History of William Shatner in Timeline
William Shatner is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. Beginning with the original Star Trek television series in 1966, Shatner embodied the character of Captain Kirk, captaining the starship Enterprise and leading its crew on numerous adventures. He continued in the role through seven Star Trek feature films, concluding with Star Trek Generations in 1994. His performance as Kirk solidified his place in pop culture history, making him a widely recognized and celebrated figure in the entertainment industry.
1905: Birth of Ann Garmaise
In 1905, Ann Garmaise, William Shatner's mother, was born.
1928: Birth of Joy Rutenberg
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
In 1940, Farla Cohen, William Shatner's younger sister, was born.
1951: Small Role in The Butler's Night Off
In 1951, while still attending college, William Shatner had a small role as "a crook" in the Canadian comedy drama, The Butler's Night Off.
1952: Graduated 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
In 1954, William Shatner made his first appearance on American television, playing Ranger Bob on The Howdy Doody Show.
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.
1957: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Appearance
In the 1957-58 season of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, William Shatner had a leading role in the episode "The Glass Eye", heightening his American television profile.
December 1958: Hallmark Hall of Fame Appearance
In December 1958, William Shatner appeared in a Hallmark Hall of Fame live television production, The Christmas Tree, as a Roman tax collector.
1958: Birth of daughter Leslie Shatner
In 1958, Leslie Shatner, William Shatner's daughter, was born.
1959: Broadway Role in The World of Suzie Wong
In 1959, William Shatner received good reviews for his role as Lomax in The World of Suzie Wong on Broadway.
1960: Twilight Zone Appearance
In 1960, William Shatner appeared in the Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time".
1961: Birth of daughter Lisabeth Shatner
In 1961, Lisabeth Shatner, William Shatner's daughter, was born.
1961: Broadway Appearance in A Shot in the Dark
In 1961, William Shatner appeared on Broadway in A Shot in the Dark, alongside Julie Harris.
1962: Lead Role in The Intruder
In 1962, William Shatner took the lead role in Roger Corman's movie The Intruder.
1963: Twilight Zone Appearance
In 1963, William Shatner appeared in the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".
1963: Starred in Family Theater Production
In 1963, William Shatner starred in the Family Theater production called "The Soldier" and received credits in other programs of The Psalms series.
1964: Birth of daughter Melanie Shatner
In 1964, Melanie Shatner, William Shatner's daughter, was born.
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.', "The Project Strigas Affair".
1964: Starred in The Outer Limits
In 1964, William Shatner guest-starred in the second episode of the second season of The Outer Limits, "Cold Hands, Warm Heart".
1965: Guest-Starred in 12 O'Clock High
In 1965, William Shatner guest-starred in 12 O'Clock High as Major Curt Brown in the episode "I Am the Enemy".
1966: Star Trek Debut
In 1966, William Shatner debuted as Captain James T. Kirk in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series.
1966: Cast as Captain Kirk
In 1966, William Shatner was cast as Captain James T. Kirk for the second pilot of Star Trek.
1967: Death of Joseph Shatner
In 1967, Joseph Shatner, William Shatner's father, passed away.
1967: Pyrotechnical Accident During Star Trek Episode
In 1967, during the shooting of the Star Trek episode "Arena", a pyrotechnical accident may have triggered Shatner's tinnitus, a hearing disorder.
April 1968: Fan Incident
In April 1968, a group of Star Trek fans attempted to tear Shatner's clothes from him as he left 30 Rockefeller Plaza, highlighting the intensity of fan adoration.
November 22, 1968: Kiss on Star Trek
On November 22, 1968, the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" aired, featuring a kiss between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura, considered a historic moment in American race relations.
1968: Recording Debut
In 1968, William Shatner made his recording debut with the release of the album The Transformed Man, which featured readings from classic plays followed by recitations of popular songs. This album showcased his unique talk-singing style.
1968: Starred in White Comanche
In 1968, William Shatner starred in the Spaghetti Western White Comanche, playing both a white-hat character and his black-hat evil twin.
1968: Released The Transformed Man
In 1968, William Shatner started his career as a recording artist with the release of his album, The Transformed Man.
1968: Alexander the Great Aired as TV Movie
In 1968, the unaired pilot for the proposed series Alexander the Great was repackaged and aired as a TV movie to capitalize on the fame of William Shatner and Adam West.
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: Reunion after Star Trek cancellation
After Star Trek's cancellation in 1969, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy reunited in Star Trek: The Animated Series.
1969: Cancellation of Star Trek
In 1969, the cancellation of Star Trek led to William Shatner experiencing difficulty finding employment and facing financial hardship.
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: William Shatner Live Performance
In 1971, William Shatner gave a performance that was later released in 1977 as a double album titled William Shatner Live. The album included reminiscences about Star Trek and readings from various literary works.
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: Returned to Star Trek
In 1973, William Shatner returned to the role of Captain Kirk, voicing him 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: Family Feud Hosting Consideration
In 1976, Mark Goodson considered Shatner for the host of the pilot of Family Feud, but Richard Dawson's agent intimidated him into choosing Dawson instead.
1977: The $10,000 Pyramid Blunder
In 1977, Shatner perpetrated a blunder on The $10,000 Pyramid by blurting out the word "blessed" instead of hinting at it, costing his partner a $20,000 prize and causing Shatner to throw his chair in anger.
1977: Kingdom of the Spiders
In 1977, William Shatner's film work included B-movies such as Kingdom of the Spiders.
1977: William Shatner Live Album Release
In 1977, a performance from William Shatner's 1971 tour was released as a double album titled William Shatner Live. The album included reminiscences about Star Trek and readings from various literary works. The performance was from 1971.
1978: Saturn Awards performance
In 1978, William Shatner hosted the fifth presentation of 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 on T.J. Hooker
In 1982, Heather Locklear began co-starring with William Shatner on T.J. Hooker. Locklear mentioned that working with both Shatner and her colleagues on Dynasty was daunting, but it motivated her to be well-prepared.
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 reprised his role as Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
1982: T. J. Hooker
In 1982, Shatner was cast as a veteran Los Angeles police sergeant in 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, acknowledging 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 "Get a Life" Sketch
In 1986, Shatner advised Trekkies to "get a life" in a much-discussed Saturday Night Live sketch about a Star Trek convention.
1986: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
In 1986, Shatner starred as Kirk in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
1986: T. J. Hooker Ended
In 1986, T. J. Hooker ended after five seasons and ninety-one episodes.
1987: King of Mardi Gras Bacchus Parade
In 1987, Shatner was king of the Mardi Gras Bacchus parade.
December 1989: This Is Your Life
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
From 1989 to 1996, Shatner hosted 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 Novel Publication
In 1989, Shatner's first novel, TekWar, co-written with Ron Goulart, was published, launching a successful book series.
1990: Supporter of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show
Since 1990, Shatner has been a supporter 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: Performances at the MTV Movie Awards
In 1992, William Shatner performed versions of the five nominees in the Best Song from a Movie category at the MTV Movie Awards.
1993: Doohan Declines Interview
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.
1993: Star Trek Memories
In 1993, William Shatner recalls in his book, Star Trek Memories, how disappointed he felt when he attended the premiere of the first Star Trek movie, Robert Wise's Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
1994: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
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 revisited Columbo to play the murderer-of-the-week in the 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 in 1994, Shatner served as the Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, riding on horseback and participating in the coin toss at the Rose Bowl game.
1995: Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
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
From 1989 to 1996, Shatner hosted the popular dramatic re-enactment series Rescue 911.
1996: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Guest Appearance
In 1996, Shatner guest-starred in Will Smith's television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in an episode entitled Eye, Tooth.
1996: Rescue 911 Ended
In 1996, William Shatner concluded his hosting role on Rescue 911.
1996: Divorce from Marcy Lafferty
In 1996, William Shatner divorced his second wife, Marcy Lafferty, after a marriage lasting from 1973.
1997: Starfleet Academy
In 1997, Shatner's final appearances as James Tiberius Kirk were in the movie sequences of the video game Starfleet Academy.
1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd and her battle with alcoholism
In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd, who struggled with alcoholism. Leonard Nimoy supported her and took her to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, but she didn't want to quit.
1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd
In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd.
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
In 1998, Shatner narrated a television miniseries shot in New Zealand called 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! Book 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 Shatner
On August 9, 1999, William Shatner found his third wife, Nerine Kidd, deceased at the bottom of their swimming pool, her death ruled as accidental drowning.
1999: 3rd Rock from the Sun
From 1999 to 2000, Shatner appeared in several episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun as the "Big Giant Head", earning an Emmy Award nomination.
1999: Book about Trekkies
In 1999, William Shatner wrote a book about Trekkies in the aftermath of his Saturday Night Live rebuke to them. The book was later developed into a documentary film called Get a Life!
1999: Comforting Shatner
In 1999, after the death of Nerine Shatner, Heather Locklear offered comfort to William Shatner during his bereavement.
2000: 3rd Rock from the Sun
From 1999 to 2000, Shatner appeared in several episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun as the "Big Giant Head", earning an Emmy Award nomination.
2000: Miss Congeniality
In 2000, Shatner played Stan Fields in the Sandra Bullock comedy movie Miss Congeniality.
2000: Voice acting in 'Buzz Lightyear of Star Command'
In 2000, William Shatner voiced Buzz Lightyear in the Star Command anthem "To Infinity And Beyond" in the film 'Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins'.
2000: Planning 'The Shiva Club'
In 2000, it was reported that William Shatner was planning to write and direct 'The Shiva Club', a dark comedy inspired by his wife's death.
2001: Osmosis Jones and Miss USA Pageant Hosting
In 2001, Shatner voiced Mayor Phlegmming in Osmosis Jones. He also hosted the Miss USA Pageant in Gary, Indiana.
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 performed with Brian Evans at the San Carlos Institute Theatre in Key West, Florida, and they duetted on the songs "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "The Lady Is a Tramp". The concert was later released as the album Brian Evans Live with Special Guest: William Shatner.
2003: Brad Paisley Music Videos
In 2003, Shatner appeared in Brad Paisley's Celebrity and Online music videos along with Little Jimmy Dickens, Jason Alexander and Trista Rehn.
August 2004: Doohan Forgives Shatner
In August 2004, at the time of James Doohan's final convention appearance, it was reported that he had forgiven William Shatner, and they had achieved friendship after a long time.
October 2004: Release of Has Been
In October 2004, William Shatner released his second studio album, Has Been, produced by Ben Folds. The album featured songs co-written and arranged by Folds, as well as a cover of Pulp's "Common People".
October 2004: Star Trek: Enterprise
In October 2004, plans for Shatner to guest-star in a three-episode story arc on Star Trek: Enterprise were revealed, but the series was cancelled, preventing his participation.
2004: Co-writing of "Together"
In 2004, Elizabeth Anderson Martin co-wrote the song "Together" on William Shatner's album Has Been.
2004: Takei's Memoir
In 2004, George Takei wrote about his issues with William Shatner in his memoir, To the Stars.
2004: Starred as Denny Crane
Starting in 2004, William Shatner starred as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of The Practice and the entire run of its spinoff, Boston Legal.
2004: Release of 'What Have You Done'
William Shatner's 2004 album 'Has Been' included a spoken word piece, "What Have You Done", that described his anguish upon discovering Nerine's body.
June 9, 2005: Performance at George Lucas's AFI Life Achievement Award
On June 9, 2005, William Shatner performed his version of "My Way" at the presentation of George Lucas's AFI Life Achievement Award.
December 11, 2005: Appearance on Comedy Central's Last Laugh 2005
On December 11, 2005, William Shatner launched Comedy Central's Last Laugh 2005 with a skit.
2005: Reunion on Boston Legal
In 2005, Heather Locklear appeared in two episodes of Boston Legal as Kelly Nolan, with Shatner's character becoming attracted to her and involving himself 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: Emmy and Golden Globe Awards
In 2005, Shatner won a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal. With his 2005 Emmy accolade, he became one of the few actors (along with co-star James Spader as Alan Shore) to win an Emmy Award while playing the same character in two different shows.
2005: Featured on Lemon Jelly's Album
In 2005, William Shatner was featured in the track "'64 – Go" on the Lemon Jelly album '64–'95.
March 29, 2006: TV Land's "William Shatner in Concert" episode
On March 29, 2006, TV Land aired a William Shatner-centered episode of their Living in TV Land series, subtitled "William Shatner in Concert".
May 16, 2006: Sale of Kidney Stone
On May 16, 2006, William Shatner mentioned on The View that he sold a kidney stone to GoldenPalace.com for $25,000, donating the proceeds and an additional $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity.
2006: DirecTV advertisement
In 2006, Shatner appeared in a DirecTV advertisement that used footage from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
2006: Emmy Nomination
In 2006, Shatner was Emmy nominated for his role in Boston Legal.
2006: Animated Movie Roles
In 2006, William Shatner was featured in two high-profile animated movies. He voiced Ozzie in DreamWorks' Over the Hedge and played the villain Kazar in Walt Disney's The Wild. These roles showcased his voice acting talents in the animation genre.
January 2007: Launch of ShatnerVision
In January 2007, William Shatner began posting daily autobiographical vlogs on the LiveVideo platform, a project he named ShatnerVision. This marked his entry into the world of vlogging and online content creation. The project later rebranded to 'The Shatner Project' and migrated to YouTube the following year.
July 2007: No Role in Star Trek Film
In July 2007, J.J. Abrams stated that the production of the 2009 Star Trek film was trying to find a way to include William Shatner but felt forcing him in "would be a disaster". Shatner echoed this sentiment in interviews.
2007: Margo Sappington's dance project
In 2007, Margo Sappington used William Shatner's album 'Has Been' as the basis for a dance project called 'Common People' for the Milwaukee Ballet.
2007: Emmy Nomination
In 2007, Shatner was Emmy nominated for his role in Boston Legal.
December 2008: Debut of Shatner's Raw Nerve
In December 2008, William Shatner debuted 'Shatner's Raw Nerve', a humorous chat show that aired until March 2011. The show represented Shatner's foray into the chat show genre and allowed him to explore his comedic talents.
2008: End of Boston Legal
In 2008, Boston Legal ended after five seasons and one hundred and one episodes, marking the end of Shatner's run as Denny Crane on the show.
2008: Publication of Memoir
In 2008, William Shatner released his memoir, Up Till Now, co-written with David Fisher. This book offers insights into Shatner's life and career up to that point.
2008: Up Till Now: The Autobiography Publication
In his 2008 book 'Up Till Now: The Autobiography', William Shatner discussed Leonard Nimoy's efforts to help Nerine Kidd with her alcoholism.
April 17, 2009: Premiere of 'William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet'
On April 17, 2009, the documentary 'William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet' was unveiled at the Nashville Film Festival and was well-received.
July 27, 2009: Sarah Palin Poetry Slam
On July 27, 2009, William Shatner appeared on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and performed a poetry slam inspired recitation of Sarah Palin's resignation speech, initiating mock-hostilities between the two.
December 11, 2009: Reading from Palin's Autobiography
On December 11, 2009, William Shatner returned to The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and read excerpts from Sarah Palin's autobiography, Going Rogue: An American Life. Palin responded in kind by reciting extracts from Shatner's memoir, Up Till Now. The exchange was taken in good part by both.
2009: JJ Abrams Star Trek film
In 2009, J.J. Abrams Star Trek film was released. William Shatner said that he had not been offered or suggested a role in the film, but that the production was trying to figure out a way to put him in.
2009: Emmy Nomination
In 2009, Shatner was Emmy nominated for his role in Boston Legal.
2009: Voice of Don Salmonella
In 2009, William Shatner expanded his work on YouTube by providing the voice of Don Salmonella for the animated series The Gavones. This role allowed Shatner to further explore voice acting in the realm of online animated content.
2009: Star Trek Film Release
In 2009, the Star Trek film was released. While Director J.J. Abrams considered including William Shatner, he was ultimately not included in the final cast due to concerns about forcing him into the plot.
February 1, 2010: Guest Hosting WWE Raw
On February 1, 2010, William Shatner guest-hosted World Wrestling Entertainment's flagship show WWE Raw and performed several wrestlers' entrance theme songs.
February 28, 2010: Speaker at 2010 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
On February 28, 2010, 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?, which explored left-field topics such as UFOs and cryptozoology. He hosted the show until August 2012.
2010: Shatner's Opinion of Star Trek Film
At a convention held in 2010, William Shatner described the 2009 Star Trek film as "wonderful." Despite not being included in the film, Shatner expressed a positive view of the movie.
2010: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures Closed
Shatner was the CEO of C.O.R.E Digital Pictures, which operated from 1994 to 2010.
March 2011: End of Shatner's Raw Nerve
In March 2011, William Shatner's humorous chat show 'Shatner's Raw Nerve', which began in December 2008, ended its run. The show had provided Shatner with an opportunity to explore the chat show genre.
May 2011: $#*! My Dad Says Cancelled
In May 2011, three months after the first broadcast of its final episode, the CBS sitcom based on Justin Halpern's Twitter feed Shit My Dad Says, $#*! My Dad Says, in which William Shatner played the lead role, was cancelled.
October 2011: Release of Seeking Major Tom
In October 2011, William Shatner released his album Seeking Major Tom, which featured astronautically themed covers of songs like Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly", David Bowie's "Space Oddity", and Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". The album also included collaborations with notable musicians.
2011: Awarded Doctorate of Letters
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 his previous animosity towards Shatner had dissipated.
2011: Released Seeking Major Tom
In 2011, William Shatner's most successful album, Seeking Major Tom, was released, including covers of songs by Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and Queen.
August 2012: End of Weird or What?
In August 2012, William Shatner's run as host of the Discovery Channel show Weird or What? came to an end. He had been hosting the show since April 2010.
2012: Shatner's Return to Theatre
In 2012, William Shatner returned to his roots in theatre. In February, he appeared on Broadway in a one-man show called Shatner's World: We Just Live in It, which later toured the United States after a three-week run.
October 2013: Release of 'Ponder the Mystery' Album
In October 2013, William Shatner's fifteen-track album 'Ponder the Mystery', produced by Billy Sherwood, was released, featuring contributions from several musicians.
2013: Academy Awards Appearance
In 2013, Shatner reprised his role as James Tiberius Kirk for a comedic interlude with the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, at the Academy Awards.
April 24, 2014: Autobiographical Show on Broadway
On April 24, 2014, William Shatner performed an autobiographical one-man show on Broadway, which was filmed for screening in theaters across multiple countries, with a portion of the revenue going to charity.
2014: Grand Marshal at Calgary Stampede Parade
In 2014, Shatner was the Grand Marshal at the 102nd Calgary Stampede parade in his native Canada.
2015: Role in Murdoch Mysteries
In 2015, William Shatner played Mark Twain in an episode of the Canadian historical crime drama series Murdoch Mysteries and also played Croatoan in the SyFy series Haven.
2015: Shatner's Tribute to Leonard Nimoy
In 2015, upon Leonard Nimoy's death, William Shatner expressed his deep affection for him, stating he loved him like a brother and would miss his humor and talent. Although Shatner couldn't attend the funeral due to commitments, his daughters represented him, and he honored Nimoy's life with an online memorial.
March 2016: Featured on Ben Craven's album
In March 2016, William Shatner provided the lead vocals on Ben Craven's track "Spy In The Sky Part 3" in 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 a group of other celebrities as they traveled through Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.
September 2016: Special Guest at Salt Lake Comic Con
In September 2016, Shatner attended the Salt Lake Comic Con as a special guest.
2016: Shatner reveals estrangement from Nimoy
In 2016, William Shatner revealed that he and Leonard Nimoy had not spoken to each other in the five years before Nimoy's death in 2015, despite their long and affectionate relationship.
2016: Starred in Better Late Than Never
In 2016, William Shatner starred in the first season of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
December 11, 2017: Preview Episode of Better Late Than Never
On December 11, 2017, William Shatner appeared in a preview episode of the second season of Better Late Than Never.
2017: Honorary Captain of Star Trek Cruise
In 2017, Shatner acted as the honorary captain of a ship hosting 'Star Trek: The Cruise', celebrating the 50th anniversary of the original Star Trek pilot.
2017: Controversy over Autism Speaks Support
In 2017, Shatner faced criticism for tweeting support for Autism Speaks and subsequently arguing with autistic people and allies online.
2017: 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: Starred in Better Late Than Never
In 2017, William Shatner starred in season two of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
May 2018: Granted Honorary Doctorate
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' Album
In August 2018, William Shatner's first country music album 'Why Not Me' was released, featuring Jeff Cook.
October 2018: Release of 'Shatner Claus' Album
In October 2018, William Shatner's holiday collection 'Shatner Claus' was released, featuring collaborations with Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Todd Rundgren, and Billy Gibbons.
2018: Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, Shatner was awarded the National Reining Horse Association Lifetime Achievement Award in the National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame.
2018: Petition Against Dolphin Program
In 2018, Shatner, through PETA, petitioned the CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line to exclude dolphins from their cruise program, citing the Prime Directive.
2018: Season premiere of Better Late Than Never
In 2018, William Shatner appeared in the season premiere of the second season of Better Late Than Never.
2018: Starred in Better Late Than Never
In 2018, William Shatner starred in both seasons of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
2019: Hosting The UnXplained
In 2019, William Shatner began hosting and executive-producing The UnXplained on History, a show that explores unexplained phenomena. The show has received mostly negative reviews.
2019: Filing 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: Argument on Twitter
In 2020, Shatner engaged in a month-long argument with other Twitter users regarding being called a 'straight white cis man'.
2020: Shatner Treats Discomfort with Cannabidiol Oil
In 2020, Shatner revealed that he suffers from swollen joints and age-related aches and pains, treating his discomfort with cannabidiol oil, a dietary supplement extracted from cannabis.
March 2021: Senior Moment Release
In March 2021, William Shatner's film Senior Moment, co-starring Jean Smart and Christopher Lloyd, was released. This release coincided with Shatner's 90th birthday, marking a significant milestone in his career.
July 2021: Wally Funk's spaceflight
In July 2021, Wally Funk flew on Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight at the age of 82.
August 26, 2021: Announcement of 'Bill' Album
On August 26, 2021, William Shatner announced his tenth album, 'Bill'.
October 13, 2021: Shatner's Spaceflight on Blue Origin NS-18
On October 13, 2021, William Shatner participated in Blue Origin's second sub-orbital human spaceflight, Blue Origin NS-18, traveling on the RSS First Step. At 90 years old, he became the oldest person to fly into space. He described experiencing the overview effect during his spaceflight.
2021: Dismissive of Jewish Convert of Colour
In 2021, The Forward noted that Shatner was dismissive of a Jewish convert of colour, drawing comparisons to his previous arguments regarding the term 'cis' and Autism Speaks.
2021: Political Controversy Over RT Show
In 2021, William Shatner faced political controversy when it was revealed that he would host a science documentary show, I Don't Understand with William Shatner, on RT (formerly Russia Today).
2021: Flew into Space
In 2021, at the age of 90, William Shatner flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-18, becoming the oldest person to do so at that time.
February 24, 2022: Support for Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, William Shatner issued a statement on Twitter expressing support for the Ukrainians resisting the invasion.
February 28, 2022: February 28, 2022
February 28, 2022 is the provided date.
December 4, 2022: Beam-Down at L.A. Comic Con
On December 4, 2022, William Shatner was a star guest at the L.A. Comic Con.
2022: The Masked Singer Appearance
In 2022, William Shatner competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as "Knight." He was eliminated in the first episode.
2023: Shatner's Twitter Management
In 2023, Brent Spiner stated that Shatner had informed him that his Twitter account was managed by an employee and that Shatner had minimal direct involvement in its content.
2023: Takei's Hostility Towards Shatner
In 2023, George Takei reiterated his long-standing hostility towards William Shatner, describing him as cantankerous and egocentric.
2023: Death of Joy Rutenberg
In 2023, Joy Rutenberg (born 1928), William Shatner's older sister, passed away.
2023: The UnXplained
In 2023, William Shatner was hosting and executive-producing The UnXplained on History, a show that explores unexplained phenomena. The show has received mostly negative reviews.
May 19, 2024: Ed Dwight surpasses Shatner as the oldest person in space
On May 19, 2024, retired U.S. Air Force pilot Ed Dwight, at the age of 90 years, 253 days, became the oldest person to fly into space, surpassing William Shatner's record.
2024: Ed Dwight's Spaceflight
In 2024, Ed Dwight, at age 90 but older than Shatner by 48 days, flew on the suborbital Blue Origin NS-25 spaceflight.
2025: Reconciliation with Elizabeth Martin
As of 2025, William Shatner and Elizabeth Anderson Martin have reconciled and Shatner is referring to her as his wife once again.
2025: Takei Wishes Shatner a Happy Birthday
In 2025, George Takei posted a birthday wish to Bill Shatner on his 94th birthday, wishing him continued health and happiness.
2025: Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award
In 2025, William Shatner was honored with a Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award.
Mentioned in this timeline
Sir Elton John is a highly successful British singer songwriter...
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe the second-largest on...
Walter Elias Disney was a highly influential American animator film...
World Wrestling Entertainment WWE is a prominent American professional wrestling...
Will Smith is a highly successful American actor rapper and...
WWE Raw a professional wrestling television program by WWE airs...
Trending
15 minutes ago De Niro slams Trump with Epstein jab during Colbert's CBS show farewell.
1 hour ago Nvidia Concedes China AI Chip Market to Huawei; Trump Pushed Nvidia Deal.
4 days ago William Shatner's New Metal Album and David E Kelley Collaboration Revealed.
2 hours ago Jazz Chisholm Jr. breaks slump with unconventional methods: Borrowed pants and bat.
2 hours ago Emilia Clarke Reflects on Surviving Two Brain Hemorrhages During 'Game of Thrones'
3 hours ago Cockroach Janta Party: Indian youth protest gains momentum, fueled by affordability concerns.
Popular
Thomas Massie is a Republican politician and engineer representing Kentucky's...
Ken Paxton is an American politician and lawyer serving as...
Michael Joseph Jackson the King of Pop was a highly...
William Franklin Graham III known as Franklin Graham is an...
Sir David Attenborough is a highly acclaimed English broadcaster natural...
Paula White-Cain is a prominent American televangelist and key figure...