William Shatner is perhaps most famous for his role as Captain Kirk in the original 'Star Trek' series, but few know that he also had a stint on another iconic anthology series, 'The Twilight Zone.' In this article, we'll delve into two of Shatner's lesser-known episodes and explore why they remain fan favorites.

In 1957, Shatner starred in an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' titled 'The Glass Eye,' which tells the story of a man who discovers that his late cousin is actually a ventriloquist's dummy come to life. The episode features Shatner as the narrator and has become one of the most beloved episodes of the series.

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Shatner's Episode on 'The Twilight Zone'

Shatner wasn't the only member of the Starship Enterprise crew to appear on 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents.' Walter Koenig, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov, starred in a 1963 episode titled 'Memo from Purgatory,' which was an adaptation of writer Harlan Ellison's account of his time joining a Brooklyn street gang. Ricardo Montalban, who played Khan in the movie 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,' also appeared in a 1960 episode.

Despite being from different series, both 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' share a similar tone and style. Both featured standalone episodes with no ongoing storylines, and both were known for their ability to tackle complex social issues in an engaging and thought-provoking way.

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These lesser-known episodes of 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents' featuring William Shatner have left a lasting impact on fans. They demonstrate the versatility of Shatner as an actor and highlight the enduring appeal of these classic anthology series.

Other Star Trek Cast on 'Alfred Hitchcock Presents'

Pretty much every "Star Trek" fan knows that William Shatner starred in one of the best episodes of "The Twilight Zone" before he starred as Captain Kirk. Fewer know that Shatner also starred in one of the best episodes of a different horror anthology series, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Shatner appeared in a Season 3 episode of the Master of Suspense's CBS show, which featured a new crime or horror thriller each week.

In "The Glass Eye," which aired on Oct 6, 1957, Shatner acts as something of a narrator, playing a man recounting the sad, unusual tale of his late cousin in the episode's framing device.

Shatner explains how cousin Julia — played Upon finally getting a chance to meet the ventriloquist, however, she discovers the horrifying truth: The handsome man is really the dummy and what she thought was a doll was the real performer, a small man who wore a mask on stage. Julia flees in a panic, taking with her a glass eye that fell from the dummy's head as a grotesque memento.

Shatner narrating the whole episode really adds to the atmosphere, and never feels distracting.