Actor William Shatner is best known for portraying the role of Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. Shatner’s popularity as the character was only rivaled by Leonard Nimoy’s Spock from the original series. While the roles turned the co-stars into household names, the sci-fi series also left them with permanent damage.
During the filming of an episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, Shatner and Nimoy were caught in an on-set accident that damaged their hearing. As a result, the duo reportedly suffered from a nearly incurable condition. Here is what happened during the filming of one famous Star Trek episode that left Shatner and Nimoy with permanent damages.
One Star Trek explosion left William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy with permanent hearing damage
William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy originated the roles of Captain Kirk and Spock on Star Trek: The Original Series, which premiered in 1966. The series lasted for three seasons, airing 79 episodes, with nearly every one of them proving to be a classic.
However, the eighteenth episode of season 1, titled Arena, was particularly damaging for Shatner and Nimoy. During an interview, Shatner revealed that while filming a scene with Nimoy, the two stood too close to a stage prop that was meant to explode.
My tinnitus began while I was filming a Star Trek episode Arena. I was standing too close to a special effects explosion and it resulted in tinnitus.
Shatner made the above comment (via the American Tinnitus Association), explaining the on-set accident with explosives resulted in his hearing being permanently damaged.
In a later appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, Shatner confirmed that his, co-star Nimoy was also affected by the incident. While Shatner has tinnitus in his left ear, Nimoy, who sadly passed away in 2015, had the same condition of hearing a constant ringing sound in his right ear.
William Shatner revealed how tinnitus affected him for years
After the on-set incident left Shatner with hearing trouble, the actor was diagnosed with tinnitus, a condition usually associated with hearing loss and decreased comprehension of speech. As a result, Shatner opened up about his struggles in a chat with the Baltimore Sun.
The cycle of fear that it won’t go away and it will drive you crazy — or worse.
Shatner, who will turn 94 this month, made the above comment, explaining how the incident had caused permanent damage to his hearing.
Following his diagnosis, Shatner became vocal about the condition and sought medical treatment that improved his condition. As a result, Shatner has been an advocate for raising awareness about tinnitus for almost two decades. The Boston Legal actor also encouraged others with the same condition not to despair, reassuring them that its effects could be minimalized.
Star Trek: The Original Series is streaming on Paramount+.
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