William Shatner Recalls Shooting Star Trek’s Gorn Fight in Dust That Could Cut His Skin

A painful fight in the desert

The Season 1 episode “Arena” pits Captain Kirk against the Gorn at California’s Vasquez Rocks, a location often used by film and television crews. The Gorn costume’s rubbery appearance and the fight’s slow pacing have made the scene a frequent target of criticism.

At New York Comic Con 2026, Shatner described falling onto abrasive, glass-laden dust. He said brushing it off left him bleeding. Bobby Clark, who wore the Gorn suit, also faced difficult conditions. The repurposed scuba suit was not breathable, and its large footwear made walking through sagebrush and bushes harder; Clark said he had to limit his liquids because bathroom breaks were difficult.

Costume shaped the battle

The Gorn suit restricted the scene’s action. Its mouth could not be manipulated, so the creature did not bite Kirk, even when it came close to his neck during the struggle.

The costume’s rhinestone eyes likely limited Clark’s visibility. Clark said the director wanted the Gorn to move slowly and awkwardly, like a cold-blooded reptile that relied on the sun for energy.

Clark later questioned why the fight did not include even an attempted bite, given the mask’s visible teeth. The scene’s measured movements, combined with the suit’s limitations, helped give the encounter its awkward feel.

The episode’s central lesson

The fight is only one part of “Arena.” Its intended lesson comes when Kirk chooses to spare the Gorn, rather than finish the battle with violence. The show’s production challenges affected other elements, too. The makeup team initially struggled to make Spock’s ears look realistic, and Shatner later recalled debate over the expense before an MGM makeup artist was brought in.

Limited funds also led to a storytelling innovation: because the production could not create a convincing landing, the Enterprise stayed in space and the team developed the transporter. The device also helped the show keep a tighter pace.

A rematch without dust

The production’s special-effects company was still developing its skills when it made the Gorn costume. Still, the fight did not leave Shatner with permanent damage, despite the rough ground. In 2013, Shatner and the Gorn appeared in a rematch promoting “Star Trek: The Video Game.” The staged encounter echoed some of the original’s goofy moves and punches, but took place in a dust-free living room.