Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy

 

When watching Star Trek: The Original Series it is a mistake to underestimate the power of the iconic Trek Triumvirate – Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Their chemistry together was dynamite that would combust across the screen. 

This trio set the tone for what what would follow – establishing the standard for a starship captain, the first officer, and ship's doctor. All those who followed them knew to tread carefully in their footsteps. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy! They are a tough act to follow. 

So now, let's take a look at The Big Three and how important they have been to the Star Trek universe – they set the framework for every series to follow to some degree.

Captain James Tiberius Kirk

Despite all the bluster about Shatner's acting style – and there are plenty of actors and comedians who love to attempt imitations – there is only one William Shatner, and only he could pull off the Kirk we know and love in TOS.

Shatner Head Shot 1958

Shatner had starred in many different TV shows in his career before getting cast in the lead role of the TV drama For the People playing an assistant district attorney. It was cancelled after 13 episodes, and that was fortuitous for Trek fans because, if the show had been successful, Shatner wouldn't have been available to play Kirk.   

Actor Jeffery Hunter had played Captain Christopher Pike in the first pilot "The Cage." There are different explanations as to why he turned down the chance to come back as captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, among them that his wife felt a TV series would not be worthy of his talents as a film actor. 

Actor Jack Lord – who would go on to Hawaii Five-O fame – auditioned for the part, and Gene Roddenberry offered the role to him, but Lord wanted 50% ownership of the show, so Gene turned back to Shatner, whom he wanted as first choice, and now he was available because his TV show was cancelled. 

Roddenberry wanted Kirk to be "A swashbuckler in space" and felt that Shatner had the personality for the part. Gene envisioned Kirk to be like his favorite literary hero Horatio Hornblower, and he believed Shatner had the talent and physical ability to handle the part. 

Everything worked out for Trek fans because Shatner was the perfect Captain Kirk. One of the reasons he's so often imitated is because of how well he nailed the part. I firmly believe that no one else could have brought to the character what Shatner did, and that is why he is so beloved.

Kirk could be strong when he had to be, and yet he tried to understand his crew with compassion when it was needed. Shatner gave Kirk a good sense of humor, and he interacted with the crew as a leader who set a fine example for everyone.

Of course, there were Kirk's romantic encounters that as a kid I felt were not necessary, but looking back now it is Kirk's attraction to the ladies that made his character well rounded. He was not just all business – he also knew how to have a good time. 

Kirk was brave, honest, and dedicated to his crew's safety and the safety of his ship. Kirk would always say "My ship" in a variety of situations, and he would have done anything for the Enterprise, including give up his life to save her. 

The thought of the TOS without William Shatner as Captain Kirk would be like thinking about the Batman TV series without Adam West. Both men were heart of their respective shows and they wouldn't have worked without them. 

Please check out Kirk's kisses – the one with Uhura was due to them being forced to kiss by the psychically powerful Paltonians, and the one with Yeoman Rand was Evil Kirk. 

Mr. Spock

Sitting back and looking at Star Trek: The Original Series objectively, there was no more important character living and working on the U.S.S. Enterprise than Mr. Spock. His importance as part of the triumvirate of Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy is the stuff of legends, and he did act as a kind of stabilizing force between Kirk (the heart) and McCoy (the soul) of the show.

When looking for someone to play Spock – remember his casting goes back to the first pilot "The Cage" – series creator Gene Roddenberry was looking for someone who could portray an alien convincingly. Roddenberry wanted a diverse crew, and what could be more diverse than having an alien as one of the crew members? 

Nimoy was not his first choice for the role. Roddenberry considered George Lindsay (Goober on The Andy Griffith Show) and Martin Landau (a respected TV actor). In a conversation with Gary Lockwood (who would go on to play Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell in the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before") about the role of Spock, Lockwood suggested Leonard Nimoy.

Nimoy in 'The Lieutenant' 1963

Roddenberry was familiar with Nimoy from working with him on the TV show The Lieutenant, and brought him in for an audition. Roddenberry saw Nimoy as having the right demeanor for Spock – he was a dramatic actor with a seriousness that impressed Gene. Nimoy also had a sense of being a bit detached and unemotional – this would work well with a character that was forced to suppress his own emotions. 

As portrayed by Nimoy throughout the series, Spock is a walking contradiction. Being half-Vulcan, Spock is not emotional out of necessity and reacts to other people's emotions with a slightly raised eyebrow. Still, he is half-human, and Roddenberry's genius was to set up Spock for internal conflict that made his character constantly checking himself, holding back, and hiding his struggle with duality.

Spock's frequent sarcastic exchanges with the overly emotional Dr. McCoy are legendary and amusing, but Spock never raises more than an eyebrow as McCoy criticizes him for being green-blooded and pointy-eared. 

Nimoy at first pushed back on wearing the pointy ears – they bothered him in fact; however, Gene insisted on it because he wanted Spock to represent the other – the person on the outside looking in at the way the human crew operated, almost in a way evaluating human interactions with all his logic and intelligence. 

The audience was attracted to Spock's appearance on the show and their approval happened almost immediately – resulting in a sort of Spockmania. People were fascinated by Spock as being someone totally different coming across their TV screens every week.

Nimoy came up with Spock's split-fingered salute – from his Jewish faith – and the slogan "Live long and prosper" as well as the idea for the mind meld and the famous nerve pinch to disable an opponent. Nimoy helped create Spock as he portrayed him, imbuing the character with some of his own stoic reactions to the world.

Spock was like an anchor – holding steadfast in a storm of emotions that blew around the Enterprise. I think that is the appeal of the character, for he provided a symbol of calm no matter how bad the tempest might be. Leonard Nimoy's Spock is an iconic figure and one of the richest and most memorable TV characters of all time. 

Please check out some of Spock's best moments in TOS. 

Dr. McCoy

Adding the last part of the Trek Triumvirate, Gene Roddenberry had to find the perfect person to play the ship's doctor. This would be a key decision for the Big Three had to get along well enough off screen to make it seem real on screen.

Kelley in 'Fear in the Night'

Before being chosen to play Dr. Leonard McCoy, DeForest Kelley had a lot of movie and TV experience. His first film was the low budget movie Fear in the Night. It did well at the box office but did not lead to the big film career he expected. He went to New York City where he worked in theater and on some TV shows. He came across Gene's radar when they worked on 333 Montgomery, a failed pilot for a TV series.

When Roddenberry was making the first Trek pilot, he thought of Kelley for the role of ship's doctor, and he also wanted him for the second pilot's doctor, but both times he was overruled by the directors. When the series was approved to start filming, Gene insisted on bringing Kelley on as Dr. McCoy  – thank goodness that he prevailed because it was another casting triumph.

Kelley had been in a number of cowboy films, and he brought that air of cockiness and bravado to Dr. McCoy. There was also sense of empathy and passion in Dr. Mr.Coy, who would often refer to himself as "an old country doctor," in a slight Southern drawl. 

McCoy was known for several catch phrases throughout the series. One was his penchant for telling the Kirk the status of a crew member. His very dry "He's dead, Jim" is legendary. He would also complain about the use of the transporter as "Spreading a man's molecules." And, McCoy had a penchant for telling off the captain when he felt Kirk was asking too much of him. McCoy would say, "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic" or some other hysterical nonsensical role that fit the moment. 

McCoy was the soul of the ship, Kirk the heart, and Spock the mind. This is what made their Triumvirate work so well together. The rapport was obvious and grew stronger over the show's three seasons.

An episode would usually end with the Big Three bantering about the transpired events. McCoy would give Spock some remark, causing Spock to raise a disapproving eyebrow, but Kirk would chuckle and let us all know they were good friends after all. 

Please check out some of the best Dr. McCoy moments.

A Perfect Trio 

Whatever you call them - The Triumvirate or The Big Three – Kirk, Spock, and McCoy had great chemistry, and they brought that out in almost every scene they were in together. Please check out some of their best scenes together.

What's Next? 

In my next and last post in this series of posts, I will take a look at the importance of Star Trek and its legacy. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!