'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds': Where is the cast of the original Star Trek now?

From William Shatner to DeForest Kelly, let's find out where the cast from the original series are today
Original cast members, clockwise from top left, Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelly, Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner (L). A still (R) from 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' (IMDb and Paramount+)
Original cast members, clockwise from top left, Nichelle Nichols, DeForest Kelly, Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner (L). A still (R) from 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' (IMDb and Paramount+)

CBS Studios' 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' starring Anson Mount is the tenth Star Trek spin-off series, overall. The story revolves around the crew of Starship USS Enterprise, determined to explore the space and embarks on a five-year mission to go where 'no man has gone before'. Running for over 50 years with a loyal fanbase, the show was a hit from its very inception and even left world leaders like Martin Luther King impressed with its visionary plotlines.

It's an enticing series that neatly falls into the sci-fi adventure genre. The show left no stone unturned in using the public's enthusiasm about space travel to tackle war, racism, and the issues with eugenics with its plotlines. It also depicted the aspirational stages of human achievement when it comes to space research and travel.

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What is 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' all about

This new series of Star Trek makes us travel back to the USS Enterprise under the watch of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Captain Kirk’s predecessor, suggesting Starfleet used to make leadership decisions primarily on bone structure. Captain Pike is still tired from his Discovery incident, finding out the cause of his death 10 years in the future. Taking over from there on are Pike’s second-in-command Una “Number One” Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn) and Baby Spock (Ethan Peck), who take on the responsibility of manning the Enterprise.

A still from 'Star Trek: strange new worlds' (Paramount+)

This new series shows the journey of Captain Pike and his crew of the USS Enterprise as they embark on the fearless venture of finding different alien species. The new show can be seen as a flashback of events that take place before 'Star Trek: The Original Series'.

Where is the cast of the original 'Star Trek' now?

Now that we know the legacy of this show, let's dive a little deeper to find out where the original cast members are now.

1. William Shatner
William is famous for his role as Captain James T Kirk of the USS Enterprise in the Star Trek franchise. He began his career in Canadian films and television productions. After his debut in the 'Star Trek', he began writing books on his experiences about starring in the 'Star Trek' series. As of now, William is 90 and is still active in showbiz. He is currently promoting his new comedy film called 'Senior Moment'.

William Shatner (IMDb)

2. Leonard Nimoy
Leonard became an instant fan favorite when he played the role of half-Vulcan Spock in 'Star Trek'. He was celebrated for his portrayal and was a favourite with children and adults alike. Unfortunately, Leonard died at 83 in his home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.

Leonard Nimoy in 'Star Trek' (Encyclopedia Britannica)

3. DeForest Kelley
This talented man was known as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the USS Enterprise in the beloved franchise. A man of spirit, he wrote poetry and loved watching his pet turtle play. Kelley was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1997, which subsequently led to his death on June 11, 1999.

4. James Doohan
James is well-known among the people for his famous role as Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the series. His character was the chief engineer of the Starship Enterprise. Unfortunate events led to his sad demise after he had long suffered from complications from pneumonia and Alzheimer's Disease. He was 85 when he passed away in his home in Washington.

5. Nichelle Nichols
This American actress is well established for her role in the star trek series as she played Nyota Uhura. She was also employed by NASA to recruit new astronauts in the late 1980s. Nichelle's current physical and mental health conditions are not known. But she currently resides in her LA home and has been living under a conservatorship since 2018.

6. Walter Koenig
Walter, the American actor and screenwriter, rose to fame in the late 1960s with his role as Ensign Pavel Chekov in 'Star Trek: The Original Series'. His Russian-Jewish ancestry helped him with his role and his accent immediately attracted people's attention. Of late, he has been appearing in several TV shows as an actor and has no plans to retire anytime soon.

Walter Koeing (IMDb)

7. George Takei
George Takei debuted in the 'Star Trek' series as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the fictional starship USS Enterprise. Born in LA, he's a Japanese-American who started his career in the late 1950s. He has been involved in various activities and projects and is a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign "Coming Out Project". He is one of the few prominent actors who has always been outspoken about his sexuality and is a highly visible and vocal LGBTQ+ advocate.

8. Grace Lee Whitney
This beautiful American actress played the role of Janice Rand in the series and that saw her career skyrocket after that. She played Captain Kirk's sometime love interest in the sci-fi adventure series. Unfortunately, she passed away at the age of 85 in her home in Coarsegold due to natural causes.

9. John Winston
This handsome man was well-known for his role as Lieutenant Kyle, the Transporter Chief and occasional bridge officer in the original series. This was one of his major contributions to popular culture. John passed away in September 2019 at the age of 91.

10. Eddie Paskey
This American actor became a well-established star because of his role in the 'Star Trek' series, where he played Lieutenant Leslie between 1966 to 1968. His stint in the series was short but prominent. He was born in Delaware, USA, and passed away on August 17th, just days before his 82nd birthday.

Eddie Paskey (imdb)

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Catch the latest series of 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' exclusively on Paramount +

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