William Alan Shatner is a Canadian actor. He is best recognized for his seven-decade career as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise.
He first played Captain Kirk in the 1965 second pilot episode of the original Star Trek television series and last starred in the seventh Star Trek feature film, Star Trek Generations.
In addition to performing, Shatner had a recording career that began in 1968 with his album The Transformed Man. The two songs he most famously covered were Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and The Beatles’ “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.”
His cover versions of songs are more like dramatic readings of the words than musical performances. While hosting the 5th Saturn Awards in 1978, comedians regularly mocked his rendition of Elton John’s “Rocket Man.”
Seeking Major Tom, his third album, was his most famous, featuring covers of Pink Floyd’s “Learning to Fly,” David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Shatner launched into space in 2021 aboard a Blue Origin suborbital spaceship. At the age of 90, he was one of the first 600 astronauts and the oldest to fly in space. He mentioned having the same effect quickly after landing.
Raul Rosas Jr’s Early Life
Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, into a Conservative Jewish household in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Joseph Shatner, a clothing manufacturer, and Ann (née Garmaise) were his parents.
He is the middle child of three siblings, including a younger sister named Farla Cohen and an older sister named Joy Rutenberg (1928-).
Wolf Schattner, his grandfather, anglicized his patrilineal family name, Schattner. Shatner’s four grandparents were all Jewish immigrants who came from locations in Lithuania and Ukraine that were then part of the Russian Empire and Austria-Hungary.
After graduating from the Montreal Children’s Theatre, Shatner attended Willingdon Elementary School and West Hill High School in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.
After studying economics at the McGill University Faculty of Management in Montreal, he got a Bachelor of Commerce in 1952. McGill University bestowed upon him an honorary Doctor of Letters degree in 2011. The New England Institute of Technology awarded the same honor to him in May 2018.
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Raul Rosas Jr’s Career
After college, Shatner worked as the business manager for a Montreal theatre. He then trained as a traditional Shakespearean actor at the Canadian National Repertory Theatre. Beginning in 1954, Shatner appeared in several parts at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Shatner was cast as Ranger Bob on The Canadian “Howdy Doody Show” the following year. In 1958, he made his feature film debut in “The Brothers Karamazov.” He appeared in the episode “The Glass Eye” of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Of course, Shatner’s big break came when he was cast as Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek,” which aired from 1966 to 1969. In 1973, he reprised his role as Captain Kirk in the animated “Star Trek” series, albeit only in voice.
Because of syndicated reruns, Star Trek established a cult following after its termination in the 1970s, and Captain Kirk became a cultural hero. Shatner started attending Star Trek gatherings.
Shatner starred in “T. J. Hooker,” which aired from 1982 to 1986. In the 1980s, he played James T. Kirk in five “Star Trek” films. During this time, he also began directing movies and television shows. Shatner was the director of numerous episodes of “T. J. Hooker” and the feature film “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.”
Shatner appeared in the 2000 film “Miss Congeniality” as a co-star. In the 2004 sequel “Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous,” he resumed the role.
In the final season of the courtroom drama “The Practice,” David E. Kelley cast Shatner as Denny Crane. Shatner was cast as Crane in “Boston Legal” and continued with the show until its conclusion in 2008.
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What is William Shatner’s Net Worth?
According to CelebrityNetworth.com William Shatner, born in Canada and had a net worth of $100 million, is an actor, author, producer, director, screenwriter, and singer, among other things.
His performance as Captain James T. Kirk in the “Star Trek” franchise has brought him the lion’s share of fame. Shatner has also played vital roles in several other successful television shows, such as “Boston Legal,” “The Practice,” and “T.J. Hooker.”
William Shatner’s Personal Life
Shatner despises watching himself in action. He claims not to have seen numerous episodes of the original Star Trek television series and has no desire to watch Boston Legal.
He has stated that the only Star Trek film he has seen is Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, which he directed and was forced to watch during editing.
In his 1993 book Star Trek Memories, he describes his displeasure at opening the original Star Trek picture, Robert Wise’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Shatner has lived in the United States for a very long period.
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William Shatner’s Health
Tinnitus symptoms first appeared in Shatner in the early 1990s, but he believes a pyrotechnical disaster triggered them while he was filming the 1967 Star Trek episode “Arena” on location. Shatner is a member of the American Tinnitus Association.
As part of his treatment for this condition, he underwent habituation therapy, which involved wearing a small electronic device that produced broadband, low-level white noise and “helped his brain put the tinnitus in the background.”
In 2020, Shatner admitted to experiencing swollen joints and other age-related “aches and pains.” He uses CBD oil to alleviate his pain.
What Are the Public Appearances of William Shatner?
On New Year’s Day 1994, Shatner was the Parade’s Grand Marshal at the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena, California. Rather than driving a vintage car, he rode his horse down the parade route.
He then participated in the Rose Bowl pregame ceremonies, which featured the coin toss between the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins. Wisconsin eventually won 21-16.
In 2014, Shatner served as one of the 102nd Calgary Stampede’s Grand Marshals. Shatner appeared as a special guest at the Salt Lake Comic Con in September that year.
Shatner presided over the debut sailing of “Star Trek: The Cruise,” a Star Trek-themed cruise, in 2017. CBS Productions granted the ship its first license to mark the show’s 50th anniversary.
Through PETA, Shatner requested that no “swim with dolphins” excursions be given on the 2018 cruise, explaining to Norwegian Cruise Line’s CEO that “the exploitation of any animal for profit and enjoyment would have violated the Prime Directive.”
In Ticonderoga, New York, James Cawley created a copy of the Star Trek: The Original Series set, and William Shatner appeared there and personally guided tours for small groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does William Shatner Believe in God?
I am spiritual yet not religious. I read about philosophy, animals, plants, and trees and how everything is interconnected.
How Long did William Shatner portray Captain Kirk?
His role as Captain James T. Kirk in the science fiction television series Star Trek (1966–1969) and subsequent Star Trek movies made him most famous.
In Real Life, Who is William Shatner’s Daughter?
Leslie Shatner, the oldest daughter, played in Star Trek: The Original Series. Leslie is now 63 years old, has two children, and runs her own occupational therapy business. Lisabeth Shatner, Shatner’s middle daughter, aspires to be an actress.