Challenges Faced by William Shatner: Obstacles and Turning Points

Resilience and perseverance in the journey of William Shatner. A timeline of obstacles and growth.

William Shatner is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic role as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. His career began in 1966 with the original Star Trek television series and spanned multiple films, with his final appearance as Kirk in 1994's *Star Trek Generations*. Shatner's portrayal of Kirk has solidified his place in pop culture history and cemented his legacy as a science fiction icon.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

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 series pilot that was not picked up by CBS.

1967: Pyrotechnical accident during Star Trek episode "Arena"

In 1967, William Shatner believes that a pyrotechnical accident during the shooting of the Star Trek episode "Arena" may have caused his tinnitus, a hearing disorder.

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April 1968: Fan Incident

In April 1968, a group of Star Trek fans attempted to tear William Shatner's clothes from him as he left 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

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".

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1969: End of Star Trek Original Run

In 1969, Star Trek was cancelled after three seasons.

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1969: Difficulty Finding Employment After Star Trek Cancellation

In 1969, after the cancellation of Star Trek, William Shatner faced difficulty finding employment and experienced financial hardship.

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1993: Doohan declines interview for Shatner's memoir

In 1993, James Doohan declined to be interviewed by William Shatner for his first memoir, Star Trek Memories.

Star Trek Memories

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1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd

In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd, with Leonard Nimoy as his best man, despite concerns about her alcoholism.

August 9, 1999: Death of Nerine Kidd

On August 9, 1999, William Shatner found his third wife, Nerine Kidd, deceased at the bottom of their swimming pool, with the coroner ruling it an accidental drowning due to alcohol and diazepam.

October 2004: Star Trek: Enterprise Cancellation

In October 2004, the cancellation of "Star Trek: Enterprise" prevented William Shatner from guest-starring in a planned three-episode story arc.

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2017: Controversy over support for Autism Speaks

In 2017, William Shatner faced criticism for tweeting support for Autism Speaks and engaging in arguments with autistic people and their allies, later suggesting his critics should have kept quiet.