At 95 years old, legendary actor William Shatner is preparing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of "Star Trek," the groundbreaking science-fiction series that launched him into global icon status. Yet, as the milestone approaches, the man who famously portrayed Captain James T. Kirk is reflecting not just on his decades in Hollywood, but on his profound personal battles with mortality, a terrifying dual-cancer scare with his daughter, and his journey to the edge of space.
Shatner’s perspective on life shifted dramatically following a near-fatal health crisis. In June 2023, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 malignant melanoma after a small lump on his cheek began to grow. The prognosis was grim, with his doctor warning him to pack his bags because he might only have five months to live. The cancer eventually spread to his lungs and brain. Compounding this family crisis, Shatner's youngest daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, now 62, had been fighting Stage 4 breast cancer since 2022. She, too, received a devastating prognosis of having at most five months to live. Facing terminal diagnoses simultaneously, father and daughter supported each other through intense medical treatments. Today, both are entirely cancer-free. Shatner recovered through surgery and two years of immunotherapy, while Melanie overcame her illness following chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, and immunotherapy. To share their journey, the pair has launched a wellness podcast titled "No Time But Now."
This close brush with death has deeply affected Shatner, who admits that he now thinks about dying quite often. He notes that his previous worldview has worn off like a callus, replaced by an intense appreciation for every passing moment—even something as simple as a recent dinner of buttermilk chicken. While he faced public criticism in February 2015 for missing the funeral of his longtime "Star Trek" co-star and friend Leonard Nimoy, Shatner's recent health battles have heightened his anxiety about staying alive. When asked about his legacy, however, Shatner remains indifferent to traditional markers of fame. He explains that he does not recognize the word "legacy," pointing out that statues are eventually torn down and named buildings erode. For him, the only legacy that matters is performing good deeds.
Shatner's late-stage reflections come after a lifetime of extraordinary milestones, including becoming the oldest person to travel to space. In October 2021, at the age of 90, he flew as a passenger aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft. The experience left him deeply emotional, and upon returning to Earth, he wept over the beauty and fragility of the planet, expressing a heightened passion for environmental conservation.
As the entertainment world prepares for the 60th anniversary of "Star Trek" on September 8, 2026, Shatner remains amazed by the franchise's enduring legacy. The original series premiered in 1966 but struggled to find an audience, lasting only three seasons from 1966 to 1969 before NBC canceled it. Shatner recalls that during its initial run, the show aired in a poorly rated Friday night slot at 10 p.m. He notes that back then, no one would have predicted the show would remain a cultural touchstone six decades later. Its fortunes changed when Paramount sold the show's 79 episodes into syndication, sparking a massive wave of "Trekkie" fandom that birthed a multi-generation empire, from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" to the modern series "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy." However, Shatner recalls that his initial joy at the show's revival was dampened by financial struggles. Because Hollywood unions had not yet established syndication fees, he did not receive royalties from the reruns, leaving him "famously poor" despite his skyrocketing fame.
Despite those early financial setbacks, the Canadian-born, classically trained actor built a remarkably resilient career. Beyond his defining role as Captain Kirk, Shatner starred in the 1980s police drama "T.J. Hooker" from 1982 to 1986. He later won Emmy Awards for his portrayal of eccentric attorney Denny Crane, a character he played on "The Practice" and its subsequent spin-off, "Boston Legal," from 2004 to 2008.
Even at 95, Shatner retains his sharp wit, though some memories of his long career have faded. Sitting in his Studio City office, he was recently asked about an incident from 2016 during a photo shoot marking the show's 50th anniversary. At the time, his desk had been covered with toy Tribbles—the rapidly multiplying creatures from the classic 1967 episode "The Trouble with Tribbles"—which Shatner unceremoniously swept onto the floor. Today, Shatner claims he has no memory of the "Tribble purge" but laughs off the incident. He insists he holds no grudge against the fictional creatures, calling them a fitting metaphor for the uncontrolled activities of humanity.
"I weep more so than ever," he says. "We're destroying the Earth. And this planet has such beauty and miracles. I'm passionate about what we've done to the planet."
"Not dying − that's always a good thing," he says. "I'm always anxious about that. I've thought about dying a lot."
