Actor William Shatner counted down Wednesday to his wildest role yet: riding a rocket into space, courtesy of “Star Trek” fan Jeff Bezos.
Best known for his role as Captain Kirk, 90-year-old Shatner joined three other passengers for the planned launch from West Texas.
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Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin, invited Shatner on the brief jaunt to the fringes of the final frontier, which will make him the oldest person in space.
“Yes, it’s true; I’m going to be a ‘rocket man!’” the 90-year-old tweeted in early October. He added, “It’s never too late to experience new things.”
Bezos is a huge fan of the sci-fi series and even had a cameo as a high-ranking alien in the 2016 film “Star Trek Beyond.” His rocket company invited Shatner to fly as its guest.
Shatner, a cultural icon in his own right, first appeared as James Kirk in the "Star Trek" TV series in 1966, reprising the role in several movies over the decades.
He's also starred in "The Practice," "Boston Legal" and hosted "Rescue 911."
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Shatner will become the oldest person to go to space. He’ll join three others — two of them paying customers — aboard a Blue Origin capsule. He would have been the first actor in space if Russia hadn't launched an actress and a film director to the International Space Station for almost two weeks of moviemaking in early October, AP News says.
Bezos and three others, including his brother, first took a Blue Origin ship to space in July. They were back on Earth within minutes.
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