Why William Shatner is back in the Bluegrass and back at Lexington Comic Con
At this point, iconic actor William Shatner has done more convention than he can count or possibly remember… but he will always remember his first.
Before comic book and pop culture conventions like Lexington Comic Con became so popular that they can literally be found almost anywhere in the world, there was the precursor to those when the first “Star Trek” convention was organized in 1972 to bring together die-hard fans of the then-cancelled sci-fi TV series that developed a massive cult following.
After a few years, the man who played USS Enterprise Captain James T. Kirk came to his first “Star Trek” convention in 1975 to speak to droves of fans.
“I can recall quite well the first one that I went to and I was told there was 15,000 in the audience and I should go out them and talk to them, without a script…which is an actor’s nightmare, standing out there without knowing any of your lines,” Shatner recalls.
Those first-convention nerves have long worn off for the 93-year-old actor, given that he keeps his schedule packed with appearances. While this isn’t his first time appearing in Lexington, it is his first time as a celebrity guest since he first appeared to greet Lexington fans in 2014.
As an admitted “Kentucky sometime resident” with a home in Versailles and a love of horses, Shatner said part of the reason he is appearing in Lexington after a decade is that he is making a conscious effort to come to the area more frequently.
“I have horses in Lexington, and I ride at a lot of shows in the surrounding areas,” he said. “My intention is to come back like I used to every few weeks.”
Shatner has his Belle Reve Farm in Versailles with ex-wife Elizabeth, a horse trainer. The two have reconciled and are back together following their 2020 divorce.
For this weekend, in addition to meeting fans, signing autographs and taking photos with fans on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, Shatner said what he enjoys most is the thing that used to terrify him: Talking unscripted in front of a large group of adoring fans. He will take part in “A Q&A with William Shatner: A Legendary Career Boldly Told” at noon on Saturday, March 8.
“It turns out to be a lovely hour for me and, hopefully, for the audience,” he said. “I enjoy that a great deal.”
Currently, fans of Shatner can learn plenty about him before going to Lexington Comic Con thanks to a recent project. The 2023 documentary “William Shatner: You Can Call Me Bill” (which turned out to be true, in this particular interview) shines a spotlight on his personal and professional journey and was financed by over 1,200 fans via Legion M, which allowed people to invest to get a financial stake in the film and its profits.
“I thought by this time, I should have some kind of document for my family,” he said of the documentary film.
As someone who has done TV, movies, theatre and voice acting in multiple genres over the course of a career that spans seven decades, Shatner has seen and heard so much from fans at these conventions. At this point, does he even get surprised anymore?
“Always,” Shatner said. “As I do different shows and evolve personally, the audience is a mixture of the old and young. It is never the same.”
Lexington Comic and Toy Convention 2025
When: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, March 6; Noon-8 p.m. Friday, March 7; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, March 8; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 9.
Where: Central Bank Center, 430 W. Vine St.
Tickets: $24.99-$275; Kids 10 and under are free for all days
Online: lexingtoncomiccon.com
William Shatner Photo Op
When: Friday, Saturday
Price: $150