Over his seven decades in the industry,William Shatnerhas become an out-of-this-world star.
The small screen icon turns 95 years old on March 22, 2026, and has lived quite the life in that time. Perhaps best known for his role as steady Captain Kirk onStar Trek,he has a career that extends through decades of movies and television series, plus work in music, books and — in 2024 at the age of 90 — outer space!
Here, as he marks another trip around the sun, celebrate Shatner's life in photos.
William Shatner's Early Years
Born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada,William Shatnergrew to fame as a television star, most famously as the original Captain James T. Kirk in theStar Trekfranchise, and expanded his repertoire into film, books and video games.
William Shatner's Marriage to Gloria Rand
He met his first wife, actress Gloria Rand, while making his self-written television playDreams. They tied the knot in August 1956 and welcomed three daughters over the course of their 13-year marriage. Of their divorce, Shatner wrote in his autobiographyUp Till Nowthat his marriage to Rand was "lopsided" and he "wasn't good at being married."
"I was working so hard to support my family and resented Gloria because I was getting so little joy out of my marriage," he confessed in the book. "She resented me for … for probably many reasons. So Gloria stayed home with our girls and it seemed like each week new and beautiful — and seemingly available — women showed up on the set."
William Shatner on 'For the People'
His early roles included John Crane and Jim Whitley onAlfred Hitchcock Presents(1957-1960), Bob Wilson and Don Carter onThe Twilight Zone(1960-1963) and New York City assistant district attorney David Koster onFor the People(1965).
William Shatner on 'Star Trek'
Shatner landed the role of Captain James T. Kirk in the originalStar Trekseries in 1966, which ran until 1969. The show, which also starredLeonard Nimoy,DeForest Kelley,Nichelle Nichols, James Doohan andGeorge Takei, went on to become the most successful TV sci-fi franchise ever and spawned a loyal fan base who call themselves Trekkies.
William Shatner in the 'Star Trek' Films
The actor went on to voice Kirk in 1973'sStar Trek: The Animated Series, and starred in the 1979 motion picture.
William Shatner's Marriage to Marcy Lafferty
Shatner married fellow actress Marcy Lafferty in 1973, three years after they met on set of the 1970 movieThe Andersonville Trial. During their relationship, the couple became involved in breeding, rearing and riding American saddlebred show horses, perThe Washington Post.
Their marriage ended in a "relatively amicable" divorce in 1996, according to Shatner in his autobiography.
William Shatner in the 'Star Trek' Films
Years later, he got back in the saddle as Kirk in the next two film installments ofStar Trek:The Wrath of Khan(1982) andThe Search for Spock(1984).
William Shatner on 'Barbary Coast'
In 1975, the star led the TV westernBarbary Coastas Jeff Cable, alongside Doug McClure (Cash Conover, pictured), Richard Kiel (Moose Moran) and Dave Turner (Thumbs).
William Shatner on 'T.J. Hooker'
He took the lead on the action-crime dramaT.J. Hooker(1982-1986) withHeather Locklear(Officer Stacy Sheridan), James Darren (Officer Jim Corrigan) and Adrian Zmed (Officer Vince Romano).
William Shatner's Marriage to Nerine Kidd
While Shatner directed an episode ofKung Fu: The Legend Continuesin 1994, he crossed paths with his soon-to-be third wife, Nerine Kidd. They wed in November 1997, "against the advice" of Shatner's family and friends, he toldThe Sydney Morning Herald11 years later.
Kidd, who struggled with alcoholism, died on Aug. 9, 1999, after Shatner discovered her unconscious in their pool.
"Sometimes I berate her for not having stopped drinking," he toldTheSydney Morning Herald. "Sometimes I tell her it's OK, that I am thinking about her, that she is alive in my mind. But you never get over it."
In her memory, Shatner founded the Nerine Shatner Foundation, connected to a halfway house with room for 11 women.
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William Shatner in 'Miss Congeniality'
He also joinedSandra BullockinMiss Congeniality(2000) as Stan Fields.
William Shatner's Music Career
In addition to acting, Shatner has a passion for music. He released his albumBillin September 2021; it includes appearances from music starsJoe Jonas,Brad Paisleyand Joe Walsh.
William Shatner Receives the Order of Canada
In 2019, the star was inducted into the Order of Canada — the second-highest merit honor in the country — in recognition of his decades-long acting career and philanthropic efforts.
William Shatner's Books
He's also authored several books, including a memoir calledWilliam Shatner: Live Long and ... What I learned Along the Way,Leonard, a look into Shatner andStar Trekcostar and late friend Leonard Nimoy's friendship, andThe TekWar Series, which was later adapted into comics.
William Shatner's Personal Life
Shatner married his fourth wife Elizabeth Martin in 2001 after meeting through letter correspondence. Speaking toThe Guardianin 2014, he explained that he fell for Martin because of a "combination of beauty, style, intelligence, humor and loving horses and dogs and children and loving her home and making a home for us."
He filed for divorce from Martin in 2019, and the pair reached a settlement in March 2020. Three years later, the two attended the Living Legends of Aviation Awards together, and in an interview withThe Mirror, he referred to Martin as "my wife."
William Shatner as a Dad
The actor has three adult daughters, all of whom he welcomed with his first wife Rand.
William Shatner Goes to Space
On Oct. 13, 2021, the real-life Captain Kirk made history asthe oldest person to travel to spaceat 90 years old (though the record would be broken in 2024 by Ed Dwight). Shatner was one of four crew members who completed the11-minute journeyon the New Shepard rocket for the NS-18 mission, thanks toJeff Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin.
"It's life-changing in its way, not because of the aerial adventure, but because of the people I'm meeting," Shatner said in a video that aired duringBlue Origin's livestreamabout fellow space travelers Audrey Powers, Chris Boshuizen and Glen de Vries.
William Shatner Goes to Space
Upon landing, Shatner and his crew were met with applause and a hug from Jeff Bezos.
"In a way, it's indescribable," the actor told Bezos, who made his owntrip to spacethe July prior.
"Not only is it different from what you thought, it happens so quickly," he added duringBlue Origin's livestream.
The star got emotional, sharing hiswish for all humans to experience the wonders of space travel.
"Everybody in the world needs to do this," Shatner said. "Everybody in the world needs to see."
William Shatner's Life Now
In September 2025, it was reported that Shatner had beenhospitalized, but the star dispelled concerns with a playful meme onXthat read "rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!"
"I over indulged," he wrote alongside the meme. "I thank you all for caring but I'm perfectly fine. I keep telling you all: don't trust tabloids or AI! 😉."
For Thanksgiving later that year, Shatner shared a celebratoryInstagrampost about how "thankful" and "blessed beyond measure" he is "with [health], family and a beautiful gathering."
He starred in a cheeky2026 Super Bowlcommercial promotingKellogg's Raisin Bran, saying to PEOPLE, "Is there anything more prestigious than having a commercial on the Super Bowl?"
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