Childhood and Education Journey of William Shatner in Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of William Shatner, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

William Shatner is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic role as James T. Kirk, captain of the starship Enterprise in the Star Trek franchise. His portrayal began in 1966 with the second pilot of the original Star Trek television series and extended to his final appearance as Kirk in the 1994 film, Star Trek Generations. Shatner's career spans seven decades, marking him as a significant figure in science fiction and popular culture.

Sections (5)

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

1905: Ann Garmaise Birth

In 1905, Ann Garmaise, William Shatner's mother, was born.

1928: Joy Rutenberg Birth

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: Farla Cohen Birth

In 1940, Farla Cohen, William Shatner's younger sister, was born.

1952: Graduation from McGill University

In 1952, William Shatner graduated from the McGill University Faculty of Management with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

1967: Shooting of Star Trek episode Arena

During the shooting of the 1967 Star Trek episode "Arena", a pyrotechnical accident occurred, which Shatner believes may have contributed to him developing tinnitus in the early 1990s.

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1967: Joseph Shatner Death

In 1967, Joseph Shatner, William Shatner's father, died.

April 1968: Clothes-tearing incident

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

November 22, 1968: First Interracial Kiss on Television

On November 22, 1968, the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren" aired, featuring a kiss between Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), considered the first example of a white man kissing a black woman on scripted television in the United States.

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1969: Post-Star Trek Difficulties

In 1969, after the cancellation of Star Trek, William Shatner experienced difficulty finding employment and faced financial hardship, even living in a truck-bed camper.

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1977: The $10,000 Pyramid blunder

In 1977, William Shatner made a mistake on The $10,000 Pyramid when he blurted out the word "blessed", costing his partner a $20,000 prize and causing him to throw a chair.

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1987: King of Mardi Gras Bacchus parade

In 1987, William Shatner was the king of the Mardi Gras Bacchus parade.

December 1989: This Is Your Life appearance

In December 1989, William Shatner was surprised by Michael Aspel on the set of the Starship Enterprise and featured on the British television series "This Is Your Life".

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1990: Support of Hollywood Charity Horse Show

Since 1990, William Shatner has been a major supporter of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which raises money for organizations serving children.

1992: Ann Shatner Death

In 1992, Ann Shatner (née Garmaise), William Shatner's mother, died.

1994: Grand Marshal of Tournament of Roses Parade

On New Year's Day in 1994, William Shatner served as the Grand Marshal of the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, riding on horseback instead of in a classic car.

1999: Locklear comforts Shatner

In 1999, after the death of Nerine Shatner, Heather Locklear comforted William Shatner in his bereavement, showing their close friendship.

May 16, 2006: Shatner appears on The View

On May 16, 2006, William Shatner appeared on The View and announced that the proceeds from the sale of his kidney stone and additional funds raised from the Boston Legal cast and crew had been donated to Habitat for Humanity.

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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: Speaker at the closing ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics

On Feb. 28, 2010, William Shatner was one of several speakers at the closing ceremony for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

2015: Shatner's response to Nimoy's death

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 unable to attend the funeral due to prior commitments, Shatner's daughters were present, and he celebrated Nimoy's life with an online memorial.

2018: Petition against dolphin exploitation on cruise

In 2018, William Shatner, dismayed by the opportunity for customers to swim with dolphins on the "Star Trek: The Cruise", petitioned the CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line through PETA to exclude dolphins from their 2018 cruise program, citing the Prime Directive.

2020: Shatner uses cannabidiol oil for pain

In 2020, William Shatner revealed that he suffers from swollen joints and age-related aches and pains, and treats his discomfort with cannabidiol oil, a dietary supplement extracted from cannabis.

March 2021: Senior Moment Film Release

In March 2021, William Shatner starred in the film Senior Moment, which was released the same week he turned 90.

2021: Space Flight Aboard Blue Origin NS-18

In 2021, at age 90, William Shatner flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-18, a Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule, becoming the oldest person to fly in space.

2023: Spiner reveals Shatner's Twitter account management

In 2023, Brent Spiner stated that William Shatner informed him his Twitter (now X) account was managed by an employee, and that Shatner had minimal direct involvement in its content.