‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ Stars Have Never Received Residuals

The stars of one of the most seminal science fiction television series of all time have never received residuals for their work on the series.

William Shatner, who played the iconic Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek: The Original Series, said that he and his co-stars were ahead of their time when it comes to long-term payments for television work.

“The series Star Trek that I was in, was so early on, there were no residuals. So none of us ever have received residuals,” Shatner told IGN in an interview meant to promote the 35th-anniversary theatrical return of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn. “That came into being about three years later.”

Star Trek: The Original Series aired from 1966 to ’69, during an era when the idea of television episodes having long-term value seemed far-fetched. It wasn’t long after the series went off that the television industry underwent implemented reforms that would see actors receive payments for repeat airings of their episodes.

When Star Trek: The Original Series was canceled in 1969, most of the cast thought that was the end for the series. However, a decade later in 1979, the cast reassembled for Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The film was divisive at the time and once again left the cast believing their time on the Enterprise was over.

The cast was given another chance to shine on the big screen in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, which saw Ricardo Montalban reprise his role as Star Trek: The Original Series villain Khan Noonian Singh. Despite Shatner’s initial apprehension about bringing Khan back, Star Trek II led to four more movies featuring The Original Series cast.