William Shatner commanded the stage at Calgary Expo on Saturday afternoon, trading tales of on-set chaos and celebrity hijinks that had fans roaring with laughter at the BMO Centre.
The 95-year-old icon, best known for three decades commanding the USS Enterprise as Captain James Kirk, steered conversation away from Star Trek's future and instead delighted the packed ballroom with stories spanning his legendary career — from sabotaging co-star Leonard Nimoy's bicycle to a particularly memorable incident involving fermented fish and football legend Terry Bradshaw.
Speaking comfortably from his seat on the sprawling stage, Shatner painted vivid pictures of chaos on set, including wild moments from the 2016 reality television series Better Late Than Never, which followed the actor and four celebrity companions as they travelled across the globe.
The Fermented Fish Incident That Started It All
One story that had the crowd captivated involved a mysterious can of fermented fish that opened during filming, releasing what Shatner described as a rancid explosion so powerful that one cameraman immediately turned away to "projectile vomit."
Never one to miss an opportunity, Shatner seized the moment to escalate an ongoing friendly competition with Bradshaw, the four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.
"He made an abrupt left-hand turn, thinking he was still a football player, but he came out of his shoes and fell to the ground," Shatner recalled with evident delight. "I jumped on him and wiped his bald pate with a fermented fish."
The actor explained that Stockholm police had previously informed him that decomposing bodies, after two weeks, emit an odour remarkably similar to fermented fish — a detail that somehow made the prank even more memorable.
A Bond Beyond Spock
When discussing his legendary chemistry with Leonard Nimoy, who played the iconic Spock, Shatner's affection was unmistakable.
"Had he been a girl, I would have married him," Shatner said to knowing laughter from the audience.
The two once engaged in an unlikely competition to reach the commissary fastest during Star Trek filming — a rivalry born from the creative tension that defined their on-screen partnership.
Throughout the appearance, Shatner occasionally needed assistance from the enthusiastic crowd, including help remembering Stockholm's name, but his storytelling prowess and comedic timing remained as sharp as ever. The afternoon demonstrated why, nearly a century into his life, Shatner continues to captivate audiences with the same charisma that made him a television icon.
This story is based on reporting from The Globe and Mail.