William Shatner's First Starring TV Role Was On A Short-Lived '60s Legal Drama

On October 16, 1965, William Shatner made his first starring television appearance as assistant district attorney David Koster in the short-lived legal drama For the People. Prior to this role, Shatner had gained fame for his lead in the iconic sci-fi series Star Trek, which premiered on NBC in 1966. While For the People was Shatner's initial leading role, it was not his first foray into starring television.

Before For the People, he had appeared in various guest roles in shows like The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. For the People followed Koster's relentless pursuit of justice, often clashing with his boss and adversaries in the criminal underworld. Shatner reminisced about the series, noting that it mirrored the storyline of The Defenders, but from the prosecutor's perspective.

Despite Shatner's assertion that viewers enjoyed the show, For the People only aired for 13 episodes due to competition with the popular Bonanza. The show's low ratings and cancellation became a fortunate turn of events for Shatner, as he was then free to audition for Star Trek, which ultimately launched his unparalleled career.