Before he took helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise in 1966, William Shatner appeared in one of the decade’s other great sci-fi TV series: The Twilight Zone. The more memorable of his two appearances came in the episode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet” (itself one of the series’ most famous), in which he stars as a man on a flight menaced by a large destructive gremlin. Directed by Richard Donner (who would later go on to helm the first Superman film and the Lethal Weapon movies), “Nightmare” shows Shatner — playing a character recovering from a mental breakdown — at his jittery finest. Though the distinctive verbal style that would later be so easily mockable pops up here, it is easily overshadowed by Shatner’s sweaty performance.
Top 10 Unforgettable William Shatner Moments
William Shatner — actor, comedian, pitchman, recording artist and author — turns 80 today. From Captain Kirk to an interpretive performance of "Common People," Shatner has had an accomplished and eccentric life. TIME takes a look at some of his best moments
