William Shatner: 'I Lived Out Of The Back Of My Truck' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-15-2008, 10:48 PM

William Shatner lived out of his pick-up truck when his stint on Star Trek ended because he couldn't afford to stay in a hotel. After years of playing Captain James T. Kirk on the hit sci-fi series, his divorce from first wife Gloria Rand cost him dear and left him homeless.

He tells Details magazine, "It was the early 1970s and I was recently divorced. I had three kids and was totally broke. I managed to find work back east on the straw-hat circuit (low-paying theatre productions), but couldn't afford hotels, so I lived out of the back of my truck, under a hard shell.

"It had a little stove, a toilet, and I'd drive from theatre to theatre. The only comfort came from my dog, who sat in the passenger seat and gave me perspective on everything. Otherwise, it would have just been me counting my losses."

Shatner eventually landed a series of TV guest spots before his fortunes took a turn for the better in 1973 when "Star Trek" returned to TV and helped make the actor a household name.

tv star collector · 01-16-2008, 08:53 AM

Very interesting. I never knew that.

01-15-2008, 10:48 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	William Shatner: 'I Lived Out Of The Back Of My Truck' William Shatner lived out of his pick-up truck when his stint on Star Trek ended because he couldn't afford to stay in a hotel. After years of playing Captain James T. Kirk on the hit sci-fi series, his divorce from first wife Gloria Rand cost him dear and left him homeless. He tells Details magazine, "It was the early 1970s and I was recently divorced. I had three kids and was totally broke. I managed to find work back east on the straw-hat circuit (low-paying theatre productions), but couldn't afford hotels, so I lived out of the back of my truck, under a hard shell. "It had a little stove, a toilet, and I'd drive from theatre to theatre. The only comfort came from my dog, who sat in the passenger seat and gave me perspective on everything. Otherwise, it would have just been me counting my losses." Shatner eventually landed a series of TV guest spots before his fortunes took a turn for the better in 1973 when "Star Trek" returned to TV and helped make the actor a household name.
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01-16-2008, 08:53 AM	#2
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	Very interesting. I never knew that.