Veteran actor William Shatner has saved a family from homelessness - with money raised by selling off his kidney stone.

The Star Trek legend managed to convince bosses at gambling website GoldenPalace.com to pay $21,000 for the stone in 2005.

With the help of his Boston Legal castmates, Shatner took the profits and made a total donation of $84,000 to housing charity Habitat for Humanity in the U.S.

The money was used to build a house for a family left homeless after Hurricane Katrina, and Shatner is bursting with pride over his good deed.

He says, "I have a picture of a lovely famil...

Happy Black History Month, everyone! Every since I graduated high school, Black History Month (and President’s Day) has had a tendency to slip past my notice. This month, however, I wanted to draw your attention to two of my favorite things: influential people, and television. And since it’s February, I wanted to give it an African-American history spin. Here is my list of five influential African-American television characters.

1. Clair Huxtable - The Cosby Show (played by Phylicia Rashād)
I know. When someone says “The Cosby Show,” the first person you think of is Cliff Huxtable, rig...

Star Trek icon William Shatner has recorded a cover of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" with Ozzy Osbourne's former guitarist Zakk Wylde.

The finished track will appear on the actor's upcoming album, "Seeking Major Tom," which features a collection of space-themed songs.

Wylde tells Blabbermouth.net, "He's (Shatner) super cool. We had an awesome time working together."

Click for more great William Shatner pictures:

Liam Neeson, who starred as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace has signed on to reprise his role for two episodes on Cartoon Network's series Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Neeson will reprise the role of the fallen Jedi Master, who appears to his former apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi much in the same way that the fallen Obi-Wan appeared to Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Neeson tells Entertainment Weekly, "[T]hese characters resonate... even after all these years.

"Growing up, my heroes were cowboys; they were strong and mysterious, and it seemed like they ...

William Shatner is frustrated by the furor surrounding the risque title of his new sitcom $#*! My Dad Says, because he's always used the expletive around his kids.

Members of the Parents Television Council (PTC) have urged more than 340 companies to boycott the show by refusing to advertise during its broadcast, arguing that the title is indecent.

However the Star Trek legend, who plays the cantankerous father of the title, can't understand the fuss over bad language and admits he frequently uses the curse word.

He tells the Associated Press, "Do you know what I wish? I wish they woul...

Star Trek actor George Takei is celebrating the news that gay marriage could soon be legal again in California, insisting opponents of the legislation should mind their own business.

On Wednesday Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker overturned the controversial Proposition 8 bill, which outlawed same sex marriage - calling the decision unconstitutional.

The new ruling has thrilled Takei, who wed his partner Brad Altman in 2008 - when gay marriage was briefly legal in the state - because it speeds up legislation that could send same sex couples back up the aisle.

The actor tells ...

A collection of Star Trek memorabilia once owned by the show's late creator Gene Roddenberry is set to be auctioned off this summer.

The sale, which will be run by Julien's Auctions, includes hand-annotated scripts, costumes from the show, and Roddenberry's own studio pass. The auction will also feature items donated by the series' lead actor William Shatner - a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Golden Globe nomination certificate and a plaque to commemorate his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

All proceeds from the sale will go to the creator's charity, the Roddenberry Foundation, ...

Leonard Nimoy has announced plans to retire from acting after 60 years in the movie business. The Star Trek icon began his acting career in the early 1950s and rose to international stardom as Mr. Spock in the sci-fi series.

But now the 79 year old, who is currently starring on TV show Fringe, has decided to give up working in front of the camera. He says, "I've been doing this professionally for 60 years. I love the idea of going out on a positive note. I've had a great, great time."

And he's happy to let actor Zachary Quinto, who played Spock in last year's Star Trek prequel, continue...

Star Trek icon William Shatner is set to host his own reality TV show, chronicling the "weirdest unsolved cases" around the world.

Weird or What will air on the History Channel in Canada and on the Discovery network in the U.S., with Shatner examining cases of paranormal phenomena, medical miracles and bizarre natural disasters, reports Daily Variety.

Shatner says, "We're looking at weird circumstances but we're presenting them in a light-hearted, jaunty way. We're not taking ourselves too seriously."

An air date has yet to be announced for the series.

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"Star Trek" actor William Shatner is to boldly go into cyberspace - he's encouraging wannabe science fiction filmmakers to express their artistic talents on his new social networking site.

The 78 year old has set up MyOuterSpace.com, which helps "aspiring filmmakers, design and game artists" who are fans of sci-fi, horror and fantasy to gain experience of the movie industry.

Users choose a "planet" best suited to their talents and can then get the chance to work with a virtual production company on film projects, known on the site as Starships.

In a mission statement Shatner writes, "...

For those of you too young to remember what it was like to have a video collection in the pre-digital days of VHS, lemme tell ya… It was a pain in the butt. Bulky, inconvenient plastic blocks of ridiculously fragile tape that usually held a mere two hours took up tons of shelf space and took forever to navigate. And if you wanted to own a TV show on video, the few that were commercially available would clear your bank account and fill an entire media room!

And then came DVDs. Squishing all those ones and zeroes into small, manageable, resilient discs made the concept of a video library fa...

Andrew Koenig committed suicide, according to his Star Trek actor dad Walter Koenig. The body of the former Growing Pains star was found in Vancouver, Canada on Thursday afternoon.

He was last seen during a trip to the city on February 14th, and was reported missing by a friend after failing to show up for his flight home to Los Angeles two days later. His parents issued an emotional plea to the 41 year old during a police press conference on Wednesday, when they begged Andrew to get in touch.

However, their worst fears were confirmed when friends of the actor discovered his body in Van...

The body of missing actor Andrew Koenig has been found in Vancouver, Canada.

The former "Growing Pains" star was last seen on February 14. He disappeared during a trip to Vancouver and was reported missing by a friend after failing to show up for his flight home to Los Angeles on February 16.

His parents, former "Star Trek" actor Walter Koenig and his wife Judy, issued an emotional plea to the 41 year old during a police press conference on Wednesday, when they begged Andrew to get in touch just to assure them he is "OK".

The same day, his friend Jenny Magenta confessed her fears that th...

Former "Star Trek" actor Walter Koenig has issued an emotional plea to his son Andrew to get in touch after he went missing in Vancouver, Canada earlier this month.

Police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of Andrew Koenig, who starred in 1980s TV sitcom "Growing Pains", after he missed his flight home from Vancouver to Los Angeles on February 16, the same day as his last known sighting. Detectives also claim his cell phone and bank card were last used on February 16.

Local authorities have been combing the area for the 41 year old after receiving a number of reported ...

Veteran actor William Shatner is returning to the small screen in a new comedy based on one man's controversial Twitter account. The former Star Trek actor has signed up to appear in a TV pilot based on S**t My Dad Says, which has turned creator Justin Halpern into an internet sensation since he debuted the blog in August.

Shatner will play a character based on Halpern's larger-than-life father, whose obscene rants are featured in Halpern's 'tweets'.

The show, which will feature on U.S. network CBS, is set to begin production in November, reports the New York Daily News.

- Click...

Andrew Koenig has been reported missing to Vancouver police. Koenig, best-known for his role as Boner on 1980s TV show Growing Pains, was last seen on February 14 2010.

The 42 year old missed a flight out of the city on February 16. Authorities are now searching for the actor, who was staying with burlesque artist Jenny Magenta, while in Vancouver, according to Popeater.com.

Magenta took to her Facebook page on Friday to ask for help finding Koenig, whose parents told her he may be "severely depressed."

The family has asked that anyone with information regarding Koenig's whereabout...

Avatar is set to become a real 'blue' movie - Hustler bosses are planning a porn parody of the James Cameron hit.

"This Ain't Avatar XXX" is among the DVD releases planned by the company this year following the success of sex parodies of TV shows Star Trek, Beverly Hills 90210 and Saved By The Bell.

Upcoming titles for the Hustler Video line also include "This Ain't CSI XXX: Chatsworth," "This Ain't Curb Your Enthusiasm XXX," "This Ain't Glee XXX" and "This Ain't I Dream of Jeannie XXX."

The news comes a day after Cameron's "Avatar" was named the Best Feature at Sunday's Golden Glo...

At the start of every new year, critics and movie fans alike look at the list of movies for the year and start to consider what looks the best, the worst, and what might surprise them. There are shocking hits, failures, and then the movies with the highest expectations that actually succeed ... or totally crash and burn. 2009 had some excellent blockbusters that might have annoyed the critics ("Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," "G.I. Joe," "New Moon") but still managed to kill in the box office. Then there were the indie films that managed to become hits, or the big star names that neve...

William Shatner is in talks to return to the world of Star Trek, despite attacking director J.J. Abrams for leaving him out of his 2009 blockbuster prequel.

The original Captain Kirk reveals he and Abrams met for lunch recently and he has since seen the movie he chose not to be a part of - after refusing the filmmaker's cameo offer.

Shatner says, "They did a wonderful movie. J.J., I think of him as a buddy, he's a great director and I'm sure when the right time comes he'll make the right decision [and cast me]."

Image © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

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William Shatner has given up trying to make peace with his "bitter" former Star Trek co-stars - insisting "nothing seems to work."

The 78-year-old, who shot to fame as Captain Kirk on the original 1960s show, admits his memories of the series have been marred by bitter feuds with former cast mates.

Shatner admitted he was hurt after former co-star George Takei failed to invite him to his wedding to longtime partner Brad Altman last year. Meanwhile, Shatner reached a gentleman's agreement with Leonard Nimoy never to talk Trek in order to salvage their friendship.

However, the sta...

Oscar-winner Clint Eastwood and President Barack Obama have been named among GQ Magazine's Men of 2009.

Actor/director Eastwood, 79, is being hailed by the publication as Icon of the Year and graces one of five special covers for the December issue.

President Obama is celebrated as Leader of the Year on his own cover.

Star Trek actor Chris Pine, The Hangover film stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis, and football Hero star Tom Brady are also among the magazine's Men of the Year.

- Click here for more Clint Eastwood pictures -

Image ©PR Photos

(Thi...

After watching the premiere of "V" last night, I was starting to wonder if Sci-Fi is going to make a real comeback into the spotlight. Let's face it, the popularity of this genre has risen in the past few years. It is no longer just the diehard Trekkies that care about Spock and Kirk, but the newcomers swarming after J.J. Abrams' reboot.

With shows like "Lost" and "Heroes" gaining notice on major television networks and the critical acclaim of "Battlestar Galactica," the stereotypes of typical "sci-fi nerds" is starting to wear off. In its place are people who never cared about phasers ...

As many eager television viewers may know, the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards was on Sunday evening, and despite going up against a very important football game it scored the higher ratings than the past three years. The Emmys have been declining in viewership, as have most of the major awards shows, and last year was especially dismal.

Luckily the Emmys decided to bolster their show by having a fan favorite as the host - CBS golden boy Neil Patrick Harris - and have a generally well written script for the presenters and in-between segments. This is all well and good, but for geekdom, it wa...

Actor George Takei will publicly celebrate his union to husband Brad Altman with a history-making TV moment - as the first gay couple to appear on the hit show The Newlywed Game.

The couple has been together for more than two decades and is set to appear in a special celebrity episode of the game show - which pits newlyweds against each other with a series of intimate questions.

Former Star Trek star Takei was finally able to marry Altman last September, two months before a decision by the California Supreme Court briefly legalizing gay marriage in the state was overruled.

The c...

The reports are in from PAX 2009 (Penny Arcade Expo), and some of the top anticipated games were hands-on at the convention for gamers to try out. New screenshots, extras, and visuals were given from big names like Left 4 Dead, The Old Republic, Uncharted 2, Torchlight, and many others.

While most of the video game announcements and news circulates earlier in the year with E3, PAX is a great place to get some real one-on-one time with the upcoming games and see them for yourself. This got me thinking to the yearly conventions, and how the mainstream really only knows about E3 or Comic C...

Leonard Nimoy poked fun at Star Trek pal William Shatner during a rare and much-anticipated meeting of the two sci-fi icons at an Atlanta, Georgia convention on Friday.

Organizers of the Dragon-Con event couldn't believe it when the original Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock agreed to converse with each other in what became a comedy event of epic proportions.

Nimoy needled hid old friend about the fact he was not part of the new Star Trek franchise, which opened with a prequel to the original TV series this summer, asking him, "(Have you) seen any good movies lately?"

Shatner, who has adm...

Everyone seems really into vampires lately. Sexy vampires that have steamy vampire sex with each other all the time. If not vampires than it's people with psychic abilities (Psych) or people that travel through alternate dimensions. And that's just on television. These days a major blockbuster movie can't make a return without aliens (District 9), killer robots (Transformers) or wizards (Harry Potter). We live in a time where Quentin Tarantino is playing with alternate history (Inglourious Basterds) and weepy chick flicks are about time travel (The Time Traveler's Wife).

Science fiction ...

For centuries human beings have considered the world beyond Earth and wondered if there was life outside of what we know. There have been essays, books, movies, television, and plenty of conspiracy theories about the existence of aliens or extraterrestrial life.

In the past 50 years or so pop culture has been fascinated by this idea and what would happen if the alien nation found its way to our Earth. Would they be like Star Trek, some hostile and some friendly to humankind? Or would they be like Aliens and plan to tear the flesh off our bones?

With ABC bringing back a TV series abo...

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes out tomorrow, and while this movie definitely looks to be the best of the bunch (hopefully), it also means the fandom is coming out in full power. I've already talked about how geekdom often can be a little too enthusiastic for its own good, but there are fandoms that borderline fanatic. Not every fan of the series goes in this direction, and there are several lines that you have to cross before going into the scary zone.

Since HP is coming out soon, I'll be using it as an example, but keep in mind this goes for many different groups. You can...

Usually whenever someone meets me and learns about my extensive geekdom, they ask how often I get hit on by slobbering geek boys. The answer is: a lot. Let's face it, we geek girls have existed all along, but until the past few years we've seemed more like a mystical creature.

With the rise of video games and comic book movies as "cool" in the mainstream, there have been more girls willing to come out about their love for Guitar Hero or Superman. It's no longer a badge of weird, even to our fellow gals, and it's almost become an attractive feature for a girl to be able to beat you in Wi...