Well, if that’s the way it was, then that’s the way it was. I wasn’t trying to be argumentative. A number of ‘stars’ who headlined tv-series had trouble finding work back then, from Ty Hardin of “Bronco” to Adam West of “Batman” to numerous others. Shatner though was flush with work, and certainly should not have been hurting for money. If he was living in a van, it could hardly be due to destitution, unless he was mind-blowingly inept with his finances.
By the way, I was watching DeForest Kelley the other day in what I think was his second film, “Variety Girl” from 1947. Hadn’t seen it in over thirty years. It’s funny, because the film was a big-budget, all-star affair, with everyone from Paramount making cameo appearances (Hope, Crosby, Alan Ladd, Dorothy Lamour, Gary Cooper, etc.), yet DeForest Kelley is actually the true “leading man” of the movie, opposite Mary Hatcher. A hit-or-miss film, with some funny moments and some weak ones.
I’d read that Kelley was tight with Audie Murphy; watching the “behind the scenes” stuff on the “Voyage Home” disk, Kelley noted that his career had begun on or near the same spot where the VH was filming. :’)