Editing James T. Kirk

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{{Short description|Character in the Star Trek media franchise}}
{{Redirect|James Kirk}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2013}}
{{Infobox character
| series = [[Star Trek]]
| image = William Shatner Star Trek.JPG
| caption = [[William Shatner]] as Kirk in a publicity photograph for ''Star Trek: The Original Series''
| first_major = [[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]
| first_minor = [[The Man Trap]]
| first_date = 1966
| portrayer = {{Plainlist|
* [[William Shatner]] (1966–1994)
* [[Chris Pine]] (2009–2016)
* [[Paul Wesley]] (2022–present)
{{show|Other:|
* [[Sandra Smith (actress)|Sandra Smith]] (1969; Kirk trapped in Dr. Janice Lester's body after she forcibly swaps bodies with him)
* [[Jimmy Bennett]] (2009; child)}}}}
| creator = [[Gene Roddenberry]]
| origin = [[Iowa, United States]], Earth
| affiliation = [[United Federation of Planets]]<br />[[Starfleet]]
| position = {{ubl|Chief of Starfleet Operations|{{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701|6}}:|{{small|Commanding officer|Executive officer}}|[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)|USS ''Enterprise''-A]]:|Commanding officer}}
| title = {{ubl|Cadet|Ensign|Lieutenant|Commander|Captain|Admiral}}
| family = {{ubl|George Kirk (father)|Winona Kirk (mother)|George Samuel Kirk (brother)|Tiberius Kirk (grandfather)|James (maternal grandfather)|Aurelan Kirk (sister-in-law)|Peter Kirk (nephew)|2 other nephews}}
| children = David Marcus
| full_name = James Tiberius Kirk
| nickname = Jim
}}
'''James Tiberius Kirk''', often known as '''Captain Kirk''', is a fictional character in the ''[[Star Trek]]'' media franchise. Originally played by Canadian actor [[William Shatner]], Kirk first appeared in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' serving aboard the [[Starship Enterprise|starship USS ''Enterprise'']] as captain. Kirk leads his crew as they explore new worlds and "boldly go [[where no man has gone before]]". Often, the characters of [[Spock]] and [[Leonard McCoy|Leonard "Bones" McCoy]] act as his logical and emotional sounding boards, respectively. Kirk has also been portrayed in numerous films, books, comics, webisodes, and video games.

Kirk first appears in the ''Star Trek'' episode "[[The Man Trap]]", broadcast on September 8, 1966, although the first episode recorded featuring Shatner was "[[Where No Man Has Gone Before]]". Shatner continued in the role for the show's three seasons, and he later provided the voice of the animated version of Kirk in ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' (1973–1974). Shatner returned to the role for ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' (1979) and six subsequent films.

American actor [[Chris Pine]] portrays a young version of the character in the 2009 ''[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]'' film, ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' (2013), and in ''[[Star Trek Beyond]]'' (2016). [[Paul Wesley]] portrays Kirk on the [[Paramount+]] series ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]'', set prior to Kirk's captaincy of the Enterprise.<ref>{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Peter |title='Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Finds Its James T. Kirk With Paul Wesley |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-james-t-kirk-paul-wesley-1234979489/ |website=Deadline |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=March 15, 2022}}</ref> Other actors have played the character in fan-created media, and the character has been the subject of multiple [[Parody|spoofs]] and satires.

==Biography==
James Tiberius Kirk was born in [[Riverside, Iowa]], on March 22, 2233,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.startrek.com/database_article/james-t-kirk|title=Kirk|author=<!--Not stated-->|website=Star Trek|access-date=October 11, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313124728/https://www.startrek.com/database_article/james-t-kirk|url-status=live}}</ref> where he was raised by his parents, George and Winona Kirk.<ref>{{cite book |title=Best Destiny |author-link=Diane Carey |first=Diane |last=Carey |page=[https://archive.org/details/bestdestiny00care/page/38 38] |quote=George and Winona Kirk, and their boys, George Samuel, Junior, and James Tiberius |year=1993 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-0-671-79588-7 |url=https://archive.org/details/bestdestiny00care/page/38 }}</ref> Although born on Earth, Kirk lived for a time on [[The Conscience of the King (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Tarsus IV]], where he was one of nine surviving witnesses to the massacre of 4,000 colonists by [[The Conscience of the King (Star Trek: The Original Series)|Kodos the Executioner]]. James Kirk's brother, George Samuel Kirk, is first mentioned in "[[What Are Little Girls Made Of?]]" and introduced and killed in "[[Operation -- Annihilate!]]", leaving behind three children.<ref name="Encyc">{{cite book |title=[[The Star Trek Encyclopedia]] |first1=Mike |last1=Okuda |first2=Denise |last2=Okuda |first3=Debbie |last3=Mirek |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=0-671-53609-5 |year=1999}}</ref><ref name="GrossAltman2016">{{cite book|last1=Gross|first1=Edward|last2=Altman|first2=Mark A.|title=The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCN3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA373|date=28 June 2016|publisher=St. Martin's Press|isbn=978-1-4668-7285-1|pages=372–374|access-date=January 31, 2018|archive-date=July 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725020054/https://books.google.com/books?id=CCN3CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA373|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kirk became the first and only student at [[Starfleet Academy]] to defeat the ''[[Kobayashi Maru]]'' test, garnering a commendation for original thinking after he reprogrammed the computer to make the "no-win scenario" winnable. Kirk was granted a field commission as an ensign and posted to advanced training aboard the USS ''Republic''. He was then promoted to lieutenant junior grade and returned to Starfleet Academy as a student instructor.<ref name="Encyc"/> According to a friend, students could either "think or sink" in his class, and Kirk himself was "a stack of books with legs".<ref>{{cite episode |title=Where No Man Has Gone Before |episode-link=Where No Man Has Gone Before |series=Star Trek: The Original Series |credits=Written by [[Samuel A. Peeples]], directed by [[James Goldstone]] |network=[[NBC]] |airdate=September 9, 1966 |season=1 |number=1}}</ref> Upon graduating in the top five percent, Kirk was promoted to lieutenant and served aboard the USS ''Farragut''.<ref name="Encyc"/> While assigned to the ''Farragut'', Kirk commanded his first planetary survey and survived a deadly attack by a bizarre cloud-like creature that killed a large portion of the ''Farragut''{{'}}s crew,<ref name="Encyc" /> including his commanding officer, Captain Garrovick. Although the surviving Executive Officer disagreed, Kirk blamed himself for years for hesitating to fire his assigned weapons upon seeing the threat until a later encounter with the creature showed that firing immediately with conventional weapons would have been useless anyway.
[[File:Leonard Nimoy William Shatner Star Trek 1968.JPG|left|thumb|Publicity photo of [[William Shatner]] as Kirk, alongside [[Leonard Nimoy]] as [[Spock|Mr. Spock]]]]
Kirk became [[Starfleet]]'s youngest starship captain after receiving command of the {{USS|Enterprise|NCC-1701|6}} for a five-year mission,<ref name="Encyc"/> three years of which are depicted in the original ''Star Trek'' series.<ref name="chrono"/> Kirk's most significant relationships in the television series are with first officer [[Spock]] and chief medical officer [[Leonard McCoy|Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy]].<ref name="compendium">{{cite book |title=The Star Trek Compendium |first=Alan |last=Asherman |date=May 1, 1993 |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=978-0-671-79612-9}}</ref> McCoy is someone to whom Kirk unburdens himself and is a [[foil (literature)|foil]] to [[Spock]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Solow |first1=Herbert |author-link1=Herbert Franklin Solow |first2=Robert |last2=Justman |author-link2=Robert Justman |title=Inside Star Trek The Real Story |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |date=June 1997 |page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671896287/page/240 240] |isbn=0-671-00974-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780671896287/page/240 }}</ref> Robert Jewett and [[John Shelton Lawrence]]'s ''[[The Myth of the American Superhero]]'' describes Kirk as "a hard-driving leader who pushes himself and his crew beyond human limits".<ref name="superhero230">{{cite book |title=[[The Myth of the American Superhero]] |first1=John Shelton |last1=Lawrence |first2=Robert |last2=Jewett |isbn=978-0-8028-4911-3 |year=2002 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |pages=[https://archive.org/details/mythofamericansu00lawr_0/page/230 230] }}</ref> Terry J. Erdman and Paula M. Block, in their ''Star Trek 101'' [[Primer (textbook)|primer]], note that while "cunning, courageous and confident", Kirk also has a "tendency to ignore Starfleet regulations when he feels the end justifies the means"; he is "the quintessential officer, a man among men and a hero for the ages".<ref>{{cite book |first=Terry J. |last=Erdmann |date=September 23, 2008|title= Star Trek 101|page=3|publisher=Pocket Books/Star Trek |isbn=978-0-7434-9723-7}}</ref> Although Kirk throughout the series becomes romantically involved with various women, when confronted with a choice between a woman and the ''Enterprise'', "his ship always won".<ref name="startreklives">{{cite book|title=[[Star Trek Lives!]]|last1=Lichtenberg|first1=Jacqueline|last2=Marshak|first2=Sondra|last3=Winston|first3=Joan|date=Oct 1975|publisher=[[Transworld Publishers|Corgi]]|isbn=0-552-09914-7|location=London|author-link=Jacqueline Lichtenberg|author-link2=Sondra Marshak|author-link3=Joan Winston}}</ref>

Roddenberry wrote in a production memo that Kirk is not afraid of being fallible, but rather is afraid of the consequences to his ship and crew should he make an error in judgment.<ref name="memo">{{citation|url=http://missionlogpodcast.com/discovereddocuments/040/|title=Kirk, Spock and Other Continuing STAR TREK Characters|first=Gene|last=Roddenberry|author-link=Gene Roddenberry|date=April 18, 1968|type=memo|access-date=September 10, 2013|archive-date=August 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814060935/http://missionlogpodcast.com/discovereddocuments/040/|url-status=live}}</ref> Roddenberry wrote:

{{Blockquote|[Kirk] has any normal man's insecurities and doubts, but he knows he cannot ever show them—except occasionally in private with ship's surgeon McCoy or in subsequent moments with Mr. Spock whose opinions Kirk has learned to value so highly.<ref name="memo" />}}

In ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'', Admiral Kirk is Chief of Starfleet Operations, and he takes command of the ''Enterprise'' from Captain [[List of Star Trek characters (A–F)#D|Willard Decker]].<ref name="Encyc" /> ''Star Trek'' creator [[Gene Roddenberry]]'s novelization of ''The Motion Picture'' depicts Kirk married to a Starfleet officer killed during a transporter accident.<ref>{{cite book |title=Star Trek: The Motion Picture: A Novel |first1=Gene |last1=Roddenberry |isbn=978-0-671-25324-0 |year=1979 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |first2=Harold |last2=Livingston |first3=Alan |last3=Dean Foster |page=[https://archive.org/details/startrekthemotio00rodd/page/32 32] |quote=She had been ''perfection''--lover, friend, wife... |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekthemotio00rodd/page/32 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Star Trek: The Motion Picture: A Novel |first1=Gene |last1=Roddenberry |isbn=978-0-671-25324-0 |year=1979 |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |first2=Harold |last2=Livingston |first3=Alan |last3=Dean |page=[https://archive.org/details/startrekthemotio00rodd/page/65 65] |quote=''...what was Lori doing up here? She was dying.''...and then they were gone. The chamber was empty...."''Enterprise'', what we got back...didn't live long. Fortunately." |url=https://archive.org/details/startrekthemotio00rodd/page/65 }}</ref> At the beginning of ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'', Kirk takes command of the ''Enterprise'' from Captain Spock to pursue his enemy from "[[Space Seed]]", [[Khan Noonien Singh]]. The movie introduces Kirk's former lover Carol and his son, [[List of Star Trek characters (G–M)#M|David Marcus]]. Spock, who notes that "commanding a starship is [Kirk's] first, best destiny", dies at the end of ''Star Trek II''. In ''[[Star Trek III: The Search for Spock]]'', Admiral Kirk leads his surviving officers in a successful mission to rescue Spock from a planet on which he is reborn. Although Kirk is demoted to Captain in ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'' for disobeying Starfleet orders, he also receives command of the new ''Enterprise'', the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-A)|USS ''Enterprise''-A]] (NCC 1701-A).<ref name="Encyc" />

In ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'', [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Jean-Luc Picard]] finds Kirk living in the timeless Nexus, despite the fact that history recorded his death during the [[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)|''Enterprise''-B]]'s maiden voyage, Kirk having fallen into the Nexus in the incident that caused his "death". Picard persuades Kirk to return to Picard's present to help stop the villain Soran from destroying Veridian III's sun. Although Kirk initially refuses the offer, he agrees after realizing the Nexus cannot give him the one thing he has always sought: the ability to make a difference. The two leave the Nexus and stop Soran. However, Kirk is mortally wounded; as he dies, Picard assures him that he helped to "make a difference". Picard buries Kirk on the planet, however in [[Star Trek: Picard season 3|''Star Trek: Picard''<nowiki/>'s third season]] (2023), Kirk’s body is revealed to be stored in stasis at the Daystrom Institute by [[Section 31 (Star Trek)|Section 31]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baugher |first=Lacy |date=2023-03-23 |title=Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Episode 6 Review - The Bounty |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-picard-season-3-episode-6-review/ |access-date=2023-03-24 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Shatnerverse===
Shatner has since written a series of novels featuring Kirk being brought back to life by a [[Borg]]-Romulan alliance to serve as an assassin against Picard, but he is restored to normal and returns to provisional active service in Starfleet, including opposing his Mirror Universe counterpart.

===Kelvin Timeline===
{{Main|Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek Into Darkness|Star Trek Beyond}}
In this series of films, [[Chris Pine]] plays Kirk.

The film takes place in an alternate course of events known as the "Kelvin Timeline"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geek.com/tech/the-star-trek-movie-timeline-gets-official-name-the-kelvin-timeline-1659663/|title=The Star Trek movie timeline gets official name: the Kelvin Timeline|work= Geek.com|date=June 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423102643/https://www.geek.com/tech/the-star-trek-movie-timeline-gets-official-name-the-kelvin-timeline-1659663/ |archive-date=April 23, 2017 |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref> that reveal different origins for Kirk, the formation of his association with Spock, and how they came to serve together on the ''Enterprise''.<ref name="bglobe1">{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/05/05/a_fresh_frontier/|title=Star Trek|newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]]|access-date=May 6, 2009|date=May 5, 2009|first=Ty|last=Burr|pages=1|archive-date=May 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507070936/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/05/05/a_fresh_frontier/|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref><ref name="ewcover">{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2008/10/18/star-trek-movie-inside-scoop/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|title='Star Trek' movie: Inside scoop!|access-date=March 15, 2022|first=Jeff|last=Jensen|archive-date=February 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204064112/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20233502_4,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Whereas ''The Original Series'' portrayed Kirk as having been born in Iowa, the ''Star Trek'' film portrays him being born on a shuttle escaping the starship USS ''Kelvin'' in an alternate timeline in which his father is killed when the ''Kelvin'' is attacked by a Romulan ship from the future.<ref name="bglobe1" /> In the film, George and Winona Kirk name their son ''James Tiberius'' after his maternal and paternal grandfathers, respectively.<ref>{{cite video|quote='''Winona''': We could name him after your father. '''George''': ''Tiberius''? You kidding me? No, that's the worst. Let's name him after your dad; let's call him ''Jim''.|date=May 8, 2009|title=[[Star Trek (2009 film)|Star Trek]]}}</ref>

Although the film treats specific details from Star Trek as mutable, characterizations are meant to "remain the same"<ref name="ewcover5">{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2008/10/18/star-trek-movie-inside-scoop/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|title='Star Trek' movie: Inside scoop!|access-date=March 15, 2022|first=Jeff|last=Jensen|archive-date=February 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204082700/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20233502_5,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> though with Kirk being initially portrayed as "a reckless, bar-fighting rebel"<ref name="scifiwireabrams" /> but who eventually matures.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/24/a-chat-with-the-new-captain-kirk/|title=A chat with the new Captain Kirk|date=February 24, 2009|access-date=February 24, 2009|publisher=[[CNN]]|first=Douglas|last=Hyde|archive-date=February 27, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227102210/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/24/a-chat-with-the-new-captain-kirk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Pine, the character is "a 25-year-old [who acts like a] 15-year-old" and who is "angry at the world",<ref name="scifiwiremarch">{{cite web|url=http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/how-chris-pine-puts-his-own-spin-on-star-treks-capt-kirk.php|access-date=March 12, 2009|date=March 5, 2009|title=How Chris Pine puts his own spin on Star Trek's Capt. Kirk|publisher=Sci Fi Wire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310001717/http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/how-chris-pine-puts-his-own-spin-on-star-treks-capt-kirk.php|archive-date=March 10, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> until he enrolls in Starfleet Academy basically after being 'dared' by Captain Christopher Pike.

Kirk and Spock clash at Starfleet Academy, but, over the course of the film, Kirk focuses his "passion and obstinance and the spectrum of emotions" and becomes captain of the ''Enterprise''.<ref name="bglobe1" /><ref name="scifiwiremarch" /> He is also aided by a meeting with the time-displaced Spock of the original timeline, who inspires Kirk to live up to his full potential after learning about the parallel version of himself and his accomplishments as Captain in the elder Spock's timeline.

==Development==
===Conception and television===
[[File:William Shatner Photo Op GalaxyCon Richmond 2020.jpg|thumb|Shatner portrayed Kirk in ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' and the first seven [[List of Star Trek films|films]].]]
[[Jeffrey Hunter]] played the commanding officer of the USS ''Enterprise'', Captain [[Christopher Pike (Star Trek)|Christopher Pike]], in the rejected ''Star Trek'' [[television pilot]] "[[The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Cage]]".<ref name="Encyc" /> In developing a new pilot episode, called "[[Where No Man Has Gone Before]]", series creator [[Gene Roddenberry]] changed the captain's name to "James Kirk" after rejecting other options like Hannibal, Timber, Flagg and Raintree.<ref name="uptillnow120">{{cite book|title=Up Till Now: The Autobiography|first=William|last=Shatner|author-link=William Shatner|pages=[https://archive.org/details/uptillnowautobio00shat/page/120 120]|year=2008|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-312-37265-1|url=https://archive.org/details/uptillnowautobio00shat/page/120}}</ref> The episode title may have been inspired by Captain [[James Cook]], whose journal entry "ambition leads me ... farther than any other man has been before me" inspired the episode title,<ref>{{cite book|first=Martin|last=Dugard|author-link=Martin Dugard (author)|title=Farther Than Any Man : The Rise and Fall of Captain James Cook|isbn=978-0-7434-0068-8|date=May 22, 2001|publisher=[[Atria (publisher)|Atria]]}}</ref> and became the series catch-phrase in the opening voice-over. The character is in part based on [[C. S. Forester]]'s [[Horatio Hornblower]] hero,<ref>{{cite video|date=September 28, 1991|title=Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special|publisher=[[Paramount Pictures]]}}</ref> and [[NBC]] wanted the show to emphasize the captain's "rugged individualism".<ref>{{cite book|title=Living with Star Trek: American Culture and the Star Trek Universe|first=Lincoln|last=Geraghty|isbn=978-1-84511-265-3|year=2007|publisher=I.B.Tauris}}</ref> Roddenberry had previously used the middle name of Tiberius for the leading character in his earlier television series, ''[[The Lieutenant]]'', which was to feature several actors who would later go on to be part of the production of ''Star Trek''.

[[Jack Lord]] was [[Desilu Productions]]' original choice to play Kirk, but his demand for fifty-percent ownership of the show led to him not being hired.<ref name="startrekmemories">{{cite book|first=William|last=Shatner|author-link=William Shatner|title=Star Trek Memories|author2=Chris Kreski|isbn=978-0-06-109235-0|date=May 27, 1994|publisher=[[Harper (publisher)|Harper]]|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780061092350}}</ref> The second pilot episode was successful, and "[[Where No Man Has Gone Before]]" was broadcast as the third episode of ''Star Trek'' on September 22, 1966.

William Shatner tried to imbue the character with qualities of "awe and wonder" absent from "The Cage".<ref name="uptillnow120" /> He also drew upon his experiences as a [[William Shakespeare|Shakespearean]] actor to invigorate the character, whose dialogue at times is laden with jargon.<ref name="startrekmemories" /> Not only did Shatner take inspiration from Roddenberry's suggestion of Hornblower, but also from [[Alexander the Great]]&nbsp;– "the athlete and the intellectual of his time"&nbsp;– whom Shatner had played for an unsold television pilot two years earlier. In addition, the actor based Kirk partly on himself because "the fatigue factor [after weeks of daily filming] is such that you try to be as honest about yourself as possible".<ref name="dillard9">{{cite book|last=Dillard|first=J.M.|author-link=Jeanne Kalogridis|title=Star Trek: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" — A History in Pictures|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=1994|isbn=0-671-51149-1|pages=9}}</ref> A comedy veteran, Shatner suggested making the show's characters as comfortable working in space as they would be at sea, thus having Kirk be a humorous "good-pal-the-captain, who in time of need would snap to and become the warrior".<ref name="dillard26">{{cite book|last=Dillard|first=J.M.|title=Star Trek: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" — A History in Pictures|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=1994|isbn=0-671-51149-1|pages=26}}</ref> Changing the character to be "a man with very human emotions" also allowed for the development of the Spock character.<ref name="uptillnow120" /> Shatner wrote that "Kirk was a man who marveled and greatly appreciated the endless surprises presented to him by the universe ... He didn't take things for granted and, more than anything else, respected life in every one of its weird weekly adventure forms".<ref name="uptillnow120" />

===Films===
Shatner did not expect ''Star Trek'' to be successful,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05Shatner-t.html |title=The Many Iterations of William Shatner |page=5 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 3, 2010 |access-date=September 19, 2010 |first=Pat |last=Jordan |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209165021/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/05/magazine/05Shatner-t.html?pagewanted=5&_r=4 |url-status=live }}</ref> so when it was cancelled in 1969, he assumed it would be the end of his association with the franchise.<ref name="uptillnow">{{cite book |title=Up Till Now: The Autobiography |first=William |last=Shatner |year=2008 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-37265-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/uptillnowautobio00shat }}</ref> Following ''Star Trek's'' popularity after its cancelation, Shatner went on to voice Kirk in the animated ''Star Trek'' series,<ref name="chrono">{{cite book |title=Star Trek Chronology: The History of the Future |publisher=Pocket Books |year=1996 |isbn=0-671-53610-9 |first1=Michael |last1=Okuda |first2=Denise |last2=Okuda}}</ref> star in the first seven ''Star Trek'' films,<ref name="Encyc" /> and provide voice acting for several games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2006/08/14/william-shatner-returns-one-more-time-as-captain-kirk/ |title=William Shatner Returns One More Time As Captain Kirk |date=August 14, 2006 |access-date=January 20, 2009 |publisher=CityNews (Toronto) |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411122413/http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_2722.aspx |archive-date=April 11, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/91/ |title=Star Trek: 25th Anniversary |date=December 23, 1998 |access-date=January 20, 2009 |publisher=Adventure Classic Gaming |first=Joseph |last=Ornelas |archive-date=November 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119170852/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/91/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'' [[film director|director]] and writer [[Nicholas Meyer]], who had never seen an episode of ''Star Trek'' before he was assigned to direct,<ref name="dillard96">{{cite book |last=Dillard |first=J.M. |title=Star Trek: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" — A History in Pictures |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |year=1994 |isbn=0-671-51149-1 |page=96}}</ref> conceived a "''Hornblower'' in outer space" atmosphere, unaware that those books had been an influence on the show.<ref>{{cite book |last=Rioux |first=Terry Lee |year=2005 |title=From Sawdust to Stardust: The Biography of DeForest Kelley |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |isbn=0-7434-5762-5 |page=243}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Spotlight: Meyer Speaks Proudly of "Khan" |work=StarTrek.com |date=August 6, 2002 |url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/125294.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217140719/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/125294.html |archive-date=December 17, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date=2020-11-09}}</ref> Meyer also emphasized parallels to [[Sherlock Holmes]], in that both characters waste away in the absence of stimuli: new cases for Holmes; starship adventures for Kirk.<ref name="meyer"/>

Meyer's ''The Wrath of Khan'' script focuses on Kirk's age, with McCoy giving him a pair of glasses as a birthday present. The script states that Kirk is 49, but Shatner was unsure about being specific about Kirk's age<ref name="meyer">{{cite video |people=[[Nicholas Meyer|Meyer, Nicholas]] |date=August 6, 2002 |title=Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Directors Edition: Audio commentary |publisher=[[Paramount Pictures]] |medium=DVD; Disc 1/2}}</ref> because he was hesitant to portray a middle-aged version of himself.<ref name="twok commentary">{{cite video |people=''Star Trek'' cast and crew |date=August 6, 2002 |title=Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, The Directors Edition: Special Features |publisher=[[Paramount Pictures]] |medium=DVD; Disc 2/2}}</ref> Shatner changed his mind when producer [[Harve Bennett]] convinced Shatner that he could age gracefully like [[Spencer Tracy]].<ref name="twok commentary"/> Spock's sacrifice at the end of the film allows for Kirk's spiritual rebirth; after commenting earlier that he feels old and worn out, Kirk states in the final scene that he feels "young."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Roth |first=Lane |year=1987 |title=Death and Rebirth in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan |journal=[[Extrapolation (journal)|Extrapolation]] |volume=1 |issue=28 |page=7}}</ref> Additionally, Spock's self-sacrificing solution to the no-win ''[[Kobayashi Maru]]'' scenario, which Kirk had cheated his way through, forces Kirk to confront death and to grow as a character.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Roth |first=Lane |year=1987 |title=Death and Rebirth in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan |journal=[[Extrapolation (journal)|Extrapolation]] |volume=1 |issue=28 |page=10}}</ref>

Both Shatner and test audiences were dissatisfied that Kirk was fatally shot in the back in the original ending of the film ''[[Star Trek Generations]]''.<ref name="tngcompanion">{{cite book |title=Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion |publisher=[[Pocket Books]] |date=January 7, 2003 |last=Nemeck |first=Larry |isbn=978-0-7434-5798-9}}</ref> An addendum inserted while Shatner's ''[[Star Trek Movie Memories]]'' [[memoir]] was being printed expresses his enthusiasm at being called back to film a rewritten ending.<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Star Trek Movie Memories]] |first1=William |last1=Shatner |first2=Chris |last2=Kreski |isbn=978-0-00-638416-8 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]] |date=November 28, 1994 |author-link2=Chris Kreski}}</ref> Despite the rewrite, ''Generations'' co-writer [[Ronald D. Moore]] said that Kirk's death, which was intended to "resonate throughout the Star Trek franchise",<ref name="galacticinsights">{{Cite web|url=http://scifipulse.net/Interviews/SciFiPulse_RDMInterviewAug2006.html |title=Ron Moore Shares Some Galactic Insights |access-date=January 13, 2009 |date=August 8, 2006 |first=Ian M. |last=Cullen |publisher=Sci Fi Pulse |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080825013107/http://scifipulse.net/Interviews/SciFiPulse_RDMInterviewAug2006.html |archive-date=August 25, 2008 }}</ref> failed to "pay off the themes [of death and mortality] in the way we wanted".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://trekmovie.com/2008/06/24/exclusive-interview-ron-moore-talks-movies-past-and-future |title=Exclusive Interview: Ron Moore Talks Movies (Past and Future) |date=June 24, 2008 |access-date=January 22, 2009 |publisher=Trekmovie.com |first=Anthony |last=Pascale |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118043946/https://trekmovie.com/2008/06/24/exclusive-interview-ron-moore-talks-movies-past-and-future/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Malcolm McDowell]], whose character kills Kirk, was dissatisfied with both versions of Kirk's death: he believed Kirk should have been killed "in a big way".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://startrek.com/article/malcolm-mcdowell-killed-kirkundefined-but-hated-it-part-i |title=Malcolm McDowell Killed Kirk... But Hated It, Part I |date=June 1, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011 |work=StarTrek.com |publisher=[[CBS]] |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604111819/http://startrek.com/article/malcolm-mcdowell-killed-kirkundefined-but-hated-it-part-i |url-status=live }}</ref> McDowell claims to have received death threats after ''Generations'' was released.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://startrek.com/article/malcolm-mcdowell-killed-kirkundefined-but-hated-it-part-ii |title=Malcolm McDowell Killed Kirk... But Hated It, Part II |date=June 2, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2011 |work=StarTrek.com |publisher=[[CBS]] |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605201201/http://startrek.com/article/malcolm-mcdowell-killed-kirkundefined-but-hated-it-part-ii |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Franchise "reboot"===
[[File:Chris Pine by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|[[Chris Pine]] has portrayed an alternate reality version of Kirk in three ''Star Trek'' films since 2009.]]
In ''Star Trek'' (2009), [[screenwriter]]s [[Alex Kurtzman]] and [[Roberto Orci]] focused their story on Kirk and Spock in the movie's alternative timeline while attempting to preserve key character traits from the previous depictions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/01/13/kicking-off-2009-with-alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-part-one-star-trek/ |title=Kicking Off 2009 with Writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci – Part One: Star Trek |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=January 13, 2009 |publisher=FirstShowing.net |first=Alex |last=Billington |archive-date=January 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116231819/http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/01/13/kicking-off-2009-with-alex-kurtzman-and-roberto-orci-part-one-star-trek/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Kurtzman said casting someone whose portrayal of Kirk would show that the character "is being honored and protected" was "tricky", but that the "spirit of Kirk is very much alive and well" in Pine's depiction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ugo.com/movies/exclusive-star-trek-photo/?cur=interview |publisher=[[UGO Networks]] |access-date=January 21, 2009 |first=Jordan |last=Hoffman |title=Interview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207141950/http://www.ugo.com/movies/exclusive-star-trek-photo/?cur=interview |archive-date=December 7, 2008 }}</ref> Due to his belief that he could not take himself seriously as a leader, Pine recalled having difficulty with his audition, which required him "to bark {{'}}''Trek'' jargon'", but his charisma impressed [[film director|director]] [[J. J. Abrams]].<ref name="ewcover6">{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/article/2008/10/18/star-trek-movie-inside-scoop/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|title='Star Trek' movie: Inside scoop!|access-date=March 15, 2022 |first=Jeff |last=Jensen |archive-date=February 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204075916/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20233502_6,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Pine's chemistry with [[Zachary Quinto]], playing Spock, led Abrams to offer Pine the role.<ref name="ewcover6" /> [[Jimmy Bennett]] played Kirk in scenes depicting the character's childhood.<ref name="empireonline">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?nid=21885 |title=A Younger Capt. Kirk Cast In Star Trek |date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=January 21, 2009 |magazine=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |first=Olly |last=Richards |archive-date=December 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218213746/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?nid=21885 |url-status=live }}</ref> The writers turned to material from the novel ''Best Destiny'' for inspiration as to Kirk's childhood.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/10/17/inspirations-whole-new-enterprise/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |first=Jeff |last=Jensen |title=Inspirations for a whole new ''Enterprise'' |date=October 17, 2008 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=April 27, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427061434/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20234010,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In preparing to play Kirk, Pine decided to embrace the character's key traits&nbsp;– "charming, funny, leader of men"&nbsp;– rather than try to fit the "predigested image" of Shatner's portrayal.<ref name="chrispinevariety" /> Pine specifically did not try to mirror Shatner's cadence, believing that doing so would become "an impersonation".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/chris-pine-puts-his-own-spin-trek-s-kirk-wbna28527414 |publisher=[[Access Hollywood]] |access-date=January 13, 2009 |title=Chris Pine puts his own spin on 'Trek's' Kirk |date=January 6, 2009 |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104202724/https://www.today.com/popculture/chris-pine-puts-his-own-spin-trek-s-kirk-wbna28527414 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pine said he wanted his portrayal of Kirk to most resemble [[Harrison Ford]]'s [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]] or [[Han Solo]] characters, highlighting their humor and "accidental hero" traits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/03/10/exclusive-trek-star-reveals-captain-kirk-inspiration|title=Exclusive: Trek Star Reveals Captain Kirk Inspiration |website=[[IGN]] |first=Kaleem |last=Aftab |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=March 10, 2008 |archive-date=April 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411083226/http://movies.ign.com/articles/858/858172p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A misunderstanding arose during the film's production about the possibility of Shatner making a [[cameo appearance]].<ref name="scifiwireabrams">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/jj_abrams_defends_his_star_trek_youll_love_it |title=J.J. Abrams defends his ''Star Trek'': You'll love it! |magazine=[[Syfy|Sci Fi Wire]] |access-date=March 30, 2021 |date=January 14, 2009 |first=Fred |last=Topel |archive-date=May 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510013740/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/jj_abrams_defends_his_star_trek_youll_love_it |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Abrams, the production team considered ways to resurrect Shatner's deceased Kirk character, but could not devise a way that was not "lame".<ref name="scifiwireabrams"/> However, Abrams believed Shatner misinterpreted language about trying to get "him" into the movie as a reference to Shatner, and not his character. Shatner released a [[YouTube]] video expressing disappointment at not being approached for a cameo.<ref name="scifiwireabrams"/> Although Shatner questioned the wisdom of not including him in the film, he predicted the movie would be "wonderful"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/shatner-star-trek-15453/ |title=Shatner: Star Trek Film Diss Is Not Logical |date=November 21, 2007 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205070720/http://www.tvguide.com/news/Shatner-Star-Trek-15453.aspx |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that he was "kidding" about Abrams not offering him a cameo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvblog.ugo.com/index.php/tvblog/more/william_shatner_interview/ |title=William Shatner Interview |date=December 1, 2008 |access-date=January 25, 2009 |publisher=[[UGO Networks]] |first=Jordan |last=Hoffman |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205082057/http://tvblog.ugo.com/index.php/tvblog/more/william_shatner_interview/ |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}</ref>

=== ''Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'' ===
[[File:Paul Wesley by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg|thumb|[[Paul Wesley]] has portrayed Kirk in ''Star Trek: Strange New Worlds'' since 2022]]
Kirk also appears in ''[[Star Trek: Strange New Worlds]]'', which is set six years before the events of [[Star Trek: The Original Series|the original series]]. He first appears in the final episode of Season 1, portrayed by [[Paul Wesley]], and appeared as a recurring guest in Season 2. In this series, the ''[[USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)|Enterprise]]'' has another captain, Kirk's predecessor [[Christopher Pike (Star Trek)|Christopher Pike]], who first appeared in "[[The Cage (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Cage]]".

==Reception==
According to Shatner, early ''Star Trek'' reviewers described his performance as "wooden", with most of the show's acting praise and media interest going to Nimoy.<ref name="uptillnow" /> However, Shatner's mannerisms when portraying Kirk have become "instantly recognizable"<ref name="chrispinevariety">{{cite news |url=http://variety.com/2008/scene/people-news/chris-pine-1117994644/ |title=Chris Pine: 10 Actors to Watch|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=January 12, 2009 |date=October 24, 2008 |first=Robert |last=Abele |archive-date=October 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030065217/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117994644.html?categoryid=3289&cs=1&nid=2562 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Shatner won a [[Saturn Award for Best Actor]] in 1982 for ''The Wrath of Khan''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html#filmactor |title=Past Saturn Awards: Best Actor |work=SaturnAwards.org |publisher=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films |access-date=December 12, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511180136/http://www.saturnawards.org/past.html |archive-date=May 11, 2008 }}</ref> ''Star Trek II'' director [[Nicholas Meyer]] said Shatner "gives the best performance of his life" in ''The Wrath of Khan''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/06/10/star-trek-nicholas-meyers-explains-his-roddenberry-regret/ |title='Star Trek': Nicholas Meyer explains his Roddenberry regret |date=June 10, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2011 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Noelene |last=Clark |archive-date=June 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614203028/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/06/10/star-trek-nicholas-meyers-explains-his-roddenberry-regret/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called Pine's performance of Kirk an "unqualified success",<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/apr/21/star-trek |title=JJ Abrams' Star Trek: we have liftoff |access-date=April 22, 2009 |first=Phil |last=Hoad |date=April 21, 2009 |location=London |work=The Guardian |archive-date=May 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529233529/http://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2009/apr/21/star-trek |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' said Pine is "a fine, brash boy Kirk".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/05/05/a_fresh_frontier/?page=2 |page=2 |title=Star Trek |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |access-date=May 6, 2009 |date=May 5, 2009 |first=Ty |last=Burr |archive-date=May 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090507073953/http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2009/05/05/a_fresh_frontier/?page=2 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'', which called Pine "a jewel", described his performance as "channel[ing]" Shatner without being an impersonation.<ref name="slatereview" />

''Slate'' described Shatner's depiction of Kirk as an "expansive, randy, faintly ridiculous, and yet supremely capable leader of men, [[Falstaff]]ian in his love of life and largeness of spirit".<ref name="slatereview">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/movies/2009/05/go_see_star_trek.html |title=Go See Star Trek |last=Stevens |first=Dana |date=May 6, 2009 |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115084145/http://www.slate.com/id/2217854/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Myth of the American Superhero'' refers to Kirk as a "superhuman redeemer" who "like a true [[superhero]] ... regularly escapes after risking battle with monsters or enemy spaceships".<ref name="superhero230" /><ref name="superhero252">{{cite book |title=[[The Myth of the American Superhero]] |first1=John Shelton |last1=Lawrence |first2=Robert |last2=Jewett |isbn=978-0-8028-4911-3 |year=2002 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |page=[https://archive.org/details/mythofamericansu00lawr_0/page/252 252] }}</ref> Although some episodes question Kirk's position as a hero, ''Star Trek'' "never left the viewer in doubt for long".<ref>{{cite book |title=Enterprising Women: Television Fandom and the Creation of Popular Myth |isbn=978-0-8122-1379-9 |year=1992 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |first=Camille |last=Bacon-Smith |pages=128–129}}</ref> Others have commented that Kirk's exaggerated "strength, intelligence, charm, and adventurousness" make him unrealistic.<ref>{{cite book |title=Enterprising Women: Television Fandom and the Creation of Popular Myth |isbn=978-0-8122-1379-9 |year=1992 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |first=Camille |last=Bacon-Smith |page=97}}</ref> Kirk is described as able to find ways "through unanticipated problems to reach [his] goals" and his leadership style is most "appropriate in a tight, geographically identical team with a culture of strong leadership."<ref name="Kimmerly">{{cite web |first1=Paul |last1=Kimmerly |first2=David R. |last2=Webb |url=http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/crossTalk/2006/10/0610KimmerlyWebb.html |title=Leadership, The Final Frontier: Lessons From the Captains of Star Trek |publisher=CrossTalk: The Journal of Defense Software Engineering |date=October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023023916/http://www.stsc.hill.af.mil/crossTalk/2006/10/0610KimmerlyWebb.html |archive-date=October 23, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Although Roddenberry conceived the character as being "in a very real sense ... 'married'&nbsp;" to the ''Enterprise'',<ref name="makingstartrek">{{cite book |publisher=Ballantine Books |first1=Stephen |last1=Whitfield |first2=Gene |last2=Roddenberry |date=September 1968 |title=The Making of Star Trek |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofstartrek00whit |url-access=registration |isbn=0-345-31554-5}}</ref> Kirk has been noted for "his sexual exploits with gorgeous females of every size, shape and type";<ref name="startreklives" /> he has been called "[[promiscuity|promiscuous]]"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/14/shatner_voiceover/ |website=The Register |access-date=January 21, 2009 |date=August 24, 2006 |first=Chris |last=Williams |title=Shatner to return as Kirk |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726213454/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/14/shatner_voiceover/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and labeled a "[[Promiscuity|womanizer]]".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/entertainment/060907_star_trek.html |publisher=[[Space.com]] |access-date=January 19, 2009 |date=September 7, 2006 |first=Tariq |last=Malik |title=After 40 Years, Star Trek 'Won't Die' |archive-date=October 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008123202/http://www.space.com/entertainment/060907_star_trek.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/2008-11-14-1181078390_x.htm |title=Star Trek's Abrams beams down to Rome |date=November 14, 2008 |access-date=January 19, 2009 |first=Ariel |last=David |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |work=[[USA Today]] |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024122559/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/2008-11-14-1181078390_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Last Lecture]]'' author [[Randy Pausch]] believed he became a better teacher, colleague, and husband because he watched Kirk run the ''Enterprise''; Pausch wrote that "for ambitious boys with a scientific bent, there could be no greater role model than James T. Kirk".<ref>{{cite book |title=[[The Last Lecture]] |first1=Randy |last1=Pausch |first2=Jeffrey |last2=Zaslow |publisher=Hyperion |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-4013-2325-7}}</ref> [[David A. Goodman]] commented that Kirk "has as much reality as possible for a fictional character."<ref>{{cite web|title=Why Captain Kirk Is Still One of the Greatest Space Heroes Of All Time|url=https://gizmodo.com/why-captain-kirk-is-still-one-of-the-greatest-space-her-1731054520|first=David A.|last=Goodman|author-link=David A. Goodman|work=[[Gizmodo]]|access-date=March 15, 2022|date=September 16, 2015|publisher=[[Gawker Media]]|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919003158/http://io9.com/why-captain-kirk-is-still-one-of-the-greatest-space-her-1731054520|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, ''[[IGN]]'' ranked the character Captain Kirk, as depicted in the original series, films, and the new Kirk in 2009 film ''Star Trek'', as the number one top character of the ''Star Trek'' universe.<ref>{{Citation|title=Top 25 Star Trek Characters - IGN|date=May 8, 2009 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/08/top-25-star-trek-characters|access-date=2019-07-12|archive-date=March 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090655/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/05/08/top-25-star-trek-characters|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, Kirk was ranked as the #1 most important character of [[Starfleet]] within the ''Star Trek'' science fiction universe by ''[[Wired magazine|Wired]]'' magazine, out of 100 characters of the franchise.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/|title=Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|date=2016-09-05|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-03-20|issn=1059-1028|archive-date=March 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302002145/https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2018, ''[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]]'' ranked Kirk the best [[Starfleet]] character of ''Star Trek,'' including later television series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-starfleet-members-ranked/|title=Star Trek: The 25 Best Members Of Starfleet, Ranked|date=2018-10-27|website=CBR|access-date=2019-06-20|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620180207/https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-starfleet-members-ranked/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2019, ''[[Screen Rant]]'' ranked Kirk the 8th smartest character of ''Star Trek''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-trek-smartest-characters/|title=Star Trek: The 10 Smartest Characters, Ranked|date=2019-07-08|website=ScreenRant|access-date=2019-07-24|archive-date=July 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718201318/https://screenrant.com/star-trek-smartest-characters/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cultural impact===
[[File:Future Birthplace of Captain James T Kirk.jpg|thumb|The plaque marking [[Riverside, Iowa]], self-proclaimed as Captain Kirk's "future birthplace"]]
In 1985, [[Riverside, Iowa]] petitioned Roddenberry and [[Paramount Pictures]] for permission to "adopt" Kirk as their town's "Future Son".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2081 |title=Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk |access-date=September 9, 2008 |first1=Doug |last1=Kirby |first2=Ken |last2=Smith |first3=Mike |last3=Wilkins |publisher=Roadside America |archive-date=January 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119230723/https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2081 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shatner and Roddenberry approved the proposal.<ref name="heitland198902">{{Cite magazine |last=Heitland |first=Jon E. |date=February 1989 |title=The Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk |url=https://archive.org/stream/starlog_magazine-139/139#page/n16/mode/1up |magazine=Starlog |pages=17–18 |access-date=2020-06-19}}</ref> Paramount wanted $40,000 for a license to reproduce a [[bust (sculpture)|bust]] of Kirk, but the city instead set a plaque and built a replica of the ''Enterprise'' (named the "USS ''Riverside''"), and the Riverside Area Community Club holds an annual "Trek Fest" in anticipation of Kirk's birthday.<ref>{{cite news |first=Beverly |last=Beyette |title=A happy future birthplace hooks up with Capt. Kirk |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-05-15-0505140243-story.html |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=May 15, 2005 |access-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204101337/http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-gun1l2ebd.21may15,0,6903055.story |archive-date=December 4, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Kirk has been the subject of a wide range of television spoofs that aired in many countries, including ''[[The Carol Burnett Show]]'' and [[KI.KA]]'s ''[[Bernd das Brot]]''. [[John Belushi]]'s impression of Kirk for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', which he described as his favorite role,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/619223242.html?dids=619223242:619223242&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=May+14%2C+1978&author=Clifford+Terry&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=The+swaggering+wit+of+John+Belushi&pqatl=google|title=The swaggering wit of John Belushi|last=Terry|first=Clifford|date=May 14, 1978|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=March 12, 2009|archive-date=July 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724225401/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/619223242.html?dids=619223242%3A619223242&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS%3AAI&date=May%2014%2C%201978&author=Clifford%20Terry&pub=Chicago%20Tribune&desc=The%20swaggering%20wit%20of%20John%20Belushi&pqatl=google|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author-link=Tom Shales|last=Shales|first=Tom|author2=James Andrew Miller|title=Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live|publisher=Back Bay|year=2003|isbn=0-316-73565-5}}</ref> was "dead-on".<ref name="belushideadon">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/participant.jsp?spid=13410&apid=0|title=John Belushi|publisher=[[Turner Classic Movies]]|access-date=January 21, 2009|archive-date=June 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621032147/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/participant.jsp?spid=13410&apid=0|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Jim Carrey]] has been praised for his satire of the character in a 1992 episode of ''[[In Living Color]]''.<ref name="carreysummary">{{cite book|last=Bernardi|first=Daniel|title=Star Trek and History: Race-ing Toward a White Future|publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]]|year=1998|pages=1–2|isbn=0-8135-2466-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VO2fJMOdQ24C&pg=PA1|access-date=September 24, 2016|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803150313/https://books.google.com/books?id=VO2fJMOdQ24C&pg=PA1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB82838FB8DECDF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=As a pet detective, 'Ace Ventura' is a case of the giggles|quote=His Captain Kirk impersonation is the best yet|last=Loohauis|first=Jackie|date=February 4, 1994|work=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|access-date=March 12, 2009|archive-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620074213/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MWSB&p_theme=mwsb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB82838FB8DECDF&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|url-status=live}}</ref> Comedian [[Kevin Pollak]] is well known for his impressions of Shatner as Kirk.<ref name="pollack">{{cite web|url=http://www.louisville.com/content/comedian-kevin-pollack-improv-comedy-club|title=Comedian Kevin Pollack at The Improv Comedy Club|access-date=January 12, 2009|archive-date=June 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607083351/http://www.louisville.com/content/comedian-kevin-pollack-improv-comedy-club|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kirk's memorable scream of "Khan!" in the 1982 movie ''[[Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan]]'' has become a pop culture icon in its own right, spawning internet memes and is widely parodied and paid tribute to.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/09/05/william-shatner-star-trek-wrath-khan-cry-became-instant-legend/596472001/|title=How William Shatner's famed 'Wrath of Khan' cry became an instant 'Star Trek' legend|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=June 5, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801223327/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/09/05/william-shatner-star-trek-wrath-khan-cry-became-instant-legend/596472001/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Kirk has been referenced in the lyrics of many [[pop music|pop songs]]. Early examples include the 1979 song "[[Where's Captain Kirk?]]" by [[Spizzenergi]], the 1982 rap song "[[Tough (Kurtis Blow album)|Tough]]" by [[Kurtis Blow]], and 1983's "[[99 Luftballons]]" by [[Nena (band)|Nena]] (both German and English versions).<ref>{{cite book|title=We Could Have Been the Wombles: The Weird and Wonderful World of One-Hit Wonders|last=Bromley|first=Tom|publisher=Penguin Books|date=2006|isbn=9780141017112|page=312}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Best of the Best of Trek II|last1=Irwin|first1=Walter|last2=Love|first2=G. B.|publisher=Penguin Group (Canada)|date=1992|isbn=0451451597|page=67}}</ref> More recently, in the 2003 remix of 1998’s "[[That Don't Impress Me Much]]", [[Shania Twain]] puts forth Captain Kirk as one of the unattainable ideals to whom her unappealingly haughty suitor apparently thinks himself equal.

Kirk has been merchandised in a variety of ways, including collectible busts,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/store/news/article/127337.html|date=January 21, 2003 |access-date=January 21, 2009 |title=Sideshow Toy Immortalizes Kirk and Co. |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715005632/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/store/news/article/127337.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[action figure]]s,<ref>{{cite news |title=First look: 'Star Trek' toys boldly go nouveau |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-21-star-trek-toys_N.htm |publisher=[[Gannett Company]] |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 22, 2009 |date=January 21, 2009 |first=Mike |last=Snider |archive-date=March 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312070032/http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-21-star-trek-toys_N.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[mug]]s,<ref name="uptillnow115">{{cite book |title=Up Till Now: The Autobiography |first=William |last=Shatner |page=[https://archive.org/details/uptillnowautobio00shat/page/115 115] |year=2008 |publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-312-37265-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/uptillnowautobio00shat/page/115 }}</ref> [[t-shirt]]s,<ref name="uptillnow115" /> and [[Christmas tree]] ornaments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://corporate.hallmark.com/Multimedia/Item/The-Trouble-With-Tribbles-Hallmark-Keepsake-Ornament |title="The Trouble With Tribbles" Hallmark Keepsake Ornament |publisher=[[Hallmark Cards]] |access-date=January 21, 2009 |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003125330/http://corporate.hallmark.com/Multimedia/Item/The-Trouble-With-Tribbles-Hallmark-Keepsake-Ornament |url-status=live }}</ref> A Kirk Halloween mask was altered and used as the mask worn by the character [[Michael Myers (Halloween)|Michael Myers]] in the [[Halloween (franchise)|''Halloween'' film franchise]].<ref name="CutAbove">{{cite video |people=John Carpenter, Debra Hill, Nick Castle, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Tommy Lee Wallace |title=A Cut Above the Rest (Halloween: 25th Anniversary Edition DVD Special Features) |medium=DVD (Region 2) |location=United States |publisher=[[Anchor Bay Entertainment|Anchor Bay]] |year=2003}}</ref> In 2002, Kirk's captain's chair from the original ''Star Trek'' was auctioned for $304,000.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=September 6, 2010 |url=http://www.profilesinhistory.com/items/historic-highlights/captain-kirks-command-chair-from-star-trek-the-original-series.html |title="Captain Kirk's" command chair from Star Trek: The Original Series |publisher=Profiles in History (through Web Archive) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017135659/http://www.profilesinhistory.com/items/historic-highlights/captain-kirks-command-chair-from-star-trek-the-original-series.html |archive-date=October 17, 2010 }}</ref>

In a 2010 [[Space Foundation]] survey, Kirk tied with cosmonaut [[Yuri Gagarin]] as the No. 6 most popular space hero.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spacefoundation.org/news/story.php?id=1038 |title=Space Foundation Survey Reveals Broad Range of Space Heroes |access-date=October 27, 2010 |date=October 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723031011/http://www.spacefoundation.org/media/press-releases/space-foundation-survey-reveals-broad-range-space-heroes-early-astronauts-still?id=1038 |archive-date=July 23, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Captain Kirk has also been portrayed in feline form. First, anthropomorphically, in two episodes of the 1975 [[Filmation]] Saturday morning animated children’s series ''[[The Secret Lives of Waldo Kitty]]''. The cartoon is based around the title character’s fantasies about being various heroic felines based on popular culture icons. Later came scientific illustrator [[Jenny Parks]]' 2017 book ''Star Trek Cats'', in which Kirk is depicted as an orange [[tabby cat]].<ref name="Clyde 2017">{{cite web|author=Clyde|url=https://catwisdom101.com/star-trek-cats/|title=Star Trek For Cats|work=Cat Wisdom 101|publisher=catwisdom101.com|date=20 February 2018|access-date=25 February 2018|archive-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226152009/https://catwisdom101.com/star-trek-cats/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Nevin 2017">{{cite web|first1=Will|last1=Nevin|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/books/2017/03/the_serious_absurdity_and_purr.html|title=The serious absurdity (and purrfection) of Jenny Parks and 'Star Trek Cats'|work=[[OregonLive.com]]|publisher=[[Advance Publications]]|date=March 2, 2017|access-date=March 15, 2022|archive-date=February 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221161823/http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2017/03/the_serious_absurdity_and_purr.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Kirk (crater)|Kirk crater]] on [[Pluto]]'s moon, [[Charon (moon)|Charon]], is named after the character.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wall|first=Mike|date=August 3, 2015|title=Vader Crater, Kirk & Spock! 'Star Wars,' 'Star Trek' Collide on Pluto Moon|url=https://www.space.com/30139-pluto-charon-kirk-spock-vader-names.html|url-status=live|access-date=February 19, 2021|website=Space.com|archive-date=February 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227161353/https://www.space.com/30139-pluto-charon-kirk-spock-vader-names.html}}</ref>

===Fan productions===
In addition to television, feature films, books, and parodies, Kirk has also been portrayed in [[Star Trek canon|non-canon]] [[fan fiction]].

====''Star Trek: New Voyages''====
The ''[[Star Trek: New Voyages]]'' [[Star Trek fan productions|fan production]], known from 2008 until 2015 as ''Star Trek: Phase II'', portrays the further voyages of the original ''Enterprise'' crew. The series' creators feel that "Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest should be treated as 'classic' characters like [[Willy Loman]] from ''[[Death of a Salesman]]'', [[Gandalf]] from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' or even [[Prince Hamlet|Hamlet]], [[Othello (character)|Othello]] or [[Romeo Montague|Romeo]]. Many actors have and can play the roles, each offering a different interpretation of said character."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/faq.html |title=Star Trek: Phase II About |access-date=July 2, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111120055134/http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/faq.html |archive-date=November 20, 2011 }}</ref>

[[James Cawley]] played Kirk in most of the ten episode ''Phase II'' series from its beginning in 2004 before replacing himself with actor Brian Gross. ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' observes that while Cawley's depiction "lacks Shatner's vulnerability", the actor has enough swagger "to be passable in the role".<ref name="Wired2005" /> Cawley's portrayal was well-known enough at Paramount that a group of ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' writers called for Cawley's attention at a science fiction convention by shouting "Hey, Kirk!" at him while Shatner sat nearby.<ref name="Wired2005">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2005/12/to-boldly-go-where-no-fan-has-gone-before/ |magazine=Wired |first=Chris |last=Suellentrop |date=December 2005 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |title=To Boldly Go Where No Fan Has Gone Before |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502230534/https://www.wired.com/2005/12/to-boldly-go-where-no-fan-has-gone-before/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====''Star Trek Continues''====
First produced in 2013, the 11 episode series ''[[Star Trek Continues]]'' also looked to chronicle the "lost seasons" of ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''. The series developer and producer is anime voice actor [[Vic Mignogna]], who also plays the role of Kirk. Rounding out the core cast is fellow voice actor [[Todd Haberkorn]] as Spock, [[Chris Doohan]] (son of the original Scotty actor [[James Doohan]]) as Scotty, and as McCoy first author-producer [[Larry Nemecek]], followed by voice actor [[Chuck Huber]]. It also co-starred [[Grant Imahara]] (''[[MythBusters]]'') as Sulu.

The first episode, "[[Pilgrim of Eternity]]" (with [[Michael Forest]] reprising his role as Apollo from the original series episode "[[Who Mourns for Adonais?]]") was released in 2013. The second episode, "[[Lolani]]" (featuring guest star [[Lou Ferrigno]]), was released in February 2014, and a third episode, "[[Fairest of Them All]]" was released in June 2014 and won a [[Burbank International Film Festival]] award for "Best New Media – Drama".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Plait |first1=Phil |title="Star Trek Continues": Fan-Made Episodes Carry on the Five-Year Mission |url=https://slate.com/technology/2013/06/star-trek-continues-fan-made-episodes-carry-on-the-five-year-mission.html |website=Slate Magazine |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=June 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620074540/http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/06/07/_star_trek_continues_fan_made_episodes_carry_on_on_the_five_year_mission.html |archive-date=June 20, 2018 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.startrekcontinues.com/about-us/ "About Us" page] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120202930/http://www.startrekcontinues.com/about-us/ |date=November 20, 2013 }}, official website for ''Star Trek Continues''.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pascale |first1=Anthony |title=Exclusive: First Look And Details For 'Star Trek: Continues' Fan Series |url=http://trekmovie.com/2012/06/19/first-look-and-details-for-star-trek-continues-fan-production/ |website=TrekMovie.com |access-date=March 15, 2022 |date=June 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611080456/https://trekmovie.com/2012/06/19/first-look-and-details-for-star-trek-continues-fan-production/ |archive-date=June 11, 2018 }}</ref> ''Star Trek Continues'' also won a Geekie Award for "Best Web Series".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegeekieawards.com/the-2014-geekie-awards-nominees/ |title=The 2014 Geekie Awards Winners & Nominees |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=The Geekie Awards |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019141116/http://www.thegeekieawards.com/the-2014-geekie-awards-nominees/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On June 19, 2015, Episode 4 of the series was posted and titled "White Iris". All eleven full episodes have been released as of December, 2017.{{Portal|Speculative fiction|Television|1960s}}

==Legacy==
In October 2021, Kirk's actor from ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]'' William Shatner [[Blue Origin NS-18|flew to space]] aboard a [[Blue Origin]] sub-orbital capsule. At age 90, he became the oldest person to fly to space and one of the first 600 to do so.<ref>{{cite web|title=William Shatner to fly on Blue Origin's next human spaceflight on October 12|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/04/william-shatner-to-fly-on-blue-origins-next-human-spaceflight-on-october-12/|url-status=live|last=Etherington|first=Darrell|publisher=TechCrunch|date=October 4, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2022|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020042155/https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/04/william-shatner-to-fly-on-blue-origins-next-human-spaceflight-on-october-12/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=October 13, 2021|title=William Shatner, TV's Capt. Kirk, blasts into space|url=https://apnews.com/article/shatner-blue-origin-launch-09705724072c0ecad2674c8511f0fcab|access-date=October 13, 2021|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=October 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211013132452/https://apnews.com/article/shatner-blue-origin-launch-09705724072c0ecad2674c8511f0fcab|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Star Trek}}
* [http://www.trekfest.com Riverside Iowa's annual "Trekfest" for its "future son", James T. Kirk]
{{Memory Alpha}}

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