Biographic - Sunday July 10, 2016 Comic Strip Licensing and Permissions

Transcript

The TV western "Wagon Train" inspired writer Gene Roddenberry to create a series with a sci-fi space exploration theme. Seasoned character actor Leonard Nimoy took the role of Spock on "The Cage" the 1965 pilot for the "Star Trek" tv series. The three weeks, work was the longest acting job he'd had in 17 years. Jeffrey Hunter, played the lead role of Captain Christopher Pike in that pilot. The character was replaced for a second pilot, and the subsequent series, by Captain JAmes T. Kirk, played by canadian-born William Shatner, who had earlier turned down the lead role in the successful "Dr Kildare" TV series. Deforest Kelley, who had starred as Morgan Earp in the classic western movie "Gunfight At The O.K. Corral" and had originally been considered for the Spock role, was cast as ship's medical officer, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. Ironically, the show now considered the greatest cult series TV history faded poorly in the ratings, and was axed after its third year in 1969. "Star Trek" thrived in syndication and soon developed a devoted following of "Trekkies" an animated series ran for two seasons, winning an Emmy award in 1975. The phenomenal success of the 1977 movie "Star Wars" paved the way for a film adaptation, and 1979's "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" was the first of six movies that continued the adventures of the original cast. The "Star Trek" universe continued to expand. In 1987, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" debuted on tv screens, with Skakespearean actor Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Hugely successful, it ran for seven seasons and spawned four movies, as well as further tv shows "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Star Trek: Enterprise." The franchise has spawned books, video games and even a themed attraction in Las Vegas. 2009's big-budget movie "Star Trek" went back to the roots, casting Chris Pine as Kirk and "Heroes" star Zachary Quinto as Spock. This was followed four years later by "Star Trek Into Darkness" and now the latest in the series, next month's "Star Trek Beyond." the Star Trek movies have received 15 oscar nominations to date.

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