Me and Capt. Kirk

As you know I watch a lot of classic TV and paint classic TV characters. Star Trek is high on my list of favorites. When I found out William Shatner—Capt. Kirk himself—would be at the latest Hollywood Show in Burbank, I had to go. It was worth it. I had to wait in line for an hour and a half for Mr. Shatner (or “Bill” as I call him) to arrive but the show people had everything runiing smoothly and we soon got to have him sign autographs.

I brought the portrait of him that I did a couple years ago and showed it to him so that I could say William Shatner actually saw the painting I made of him. I showed it to him and he said it was “fabulous.” He asked if I had painted it. I said yes and he said it was very good. I was on cloud 9 for the rest of the day. So far he’s the only subject of mine who’s actually seen one of my paintings.

Also in attendance that day, (July 12, 2023) was Walter Keonig (Lt. Chekov from Star Trek). I also got his autograph and has a nice chat about the one episode I actually saw first-run. I remember because we were visiting my uncle Ed at his apartement in Michigan (where I was living at the time). It was the episode “Specter of the Gun” which puts Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Chekov and Scott at the OK Coral in 1881. I told him at the time I really thought he died in that episode (until the final scene of course). Walter told me that there was an interesting story behind that episode and put his arm around me as he told me behind the scenes stuff from the show. He said it was his favorite episode. So, X number of years later I get to meet two of the people from one of my favorite shows.

As if that weren’t enough, I also met Nancy Kovack, also a guest on a Trek episode and although I already met Barbara Luna, she was there at the show too. Lots of Star Trek people. It’s amazing to think how many times over my lifetime I’ve watched those episodes. Now, in some small way I’m connected to the show.

I can’t forget Michael Forest, either was, while not at this Hollywood Show has been there in the past and I’ve spoken to him a couple times. He played Apollo from the episode “Who Mourns for Adonis?”