Before Star Trek, William Shatner Worked With Leonard Nimoy On A Classic Spy Series
Star Trek icons William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy both appeared in an episode of this 1960s spy drama, which, later, Shatner didn't even remember.
Before becoming the iconic Captain Kirk of Star Trek, William Shatner had already collaborated with Leonard Nimoy on a classic spy series. The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which aired from 1964 to 1968, featured two agents working for the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement (UNCLE). Shatner portrayed Michael Donfield, while Nimoy took on the role of Vladeck.
Their collaboration first appeared in Season 1, Episode 9, titled The Project Strigas Affair. The episode revolved around UNCLE's efforts to stop a man from escalating tensions between the East and West. Shatner and Nimoy's partnership in this episode is often regarded as the genesis of their professional relationship. However, Shatner himself didn't remember their encounter prior to Star Trek.
During a 1996 interview on Live! With Regis and Kathie Lee, Nimoy revealed their previous collaboration, mentioning that they had brief scenes together but did not interact directly. Shatner, startled by Nimoy's statement, acknowledged it and expressed his admiration for Nimoy's memory. This wasn't the last time Shatner would reveal he'd forgotten their work on The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - he made similar admissions in 2015 during an interview with StarTrek.com, expressing that Nimoy's character was just another face to him at the time.
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