Grinning as he was asked whether he understands Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards’s desire to die while playing his hits, Shatner reacted: ‘Yes. In the one-man-show, I refer to Dick Shawn, a great comic who dropped dead of a heart attack on stage, and people thought he had done a prank call and they continued to laugh.
‘And my line there is, that is the way I want to go…not tonight.’
He also reflected on the retirement announcement of friend Neil Diamond, who revealed he was leaving live work on doctors’ advice because of Parkinson’s disease.
Shatner added: ‘I am really sad about Neil. I was there at the Hollywood Bowl when he recorded The Hot August Night. I am very sad to hear he won’t tour anymore, because of a condition.
‘I understand that I tour a lot myself with a one-man-show, and this year I am going out in something else.
‘And touring is debilitating; by the time you get to the airplane, hotel the venue…the performance is nothing compared to getting to the performance.
‘On the other hand, it is the way to reach a live audience. When I opened on Broadway in a one-man-show and they stood up and applauded me at the end, it brought me to tears. There was an empathy between the audience and myself.
‘Here in Los Angeles there was a 3,500-seat playhouse which I filled, and they stood up and applauded when I entered the stage. I had no idea they would do that.
‘It is so moving. It is like mother love. And people go to all extents to get mother love – and that is what we do as performers.
‘That invigorates me and that is why I am on the road when I am not working or filming.’
Philanthropist Shatner spoke as he hosted his annual gifting ceremony and charity breakfast at the Six Restaurant in Studio City.
He handed checks to nearly 20 charities raised through last year’s Priceline.com Hollywood Charity Horse Sho, sponsored by Wells Fargo.
Much of the funds will go to children with special needs and veterans.
Millions have clamored for the return of Kirk – even though technically he passed away on the 1994 Star Trek Generations.
J.J. Abrams and Paramount Pictures is milling over a script, which would see the return of young Kirk played Chris Pine and Spock, played by Zachary Quinto.
Oscar winner Tarantino has penned a script outline, but Abrams has created a ‘writers room’ to build the project.
Although Tarantino pitched an idea for the script, it is unlikely he will direct the film, which will be a sequel to last year’s Star Trek Beyond.
Insiders say that the director has too much work on his schedule with the upcoming Charles Manson biopic being prepped for summer 2019.
(Source: Daily Mail)