shatner discovered the exact same thing about himself and his co-stars in very similar circumstances.

2. Although he claims not to remember meeting him then, Shatner first appeared on screen with Leonard Nimoy when he guest-starred in a 1964 episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

3. Shatner's states that his favorite episode of Star Trek was “The Devil in the Dark.”

4. Shortly after Star Trek was canceled, Shatner's then wife Gloria Rand left him and took a lot of money with her. With very little cash and his acting prospects low, he lived in a pick-up truck camper in the San Fernando Valley, until continually acting in bit parts led into higher-paying roles.

5. In 1978 Shatner did a spoken word cover of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” during the Science Fiction Film Awards. And it is simply glorious...

6. This wasn't the start of Shatner's 'musical career'. In 1968 he released an album titled The Transformed Man, featuring his rendition of Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. He has followed this up with four more albums including the 2004 release Has Been, produced by Ben Folds and featuring a cover of Pulp's Common People!

7. According to Debra Hill (producer and screenwriter for the 1978 horror film Halloween), a Halloween mask in Shatner's likeness was painted white and used as the mask for Michael Myers in the original Halloween.

8. Whilst filming Star Trek III: The Search For Spock production was shut down after a fire destroyed several sound stages, and caused damage to the set of the Genesis planet. Shatner, in full Kirk uniform, was amongst the people who helped fight the blaze until fire and rescue teams arrived. He later revealed that his act was not at all heroic, but entirely self-motivated. He was due to resume filming a new season of TJ Hooker as soon as The Search For Spock wrapped, and with the production already over schedule he was in danger of not turning up for the first day of shooting on his hit TV show - and losing an additional income!

9. In 2004 Shatner photographed playmate Deanna Brooks for Playboy magazine...