Wil Wheaton has a memoir coming out in April that’s already getting a lot of buzz. One story from “Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir” recounts how the actor had an unfortunate encounter with “Star Trek” legend William Shatner when he was just a teen. According to Wheaton, Shatner was rude to him but later sent him a handwritten apology.
Wheaton was 16 and playing Wesley Crusher on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” when he found out that the original “Star Trek” cast would be filming nearby, the New York Post reported. The young fan was excited yet nervous to meet one of his idols.
The “Big Bang Theory” alum recalled how he was wearing his gray “acting ensign” spacesuit when he approached Shatner.
“It took about eight steps for my confidence to evaporate,” Wheaton recalled in the book.
“So you’re the kid on that show?” Shatner asked.
“He seemed annoyed,” Wheaton continued. “My throat and mouth were dry, and my palms were sweating. My heart pounded in my ears, as I answered, ‘Uh, yes sir. My name’s Wil.’”
Wheaton claimed Shatner ignored his outstretched hand, then went on to make fun of his outfit.
“‘What is that, your spacesuit?’ he said, and made a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a cough,” the actor wrote. He recalled feeling lightheaded.
“‘I said, ‘What do you do over there?’ he asked,” Wheaton continued. “There was a challenge in his voice.”
When Wheaton said he was an acting ensign who sometimes pilots the ship, Shatner allegedly replied, “Well, I’d never let a kid come onto my bridge.’”
News of the incident spread and other actors made it a point to commiserate with Wheaton, sharing their own stories of being mocked or dismissed by Captain Kirk.
Wheaton wrote about how Brent Spiner, who played Data on “Next Generation,” told him that Shatner wore a toupee. Michael Dorn apparently offered to beat up the rude star. Jonathan Frakes, who played Capt. William Riker, said, “To hell with him.”
Then Wheaton said he was called into “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry’s office. The showrunner said, “Wil, Bill Shatner is an a**, don’t you worry about him, okay? I am so proud to have you on my show. Don’t you ever forget that.”
The “Stand By Me” star said he got an apology from Shatner the next day.
He said he found an envelope sitting on his dressing room table addressed “To Master Wil Wheaton” “From the Office of William Shatner.”
The message read, “Dear Wil, You are a fine young actor, and I would be honored to have you on my bridge any day. Sincerely yours, Bill.”
Wheaton recalled how Roddenberry called him on the phone soon after.
“‘I spoke with Bill Shatner yesterday, and he should be dropping a note off for you today,” the showrunner said.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Wheaton wrote. “Gene Roddenberry, the Great Bird of the Galaxy and creator of ‘Star Trek,’ had called WILLIAM F***ING SHATNER, Captain James T. Kirk and director of ‘Star Trek V,’ and asked him to apologize to me, Wil Wheaton, 16-year-old acting ensign and drooling fanboy.”
He concluded, “Of all the wonderful gifts Gene gave me across the years, that is one of the most fondly remembered, because I know that without Gene’s intervention that note would never have been written.”
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