History of William Shatner in Timeline
William Shatner is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. His career spans seven decades, beginning with the original Star Trek television series in 1966. He played Kirk until his character's final appearance in 'Star Trek Generations' (1994).
1905: Birth of Ann Garmaise, Shatner's mother
In 1905, Ann Garmaise, William Shatner's mother, was born.
1928: Birth of Joy Rutenberg, Shatner's sister
In 1928, Joy Rutenberg, William Shatner's older sister, was born.
March 22, 1931: William Shatner's birth
On March 22, 1931, William Shatner was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
1940: Birth of Farla Cohen, Shatner's sister
In 1940, Farla Cohen, William Shatner's younger sister, was born.
1951: Small role in The Butler's Night Off
In 1951, William Shatner had a small role as "a crook" in the Canadian comedy drama, The Butler's Night Off.
1952: Graduation from McGill University
In 1952, William Shatner graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the McGill University Faculty of Management in Montreal.
1954: First American television appearance on The Howdy Doody Show
In 1954, William Shatner made his first appearance on American television in The Howdy Doody Show, playing the role of Ranger Bob.
August 12, 1956: Marriage to Gloria Rand
On August 12, 1956, William Shatner married Gloria Rand, a Canadian actress.
1956: Broadway Debut in Tamburlaine
In 1956, William Shatner made his Broadway debut in Marlowe's Tamburlaine as part of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
1957: Appearance in Alfred Hitchcock Presents
In the 1957-58 season, William Shatner had a leading role in "The Glass Eye" episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
December 1958: Appearance in The Christmas Tree
In December 1958, William Shatner appeared in The Christmas Tree, a Hallmark Hall of Fame live television production.
1958: Birth of Leslie Shatner
In 1958, William Shatner's first daughter, Leslie, was born.
1959: Role in The World of Suzie Wong and Nero Wolfe pilot
In 1959, William Shatner received good reviews for his role in The World of Suzie Wong on Broadway and played detective Archie Goodwin in a Nero Wolfe pilot that was aborted by CBS.
1960: Appearance in The Twilight Zone and Outlaws
In 1960, William Shatner appeared in "Nick of Time", an episode of The Twilight Zone and in NBC's Outlaws.
1961: Broadway appearance in A Shot in the Dark and roles in Thriller and The Explosive Generation
In 1961, William Shatner appeared on Broadway in A Shot in the Dark and had roles in the television series Thriller and the film The Explosive Generation.
1961: Birth of Lisabeth Shatner
In 1961, William Shatner's second daughter, Lisabeth, was born.
1962: Lead role in The Intruder
In 1962, William Shatner took the lead role in Roger Corman's movie The Intruder.
1963: Appearance in The Twilight Zone
In 1963, William Shatner appeared in "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", an episode of The Twilight Zone.
1963: Appearance in The Soldier and Route 66
In 1963, William Shatner starred in the Family Theater production called "The Soldier" and guest-starred in Route 66.
1964: First appearance with Leonard Nimoy
In 1964, William Shatner first appeared on screen with Leonard Nimoy in an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. titled "The Project Strigas Affair".
1964: Guest appearances in The Outer Limits, The Reporter, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
In 1964, William Shatner guest-starred in The Outer Limits and The Reporter, and appeared in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. with Leonard Nimoy.
1964: Birth of Melanie Shatner
In 1964, William Shatner's third daughter, Melanie, was born.
1965: Guest-starring in 12 O'Clock High and starring in For the People
In 1965, William Shatner guest-starred in 12 O'Clock High and had the lead role in For the People.
1966: Debut as Captain Kirk
In 1966, William Shatner debuted as Captain James T. Kirk in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series, marking a significant point in his career.
1966: Starring in Incubus, Gunsmoke, and The Big Valley
In 1966, William Shatner starred in the gothic horror film Incubus and appeared in episodes of Gunsmoke and The Big Valley.
1966: Cast as Captain James T. Kirk
In 1966, William Shatner was cast as Captain James T. Kirk for the second pilot of Star Trek, marking the beginning of his iconic role.
1967: Pyrotechnical accident during Star Trek episode "Arena"
During the shooting of the 1967 Star Trek episode "Arena", William Shatner experienced a pyrotechnical accident that may have led to his development of tinnitus.
1967: Death of Joseph Shatner
In 1967, Joseph Shatner, William Shatner's father, passed away.
April 1968: Admirer Incident
In April 1968, a group of fans attempted to tear his clothes from him as he left 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
November 22, 1968: Aired Plato's Stepchildren
On November 22, 1968, the Star Trek episode Plato's Stepchildren aired, featuring a kiss between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura, noted as an early example of interracial kissing on scripted television.
1968: Recording Debut with The Transformed Man
In 1968, William Shatner made his recording debut with the release of the album titled The Transformed Man.
1968: Release of The Transformed Man album
In 1968, William Shatner released his debut album, The Transformed Man, marking the start of his career as a recording artist.
1968: Starring in White Comanche
In 1968, William Shatner starred in the Spaghetti Western White Comanche, playing dual roles.
1968: Alexander the Great Pilot Aired as TV Movie
In 1968, the pilot for a proposed series called Alexander the Great, which was not picked up earlier, was repackaged as a TV movie after Shatner gained fame.
March 1969: Divorce from Gloria Rand
In March 1969, William Shatner divorced his first wife, Gloria Rand, after leaving her while acting in Star Trek: The Original Series.
1969: Star Trek cancellation
After Star Trek's cancellation in 1969, Shatner reunited with Nimoy in Star Trek: The Animated Series, and they subsequently worked together on both The $20,000 Pyramid and T. J. Hooker.
1969: Cancellation of Star Trek and its aftermath
In 1969, following the cancellation of Star Trek, William Shatner faced challenges in finding employment and experienced financial difficulties, including a period of living in a truck-bed camper.
1971: The Andersonville Trial
In 1971, Shatner made a critically praised appearance as a prosecutor in a PBS adaptation of Saul Levitt's play The Andersonville Trial.
1971: Performance recorded for William Shatner Live
In 1971, William Shatner gave a performance that was later released in 1977 on the Lemli Records double album, William Shatner Live.
1972: The People
In 1972, Shatner was seen in a major part in the movie The People.
1973: The Horror at 37,000 Feet
In 1973, Shatner was seen in a major part in the movie The Horror at 37,000 Feet.
1973: Marriage to Marcy Lafferty
In 1973, William Shatner married Marcy Lafferty, the daughter of television producer Perry Lafferty.
1973: Return to Star Trek in Animated Series
In 1973, William Shatner returned to the role of Captain Kirk in the animated Star Trek series.
1974: Big Bad Mama
In 1974, William Shatner's film work included B-movies such as Roger Corman's Big Bad Mama.
1975: The Devil's Rain and Barbary Coast
In 1975, Shatner appeared in the horror film The Devil's Rain and had a starring role in the western-themed secret agent series Barbary Coast.
1976: Barbary Coast
During 1975 and 1976, Shatner had a starring role in the western-themed secret agent series Barbary Coast.
1976: Consideration for Family Feud Host
In 1976, Mark Goodson considered Shatner as the host for the pilot of Family Feud but was intimidated into choosing Richard Dawson instead.
1977: Kingdom of the Spiders
In 1977, William Shatner's film work included the horror film Kingdom of the Spiders.
1977: Release of William Shatner Live Album
In 1977, a performance that William Shatner had given during a tour in 1971 was released on a Lemli Records double album, William Shatner Live.
1977: Star Wars Success Impacts Star Trek
In 1977, the enormous success of George Lucas's film Star Wars led Paramount to decide that the next Star Trek adventure should be in theaters instead of television.
1977: The $10,000 Pyramid Blunder
In a 1977 episode of The $10,000 Pyramid, Shatner blurted out the word "blessed" instead of providing a hint, disqualifying his partner from a $20,000 prize. He reacted by throwing his chair out of the Winner's Circle.
1978: Saturn Awards Performance
In 1978, William Shatner hosted the fifth Saturn Awards and performed a comedic version of Elton John's "Rocket Man".
1979: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
In 1979, Shatner and the original Star Trek cast returned for Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
1982: Co-starring with Heather Locklear in T.J. Hooker
In 1982, Heather Locklear began co-starring with William Shatner on T. J. Hooker. Her role on Hooker, combined with Dynasty, made her nervous but motivated her to prepare well for set.
1982: Airplane II: The Sequel
In 1982, Shatner mocked the persona of Captain Kirk in the film Airplane II: The Sequel.
1982: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
In 1982, Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
1982: T. J. Hooker Debut
In 1982, Shatner was cast as the lead in T. J. Hooker, a high-profile television show.
1982: Starring in T.J. Hooker
In 1982, William Shatner began playing the eponymous veteran police sergeant in the television series T. J. Hooker.
May 19, 1983: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On May 19, 1983, Shatner was awarded the 1,762nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing the iconic status of Captain Kirk.
1984: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
In 1984, Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
1986: Saturday Night Live Sketch
In 1986, Shatner advised Trekkies to "get a life" in a Saturday Night Live sketch.
1986: T. J. Hooker End
In 1986, T. J. Hooker ended after five seasons and ninety-one episodes.
1987: King of Mardi Gras Bacchus parade
William Shatner was king of the Mardi Gras Bacchus parade in 1987.
December 1989: This Is Your Life Appearance
In December 1989, Shatner was surprised by Michael Aspel on the set of the Starship Enterprise for the British television series This Is Your Life.
1989: Rescue 911 Host
In 1989, Shatner began hosting the dramatic re-enactment series Rescue 911.
1989: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
In 1989, Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
1989: TekWar Publication
In 1989, Shatner's novel TekWar, co-written with Ron Goulart, was published, launching a successful book series.
1989: Hosting Rescue 911
In 1989, William Shatner began hosting the reality-based television series Rescue 911.
1990: Support of Hollywood Charity Horse Show begins
Since 1990, William Shatner has been one of the most important supporters of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which raises money for organizations serving children.
1991: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
In 1991, Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
1992: Death of Ann Shatner
In 1992, Ann (Garmaise) Shatner, William Shatner's mother, passed away.
1992: MTV Movie Awards Performance
In 1992, William Shatner performed versions of the five nominees in the Best Song from a Movie category at the MTV Movie Awards.
1993: Star Trek Memories memoir
In 1993, James Doohan declined to be interviewed by Shatner for his first memoir, Star Trek Memories.
1993: National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
In 1993, Shatner mocked the persona of Captain Kirk in the film National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1.
1994: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures CEO
In 1994, Shatner became the chief executive officer of C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, a special effects studio based in Toronto, Ontario.
1994: Star Trek Generations
In 1994, Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek Generations, which culminated in the captain's self-sacrificial death.
1994: Columbo appearance
In 1994, Shatner played the murderer-of-the-week in the Columbo episode "Butterfly in Shades of Grey".
1994: Final appearance as Captain Kirk
In 1994, William Shatner made his final appearance as Captain James T. Kirk in the seventh Star Trek feature film, Star Trek Generations.
1994: Grand Marshal of Tournament of Roses Parade
On New Year's Day 1994, William Shatner was the Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, riding on horseback and participating in the coin toss for the Rose Bowl game.
1995: Trinity and Beyond narration
In 1995, Shatner narrated Peter Kuran's documentary film Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie, and his TekWar franchise expanded into the world of computer games with a first-person shooter release, William Shatner's TekWar.
1996: End of Rescue 911
In 1996, Shatner concluded his hosting duties on Rescue 911.
1996: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Guest Star
In 1996, Shatner guest-starred in Will Smith's television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in an episode entitled Eye, Tooth.
1996: Divorce from Marcy Lafferty
In 1996, William Shatner divorced his second wife, Marcy Lafferty, after being married for 23 years.
1997: Starfleet Academy
In 1997, Shatner's appearances as James Tiberius Kirk were in the movie sequences of the video game Starfleet Academy.
1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd
In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd against advice and his own good sense; Leonard Nimoy was his best man.
1998: Free Enterprise
In 1998, Shatner contributed a caricature of himself to the romantic comedy movie Free Enterprise, which satirized some Trekkies' Kirk idolatry.
1998: A Twist in the Tale narration
In 1998, Shatner narrated a television miniseries shot in New Zealand, A Twist in the Tale.
1998: Featured on Ben Folds's Album
In 1998, William Shatner was featured on two tracks, "In Love" and "Still in Love", on Ben Folds's album "Fear of Pop: Volume 1".
May 1999: Get a Life! Publication
In May 1999, Simon & Schuster published Shatner's book Get a Life!, a memoir of his experiences with Trekkies.
August 9, 1999: Death of Nerine Kidd
On August 9, 1999, William Shatner found his third wife, Nerine Kidd, dead in their swimming pool; her death was ruled an accidental drowning due to alcohol and diazepam.
1999: Nerine Shatner's death
Following the death of Nerine Shatner in 1999, actress Heather Locklear offered her support and comfort to William Shatner during his bereavement.
1999: 3rd Rock from the Sun appearance
From 1999, Shatner appeared in several episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun as the "Big Giant Head".
1999: Writing a book about Trekkies
In 1999, William Shatner wrote a book about Trekkies after his Saturday Night Live rebuke to them.
2000: Miss Congeniality
In 2000, Shatner played Stan Fields, the co-host of the Miss United States Pageant, in the Sandra Bullock comedy movie Miss Congeniality.
2000: 3rd Rock from the Sun Emmy Nomination
In 2000, Shatner's role as the "Big Giant Head" on 3rd Rock from the Sun earned him an Emmy Award nomination.
2000: Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
In 2000, William Shatner contributed the voice of Buzz Lightyear to the Star Command anthem "To Infinity And Beyond" in the film Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins.
2000: Plans for "The Shiva Club"
In 2000, it was reported that William Shatner was planning to write and direct "The Shiva Club", a dark comedy about the grieving process inspired by his wife's death.
2001: Miss USA Pageant and Osmosis Jones
In 2001, Shatner hosted the Miss USA Pageant in Gary, Indiana. He also voiced Mayor Phlegmming in the movie Osmosis Jones.
2001: Marriage to Elizabeth Anderson Martin
In 2001, William Shatner married Elizabeth Anderson Martin.
June 28, 2002: Performance at San Carlos Institute Theatre
On June 28, 2002, William Shatner appeared with Brian Evans at the San Carlos Institute Theatre in Key West, Florida and duetted on the songs "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "The Lady Is a Tramp".
2003: Celebrity music video appearances
In 2003, Shatner appeared in Brad Paisley's Celebrity and Online music videos.
August 2004: Doohan forgives Shatner
In August 2004, during James Doohan's final convention appearance, it was reported that he had forgiven William Shatner, and they had achieved a friendship as senior citizens.
October 2004: Star Trek: Enterprise Story Arc Cancellation
In October 2004, Manny Coto revealed plans for Shatner to guest-star in a three-episode story arc of Star Trek: Enterprise, but the series was canceled, preventing his participation.
October 2004: Release of Has Been Album
In October 2004, William Shatner's second studio album, Has Been, produced by Ben Folds, was released.
2004: Elizabeth Martin Co-Wrote "Together"
In 2004, Elizabeth Anderson Martin co-wrote the song "Together" on William Shatner's album, "Has Been".
2004: George Takei's memoir, To the Stars
In 2004, George Takei wrote about his issues with William Shatner in his memoir, To the Stars.
2004: Starring as Denny Crane
In 2004, William Shatner began starring as attorney Denny Crane in The Practice and Boston Legal.
2004: Release of "Has Been" Album
In 2004, William Shatner's album "Has Been" included a spoken word piece, "What Have You Done", which described his anguish upon discovering Nerine's body.
June 9, 2005: AFI Life Achievement Award Performance
On June 9, 2005, William Shatner performed his version of "My Way" at George Lucas's AFI Life Achievement Award presentation, backed by dancers in Imperial Stormtrooper costumes.
December 11, 2005: Comedy Central's Last Laugh Appearance
On December 11, 2005, William Shatner launched Comedy Central's Last Laugh 2005 with a skit as Lucifer.
2005: Reunion with Heather Locklear on Boston Legal
In 2005, Heather Locklear appeared in two episodes of Boston Legal, playing Kelly Nolan. The episodes featured Shatner's character becoming attracted to Nolan and becoming involved in her defense.
2005: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
In 2005, Shatner appeared in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, reprising his role as Stan Fields.
2005: Golden Globe and Emmy Win
In 2005, Shatner won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal, after originating the role on The Practice.
2005: Featured on Lemon Jelly Album
In 2005, William Shatner was featured on the track "'64 - Go" on the Lemon Jelly album "'64 - '95".
March 29, 2006: TV Land's Living in TV Land Episode
On March 29, 2006, TV Land aired an episode of "Living in TV Land" featuring William Shatner, including footage with Ben Folds and a performance of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".
May 16, 2006: Appearance on The View
On May 16, 2006, during an appearance on The View, William Shatner announced that the proceeds from the kidney stone sale, along with $20,000 from the Boston Legal cast and crew, were donated to Habitat for Humanity.
2006: Emmy Nomination
In 2006, Shatner was Emmy nominated again for his role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal.
2006: DirecTV advertisement using footage from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
In 2006, Shatner's final appearances as James Tiberius Kirk were in a DirecTV advertisement that used footage from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
2006: Animated Movie Roles
In 2006, William Shatner was featured in two high-profile animated pictures. He voiced Ozzie in DreamWorks' Over the Hedge and Kazar in Walt Disney's The Wild.
January 2007: ShatnerVision Autobiographical Vlogs
In January 2007, William Shatner began posting daily autobiographical vlogs on the LiveVideo platform. This project was named ShatnerVision.
July 2007: Discussion about Star Trek Role
In July 2007, Director J. J. Abrams mentioned that the production of the 2009 film Star Trek was "desperately trying to figure out a way to put him in" but that to "shove him in ... would be a disaster".
2007: Dance Project Based on "Has Been"
In 2007, Margo Sappington adapted William Shatner's album "Has Been" into a dance project called "Common People" for the Milwaukee Ballet.
2007: Emmy Nomination
In 2007, Shatner was Emmy nominated again for his role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal.
December 2008: Shatner's Raw Nerve Chat Show
In December 2008, William Shatner experimented with the chat show genre in the humorous Shatner's Raw Nerve.
2008: Boston Legal Ends
In 2008, Boston Legal ended after five seasons and one hundred and one episodes, marking the end of Shatner's role as Denny Crane on the show.
2008: Publication of Up Till Now
In 2008, William Shatner's memoir, Up Till Now, co-written with David Fisher, was published. This book predated their later collaboration on a book about Leonard Nimoy and Shatner's relationship with him.
2008: End of role as Denny Crane
In 2008, William Shatner's role as attorney Denny Crane in The Practice and Boston Legal came to an end.
April 17, 2009: Premiere of "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet"
On April 17, 2009, the documentary "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet", which featured William Shatner and Margo Sappington's dance project, premiered at the Nashville Film Festival.
July 27, 2009: Poetry Slam on The Tonight Show
On July 27, 2009, William Shatner initiated mock-hostilities with a poetry slam inspired recitation of Sarah Palin's resignation speech on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
December 11, 2009: Reading excerpts from Sarah Palin's autobiography
On December 11, 2009, William Shatner returned to The Tonight Show to read excerpts from Sarah Palin's autobiography, Going Rogue: An American Life, and she responded by reciting excerpts from his memoir, Up Till Now.
2009: Emmy Nomination
In 2009, Shatner was Emmy nominated again for his role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal.
2009: Possible film role
In 2009, Shatner was not offered or suggested a role in the film Star Trek.
2009: Voice of Don Salmonella
In 2009, William Shatner expanded his work on YouTube by supplying the voice of Don Salmonella to the animated series The Gavones.
2009: No Role in Star Trek Film
In 2009, William Shatner was not "offered or suggested" a role in the Star Trek film directed by J.J. Abrams.
February 1, 2010: Guest Hosting WWE Raw
On February 1, 2010, William Shatner guest-hosted WWE Raw to promote his Biography Channel talk show, "Shatner's Raw Nerve", and performed wrestlers' entrance theme songs.
February 28, 2010: Speaker at the closing ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics
On February 28, 2010, William Shatner was one of the speakers at the closing ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.
April 2010: Hosting Weird or What?
In April 2010, William Shatner began hosting the Discovery Channel show Weird or What?, exploring left-field topics such as UFOs and cryptozoology.
2010: Shatner Describes Star Trek Film as Wonderful
At a convention held in 2010, William Shatner described the 2009 Star Trek film as "wonderful".
2010: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures Closure
In 2010, C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, the special effects studio where Shatner was the CEO, ceased operations.
March 7, 2011: Wake-up Call for Space Shuttle Discovery Crew
On March 7, 2011, the crew of STS-133 on the Space Shuttle Discovery began their last day docked to the International Space Station with William Shatner reciting an adapted version of the Star Trek introduction.
March 2011: End of Shatner's Raw Nerve
In March 2011, Shatner's humorous chat show, Shatner's Raw Nerve, concluded its run.
May 2011: Cancellation of $#*! My Dad Says
In May 2011, three months after the first broadcast of its final episode, William Shatner's CBS sitcom $#*! My Dad Says was cancelled.
October 2011: Release of Seeking Major Tom Album
In October 2011, William Shatner released the album Seeking Major Tom, featuring several notable musicians.
2011: Honorary Doctorate from McGill University
In 2011, McGill University awarded William Shatner an honorary Doctorate of Letters.
2011: Appearance on Shatner's Raw Nerve
In 2011, Walter Koenig appeared on Shatner's interview series Shatner's Raw Nerve, indicating that the animosity he once felt towards Shatner had dissipated.
2011: Release of Seeking Major Tom album
In 2011, William Shatner released his most successful album, Seeking Major Tom, which includes covers of Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly", David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".
August 2012: End of Weird or What?
In August 2012, the Discovery Channel show Weird or What?, which was hosted by William Shatner, aired its final episode.
2012: Broadway Show: Shatner's World: We Just Live in It
In 2012, William Shatner returned to his roots in theatre, appearing on Broadway in a one-man show called Shatner's World: We Just Live in It.
October 2013: Release of 'Ponder the Mystery'
In October 2013, William Shatner released his fifteen-track album "Ponder the Mystery", produced by Billy Sherwood, featuring contributions from various musicians.
2013: Academy Awards appearance
In 2013, Shatner reprised the role of Captain Kirk for a comedic interlude with the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, at the Academy Awards.
April 24, 2014: Autobiographical One-Man Show on Broadway
On April 24, 2014, William Shatner performed an autobiographical one-man show on Broadway, which was filmed for screening in theatres across Australia, Canada and the United States.
2014: Grand Marshal of the Calgary Stampede parade
In 2014, William Shatner served as the Grand Marshal at the 102nd Calgary Stampede parade in his native Canada.
2015: Role in Murdoch Mysteries and Haven
In 2015, William Shatner played Mark Twain in an episode of Murdoch Mysteries, and Croatoan in the final episodes of Haven's fifth season.
2015: Leonard Nimoy's death
In 2015, after the death of Leonard Nimoy, Shatner expressed his love for him, stating, "I loved him like a brother." Due to other commitments, Shatner could not attend the funeral, but his daughters attended in his place.
March 2016: Featured on Ben Craven's Album
In March 2016, William Shatner provided lead vocals on Ben Craven's track "Spy In The Sky Part 3" on Craven's album "Last Chance To Hear".
August 23, 2016: Premiere of Better Late Than Never
On August 23, 2016, the NBC reality miniseries Better Late Than Never premiered, featuring William Shatner and other celebrities touring Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
September 2016: Special guest at Salt Lake Comic Con
In September 2016, William Shatner was invited to attend the Salt Lake Comic Con as their special guest.
2016: Estrangement from Leonard Nimoy revealed
In 2016, Shatner revealed that he and Nimoy had not spoken in the five years before Nimoy's death the year before, despite their long friendship.
2016: Starring in Better Late Than Never
In 2016, William Shatner began starring in NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
December 11, 2017: Preview Episode of Better Late Than Never
On December 11, 2017, a preview episode of the second season of Better Late Than Never was aired.
2017: Independent Publisher Book Awards
In 2017, Stan Lee's "God Woke", a graphic novel published by Shatner Singularity, won the Independent Publisher Book Awards' Outstanding Books of the Year Independent Voice Award.
2017: Starring in Better Late Than Never season 2
In 2017, William Shatner continued starring in season 2 of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
2017: Controversy over support for Autism Speaks
In 2017, William Shatner tweeted support for Autism Speaks, leading to arguments with autistic individuals and allies. He later suggested his critics should have kept quiet and called the incident a misunderstanding.
2017: Honorary captain of Star Trek cruise
In 2017, William Shatner was the honorary captain of "Star Trek: The Cruise", celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first Star Trek pilot episode.
May 2018: Honorary Doctorate from New England Institute of Technology
In May 2018, William Shatner was granted an honorary Doctorate of Letters by the New England Institute of Technology.
August 2018: Release of "Why Not Me"
In August 2018, William Shatner's first venture into country music, "Why Not Me", was released, featuring Jeff Cook and guest vocals from Neal McCoy, Home Free, and Cash Creek.
October 2018: Release of "Shatner Claus"
In October 2018, William Shatner released a holiday collection, "Shatner Claus", featuring collaborations with Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Todd Rundgren, Billy Gibbons, and others.
2018: Starring in Better Late Than Never season 2
In 2018, William Shatner continued starring in season 2 of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
2018: National Reining Horse Association Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, William Shatner was awarded the National Reining Horse Association Lifetime Achievement Award in the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame.
2018: Petition against dolphin exploitation on Star Trek cruise
In 2018, William Shatner, dismayed by the opportunity for customers to swim with dolphins, petitioned the CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line through PETA not to include dolphins in the programme of their cruise.
2018: Official season premiere of Better Late Than Never
In 2018, the official season premiere of the second season of Better Late Than Never was aired on New Year's Day.
2019: Hosting The UnXplained
In 2019, William Shatner began hosting and executive-producing The UnXplained on History.
2019: Shatner Filed for Divorce from Elizabeth
In 2019, William Shatner filed for divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin.
January 2020: Divorce from Elizabeth Martin Finalized
In January 2020, William Shatner's divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin was finalized.
October 2, 2020: Release of "The Blues" Album
On October 2, 2020, William Shatner's ninth album, "The Blues", was released.
2020: Shatner reveals age-related aches and pains
In 2020, Shatner revealed that he suffers from swollen joints and age-related "aches and pains," which he treats with cannabidiol oil, a dietary supplement.
2020: Argument over being called a 'straight white cis man'
In 2020, William Shatner engaged in a month-long argument with other Twitter users about being described as a "straight white cis man".
March 2021: Release of Senior Moment
In March 2021, William Shatner starred in the film Senior Moment, which was released in the same week he turned 90.
July 2021: Wally Funk's Spaceflight
In July 2021, Wally Funk flew on Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight at the age of 82. She was surpassed as the oldest person to fly into space by William Shatner on October 13, 2021.
August 26, 2021: Announcement of "Bill" Album
On August 26, 2021, William Shatner announced his tenth album, titled "Bill".
October 13, 2021: Blue Origin Spaceflight
On October 13, 2021, William Shatner participated in Blue Origin's second sub-orbital human spaceflight, Blue Origin NS-18, travelling on the RSS First Step and becoming the oldest person to fly into space at the time.
2021: Dismissive of Jewish convert of color
In 2021, The Forward noted that William Shatner was dismissive of a Jewish convert of color, drawing parallels to his previous arguments regarding the term "cis" and Autism Speaks.
2021: Involvement with RT and Political Controversy
In 2021, William Shatner became the focus of political controversy when it was revealed that he would host I Don't Understand with William Shatner on RT, formerly known as Russia Today.
2021: Spaceflight aboard Blue Origin NS-18
In 2021, at age 90, William Shatner flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-18, becoming the oldest person to fly in space at the time.
February 24, 2022: Statement on Ukraine Invasion
On February 24, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, William Shatner issued a statement via Twitter expressing unqualified support for the Ukrainians.
December 4, 2022: Star guest at L.A. Comic Con
On December 4, 2022, William Shatner was a star guest at the L.A. Comic Con.
2022: Appearance on The Masked Singer
In 2022, William Shatner competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as Knight and was eliminated in the first episode.
2023: Brent Spiner's statement about Shatner's Twitter account
In 2023, Brent Spiner stated in a podcast interview that William Shatner had told him his Twitter (now X) account was managed by an employee, and that Shatner had minimal direct involvement in the content.
2023: Death of Joy Rutenberg, Shatner's sister
In 2023, Joy Rutenberg, William Shatner's older sister, passed away.
2023: Conclusion of The UnXplained
In 2023, William Shatner's work on The UnXplained on History concluded.
2023: Takei's continued hostility towards Shatner
In a 2023 interview in London, George Takei reiterated his negative feelings toward William Shatner, describing him as "a cantankerous old fossil."
May 19, 2024: Ed Dwight Surpasses Shatner as Oldest Person in Space
On May 19, 2024, retired U.S. Air Force pilot Ed Dwight surpassed William Shatner's record, becoming the oldest person to fly into space at the age of 90 years, 253 days.
2024: Ed Dwight's spaceflight on Blue Origin NS-25
In 2024, Ed Dwight, aged 90 and 48 days older than Shatner, flew on the suborbital Blue Origin NS-25 spaceflight.
2025: Reconciliation with Elizabeth Martin
As of 2025, William Shatner and Elizabeth Martin have reconciled, and he is once again referring to her as his wife.
2025: Takei wishes Shatner a happy birthday
In 2025, George Takei wished Bill Shatner a happy 94th birthday and well wishes.
2025: Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award
In 2025, William Shatner will receive a Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award.
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