William Shatner is being honoured with this year’s ‘Legacy Award’ from Ontario’s Stratford Festival.
Before becoming Captain James T. Kirk, Shatner was a member of the Shakespearean theatre company for three years, from 1954 until 1957.
According to Stratford lore, Shatner understudied for Christopher Plummer in ‘Henry V’ in 1956 and became an “overnight sensation”.
Christopher Plummer, who like Shatner was born and spent his childhood in Montreal, was honoured with the first Legacy Award in 2011. Christopher Plummer was a member of the company for 12 seasons beginning in 1956.
Dame Maggie Smith was honoured with the award last year. She was a member of the company from 1976 until 1980.
In a press release issued today, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino said, “it gives us great pleasure to pay tribute to William Shatner and his legacy at the Stratford Festival. We look forward to creating a tribute worthy of his illustrious career.”
In the same press release Shatner said, “I am proud and happy to be a Canadian and proud and happy to receive this Canadian award.”
William Shatner has a new album to be released in October, called ‘Ponder the Mystery’ and his one-man show; ‘Shatner’s World’, will air on the Movie Network and Movie Central on October 27th.
The ‘Legacy Award’ gala will take place in Toronto on October 21st.
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