Overview (3)

Mini Bio (1)

Spouse (4)

Trade Mark (3)

Clipped, dramatic narration





Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) and seven of the Star Trek films

Radio disc jockey voice



Trivia (105)



On August 9, 1999, his third wife, Nerine Kidd , drowned in the swimming pool at their house in Studio City, California. The tragedy was ruled an accident.

Breeds and shows American saddlebreds and quarter-horses.



His hobbies are horses, horseback riding and playing tennis.



He appeared in the music video, and he sang in the choir, in the song "Voices That Care".



Received his Bachelor of Commerce degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Its student university center is currently named after him.





Shortly after the original Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) series was canceled, his wife Gloria Rand left him and took a lot of money with her. With very little money and his acting prospects low, he lived in a pick-up truck camper until continually acting in bit parts led into higher-paying roles.



Is the CEO of the Toronto-based Core Digital Effects company that did the effects for the adventure drama Fly Away Home (1996).

Speaks English and French fluently, from his bilingual upbringing in Montreal, Quebec.



Has written several Star Trek novels, including "The Ashes of Eden", "The Return" and "Avenger".





His daughter Lisabeth Shatner was "Miss Golden Globe" 1985.



In 2001, he married Elizabeth Shatner (Elizabeth Anderson Martin), 30 years his junior. She is a horse trainer who had lost her husband to cancer in 1997. Their grief (Shatner was a widower) and their love of horses drew them together. They reside in Southern California and in Kentucky.



His face appears on the cover of the official first aid handbook issued by the National Safety Council, stemming from his time hosting Rescue 911 (1989).

Produces and hosts the annual "Hollywood Charity Horse Show" that he founded in 1990. More than $1.25 million has been raised for children's charities, such as "Ahead With Horses", "L.A.'s BEST" and the "Children's Museum of Los Angeles".



He wrote and directed a college musical: "The Red, White and Blue Revue".





He was the understudy of Christopher Plummer in a stage production of Shakespeare's play "Henry V" in Canada.

His clipped, dramatic delivery of his lines, peppered with dramatic pauses, is often referred to as "Shatnerian".



During the late 1960s, he recorded an LP record titled "The Transformed Man", that is considered to be a camp classic today. One track was a spoken cover version of "Mr. Tambourine Man" -- one in which he gave an overdramatic performance that some compared to a man on a bad drug trip. Shatner embraces his checkered reputation as a "camp" performer now.





His version of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" was voted as the worst massacre of a The Beatles song ever. [May 2003]



During the filming of Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), a fire broke out on the studio lot that threatened to destroy the Genesis Planet sets. Shatner was one of several cast and crew members who helped to put the fire out, wielding a fire hose to spray that at the fire.

Has appeared in productions at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, Canada.





According to Debra Hill , a Halloween mask in Shatner's likeness was painted white and used as the mask of Michael Myers in the original Halloween (1978).

He once worked as a camp counselor as a teenager at the Camp B'nai Brith in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec.





At first, he believed that as the star of Star Trek: The Original Series (1966), he was supposed to "outshine" the rest of the actors and actresses. He later said that he had come to appreciate the merits of having an ensemble cast, with each member's contribution while working on Star Trek.

In his early performing days, he was once required to play the piano in a scene (with music supplied off-camera), then pull a weapon from a drawer to kill another actor. First the piano cue went badly, then the only "weapon" available turned out to be a corkscrew. Shatner carried on, and in his own words, "I screwed him to death!".





His appearance on Saturday Night Live (1975) in 1986 mocked the Iran-Contra Affair figure Oliver North (with Shatner standing mute in a green uniform); his own series T.J. Hooker (1982), recently canceled, and some overzealous Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) fans. This last sketch had him grimly addressing the fans at a Star Trek convention with the phrase "Get a life!" Many Trekkers asked him later if he had meant anything by the sketch. He claimed he had not, but that that had been written by the comedy writers of Saturday Night Live. Shatner later made "Get a Life!" the title of his Star Trek fan memoir.



Did a concert with crooner Brian Evans in Key West, Florida, joining the singer for his own style and rendition of the songs "Lady Is a Tramp" and "What Kind of Fool Am I".



Had some worries about appearing in Futurama: Where No Fan Has Gone Before (2002). He spoke with Billy West , who told Shatner that the cast and crew had nothing but respect for him. He agreed to continue.



He once bought a horse from the father of Chelsea Field , a man who is also the father-in-law of Scott Bakula



His paternal grandparents, Volf Schattner and Fruma Freyda Lecker, were Jewish emigrants from Kuty, Ukraine and Bukovina, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, respectively. William's father, Joseph Shatner, was born in Bukovina. William's maternal grandparents, Yaakov Garmaise and Yetta Kahn, were Jewish emigrants from Vilkaviskis, in Lithuania. He was mentioned in the episode The Simpsons: Like Father, Like Clown (1991) as being a famous Jewish entertainer. He was also mentioned by Adam Sandler in "The Hanukkah Song" ("You don't need Deck the Halls or Jingle Bell Rock / When you can spin a dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock").



He was one of the guests at the wedding of Sandra Bullock and Jesse James

The most popular television star in Germany, elected in on-line-voting by the spectators of the national television channel KabelEins. Has appeared in the final television show (aired 10/19/2005) to receive the honor personally.



Auctioned a kidney stone to GoldenPalace.com for $75,000. The money went to Habitat for Humanity, a charity that builds houses for the needy.





Is an expert equestrian (horse rider), which was put to good use in Star Trek: Generations (1994). Co-star Patrick Stewart , despite his classical background, had very little experience with horses, so Shatner helped teach him. One of Shatner's tips was to wear pantyhose under his pants, to reduce chafing.



Wrote the TekWar (1994) series of science fiction books, completely unrelated to Star Trek. These were turned into several made-for-TV movies and a short-lived series. Shatner himself co-starred and directed several episodes.



Released an album titled "Has Been" in 2004. The album was produced by Ben Folds who also plays on the album. Other guest performers on the album include Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann, Henry Rollins and Adrian Belew.

Runs "SPLATT ATTACK!", a paintball recreation center in the United States, and sometimes participates in the competitions.





To this day, he still has not fully recovered from the depression brought on by the 1967 death of his father, Joseph Shatner. Roddenberry personally gave permission to postpone shooting scenes with Nimoy (episode Star Trek: The Original Series: The Devil in the Dark (1967)) for him to attend funeral and return within a week.

Money from his father's Laval, Quebec hardware and furniture business supported him during the actor's job hunt in the United States.





He wielded a lightsaber towards the ending of "Invasion Iowa" (2005). George Lucas was so flattered that he invited him to speak and croon "My Way" for his Lifetime Achievement ceremony in 2005.



Dr. James Kirkland, Ph.D, wrote a 1996 Star Trek novel titled "First Frontier". And in his acknowledgments, thanked Captain Kirk (original series episode Star Trek: The Original Series: Arena (1967)) for inspiration and being his childhood hero.



Overcame his greatest phobia of falling, while directing the Yosemite National Park scenes of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989).



Nearly ten years after acting in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), whose plot involved rescuing humpback whales, he narrated a television documentary about endangered species (including humpbacks), in which he became emotional to the point of weeping.

His old house on Bag Avenue, in Laval, Quebec was bought by a millionaire.



The unofficial hometown of his alter-ego Captain James T. Kirk, Riverside, Iowa is known by hardcore Trekkers as "the other Kirkland". Kirkland, Canada is a few miles from Montreal, Quebec.





Was mentioned at [44:47] in David Fincher 's drama film Fight Club (1999). When Tyler asks the Narrator who he would fight, the Narrator ponders for a moment and replies, "Shatner. I'd fight William Shatner.".

Often jogged for charity from 1976-1980. Running to support the Olympics held in his hometown of Montreal and for late Canadian amputee Terry Fox and his cross country marathon.





After the success of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) and the rise of The X-Files (1993), he was interviewed as believing in UFOs' existence, claiming he himself had seen the unexplained when he was younger.

"Trek" novel cover artist Keith Birdsong names Shatner as the most difficult to render. His cheekbone structure, especially, when painting either the series or motion picture eras.



Underwent right hip replacement surgery. [June 2008]



Once resided on Giraud Street in Montreal, Quebec.





When recording the narration for his "Shatnerverse" Trek novels, he pronounces the name "Cardassian" (normally pronounced "car-DASS-ian") as with Kim Kardashian West



He and his wife, Elizabeth Shatner , have two Dobermans.



In the June 17, 2009 episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009), this was revealed he cannot perform the Vulcan salute ("live long and prosper") hand gesture.



Once performed in Incubus (1966), a movie whose entire dialogue was in Esperanto.

Grew up in the Notre-Dame-de-Grace (NDG) section of Montreal, Quebec.





His fondness for motorcycle riding in the 1950s and 1960s influenced the same for young James T. Kirk in the Star Trek (2009) remake.

Recorded a special message for the crew of NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-133 that woke up them at 3:23 a.m. (EST), March 7, 2011. The message included the Star Trek theme song along with Shatner's narration: "Space, the final frontier. These have been the voyages of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Her 30 year mission: To seek out new science. To build new outposts. To bring nations together on the final frontier. To boldly go, and do, what no spacecraft has done before.".



Attended and graduated from West Hill High School in Montreal, Quebec.



Received the 2011 Governor General's Lifetime Achievement Award in the Performing Arts. Received an honorary doctorate of letters from his alma mater, McGill University in June 2011.





His Priceline commercials have not only reunited him with Leonard Nimoy , but have also paired him with Robert Pine , the father of Chris Pine , who succeeded him in the role of James T. Kirk.

Owned a red Doberman in the 1970s, nicknamed "Kirk".





Best known by the public for his starring roles as Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) and as the title character on T.J. Hooker (1982).



In 1981, he directed a stage production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" starring his wife Marcy Lafferty in Los Angeles, California.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 19, 1983.



Received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto, Ontario in 2000.



On February 28, 2010, he made an appearance at the 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony. Shatner used his camera time to tell the audience how great a country Canada truly is, citing their "magnificent lakes" and "stunning sunsets" as reasons why the country demands so much appreciation.





In an episode of American Dad! (2005), Roger the Alien is caught by the FBI and strapped down to be vivisected. He cries out: "I can't die! Not before Shatner!".

Celebrity spokesperson for Priceline.com since 1997.





Due to a prior commitment to a charity event, he was unable to attend Leonard Nimoy 's funeral. He sent one of his daughters to represent him. Nimoy was the best man at Shatner's wedding to Nerine Kidd.

"Captain Kirk" is the only lyric that is identical in both the English and German mixes of the song "99 Red Balloons".





Was considered for the role of Detective Buddy Russo in The French Connection (1971), which went to Roy Scheider



Was one of the many celebrities who liked to make weekend visit's to Ralph Helfer 's "Africa U.S.A." Ranch in Soledad Canyon, California.

Apprehensive about using a cell phone in public due to constant cat calls, e.g. "Beam me up Scotty!" because of badgering by passersby, especially in airports, restaurants.





As of 2018, has appeared in one film nominated for Best Picture Oscar: Judgment at Nuremberg (1961).

Was forced to have his considerably hairy chest shaved or waxed whenever he appeared on screen with his shirt off.



On March 16, 1987, he rode a killer whale during a conservation benefit at Marine World/Africa U.S.A. in Vallejo.



He was awarded the O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on November 18, 2019 by the Canadian Governor General. He has residences in Montréal, Quebec, Canada and Los Angeles, California, United States of America. He is a cultural icon who has boldly gone where few have gone before. His renowned career in theatre, television and film extends over 60 years and his memorable performances as Captain James T. Kirk in the classic television series "Star Trek" has entertained and inspired generations of viewers. A proud Canadian, he supports various charities related to health care, the environment and the well-being of children. Through his larger-than-life persona and his artistic achievements, he has left an indelible mark on popular culture.



He narrated a documentary 'Foundation' and a recording of Isak Asinov's 'Foundation'.



On Broadway he starred in 'The World of Suzie Wong', 'A Shot in the Dark'and 'L'Idote'.



Personal Quotes (13)

[When asked if he wore a hairpiece] It's a question that I find like asking somebody, "Did you have a breast implant?" or "When did you get your lobotomy?".



[When asked if he was a fan of technology] I love technology. Matches, to light a fire is really high tech. The wheel is REALLY one of the great inventions of all time. Other than that I am an ignoramus about technology. I once looked for the 'ON' button on the computer and came to find out it was on the back. Then I thought, anyone who would put the 'on' switch on the back, where you can't find it, doesn't do any good for my psyche. The one time I did get the computer on, I couldn't turn the damn thing off!



I am not a Starfleet commander, or T.J. Hooker. I don't live on Starship NCC-1701, or own a phaser. And I don't know anybody named Bones, Sulu or Spock. And no, I've never had green alien sex, though I'm sure it would be quite an evening. I speak English and French, not Klingon! I drink Labatt's, not Romulan ale! And when someone says to me "Live long and prosper", I seriously mean it when I say, "Get a life." My doctor's name is not McCoy, it's Ginsberg. And tribbles were puppets, not real animals. PUPPETS! And when I speak, I never, ever talk like every. Word. Is. Its. Own. Sentence. I live in California, but I was raised in Montreal. And yes, I've gone where no man has gone before, but I was in Mexico and her father gave me permission! My name is William Shatner, and I am Canadian!



We were basically one and the same, although Jim [Kirk] was just about perfect, and, of course, I am perfect.



What he tells his kids about money: Don't buy anything on time, and that includes cars and houses. (Money magazine, 2007)



On what money means to him: For the longest time, I could never get ahead more than a few hundred dollars, no matter how well I did or what job I got, and no matter how hard I tried to pare expenses down. With three kids, it was always very, very tight, and it was always a scramble for what was my next job. So I learned never to go into debt because I don't want those monthly payments to preoccupy my thoughts. I never spend more than what I can afford, and I don't owe anything.



On his most memorable money mistake: When I was a young actor at Canada's Stratford Festival, one of the older actors told me that Canadian uranium is the future and you must buy into it. So I bought it on Thursday with the entire $500 I had saved. The following day, the Canadian prime minister said the country would no longer buy uranium. I was wiped out. It actually hurt my performance on stage. Since then, I've led a very conservative financial life.



I'm not going to have a tombstone. I'm going to be tossed in the air. Ashes, tossed like a salad.





[on the popularity of Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)] It has action-adventure, with lots of fights and villains, so the kids like it. On another level, we deal with a philosophical concept - that what's alien isn't necessarily evil - so we reach their parents. Many of our episodes deal with scientific concepts, so our program entertains the technicians and space scientists. And with the hippies, we have a far-out show. They think we're psychedelic.

[on the pyrotechnic opening to the 2012 Juno Awards] Sure there were flames, but if the drummer survived, what's the point?





[on the death of Leonard Nimoy ] I loved him like a brother. We will all miss his humor, his talent and his capacity to love.

[when asked how long he foresees himself acting; Starlog magazine, 1986] I'll work as an actor until I die. But I do see myself spending less time acting and more time doing other things.



[on the iconic Michael Myers mask from the Halloween movies which is based on his likeness] When my kids were younger, and they'd go trick-or-treating, and I would go with them, I'd wear the mask. If [people] didn't give them candy, I'd take off the mask, and blow a kiss.



Salary (1)