Three years before William Shatner took on the role of Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series, he played a somewhat ironic character in a classic episode of Kirk remains one of Star Trek's most important characters today.

Throughout Star Trek: The Original Series and seven feature films, Captain Kirk explored the galaxy alongside Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley). With his adventurous spirit and easy charm, Captain Kirk became one of Starfleet's most celebrated and accomplished captains. Kirk loved exploring strange new worlds, and he faced the unknown without fear. Kirk didn't have many fears on Star Trek, and he certainly was not afraid of flying, unlike his most famous Twilight Zone character.

William Shatner Played A Man Afraid Of Flying In The Twilight Zone's "Nightmare At 20,000 Feet," 3 Years Before Star Trek

Captain Kirk, Afraid Of Flying?

In The Twilight Zone season 5, episode 3, "Nightmare At 20,000 Feet," William Shatner portrays Robert Wilson, a man with a fear of flying. Around six months before the events of the episode, Wilson had suffered a nervous breakdown on a plane and was sent to a psychiatric facility. While on another flight with his wife, Wilson sees a strange monster on the plane's wing. But whenever he tells his wife or a flight attendant about the creature, it hides.

3-Years-Before-Star-Trek-Made-Him-Famous,-William-Shatner-Starred-In-One-Of-The-Greatest-Horror-Episodes-Of-All-Time
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Star Trek's William Shatner appeared on this other classic sci-fi series three years before he took over command of the Enterprise as Captain Kirk.

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When the monster appears to be sabotaging the plane, Wilson steals a revolver from a sleeping police officer, opens an emergency exit, and shoots at the creature. The monster falls from the wing, but still no one else sees it. When the plane lands, Wilson is carted off for another stay in a psychiatric facility, but the episode's final scene reveals the monster caused real damage to the plane. Around three years after this iconic Twilight Zone episode, William Shatner became James Kirk, captain of the USS Enterprise.

Commanding a starship comes with a lot more danger than flying on a enger plane, and Kirk encountered aliens more frightening than the Twilight Zone creature.

It's somewhat ironic that Shatner would play a man afraid of flying just three years before becoming captain of one of the most famous space ships of all time. Although Robert Wilson is clearly terrified of the creature on the plane, he continues to fight it even when no one else believes it exists at all. This displays a certain level of courage, although it's hard to imagine Wilson exploring new worlds or taking on the Klingons with as much enthusiasm and bravery as Kirk.

William Shatner Isn't The Only Original Star Trek Actor Who Had Previously Appeared On The Twilight Zone

Leonard Nimoy, James Doohan, & George Takei Also Visited The Twilight Zone

Before "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," William Shatner had starred in another Twilight Zone episode, season 2's "Nick of Time." In this episode, Shatner portrays a man who visits a strange diner and encounters a seemingly accurate fortune-telling machine. But Shatner wasn't the only famous Star Trek actor who appeared in The Twilight Zone. Mr. Spock, aka Leonard Nimoy, appeared in the season 3 episode, "A Quality of Mercy," as an American soldier during WWII. The story centers on Lt. Katell (Dean Stockwell), who orders his men to attack helpless Japanese soldiers before he inexplicably switches places with the Japanese squadron leader.

Star Trek Actors in The Twilight Zone
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Every Star Trek TOS Actor Who Appeared On The Twilight Zone

Star Trek and The Twilight Zone were two iconic TV shows of the 1960s, and they also shared a wealth of cast , including William Shatner.

James Doohan, who of course portrayed Lt. Scotty on Star Trek, popped up in The Twilight Zone season 4 episode, "Valley of the Shadow," as Johnson, a resident of a mysterious small town harboring extraterrestrial secrets. George Takei, who would later appear as Star Trek's Mr. Sulu, starred as Arthur Takamori in the Twilight Zone season 5 episode "The Encounter." This episode tackles complex issues of race and features a truly captivating performance from Takei. In addition to these main characters, over fifty actors of the 1950s and '60s guest-starred on both Star Trek: The Original Series and The Twilight Zone.