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 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.
1905: Birth of Ann Garmaise
In 1905, Ann Garmaise (later 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 Born
On March 22, 1931, William Shatner was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to Ann and Joseph Shatner.
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, William Shatner had a small role as "a crook" in the Canadian comedy drama The Butler's Night Off, his movie debut.
1952: Graduated from McGill University
In 1952, William Shatner graduated from the McGill University Faculty of Management in Montreal with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
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, creating the role of Ranger Bob.
August 12, 1956: Marriage to Gloria Rand
On August 12, 1956, William Shatner married Canadian actress Gloria Rand.
1956: Broadway Debut in Tamburlaine
In 1956, William Shatner made his Broadway debut in Marlowe's Tamburlaine.
1957: Alfred Hitchcock Presents Appearance
In 1957, William Shatner appeared in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, "The Glass Eye", which heightened his American television profile.
December 1958: The Christmas Tree Live Television Production
In December 1958, William Shatner appeared in a Hallmark Hall of Fame live television production entitled The Christmas Tree as a Roman tax collector.
1958: Birth of Daughter Leslie
In 1958, William Shatner and Gloria Rand had their first daughter, Leslie.
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.
1960: The Twilight Zone and Outlaws Appearances
In 1960, William Shatner appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time" and in two episodes of NBC's Outlaws.
1961: Birth of Daughter Lisabeth
In 1961, William Shatner and Gloria Rand had their second daughter, Lisabeth.
1961: Broadway's A Shot in the Dark, Thriller, and The Explosive Generation
In 1961, William Shatner appeared on Broadway in A Shot in the Dark, and also in two episodes of the NBC television series Thriller and the film The Explosive Generation.
1962: Lead Role in The Intruder
In 1962, William Shatner took the lead role in Roger Corman's movie The Intruder.
1963: The Twilight Zone
In 1963, William Shatner appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".
1963: Family Theater Production and Route 66 Guest Star
In 1963, William Shatner starred in the Family Theater production "The Soldier" and guest-starred in Route 66.
1964: Birth of Daughter Melanie
In 1964, William Shatner and Gloria Rand had their third daughter, Melanie.
1964: First appearance with Leonard Nimoy
In 1964, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy made their first on-screen appearance together 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 Outrage
In 1964, William Shatner guest-starred in The Outer Limits and The Reporter and played a supporting role in The Outrage.
1965: 12 O'Clock High and For the People
In 1965, William Shatner guest-starred in 12 O'Clock High and had the lead role in For the People.
1966: Star Trek Debut
In 1966, William Shatner debuted as Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series, marking the beginning of his iconic role in the franchise.
1966: Starred in Incubus, Gunsmoke and The Big Valley
In 1966, William Shatner starred in the Esperanto-language film Incubus and 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: Death of Joseph Shatner
In 1967, Joseph Shatner (William Shatner's father) passed away.
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.
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.
November 22, 1968: Aired Plato's Stepchildren
On November 22, 1968, Plato's Stepchildren aired, featuring a kiss between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura, often cited as one of the first examples of a white man kissing a black woman on scripted television in the United States.
1968: Recording Debut with The Transformed Man
In 1968, William Shatner made his recording debut with the release of the album 'The Transformed Man', which featured readings from classic plays and covers of popular songs.
1968: Starred in White Comanche
In 1968, William Shatner starred in White Comanche, playing dual roles.
1968: The Transformed Man Album Release
In 1968, William Shatner started his career as a recording artist with the release of his album, The Transformed Man.
1968: Alexander the Great TV Movie Release
In 1968, the unaired pilot for Alexander the Great, in which William Shatner played the titular character, was repackaged as a TV movie.
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
In 1969, after the cancellation of Star Trek, William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy reunited in Star Trek: The Animated Series.
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.
1971: Performance released later
In 1971, William Shatner gave a tour performance that would be released in 1977 on 'William Shatner Live'.
1971: The Andersonville Trial
In 1971, William Shatner made a critically praised appearance as a prosecutor in a PBS adaptation of Saul Levitt's play, "The Andersonville Trial".
1972: The People
In 1972, William Shatner was seen in a major part in the movie "The People".
1973: Marriage to Marcy Lafferty
In 1973, William Shatner married Marcy Lafferty, the daughter of television producer Perry Lafferty.
1973: Voice Acting in Star Trek: The Animated Series
In 1973, William Shatner returned to the role of Kirk in the animated Star Trek series.
1973: The Horror at 37,000 Feet
In 1973, William Shatner was seen in a major part in the movie "The Horror at 37,000 Feet".
1974: Big Bad Mama Release
In 1974, William Shatner's film work included roles in B-movies like Roger Corman's "Big Bad Mama."
1975: The Devil's Rain and Barbary Coast
In 1975, William 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, William Shatner had a starring role in the western-themed secret agent series "Barbary Coast".
1976: Family Feud Pilot
In 1976, Mark Goodson considered William Shatner to host the pilot of Family Feud, but Richard Dawson's agent secured the position for Dawson.
1977: Kingdom of the Spiders
In 1977, William Shatner's film work included roles in B-movies like "Kingdom of the Spiders".
1977: William Shatner Live Released
In 1977, a performance that William Shatner gave during a tour in 1971 was released on a Lemli Records double album, 'William Shatner Live'.
1977: Pyramid Blunder
In 1977, during an episode of The $10,000 Pyramid, William Shatner blurted out the word "blessed" instead of citing the Virgin Mary, costing his partner a $20,000 prize. He threw his chair out of the Winner's Circle in frustration.
1978: Saturn Awards Performance
In 1978, while hosting the fifth presentation of Saturn Awards bestowed by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, William Shatner performed a version of Elton John's "Rocket Man" that became a comedic parody staple.
1979: Star Trek: The Motion Picture Release
In 1979, William Shatner and the original Star Trek cast returned for "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".
1982: Co-starring with Heather Locklear on T. J. Hooker
In 1982, Heather Locklear began co-starring with William Shatner on T. J. Hooker, marking the beginning of their friendship.
1982: Starred in T. J. Hooker
In 1982, William Shatner began playing the lead role of the veteran police sergeant in T. J. Hooker.
1982: Airplane II: The Sequel
In 1982, William Shatner mocked the cavalier persona of Captain Kirk in the film "Airplane II: The Sequel".
1982: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
In 1982, William Shatner played Kirk in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".
1982: T. J. Hooker Debut
In 1982, William Shatner was cast as the lead in the TV show "T. J. Hooker", playing a veteran Los Angeles police sergeant.
May 19, 1983: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On May 19, 1983, William Shatner was awarded the 1,762nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his portrayal of Captain Kirk.
1984: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
In 1984, William Shatner played Kirk in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock".
1986: T. J. Hooker End
In 1986, "T. J. Hooker", starring William Shatner, concluded after five seasons and ninety-one episodes.
1986: Saturday Night Live Appearance
In 1986, William Shatner appeared in a Saturday Night Live sketch, advising Trekkies to "get a life".
1986: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
In 1986, William Shatner played Kirk in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home".
1987: King of the Mardi Gras Bacchus parade
In 1987, William Shatner was king of the Mardi Gras Bacchus parade.
December 1989: This Is Your Life
In December 1989, William 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 Hosting
In 1989, William Shatner began hosting the dramatic re-enactment series "Rescue 911".
1989: Hosted Rescue 911
In 1989, William Shatner began hosting the reality-based television series Rescue 911.
1989: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
In 1989, William Shatner played Kirk in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier".
1989: TekWar Novel Published
In 1989, William Shatner's novel "TekWar", co-written with Ron Goulart, was published, launching a series of books.
1990: Support of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show
Since 1990, William Shatner has been a major supporter of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, raising money for children's organizations.
1991: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
In 1991, William Shatner played Kirk in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country".
1992: Death of Ann Shatner
In 1992, Ann Shatner (William Shatner's mother, née Garmaise) passed away.
1992: MTV Movie Awards Performance
In 1992, William Shatner offered performances of the five nominees in the Best Song from a Movie category at the MTV Movie Awards.
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.
1993: National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1
In 1993, William Shatner mocked the persona of Captain Kirk in the film "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1".
1993: "Star Trek Memories" Book
In his 1993 book "Star Trek Memories", William Shatner recalls his disappointment at the premiere of the first Star Trek movie.
1994: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures CEO
In 1994, William Shatner became the chief executive officer of C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, a special effects studio based in Toronto, Ontario.
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: Star Trek Generations
In 1994, William Shatner played Kirk in "Star Trek Generations", which culminated in the character's death.
1994: Columbo Appearance
In 1994, William Shatner revisited Columbo to play the murderer-of-the-week in the episode "Butterfly in Shades of Grey".
1994: Grand Marshal of the 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.
1995: Trinity and Beyond Narration
In 1995, William Shatner narrated Peter Kuran's documentary film "Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie", and his TekWar franchise expanded with the computer game "William Shatner's TekWar".
1996: Divorce from Marcy Lafferty
In 1996, William Shatner divorced his second wife, Marcy Lafferty, after a marriage lasting from 1973.
1996: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
In 1996, William Shatner guest-starred in Will Smith's television show, "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", in an episode entitled "Eye, Tooth".
1996: End of Hosting Rescue 911
In 1996, William Shatner's role as host of Rescue 911 came to an end.
1996: End of Rescue 911 Hosting
William Shatner's hosting of "Rescue 911" ended in 1996.
1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd
In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd, with Leonard Nimoy as his best man, despite concerns about her alcoholism.
1997: Starfleet Academy Video Game
In 1997, William Shatner's appearances as James Tiberius Kirk were in the movie sequences of the video game "Starfleet Academy".
1998: Free Enterprise Release
In 1998, William Shatner contributed a caricature of himself to the film "Free Enterprise", which satirized Trekkies' Kirk idolatry.
1998: A Twist in the Tale Narration
In 1998, William Shatner narrated a television miniseries shot in New Zealand called "A Twist in the Tale".
1998: Feature on Ben Folds' Album
In 1998, William Shatner was featured on two tracks, "In Love" and "Still in Love", on Ben Folds' album "Fear of Pop: Volume 1".
May 1999: Get a Life! Book Release
In May 1999, Simon & Schuster published William 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, deceased at the bottom of their swimming pool, with the coroner ruling it an accidental drowning due to alcohol and diazepam.
1999: 3rd Rock from the Sun
In 1999, William Shatner appeared in several episodes of "3rd Rock from the Sun" as the "Big Giant Head".
1999: Locklear comforts Shatner after death of Nerine Shatner
In 1999, after the death of William Shatner's wife, Nerine Shatner, Heather Locklear comforted him during his bereavement.
1999: Wrote Book About Trekkies
In the aftermath of his Saturday Night Live rebuke to Trekkies, William Shatner wrote a book about them in 1999.
2000: Acted in Miss Congeniality
In 2000, William Shatner acted in the comedy film Miss Congeniality.
2000: Miss Congeniality Release
In 2000, William Shatner played Stan Fields in the Sandra Bullock comedy movie "Miss Congeniality", co-hosting the Miss United States Pageant.
2000: Voice Role in "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command"
In 2000, William Shatner provided the voice of Buzz Lightyear for the Star Command anthem "To Infinity And Beyond" in the movie "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins".
2000: 3rd Rock from the Sun Emmy Nomination
In 2000, William Shatner's role as the "Big Giant Head" on "3rd Rock from the Sun" earned him an Emmy Award nomination.
2000: Plans for "The Shiva Club" Movie
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: Marriage to Elizabeth Anderson Martin
In 2001, William Shatner married Elizabeth Anderson Martin.
2001: Miss USA Pageant Host
In 2001, William Shatner visited Gary, Indiana to host the Miss USA Pageant.
2001: Osmosis Jones
In 2001, William Shatner voiced Mayor Phlegmming in the high-concept satirical movie "Osmosis Jones".
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". The concert was later released as an album.
2003: Brad Paisley Music Videos
In 2003, William Shatner appeared in Brad Paisley's "Celebrity" and "Online" music videos.
August 2004: Doohan and Shatner reconcile
In August 2004, it was reported that James Doohan had forgiven William Shatner, and the two actors had developed a friendship as senior citizens.
October 2004: Has Been Album Released
In October 2004, William Shatner's second studio album, 'Has Been', produced by Ben Folds, was released.
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.
2004: Collaboration on "Has Been" Album
In 2004, Elizabeth Anderson Martin co-wrote the song "Together" on William Shatner's album "Has Been".
2004: George 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 in The Practice
In 2004, William Shatner began starring as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of the legal show The Practice.
June 9, 2005: AFI Life Achievement Award Performance
On June 9, 2005, William Shatner performed his version of "My Way" at the presentation of George Lucas's AFI Life Achievement Award, backed by a chorus line of 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 portraying Lucifer celebrating the year from Hell's perspective.
2005: Reunion with Heather Locklear on Boston Legal
In 2005, Heather Locklear appeared in two episodes of Boston Legal as Kelly Nolan, with William Shatner's character becoming attracted to her. The storyline involved his character's attempts to involve himself in her defense.
2005: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Release
In 2005, William Shatner appeared in "Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous" as Stan Fields, who is kidnapped in Las Vegas.
2005: Participation in Lemon Jelly's Album
In 2005, William Shatner was heard in the track "'64 – Go" on the Lemon Jelly album "'64–'95".
2005: Boston Legal Emmy and Golden Globe
In 2005, William Shatner won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his role as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal".
March 29, 2006: TV Land's "Living in TV Land" Episode
On March 29, 2006, TV Land aired a Shatner-centered episode of their "Living in TV Land" series, titled "William Shatner in Concert", featuring footage of him working with Ben Folds and performing with Folds's band and Joe Jackson.
May 16, 2006: Appearance on The View and Donation to Habitat for Humanity
On May 16, 2006, William Shatner appeared on The View and announced that the proceeds from the sale of his kidney stone and an additional $20,000 were donated to Habitat for Humanity.
2006: DirecTV Advertisement
In 2006, William Shatner appeared in a DirecTV advertisement that used footage from "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country".
2006: Emmy Nomination
In 2006, William Shatner was Emmy nominated for his role as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal".
2006: Featured in Animated Pictures
In 2006, William Shatner was featured in two high-profile animated pictures: voicing Ozzie in DreamWorks' 'Over the Hedge' and Kazar in Walt Disney's 'The Wild'.
January 2007: Starts Autobiographical Vlogs on LiveVideo
In January 2007, William Shatner began posting daily autobiographical vlogs on the LiveVideo platform in a project he named ShatnerVision.
July 2007: Director Discusses Possible Role in Star Trek Film
In July 2007, director J. J. Abrams said that the production of 'Star Trek' was "desperately trying to figure out a way to put" William Shatner in the film, but ultimately decided against it.
2007: Dance Project Based on "Has Been"
In 2007, Margo Sappington used William Shatner's album "Has Been" as the basis for a dance project called "Common People", created for the Milwaukee Ballet.
2007: Emmy Nomination
In 2007, William Shatner was Emmy nominated for his role as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal".
December 2008: Experimented with Chat Show Genre
In December 2008, William Shatner experimented with the chat show genre in the humorous 'Shatner's Raw Nerve'.
2008: Co-Wrote Memoir Up Till Now
In 2008, William Shatner co-wrote his memoir, 'Up Till Now', with David Fisher.
2008: Boston Legal End
In 2008, William Shatner finished his role as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal" after five seasons and one hundred and one episodes, and got another Emmy nomination.
2008: Denny Crane Role Ends
In 2008, William Shatner's role as Denny Crane concluded with the end of Boston Legal. Shatner won two Emmy Awards, one for his contributions to each series.
2008: Publication of "Up Till Now: The Autobiography"
In his 2008 book "Up Till Now: The Autobiography", William Shatner disclosed 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 feature documentary "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet", based on the dance project "Common People", premiered at the Nashville Film Festival and was favorably received.
July 27, 2009: Mock Hostilities on The Tonight Show
On July 27, 2009, William Shatner opened 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: Returned to Palin on The Tonight Show
On December 11, 2009, William Shatner returned to Sarah Palin on 'The Tonight Show' to read excerpts from her autobiography, 'Going Rogue: An American Life'.
2009: Expanded Work on YouTube
In 2009, William Shatner expanded his work on YouTube, supplying the voice of Don Salmonella to the animated series 'The Gavones'.
2009: Emmy Nomination
In 2009, William Shatner was Emmy nominated for his role as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal".
2009: No Role in Star Trek Film
In 2009, William Shatner was not offered or suggested a role in the film 'Star Trek'.
February 1, 2010: Guest Hosting WWE Raw
On February 1, 2010, to promote his Biography Channel talk show "Shatner's Raw Nerve", William Shatner guest-hosted World Wrestling Entertainment's flagship show WWE Raw and performed several wrestlers' entrance theme songs.
February 28, 2010: Speaker at the 2010 Winter Olympics closing ceremony
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: Began Hosting Weird or What?
In April 2010, William Shatner began hosting the Discovery Channel show 'Weird or What?', which explored left-field topics.
2010: Describes Star Trek Film as Wonderful
At a convention held in 2010, William Shatner described the film 'Star Trek' as "wonderful".
2010: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures Closure
In 2010, C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, where William Shatner was the CEO, ceased operations.
March 7, 2011: Inspirational Message to 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: Shatner's Raw Nerve Ended
In March 2011, the humorous chat show 'Shatner's Raw Nerve' concluded its run.
May 2011: $#*! My Dad Says Cancelled
In May 2011, the CBS sitcom '$#*! My Dad Says', starring William Shatner, was cancelled three months after its final episode.
October 2011: Seeking Major Tom Album Released
In October 2011, William Shatner's album 'Seeking Major Tom' was released.
2011: Honorary Doctorate of Letters from McGill University
In 2011, McGill University awarded William Shatner an honorary Doctorate of Letters.
2011: Koenig appears on Shatner's Raw Nerve
In 2011, Walter Koenig appeared on William Shatner's interview series Shatner's Raw Nerve, indicating that his past animosity towards Shatner had faded.
2011: Seeking Major Tom Album Release
In 2011, William Shatner released his third and most successful album, Seeking Major Tom, which includes covers of songs by Pink Floyd, David Bowie and Queen.
August 2012: Weird or What? Aired Until
The Discovery Channel show 'Weird or What?', hosted by William Shatner, aired until August 2012.
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 various musicians.
2013: Academy Awards Appearance
In 2013, William Shatner reprised his role as Captain Kirk for a comedic interlude with the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, at the Academy Awards.
April 24, 2014: Performed Autobiographical One-Man Show
On April 24, 2014, William Shatner performed an autobiographical one-man show on Broadway, which was filmed for screening in theaters.
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: Played Mark Twain and Croatoan
In 2015, William Shatner played Mark Twain in 'Murdoch Mysteries' and Croatoan in 'Haven'.
2015: Leonard Nimoy's death
When Leonard Nimoy died in 2015, William Shatner expressed his grief, saying he loved Nimoy like a brother and would miss his humor and talent. Shatner was unable to attend the funeral but sent his daughters and held an online memorial.
March 2016: Release of "Spy In The Sky Part 3"
In March 2016, William Shatner provided lead vocals on Ben Craven's track "Spy In The Sky Part 3" in Craven's album "Last Chance To Hear".
August 23, 2016: Better Late Than Never Premiered
On August 23, 2016, the NBC reality miniseries 'Better Late Than Never' premiered, featuring William Shatner and other celebrities touring Asia.
September 2016: Special guest at Salt Lake Comic Con
In September 2016, William Shatner was a special guest at the Salt Lake Comic Con.
2016: Revelation about relationship with Nimoy
In 2016, William Shatner revealed that he and Leonard Nimoy hadn't spoken in the five years before Nimoy's death in 2015, despite their long-standing friendship.
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, a preview episode of the second season of 'Better Late Than Never' was shown.
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.
2017: Starred in Better Late Than Never
In 2017, William Shatner starred in another season of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
2017: Comic-Book Wins Award
In 2017, the graphic novel 'God Woke', from William Shatner's comic-book publisher, won the Independent Publisher Book Awards' Outstanding Books of the Year Independent Voice Award.
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" Album
In August 2018, William Shatner's first venture into the country music genre, "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, Billy Gibbons and others.
2018: Petition against dolphin exploitation on Star Trek cruise
In 2018, William Shatner petitioned the CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line through PETA to exclude dolphins from the programme of their Star Trek cruise, opposing the exploitation of species for profit.
2018: Starred in Better Late Than Never
In 2018, William Shatner starred in another season 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: Season Premiere of Better Late Than Never
On New Year's Day of 2018, the official season of 'Better Late Than Never' premiered.
2019: Filing for Divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin
In 2019, William Shatner filed for divorce from his wife, Elizabeth.
2019: Hosted The UnXplained on History
In 2019, William Shatner hosted and executive-produced 'The UnXplained' on History.
January 2020: Finalization of Divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin
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: Arguments on Twitter
In 2020, William Shatner engaged in arguments with other Twitter users for over a month regarding being called a "straight white cis man".
2020: Shatner reveals health issues and treatment
In 2020, William 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: Starred in Senior Moment Movie
In March 2021, William Shatner starred in the film 'Senior Moment', released the same week he turned 90.
August 26, 2021: Announcement of "Bill" Album
On August 26, 2021, William Shatner announced the release of his tenth album, "Bill".
October 13, 2021: Sub-Orbital 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, becoming the oldest person to fly into space at the time. He traveled on the RSS First Step.
2021: Dismissive behavior towards Jewish convert of color
In 2021, The Forward reported that William Shatner was dismissive of a Jewish convert of colour, drawing parallels to his previous controversies.
2021: Criticized for Hosting Show on RT
In 2021, William Shatner faced political controversy for hosting 'I Don't Understand with William Shatner' on RT, formerly known as Russia Today.
2021: Space Flight 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.
February 24, 2022: Expressed Support for Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, four days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, William Shatner issued a statement via Twitter expressing support for the Ukrainians.
February 28, 2022: Date Mention
February 28, 2022 is a date mentioned in the provided text.
December 4, 2022: Star guest at L.A. Comic Con
On December 4, 2022, William Shatner made a guest appearance at the L.A. Comic Con.
2022: Competed in 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: Spiner claims Shatner's Twitter account is managed by employee
In 2023, Brent Spiner stated that William Shatner informed him his Twitter account was managed by an employee, with Shatner having minimal direct involvement in its content.
2023: Takei's continued animosity towards Shatner
In 2023, George Takei reiterated his negative feelings towards William Shatner, describing him as an "egocentric, self-involved prima donna" in an interview in London.
2023: Death of Joy Rutenberg
In 2023, Joy Rutenberg (William Shatner's older sister) passed away.
2023: Hosted The UnXplained on History until
Until 2023, William Shatner hosted and executive-produced 'The UnXplained' on History, receiving negative reviews.
May 19, 2024: Record Surpassed by Ed Dwight
On May 19, 2024, William Shatner's record as the oldest person to fly into space was surpassed by retired U.S. Air Force pilot Ed Dwight, who was 90 years and 253 days old.
2024: Ed Dwight's Spaceflight on Blue Origin NS-25
In 2024, Ed Dwight, also age 90 but older than Shatner, flew on the suborbital Blue Origin NS-25 spaceflight.
2025: Reconciliation with Elizabeth Anderson Martin
As of 2025, William Shatner and Elizabeth Anderson Martin have reconciled after their divorce.
2025: Takei wishes Shatner happy birthday
In 2025, George Takei wished Bill Shatner a happy 94th birthday, signaling a potential shift in their long-standing feud. He posted: Just days ago, Bill Shatner celebrated his 94th birthday — wishing him continued health and happiness. Live long and prosper, my friends.
2025: Will Receive Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award
In 2025, William Shatner will receive a Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award.
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