Shatner Inducted Into TV Academy Hall of Fame

William Shatner was inducted this month into the TV Academy Hall of Fame, feted by such celebrities as California's first lady Maria Shriver and actress Lucie Arnaz, daughter of Desilu founders and past Hall of Fame honorees Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Arnaz hosted the ceremony, but it was Shatner's wife Elizabeth who introduced Shatner, according to StarTrek.com. "I married an icon, and now a legend," Elizabeth Shatner said, telling the audience that she was honoured to have been asked to do the presentation though she is more comfortable working with horses than entertainment executives.

"You are my inspiration, and an inspiration to others," Elizabeth told Bill. "You set an example of constant determination towards excellence, always moving forward through the day with joy and excitement and extreme time-management skills." Elizabeth Shatner singled out Star Trek fans whose "support is never-ending" among those whom William Shatner has inspired.

A video tribute to Shatner's career covered his most recent shows, Boston Legal and Show Me the Money, as well as Star Trek and T.J. Hooker. Shatner himself explained that he was interested in acting from the time he made an audience cry at the age of six, though he was fired as a theatre staff member "for losing tickets and general incompetence." He said that if he knew he would remain successful for so long, "I'd have taken better care of myself. Or spoken up for residuals."

Arnaz mentioned the role Desilu had played in Shatner's career, since Star Trek was a Desilu production which Ball refused to cancel because she liked it. She is married to Laurence Luckinbill, who played Spock's brother Sybok in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, which Shatner directed.

The full article is at StarTrek.com.

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