History of William Shatner in Timeline
William Shatner is a celebrated Canadian actor with a career spanning seven decades. He achieved iconic status for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. His role began in 1966 with the original Star Trek television series and continued through seven feature films, concluding with Star Trek Generations in 1994. Shatner's portrayal of Kirk has cemented his place in pop culture history.
1905: Birth of Ann Garmaise
In 1905, Ann Garmaise (later Ann Shatner, 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: First Movie 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, marking his first movie role.
1952: Graduation from McGill University
In 1952, William Shatner graduated from the McGill University Faculty of Management in Montreal with a Bachelor of Commerce degree.
1954: American Television Debut
In 1954, William Shatner made his first appearance on American television in a children's program called The Howdy Doody Show, playing the role of Ranger Bob.
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 with a part in Marlowe's Tamburlaine.
1957: Appearance on Alfred Hitchcock Presents
In the 1957-58 season, William Shatner had a leading role in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, "The Glass Eye."
December 1958: Appearance in The Christmas Tree
In December 1958, William Shatner appeared in a Hallmark Hall of Fame live television production titled The Christmas Tree.
1958: Birth of Leslie Shatner
In 1958, Leslie Shatner, William Shatner's first daughter with Gloria Rand, was born.
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 he also played detective Archie Goodwin in the pilot for a Nero Wolfe series that was later aborted by CBS.
1960: Appeared in "Nick of Time" Twilight Zone episode
In 1960, William Shatner appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time". He also appeared twice as Wayne Gorham in NBC's Outlaws.
1961: Birth of Lisabeth Shatner
In 1961, Lisabeth Shatner, William Shatner's second daughter with Gloria Rand, was born.
1961: Broadway Role in A Shot in the Dark and TV Appearances
In 1961, William Shatner appeared on Broadway in A Shot in the Dark and was featured in two episodes of the NBC television series Thriller. He also appeared in 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: Appeared in Nightmare at 20,000 Feet Twilight Zone Episode
In 1963, William Shatner appeared in The Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".
1963: TV Series and Movie Appearances
In 1963, William Shatner appeared in an episode of the ABC series Channing and starred in the Family Theater production called "The Soldier". He also guest-starred in Route 66.
1964: Birth of Melanie Shatner
In 1964, Melanie Shatner, William Shatner's third daughter with Gloria Rand, was born.
1964: First appearance on screen with Leonard Nimoy
In 1964, William Shatner first appeared on screen with Leonard Nimoy in "The Project Strigas Affair" episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
1964: Guest Starring Roles in Various TV Series
In 1964, William Shatner guest-starred in The Outer Limits, The Reporter, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and played a supporting role in The Outrage. Also, he played the titular character in the pilot for a proposed series called Alexander the Great.
1965: Guest Starring Roles in Various TV Series
In 1965, William Shatner guest-starred in 12 O'Clock High and had the lead role in a legal drama, For the People.
1966: Debut as Captain Kirk in Star Trek
In 1966, William Shatner debuted as Captain James T. Kirk in the second pilot of the first Star Trek television series.
1966: Starred in Incubus and Gunsmoke
In 1966, William Shatner starred in Incubus, a film with all dialogue in Esperanto, and in an episode of Gunsmoke as Fred Bateman. He also appeared in The Big Valley as Brett Skyler.
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.
1967: Death of Joseph Shatner
In 1967, Joseph Shatner, William Shatner's father, passed away.
1967: Possible cause of tinnitus
In 1967, during the shooting of the Star Trek episode "Arena", a pyrotechnical accident may have led to William Shatner developing tinnitus.
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 on November 22, 1968 earned Shatner a footnote in the history of American race relations: a kiss that Captain Kirk planted on the lips of Lieutenant Uhura
On November 22, 1968, Plato's Stepchildren aired, where William Shatner, as Captain Kirk, kissed Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), marking an early example 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, featuring readings from classic plays and recitations of popular songs.
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: Release of The Transformed Man
In 1968, William Shatner started his career as a recording artist with his album, The Transformed Man.
1968: Alexander the Great Pilot Airs as TV Movie
In 1968, the pilot for Alexander the Great, in which William Shatner played the titular role, was repackaged and aired 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: End of Star Trek Original Run
In 1969, Star Trek was canceled after three seasons and seventy-nine episodes.
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 experienced difficulty finding employment and faced financial hardship, living in a truck-bed camper for a time.
1971: Performance During Tour
In 1971, William Shatner gave a performance during a tour that was later released on a Lemli Records double album.
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: Return to Star Trek in Animated Series
In 1973, William Shatner returned to the role of Captain Kirk, in voice only, for 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
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, 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 intimidated him into choosing Dawson instead.
1977: Kingdom of the Spiders
In 1977, William Shatner's film work included the horror film Kingdom of the Spiders.
1977: Release of William Shatner Live Album
In 1977, a performance that William Shatner had given during a tour in 1971 was released on a Lemli Records double album, William Shatner Live.
1977: Pyramid Show Blunder
In a 1977 episode of The $10,000 Pyramid, William Shatner made a mistake that cost his partner a $20,000 prize, leading to him throwing a chair in frustration.
1978: Saturn Awards Performance
In 1978, William Shatner hosted the fifth Saturn Awards and performed a version of Elton John's "Rocket Man".
1979: Star Trek: The Motion Picture
In 1979, William Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
1982: Co-starring with Heather Locklear on T. J. Hooker
In 1982, William Shatner began co-starring with Heather Locklear on T. J. Hooker, leading to a lasting friendship.
1982: T.J. Hooker
In 1982, William Shatner began playing the lead role in T.J. Hooker, a television series where he played a veteran police sergeant.
1982: Airplane II: The Sequel
In 1982, William Shatner mocked the 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.
May 19, 1983: Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
On May 19, 1983, William Shatner received the 1,762nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his iconic status as 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: End of T.J. Hooker
In 1986, William Shatner finished his role in T.J. Hooker.
1986: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
In 1986, William Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
1986: Saturday Night Live Sketch
In 1986, William Shatner told Trekkies to "get a life" in a Saturday Night Live sketch.
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 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: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
In 1989, William Shatner played Kirk in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
1989: TekWar Publication
In 1989, the first TekWar novel, co-written by William Shatner and Ron Goulart, was published.
1990: Support of Hollywood Charity Horse Show
Since 1990, William Shatner has been one of the most important supporters of the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which raises money for organizations serving children.
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 (née Garmaise), William Shatner's mother, passed away.
1992: MTV Movie Awards Performance
In 1992, William Shatner performed versions of the five nominees in the Best Song from a Movie category at the MTV Movie Awards.
1993: Star Trek Memories 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: Recollection of Disappointment with Star Trek Premiere
In his 1993 book "Star Trek Memories", William Shatner recalls being disappointed when he attended the premiere of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".
1994: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
In 1994, William Shatner became the chief executive officer of the Toronto-based C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures.
1994: Final Appearance as Captain Kirk
In 1994, William Shatner made his final appearance as Captain 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, where the character died.
1994: Columbo Episode
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 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, presiding over it from horseback and participating in the coin toss before the Rose Bowl game.
1995: Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie
In 1995, William Shatner narrated Peter Kuran's documentary film Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie.
1995: William Shatner's TekWar Game Release
In 1995, William Shatner's TekWar franchise expanded into computer games with a first-person shooter release, William Shatner's TekWar.
1996: Divorce from Marcy Lafferty
In 1996, William Shatner and Marcy Lafferty divorced, ending Shatner's longest marriage.
1996: End of Rescue 911 hosting
In 1996, William Shatner concluded his hosting duties on the television series Rescue 911.
1996: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Guest Star
In 1996, William Shatner guest-starred in Will Smith's television show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, in an episode entitled Eye, Tooth.
1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd and Her Struggles with Alcoholism
In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd, against advice, hoping she would overcome her alcoholism; Leonard Nimoy, who had personal experience with alcoholism, tried to help her, but she continued to struggle.
1997: Marriage to Nerine Kidd
In 1997, William Shatner married Nerine Kidd.
1997: Starfleet Academy
In 1997, William Shatner's appearances as James Tiberius Kirk were in the movie sequences of the video game Starfleet Academy.
1998: Free Enterprise
In 1998, William Shatner contributed a caricature of himself to the romantic comedy movie Free Enterprise, which satirized Trekkies' Kirk idolatry.
1998: A Twist in the Tale
In 1998, William 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! Publication
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, dead in their backyard swimming pool; her death was ruled an accidental drowning due to alcohol and diazepam.
1999: 3rd Rock from the Sun
From 1999, William Shatner appeared in several episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun as the "Big Giant Head."
1999: Post Saturday Night Live Book
In 1999, William Shatner wrote a book about Trekkies in the aftermath of his Saturday Night Live rebuke to them.
1999: Heather Locklear comforts Shatner after his wife's death
In 1999, after the death of William Shatner's wife, Nerine Shatner, Heather Locklear offered him comfort during his bereavement.
2000: Appearance in Miss Congeniality
In 2000, William Shatner appeared in the comedy film Miss Congeniality.
2000: Contribution to "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command"
In 2000, William Shatner contributed the voice of Buzz Lightyear to the Star Command anthem "To Infinity And Beyond" in the film "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins".
2000: Plans for "The Shiva Club"
In 2000, William Shatner planned to write and direct "The Shiva Club", a dark comedy inspired by his wife's death.
2000: Miss Congeniality
In 2000, William Shatner played Stan Fields in the Sandra Bullock comedy movie Miss Congeniality.
2000: 3rd Rock from the Sun
William Shatner appeared in several episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun as the "Big Giant Head" through 2000.
2001: Marriage to Elizabeth Anderson Martin
In 2001, William Shatner married Elizabeth Anderson Martin.
2001: Osmosis Jones
In 2001, William Shatner voiced Mayor Phlegmming in the satirical movie Osmosis Jones.
2001: Miss USA Pageant
Life imitated art in Gary, Indiana in 2001, when William Shatner visited the town to host the Miss USA Pageant for real.
June 28, 2002: Performance with Brian Evans
On June 28, 2002, William Shatner performed with Brian Evans at the San Carlos Institute Theatre in Key West, Florida, duetting 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's final convention appearance
In August 2004, at the time of James Doohan's final convention appearance, it was reported that he had forgiven William Shatner, and the two actors had achieved the friendship as senior citizens that had eluded them as younger men.
October 2004: Release of Has Been
In October 2004, William Shatner's second studio album, Has Been, produced by Ben Folds, was released, featuring songs co-written and arranged by Folds.
October 2004: Star Trek: Enterprise
In October 2004, plans for William Shatner to guest-star in a three-episode story arc on Star Trek: Enterprise were cancelled due to the show's cancellation.
2004: Co-writing "Together" on "Has Been"
In 2004, Elizabeth Anderson Martin co-wrote the song "Together" on William Shatner's album "Has Been".
2004: George Takei's memoir, To the Stars
In 2004, George Takei wrote about his issues with William Shatner in his memoir, To the Stars.
2004: Starring in The Practice and Boston Legal
In 2004, William Shatner began starring as attorney Denny Crane in the final season of The Practice and continued the role in its spinoff, Boston Legal.
2004: Inclusion of "What Have You Done" on "Has Been"
In 2004, William Shatner's album "Has Been" included a spoken word piece called "What Have You Done", describing his anguish after discovering Nerine's body.
June 9, 2005: AFI Life Achievement Award Performance
On June 9, 2005, William Shatner performed his version of "My Way" at George Lucas's AFI Life Achievement Award presentation, backed by 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 where he played Lucifer.
2005: Reunion with Heather Locklear on Boston Legal
In 2005, William Shatner and Heather Locklear reunited on Boston Legal, where Locklear played Kelly Nolan, a woman being tried for killing her wealthy husband. Shatner's character became attracted to her and involved in her defense.
2005: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
In 2005, William Shatner appeared in Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, reprising his role as Stan Fields.
2005: Featured on Lemon Jelly Album
In 2005, William Shatner was heard in the track "'64 – Go" on the Lemon Jelly album '64–'95.
2005: Emmy and Golden Globe Awards
In 2005, William Shatner won a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal, becoming one of the few actors to win an Emmy while playing the same character on two different shows.
March 29, 2006: TV Land's "Living in TV Land" Episode
On March 29, 2006, TV Land aired a Shatner-centric episode of "Living in TV Land" 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: Shatner donates kidney stone sale proceeds to charity
On May 16, 2006, William Shatner appeared on The View and announced that the $25,000 proceeds from the sale of his kidney stone to GoldenPalace.com, along with an additional $20,000 raised from the cast and crew of Boston Legal, had been 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 received an Emmy nomination for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
2006: Featured in Two Animated Pictures
In 2006, William Shatner voiced Ozzie in DreamWorks' Over the Hedge and Kazar in Walt Disney's The Wild.
January 2007: Started Autobiographical Vlogs on LiveVideo
In January 2007, William Shatner began posting daily autobiographical vlogs on the LiveVideo platform in a project that he named ShatnerVision, marking his entry into the world of online content creation.
July 2007: Discussion of Role in 'Star Trek' Film
In July 2007, director J. J. Abrams stated that the production of the 2009 film Star Trek was "desperately trying to figure out a way to put him in", but that to "shove him in ... would be a disaster".
2007: "Has Been" Album as Basis for Dance Project
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 received an Emmy nomination for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
December 2008: Experimented with the Chat Show Genre
In December 2008, William Shatner began experimenting with the chat show genre in the humorous Shatner's Raw Nerve.
2008: End of Boston Legal
In 2008, William Shatner finished his run as attorney Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
2008: Emmy Nomination
In 2008, William Shatner received an Emmy nomination for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
2008: Memoir: Up Till Now
In 2008, William Shatner released his memoir Up Till Now, co-written with David Fisher, reflecting on his life and career.
April 17, 2009: Premiere of "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet"
On April 17, 2009, the feature documentary "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet", based on Margo Sappington's dance project "Common People" and William Shatner's album "Has Been", was unveiled at the Nashville Film Festival to favorable reviews.
July 27, 2009: Mock Hostilities with Poetry Slam
On July 27, 2009, William Shatner opened mock-hostilities on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, with a poetry slam inspired recitation of Sarah Palin's resignation speech.
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: No Role in the 2009 film Star Trek
In 2009, Shatner was not offered a role in the Star Trek film.
2009: Emmy Nomination
In 2009, William Shatner received an Emmy nomination for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
2009: Voice of Don Salmonella
In 2009, William Shatner voiced Don Salmonella in the animated series The Gavones, expanding his work on YouTube.
February 1, 2010: Guest Hosting WWE Raw
On February 1, 2010, William Shatner guest-hosted WWE Raw to promote his talk show, Shatner's Raw Nerve, performing several wrestlers' entrance theme songs.
February 28, 2010: Speaker at Vancouver 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: Hosting Weird or What?
In April 2010, William Shatner began hosting the Discovery Channel show Weird or What?.
2010: Described Film as Wonderful
At a convention held in 2010, Shatner described the 2009 Star Trek film as "wonderful".
2010: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures Closes
In 2010, the special effects studio C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures, where William Shatner was the CEO, ceased operations.
March 7, 2011: Wake-Up Call for 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: End of Shatner's Raw Nerve
In March 2011, Shatner's humorous chat show Shatner's Raw Nerve aired its final episode.
May 2011: Cancellation of $#*! My Dad Says
In May 2011, the CBS sitcom $#*! My Dad Says, starring William Shatner, was cancelled three months after the first broadcast of its final episode.
October 2011: Release of Seeking Major Tom
In October 2011, William Shatner released his album Seeking Major Tom, featuring collaborations with various musicians and covers of astronautically themed songs.
2011: Honorary Doctorate 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 the animosity he once felt towards Shatner had dissipated.
2011: Release of Seeking Major Tom
In 2011, William Shatner released his most successful album, Seeking Major Tom, which includes covers of songs by Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and Queen.
August 2012: End of Weird or What?
In August 2012, the Discovery Channel show Weird or What?, hosted by William Shatner, aired its final episode.
2012: Return to Theatre and Satirical TV
In 2012, William Shatner returned to theatre on Broadway in Shatner's World: We Just Live in It and was a guest presenter on Have I Got News for You, coining the term "pensioneer".
October 2013: Release of "Ponder the Mystery"
In October 2013, William Shatner's album "Ponder the Mystery", produced by Billy Sherwood and featuring contributions from various musicians, was released.
2013: Academy Awards Appearance
In 2013, William Shatner reprised his role as Captain Kirk for a comedic interlude with Seth MacFarlane at the Academy Awards.
April 24, 2014: Autobiographical One-Man Show on Broadway
On April 24, 2014, William Shatner performed an autobiographical one-man show on Broadway, which was filmed for subsequent screening in theatres.
2014: Grand Marshal of Calgary Stampede parade
In 2014, William Shatner discharged the duties of a Grand Marshal at the 102nd Calgary Stampede parade in his native Canada.
2015: Role in Murdoch Mysteries and Haven
In 2015, William Shatner played Mark Twain in Murdoch Mysteries and Croatoan in Haven.
2015: Leonard Nimoy's death and Shatner's response
In 2015, upon Leonard Nimoy's death, William Shatner expressed his love for him as a brother and acknowledged the loss of his humor, talent, and capacity to love. While unable to attend the funeral due to commitments, Shatner's daughters attended in his place, and he celebrated Nimoy's life in 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, featuring William Shatner, premiered.
September 2016: Special guest at Salt Lake Comic Con
In September 2016, William Shatner attended the Salt Lake Comic Con as their special guest.
2016: Revelation of estrangement from Leonard 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.
2016: Starring 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 Season Two
On December 11, 2017, a preview episode of the second season of Better Late Than Never, featuring William Shatner, was aired.
2017: Independent Publisher Book Awards
In 2017, Stan Lee's "God Woke", which was published by Shatner Singularity won the Independent Publisher Book Awards' Outstanding Books of the Year Independent Voice Award.
2017: Starring in Better Late Than Never Season 2
In 2017, William Shatner starred in the second season of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
2017: Shatner's support for Autism Speaks
In 2017, William Shatner tweeted support for Autism Speaks, a controversial charity, leading to arguments with autistic people and allies.
May 2018: Honorary Doctorate from New England Institute of Technology
In May 2018, the New England Institute of Technology awarded William Shatner an honorary Doctorate of Letters.
August 2018: Release of "Why Not Me"
In August 2018, William Shatner's first venture into country music, the album "Why Not Me", was released on Heartland Records Nashville, featuring Jeff Cook and guest vocals by Neal McCoy, Home Free, and Cash Creek.
October 2018: Release of "Shatner Claus"
In October 2018, William Shatner's holiday album "Shatner Claus", featuring collaborations with Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins, Todd Rundgren, Billy Gibbons, and others, was released.
2018: Petition against dolphin exploitation on cruises
In 2018, William Shatner petitioned the CEO of the Norwegian Cruise Line through PETA not to include dolphins in their cruise programme, citing the "Prime Directive".
2018: Starring in Better Late Than Never Season 2
In 2018, William Shatner starred in the second season of NBC's Better Late Than Never, a comical travel series.
2018: Awarded NRHA 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: Official Season Premiere of Better Late Than Never Season Two
On New Year's Day of 2018, the official season premiere of the second season of Better Late Than Never, featuring William Shatner, was aired.
2019: Hosted The UnXplained
In 2019, William Shatner began hosting and executive-producing The UnXplained on History, a show that explores unexplained phenomena.
2019: Filing for Divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin
In 2019, William Shatner filed for divorce from Elizabeth Anderson Martin.
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 over "straight white cis man" label
In 2020, William Shatner engaged in month-long arguments on Twitter regarding being called a "straight white cis man".
2020: Shatner reveals his health issues
In 2020, William Shatner revealed that he suffers from swollen joints and age-related aches and pains, which he treats with cannabidiol oil.
March 2021: Senior Moment Film Release
In March 2021, the same week he turned 90, William Shatner starred in the film Senior Moment, which co-starred Jean Smart and Christopher Lloyd, marking a significant moment in his later 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: Blue Origin Spaceflight
On October 13, 2021, William Shatner flew on Blue Origin's second sub-orbital human spaceflight, Blue Origin NS-18, becoming the oldest person to fly into space at the age of 90.
2021: Dismissive of a Jewish convert of colour
In 2021, The Forward noted that William Shatner was dismissive of a Jewish convert of colour, likening it to his arguments about the term "cis" and Autism Speaks.
2021: Political Controversy over RT Show
In 2021, William Shatner became the focus of political controversy when it was revealed that he would host I Don't Understand with William Shatner on RT.
2021: Spaceflight Aboard Blue Origin NS-18
In 2021, at the age of 90, William Shatner flew into space aboard Blue Origin NS-18, becoming the oldest person to fly in space at that time.
February 24, 2022: Expressed Support for Ukrainians
On February 24, 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, William Shatner issued a statement via Twitter expressing support for the Ukrainians.
February 28, 2022: February 28, 2022
February 28, 2022, date in William Shatner's history.
December 4, 2022: Beam-down to L.A. Comic Con
On December 4, 2022, William Shatner made a star guest appearance at the L.A. Comic Con.
2022: Competed on 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's claim about Shatner's Twitter account
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 the account's content.
2023: Takei's continued hostility towards Shatner
In 2023, George Takei reiterated his long-standing hostility towards William Shatner during an interview in London.
2023: Death of Joy Rutenberg
In 2023, Joy Rutenberg, William Shatner's older sister, passed away.
2023: The UnXplained Ended
In 2023, The UnXplained on History, hosted and executive-produced by William Shatner, aired its final episode.
May 19, 2024: Ed Dwight Surpasses Shatner's Record
On May 19, 2024, Ed Dwight, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot, became the oldest person to fly into space at the age of 90 years, 253 days, surpassing William Shatner's record.
2024: Ed Dwight's Spaceflight
In 2024, Ed Dwight, who is 48 days older than William 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, and Shatner is once again referring to her as his wife, despite their previous divorce.
2025: Takei wishing Shatner a happy birthday
In 2025, George Takei wished William Shatner a happy 94th birthday and posted "Live long and prosper, my friends."
2025: Received Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award
In 2025, William Shatner received a Special Lifetime Achievement Saturn Award, recognizing his contributions to science fiction and entertainment.
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