What’s the connection between “Star Trek” actor William Shatner, GM CEO Mary Barra and U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm? Besides connections to Detroit, it's the big blue ball called Earth.

Each are sharing their views on the planet and the environment at the eclectic film/art festival/thought provoking conference known as SXSW 2023 taking place through Sunday in Austin, Texas. They’re among hundreds of high-profile speakers and leaders making the pilgrimage to appear and be seen at the annual festival/conference.

Granholm appeared last Friday at SXSW (which is pronounced "South by Southwest") and discussed clean energy, the Biden administration's focus on it as well as the Department of Energy's.

Barra appeared Tuesday with Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, where they discussed investment and collaboration needed to help grow new technologies and energy solutions for vehicles that will entice more consumers — with an eye on the planet’s well-being, too.

Shatner is to appear this Friday for the world debut of his new biopic “You Can Call Me Bill” about his life as an actor, author (of over 30 books), successful recording artist, world-class equestrian, philanthropist and being an unwavering champion for the environment.

On what he saw from space

Shatner has been focused on the environment longer than Barra or Granholm, telling me it has been a 60-year preoccupation for him. But his interest became more pronounced in October 2021 after he rode into space at age 90 on Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, making him the oldest person to do so.

“I looked out (of the ship window) and all I saw was blackness,” he recounted to me about his trip at the time. He told me how Earth looked so blue from space, and how it represented life and how it reinforced to him that we need do a better job of protecting it and being a steward for future generations.

But Shatner, who turns 92 on March 22, is most famous for playing James T. Kirk in the iconic “Star Trek” television series and films. He has been traveling the country in a one-man show featuring the 1982 movie “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” where he appears on stage to talk about making the film.

More:Michiganders buck age stereotypes in workplace as state's population grows older

More:William Shatner talks saving world, staying hip at 91 in advance of Motor City Comic Con

He brought the show to the Redford Theatre in Detroit last Saturday night where he played to an enthusiastic sold-out crowd of 1,600, some wearing “Star Trek” costumes suitable for the Starship Enterprise, and a few sporting “Mr. Spock” ears.

The sprawling two-story theater, which is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year, was the perfect backdrop. The gorgeous and historic theater has the original pipe organ from which an assortment of hit songs from movies, including “Star Trek,” played before the film began.

It is likely that most in the audience had seen “The Wrath of Khan” before Saturday, but key scenes on the big screen were met with hearty applause, as if the audience was seeing them for the first time — like when Capt. Kirk grits his teeth and screams “KHAN!," his nemesis in the film played by Ricardo Montalbán.

How 'Star Trek' almost didn't make it to the big screen

Shatner took to the stage and talked for an hour. He shared how the movies came to life after the series ended. The first film, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," was released in 1979. It led to “The Wrath of Khan," which continued the story line of an earlier episode of the TV series.

“If it wasn’t for the wife of a Paramount executive who loved the original series, Paramount would not have made any ‘Star Trek’ films,” Shatner said, explaining that the idea received only lukewarm interest from a key executive.

The first “Star Trek” movie proved a success but cost a lot of money to make. The “Wrath of Khan“ was made with a smaller budget and wasn’t as much of a hit — at the time.

But 40 years later, “The Wrath of Khan” remains a fan favorite. “I think it’s so popular because it’s such an emotional film,” he said.

Why he says he's nearing the end

Shatner fielded some questions as he alternated walking the stage and sitting. He caused more than a few raised eyebrows when he said he knew he didn’t have long to live. He wasn’t being morose. Actually, he’s in great health but being almost 92, he realizes he’s on the back nine of life.

He certainly isn’t letting his age slow him down. He’s hosting “The UnXplained” on the History Channel, which seems a perfect fit for his unbridled curiosity about all things. He’s also working on a new children’s book and album and has other projects in the pipeline.

Shatner wound down the evening by making an appeal to the audience to take global warming seriously. He brought up his trip to space and talked about its impact on him.

“I didn’t understand the depth of my feelings until I came down to Earth and got on land, and there I was crying — I’m on national television and I’m uncontrollably crying. I couldn’t figure out why,” he said.

“It took me a few days to conclude ... it had to do with feelings of grief for the Earth, for what we, as a species, are doing to our home.”

Who 'speaks' to him

He talked about trees, dogs and horses and the connection to nature as being not only important but rejuvenating. He’s a longtime equestrian, riding horses almost every day when he’s home in Los Angeles. He shows them as well.

“Dogs speak to you, horses speak to you, trees,” he said, adding he has been curious about things from the very beginning.

“That curiosity is what keeps us alive,” he added.

Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 8 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit. See Susan Ford Bales, Donald Holloway, Dorothy Zehnder and Judith Zehnder Keller on this Sunday’s show. 

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: William Shatner to visit SXSW for 'You Can Call Me Bill' biopic debut