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 portrayal of James T. Kirk, the captain of the starship Enterprise, in the Star Trek franchise. His career spans seven decades, beginning with the original Star Trek television series in 1966 and culminating with his appearance in the film *Star Trek Generations* (1994). Shatner's role as Captain Kirk has cemented his place in popular culture.
1967: Possible Tinnitus Trigger
In 1967, during the shooting of the Star Trek episode "Arena", a pyrotechnical accident may have contributed to William Shatner's development of tinnitus later in life.
April 1968: Fan Incident at Rockefeller Plaza
In April 1968, a group of fans attempted to tear Shatner's clothes as he left 30 Rockefeller Plaza, highlighting the intensity of fan adoration.
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: Difficulty Finding Employment After Star Trek Cancellation
Following the cancellation of Star Trek in 1969, William Shatner experienced difficulty finding employment and faced financial hardships, including losing his home and living in a truck-bed camper.
1977: The $10,000 Pyramid blunder
In 1977, Shatner made a mistake on "The $10,000 Pyramid" by blurting out the word "blessed," costing his partner a $20,000 prize.
1994: Filming Star Trek Generations
In 1994, while filming Star Trek Generations, William Shatner recalled having to work with Walter Koenig and James Doohan again, acknowledging the resentment they felt towards him.
1996: Divorce from Marcy Lafferty
In 1996, William Shatner and Marcy Lafferty divorced after being married since 1973.
August 9, 1999: Death of Nerine Kidd
On August 9, 1999, William Shatner found his third wife, Nerine Kidd, dead at the bottom of their backyard swimming pool. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning due to alcohol and diazepam.
May 2011: "$#*! My Dad Says" Cancellation
In May 2011, the CBS sitcom "$#*! My Dad Says", in which Shatner had a leading role, was cancelled three months after the broadcast of its final episode.
2016: Revelation of Estrangement from Leonard Nimoy
In 2016, William Shatner revealed that he and Leonard Nimoy had not spoken in the five years prior to Nimoy's death in 2015.
2019: Filed for Divorce from Elizabeth Martin
In 2019, William Shatner filed for divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin.
January 2020: Divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin Finalized
In January 2020, William Shatner's divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin was finalized.
2020: Shatner reveals health issues
In 2020, William Shatner revealed that he suffers from swollen joints and age-related aches and pains, treating the discomfort with cannabidiol oil.
