Salaries of Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast - Fact vs Fiction

When it comes to the legendary Star Trek series, many fans often wonder about the salaries of the cast members. However, there are several common misconceptions, particularly surrounding the original captain of the Enterprise, Captain James T. Kirk.

Introduction

While discussions about salaries often bring up William Shatner, the actor best known as Starfleet Captain James T. Kirk, it is a fact that Shatner did not appear in any episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This is a common point of confusion, as many believe he continued his role as Captain Kirk into the Next Generation series. In reality, Shatner only appeared in the first feature film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and was not part of the cast for the subsequent series.

William Shatner's Involvement

William Shatner (1931-2023) was the original Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek series, Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS). After leaving TOS, he did not return as Captain Kirk in any of its spin-offs or sequels, including Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).

For TOS, fan accounts and media often quote his salary as around $5,000 per episode. However, this information should be approached with caution. As a senior star and veteran actor, Shatner's actual salary was likely much higher and was subject to negotiation. Such figures are rarely disclosed publicly, and specific details about Shatner's contract for TOS are not widely available.

DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, and Leonard McCoy

DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard McCoy, did appear in one episode of TNG, "Encounter at Farpoint." Similarly, James Doohan, known for his role as Montgomery Scott, also appeared in one episode, "The First Duty." Their salaries for TNG are not well-documented, but it is reasonable to assume they were well-compensated for their roles, as they were experienced actors with established careers.

James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Next Generation

Using the captain's moniker "Captain Kirk" for Star Trek: The Next Generation is a misnomer. The captain in TNG is Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart. Unlike Kirk, Picard had his own protocol and was portrayed as a different character entirely, which was intentional to differentiate the two captains and maintain continuity within the Star Trek universe.

Is There any Salary Information for Picard?

While the exact salary of Patrick Stewart for Star Trek: The Next Generation is not publicly available, it is known that the actors in TNG were well-compensated for their work. The series was highly successful and the cast was in high demand, which likely translated to significant earnings. However, specific dollar figures are not widely reported.

Conclusion

It's important to clarify the misconceptions about the roles and salaries of the Star Trek actors. William Shatner did not appear in any episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation; DeForest Kelley and James Doohan appeared in one episode each, and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) was the captain of the USS Enterprise-D throughout the series. The salaries of the actors are often speculative, and the exact figures for any of these roles are hard to find. Fans and investigators of Star Trek's history should be cautious and verify information from reliable sources.