William Shatner Biography – William Shatner is an Canadian actor, author, producer, director and singer. He is best famous for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise.
He also starred as Sergeant T.J. Hooker in T.J. Hooker and Denny Crane in Boston Legal. Shatner was born on 22 March 1931, in Montreal, Canada.
His career has lasted for more than 70 years. He has become one of the most respected and recognizable figures in the entertainment industry during this time.
William Shatner Biography
William Shatner was born on 22 March 1931, in Montreal, Canada. He is an Canadian actor, author and television personality.
He is best Famous for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He 1st played Captain Kirk in year 1966 in Star Trek: The Original Series.
He continued playing the role until 1994, ending with the film Star Trek Generations. Before becoming famous, Shatner acted in Canadian films and television shows.
He later appeared in many American television series as a guest actor. He played Captain Kirk in every episode of Star Trek: The Original Series.
He also appeared in 21 of the 22 episodes of Star Trek: The Animated Series. He starred in the first seven Star Trek films in addition.
Shatner has written several books about his experiences with Star Trek. He also co-wrote Star Trek novels and the TekWar science fiction book series.
The TekWar novels were later adapted into a television series. Shatner starred as Sergeant T. J. Hooker in the TV series T. J. Hooker from 1982 to 1986 outside of Star Trek.
He also hosted the television show Rescue 911 from 1989 to 1996. Shatner appeared in the detective series Columbo and the comedy film Miss Congeniality (2000).
His long career has made him one of the most famous and respected actors in television history.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Shatner |
| Profession | Actor, Author, Producer, Director, Singer |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Date of Birth | March 22, 1931 |
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Famous For | Playing Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek |
| Active Years | More than 70 Years |
| Best Known TV Shows | Star Trek, T.J. Hooker, Boston Legal |
William Shatner Family
William Shatner has been married four times. His first wife was Gloria Rand, a Canadian actress. They got married on August 12, 1956.
The couple had three daughters named Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie.While working on Star Trek: The Original Series, Shatner and Gloria separated.
They divorced in March 1969.His second wife was Marcy Lafferty, the daughter of television producer Perry Lafferty.
They married in 1973. Their marriage lasted until 1996, making it Shatner’s longest marriage. They did not have any children together.
In 1997, Shatner married his third wife, Nerine Kidd. On August 9, 1999, he found her unconscious at the bottom of their backyard swimming pool.
She was 40 years old when she died. An investigation found that her death was an accidental drowning. The report also stated that alcohol and diazepam were found in her blood.
The Los Angeles Police Department found no evidence of foul play. After her death, Shatner spoke publicly about her struggle with alcoholism.
He encouraged people to support Friendly House, a charity that helps women recover from alcohol and drug addiction.
He later said that he loved Nerine deeply and described her as his “beautiful soulmate.”
| Family Member | Details |
|---|---|
| Father | Joseph Shatner |
| Mother | Ann Shatner |
| Sisters | Joy Rutenberg and Farla Cohen |
| First Wife | Gloria Rand |
| Second Wife | Marcy Lafferty |
| Third Wife | Nerine Kidd |
| Fourth Wife | Elizabeth Martin |
| Children | Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie Shatner |
William Shatner Career
After graduating from McGill University, William Shatner began his professional career as the business manager of a playhouse in Montreal.
Soon, he decided to focus on acting. He join the Canadian National Repertory Theatre. There he trained as an Shakespearean actor.
He starts performing at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in year 1954. He plays many different roles and also gains valuable stage experience.
Shatner starts appearing on Canadian television the same year. He played Ranger Bob on The Canadian Howdy Doody Show.
His television work helped him get more acting opportunities. He made his feature film debut in The Brothers Karamazov in year 1958.
He acted in the television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents around the same time. He also appeared in the well famous episode “The Glass Eye.”
Shatner became a popular guest actor on many television shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s. These included The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive and Dr. Kildare.
William Shatner Net Worth
William Shatner net worth is estimated around $100 million. He earn his wealth from his long career as an actor, producer, director, screenwriter and singer.
Shatner is best famous for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He also starred in popular television shows such as T.J. Hooker, The Practice, and Boston Legal.
In May 1983, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
Shatner starts his acting career in early 1950s. He 1st appeared in Canadian theater productions. He became internationally famous after starring in Star Trek: The Original Series in year 1966.
He plays Captain Kirk from year 1966 to 1969. He later became one of the most famous science fiction actors in the world.
Shatner starred in the television series T.J. Hooker from 1982 to 1986 outside of Star Trek.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | $100 Million |
| Main Income Source | Acting |
| Other Income | Books, Producing, Directing, Singing |
| Hollywood Walk of Fame | Yes |
| Canada’s Walk of Fame | Yes |
William Shatner Early Life
William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighborhood of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
He grew up in a Conservative Jewish family. His parents were Ann Shatner and Joseph Shatner, who worked as a clothing manufacturer.
William was the middle child in the family. He had an older sister named Joy Rutenberg and a younger sister named Farla Cohen.
His family’s original surname was Schattner, but his grandfather changed the spelling to Shatner. His grandparents were Jewish immigrants from areas that are now part of Ukraine and Lithuania.
Shatner attended Willingdon Elementary School and West Hill High School in Montreal. He also took part in the Montreal Children’s Theatre, where he developed an interest in acting.
After high school, he studied economics at McGill University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1952.
As a young man, he worked as a camp counselor at a B’nai B’rith summer camp. There, he helped a teenage Holocaust survivor learn English.
In 2011, McGill University awarded Shatner an Honorary Doctorate of Letters. In 2018, the New England Institute of Technology also awarded him an Honorary Doctorate for his achievements.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Date of Birth | March 22, 1931 |
| Parents | Ann and Joseph Shatner |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Elementary School | Willingdon Elementary School |
| High School | West Hill High School |
| University | McGill University |
| Degree | Bachelor of Commerce |
William Shatner Personal Life
William Shatner does not enjoy watching his own performances. He has said that there are episodes of Star Trek and Boston Legal that he has never watched.
According to Shatner, the only Star Trek film he has watched from beginning to end is Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
He watched that film because he directed it and had to review it during the editing process.
In his 1993 book Star Trek Memories, Shatner wrote that he was disappointed after attending the premiere of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
Shatner has lived in the United States for many years. He is a longtime U.S. resident and holds a U.S. green card.
| Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Residence | United States |
| Citizenship Status | Canadian Citizen and U.S. Green Card Holder |
| Hobby | Writing Books |
| Known For | Long Acting Career and Love of Science Fiction |
| Favorite Directed Film | Star Trek V: The Final Frontier |
FAQ – William Shatner Biography
Q1. Who is William Shatner?
Ans: William Shatner is an Canadian actor, author, producer and singer.
Q2. What is William Shatner famous for?
Ans: He is famous for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise.
Q3. When was William Shatner born?
Ans: William Shatner was born on 22 March 1931.
Q4. What is William Shatner’s estimated net worth?
Ans: William Shatner net worth is estimated around $100 million.
Q5. Where did William Shatner study?
Ans: He is graduated from McGill University with an degree in economics.
More Information –
Instagram – William Shatner Biography
Read Also – Daniel Siad Biography – Age, Family, Net Worth, Career & Life
