Star Trek: The Original Series Cast Then vs Now: Who Is Still Alive?

A look at the main cast of Star Trek's USS Enterprise crew from the 1966 show and what they've been up to since.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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The article examines the main cast of Star Trek: The Original Series, including William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Walter Koenig, and provides updates on their lives and careers after the iconic show ended its run in 1969. It also includes details on the passing of some of the cast members over the years.

Why it matters

Star Trek: The Original Series laid the foundation for the entire Star Trek franchise, introducing some of the most beloved characters in science fiction history. Exploring what happened to the main cast members after the show's cancellation provides insight into their lives and careers, as well as the lasting impact of their iconic roles.

The details

The article covers the post-TOS lives and careers of the main cast members. William Shatner continued to play Captain Kirk in the Star Trek film series and took on other acting roles, while also becoming a musician and space tourist. Leonard Nimoy directed several Star Trek films and pursued fine art photography later in life. DeForest Kelley and James Doohan struggled to find success outside of their Star Trek roles. Nichelle Nichols partnered with NASA to recruit women and minorities into the space program. George Takei became a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist, and Walter Koenig carved out a successful acting and writing career, including on Babylon 5.

  • Star Trek: The Original Series aired for 3 seasons and a total of 79 episodes on NBC between 1966 and 1969.
  • NBC cancelled the show in 1969 due to declining ratings and a difficult time slot.
  • Leonard Nimoy passed away on February 27, 2015 at the age of 83.
  • DeForest Kelley passed away on June 11, 1999 at the age of 79.
  • James Doohan passed away on July 20, 2005 at the age of 85.
  • Nichelle Nichols passed away on July 30, 2022 at the age of 89.

The players

William Shatner

Played the role of James T. Kirk and is alive at the age of 94. After TOS, Shatner had headlined the Star Trek film series and even directed Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. He has also had roles in other TV shows like Boston Legal and T.J. Hooker, and became the oldest person to fly in space on a Blue Origin suborbital flight in 2021.

Leonard Nimoy

Portrayed Spock in TOS and passed away at the age of 83 on February 27, 2015. He continued to play Spock for subsequent decades, including in J.J. Abrams' Kelvin Timeline. He also directed Star Trek III and Star Trek IV, and pursued fine-art photography in the 1990s.

DeForest Kelley

Played Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy and passed away at the age of 79 on June 11, 1999. He found it difficult to transition outside of Star Trek after being typecast in The Original Series, and his main screen work became reprising McCoy in The Animated Series and the first six feature films.

James Doohan

Known for his role as Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott and passed away at the age of 85 on July 20, 2005. Like Kelley, he was also typecast into his role and found it difficult to land roles outside Star Trek, though he reprised the role of Scotty for the films and guested on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Nichelle Nichols

Famous for the character Lt. Nyota Uhura and passed away at the age of 89 on July 30, 2022. She appeared in the original film series as Uhura, and also partnered with NASA on the Women in Motion program to recruit women and minorities into the space program.

George Takei

Played the fan favourite role of Lt. Hikaru Sulu and is alive at the age of 88. He had a successful acting career, returning as Sulu in the films, games and animated projects, and also became a prominent LGBTQ+ rights activist in the United States.

Walter Koenig

Was a core member of The Original Series as Ensign Pavel Chekov and is currently alive at the age of 89. He fought against being typecast in the role and carved out his own path as an actor and director, including writing for other series like Land of the Lost and The Powers of Matthew Star.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The cast of Star Trek: The Original Series left an indelible mark on popular culture, with many of the actors continuing to be closely associated with their iconic roles even decades later. While some struggled to find success outside of Star Trek, others were able to forge their own paths in acting, writing, activism, and other pursuits. The enduring legacy of TOS and its memorable characters is a testament to the show's lasting impact on science fiction and television.