Celebrate 60 Years of ‘Star Trek’ With These Rare High School Photos of the Stars Before They Were Famous
It’s impossible to overstate the influence of this series that launched the most important sci-fi franchise ever 60 years ago. After Star Trek (1966-69) hit the airwaves, we could envision a future where humanity not only survived but also thrived — together, and alongside people from other worlds.
The Starship Enterprise boldly went where no man had gone before, led by William Shatner‘s Capt. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy‘s Vulcan Mr. Spock. The series produced some of television’s finest hours, introduced us to furry little tribbles, and made the phrase “He’s dead, Jim” known throughout the galaxy. It also led to 13 films, 11 other series, and numerous books — and counting — with the latest television installment, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, following cadets in school as they become the next Starfleet officers.
In honor of the 60th anniversary of the show that started it all, we look back at how the original Star Trek stars stacked up in school. We flipped back through classic yearbooks to see what these future star travelers were like while hitting the books.
William Shatner
The future James T. Kirk spent his 1948 senior year at Canada’s West Hill High School in Montreal, Quebec. He was athletic: wrestling, skiing, and playing on the school’s rugby and football teams.
Leonard Nimoy
Pictured in his senior year in 1948, Nimoy attended Boston English High School in Massachusetts. He was also in Discussion Club and was a switchboard boy. He went on to become everyone’s favorite Vulcan, Mr. Spock.
George Takei
George Takei attended Los Angeles High School, shown here in his 1956 senior photo. Takei was very active in school, as he was part of student government, participated in track, attended leadership class, served on the senior board and was part of the Ephebian Society.
Nichelle Nichols
Later known as Uhura, Nichelle Nichols attended Englewood High School in Chicago and graduated in 1951.
James Doohan
Before James Doohan became the famous Scotty on Star Trek, he attended Sarnia Collegiate Institute and Technical High School located in Ontario, Canada. He was in the Boys’ Athletic Association and played basketball. Here he is pictured in his 1938 junior year photo.
Walter Koenig
Walter Koenig, pictured during his senior year in 1954, attended Fieldston School in Bronx, New York. He was co-captain of the track team and also played basketball. He went on to star as Ensign Pavel Chekov.
Majel Barrett
Before becoming nurse Christine Chapel and the future Mrs. Roddenberry, Majel Barrett attended Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Pictured is her senior photo from 1950.
Gene (Eugene) Roddenberry
The Star Trek creator is pictured in his senior photo from 1939. Gene Roddenberr attended Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles. After graduating, he joined the United States Army Air Corps and was stationed at Goodfellow Field in San Angelo, Texas.
Grace Lee Whitney
Best known as Yeoman Rand in the original series, Grace Lee Whitney is here in her 1948 senior-year picture. Whitney attended Thomas M. Cooley High School located in Detroit, Michigan.
Ted Cassidy
The 6-foot-9-inch star is probably best known as Lurch from The Addams Family, but Ted Cassidy also appeared in three episodes of Star Trek. Here he is in his sophomore year of college in 1951 at John B. Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Fun fact: He was also a lifeguard!
Hollywood Yearbook
September 2020
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