Star Trek star George Takei has called his former co-star William Shatner a “cantankerous old man” and vowed this will be the last time he talks about him.
The 85-year-old actor, who played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu alongside Shatner’s Captain James T Kirk in the classic sci-fi series, has been locked in a bitter war of words with his ex-colleague for over 50 years.
Appearing on The Graham Norton Show to discuss his musical Allegiance, which is based on his childhood experience of internment in the Second World War, it appeared Takei wanted to finally put their long-running feud to bed.
Asked if it is true that he and Shatner do not get on, Takei said: “You are the last chat show host to be allowed to ask that question as it has become so tiresome to talk about.
“When Bill has a book to sell he needs publicity and accuses us of using him. My subject is more substantial and important."
Letting loose, he added: “He is a cantankerous old man and I will not talk about him anymore.
“I vow that this is the very last time I talk about him.”
Last year, when Shatner made history as the oldest person to reach space thanks to a rocket built by Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin, Takei said he was unimpressed by his former co-star’s achievements.
“He’s boldly going where other people have gone before.
“He’s a guinea pig, 90 years old and it’s important to find out what happens,” Takei told Page Six.
“So 90 years old is going to show a great deal more on the wear and tear on the human body, so he’ll be a good specimen to study.
“Although he’s not the fittest specimen of 90 years old, so he’ll be a specimen that’s unfit!”
Their bitter rivalry stems back to the 1960s, when they appeared together on the hit US sci-fi show Star Trek, with Shatner playing Captain James T. Kirk, and Takei portraying Hikaru Sulu.
The two ageing stars have bickered for years, with Takei accusing Shatner of ignoring him on the set of the hit TV show, as well as even changing the script so his character Sulu would not be promoted on the fictional Starship Enterprise.
Takei also once accused Shatner of ignoring him on set and alleging changing a script so Takei’s character Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu did not take command of the starship in an episode.
Reflecting on Star Trek and its beginnings, Takei admitted to Norton he did not think the TV show would work because he had seen many shows he loved get axed.
He said: “After the pilot episode, I was asked what I thought and I said that I didn’t think it would sell or be a lasting show because I smelt quality.
“I loved the scripts, everyone was great, it was a great idea – and every time I saw a show I really love it only lasted one season.
“How wrong I was!”
Takei went on to feature in a number of the franchise’s subsequent films as well as other series including Heroes and the US sci-fi sitcom The Neighbours.
His musical Allegiance, inspired by his personal experiences of Japanese American internment during the Second World War, played on Broadway from 2015 to 2016.
The show is set to open at London’s Charing Cross Theatre on January 7 for a limited run, with Takei reprising his lead role.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Friday at 10.45pm.
