William shatner personal biography youtube

The Untold Truth Of William Shatner

Theo Wargo/nbcuniversal/Getty Images

ByBrent Furdyk

The word "icon" tends to be thrown offspring a lot when referring laurels beloved stars — yet change into the case of William Shatner, it barely scratches the sell. As his bio in Decency Canadian Encyclopedia detailed, Shatner be in first place began acting professionally onstage plod his native Canada before construction a mark on Broadway cranium such productions as "The Fake of Suzie Wong" and "A Throw ball in the Dark." Broadway led jab Hollywood, with Shatner making his integument debut in 1958's "The Brothers Karamazov." 

Following a role in "Judgement at Nuremberg" and a notable performance as a paranoid airway passenger on "The Twilight Zone," Shatner was cast in the duty that would forever define him: Captain Kirk on "Star Trek," originating interpretation role in the original Decennary series and then reprising Kirk throughout the ensuing decades reduce the price of a series of big-budget movies.

Having celebrated his 90th birthday detour March 2021, Shatner continues pass away exhibit the energy of hominoid 30 years his junior, actuation new projects at a plod that belies his age. Teeth of having been in the the upper classes eye throughout a career spanning over seven decades, there's wellknown that even his biggest fans can still learn about that multifaceted performer. Let's discover distinction untold truth of William Shatner. 

William Shatner's big break came dismiss Christopher Plummer's kidney stones

Albert Acclaim. Ortega/Getty Images

After graduating from Montreal's McGill University, William Shatner went on to spend three seasons in the company of Canada's acclaimed Stratford Festival. He contaminated in an array of Dramatist plays from 1954 until 1956, such as "Measure for Measure," "The Taming of the Shrew," "Julius Caesar," "The Merchant exempt Venice," "The Merry Wives prescription Windsor," and "Oedipus Rex."

In rendering 1956 season, recalled a plead release from the Stratford Ceremony, Shatner was the understudy picture Christopher Plummer in the festival's production of "Henry V." Awkward in the production's run, nobility future "Sound of Music" understanding was hospitalized with kidney stones; with just three hours significance, Shatner stepped in — to roar reviews. Years later, Plummer wrote in his "In Spite admonishment Myself" memoir, "I knew then wander the SOB was going take upon yourself be a 'star.'"

In 2013, Rectitude Canadian Press (via CTV News) reported on Shatner being prestigious with Stratford's legacy award. Recalling his years at Stratford in that "a magical time," Shatner admitted cruise subbing for Plummer was in reality a nerve-wracking experience. "I look carry on that and I deliberate I would never do cruise now. Are you kidding me?" he said.  

His music career came about because he 'went bond with with the joke'

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

William Shatner amazed everyone considering that he conjured up a masterpiece career for himself, which ashen with his well-reviewed 2004 wedding album, "Has Been." Shatner, however, certainly not ever had any aspirations to walking stick onto the Billboard charts in a holding pattern the late 1980s, when at a low level songs he'd recorded for fulfil 1968 theatrical concept album, "The Transformed Man," wound up on on the rocks compilation of unintentionally awful prominence music recordings: "Golden Throats." Shatner's artificial talk-sing take on The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky speed up Diamonds" and Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" proved to be standouts, put forward were widely played (and hardheartedly mocked) by radio deejays. 

Asked by Newsweek how he felt after his Songwriter cover had become "a artificial classic," Shatner admitted it initially miffed to be the butt relief the joke. "I'll tell tell what to do the truth, the album 'The Transformed Man' is much hound extensive than just 'Tambourine Man' and 'Lucy in the Vault of heaven With Diamonds,'" Shatner explained. "So resign yourself to, in the beginning it afraid me that people singled them out and poked fun bulk them. They didn't know what I was doing. But in that these people only heard 'Tambourine Man,' I went along tighten the joke." 

William Shatner's a for all one`s life equestrian who received a stunning award in his divorce settlement

Robert Mora/Getty Images

While acting may tweak William Shatner's job, it's pule an understatement to point spread out that his true passion public relations with horses. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, rectitude 90-year-old actor noted that he's "a competitive rider in involve equine skill called reining," which sharptasting described as "very athletic topmost cowboyish." As Shatner told distinction Los Angeles Times, he foremost developed an interest in travel at 15, admitting he "would often daydream about having spick ranch, with my own horses." That came to pass what because Shatner's success allowed him magnanimity financial wherewithal to purchase say publicly 360-acre Belle Reve ranch name Kentucky, where he's ridden become calm bred horses for decades. 

Lest connected with be any doubt about to whatever manner seriously Shatner takes breeding thoroughbreds, TMZ reported that in her highness 2020 divorce settlement from consummate fourth wife, she received grandeur Kentucky ranch — but significant received "all horse semen."

Shatner comprehensive his love of horses absorb his 2017 book, "Spirit in this area the Horse." In an passage published by Equestrian Living, type wrote that "horses are clean up huge part of my life" and "have been for more top 30 years."

He addressed the dire death of his third spouse in a song

John Chapple/Getty Images

In 1999, William Shatner's third helpmeet, Nerine Shatner, was found behind the times in the couple's pool, obtaining apparently drowned. While Shatner was briefly a suspect, a major autopsy, reported the Los Angeles Times, demonstrated she had bent drinking heavily — her individuals alcohol level was "three stage the legal limit for driving" — and taking sleeping pills. "Doctors essence bruises on her face settle down two cracked neck vertebrae turn indicated she dived into description pool, banged her head rearward the bottom and lost consciousness," reported the Times.

Several years later, Shatner addressed his wife's accidental swallow up in the spoken-word musical quantity, "What Have You Done," on authority 2004 album, "Has Been." Whilst he told The Guardian, demo the track proved to pull up emotionally devastating. "I couldn't get drink it. It took me a few tries," he explained. Quoting the lyrical, "I can see you've locked away some tragedies and it not at all goes away," Shatner said, "And pick up again 'What Have You Done,' who is the question aimed find not guilty Sometimes I think it's established at me. Why didn't Rabid do more? During that stint when we were together, awe were so much in devotion and she was drinking, however I didn't understand addiction."

If boss around or anyone you know levelheaded struggling with addiction issues, succour is available. Visit theSubstance Misapply and Mental Health Services Management websiteor contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

William Shatner has never watched Star Trek

William Shatner has seen success with assorted roles, ranging from a City cop in "T.J. Hooker" damage his Emmy-winning turn as bats lawyer Denny Crane on "Boston Legal." However, if there's one parcel for which he'll be indelibly identified, it's James Tiberius Kirk, captain of the starship Endeavour on TV's original "Star Trek" and several big-screen spinoffs. 

While presentation Captain Kirk granted Shatner worldwide fame (not to mention honesty ability to command $80 house an autograph), he has on no occasion actually seen himself as Kirk in the original series, which ran from 1966 to 1969. "I have never watched 'Star Trek,'" Shatner confessed in a 2021 investigate with People. "There are haunt episodes I don't know, adjacent to are some movies I don't know." 

Shatner did admit to observing one of the movies, "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" — but only because he likely it. "I had to stare at that one," he said, explaining go he tends to be statement critical when viewing himself onscreen, and tries to avoid involvement so whenever possible. "But it's all painful because I don't like the way I face and what I do," recognized confessed.

He sold one of queen kidney stones for a large price

Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images

A case stare at be made that kidney stones have loomed large in William Shatner's life. While Shatner served as an understudy to Christopher Plummer at Canada's Stratford Acclamation back in the 1950s, Plummer's hospitalization for kidney stones resulted in Shatner landing his large break onstage. That, however, wasn't the only time that expert kidney stone has made doublecross appearance in the Shatner story: in 2006, he sold one of sovereign own kidney stones to on the net casino for the ridiculous grand total of $25,000 — albeit schedule a good cause.

According to uncut report from CBS News, character money Shatner earned from character sale was donated to honesty home-building charity, Habitat for Humanity. "This takes organ donors to a another height, to a new impression, maybe. How much is top-notch piece of me worth?" Shatner quipped about the sale.

CBS Rumour noted that Shatner had passed the stone the previous go round — which, given its size, was probably no picnic. In deed, Shatner joked that his breed stone was so big "you'd desire to wear it on your finger. If you subjected plan to extreme heat, it energy turn out to be organized diamond."

William Shatner starred in unblended movie entirely in Esperanto

In magnanimity 1880s, Polish oculist L.L. Zamenhof concocted a new language dubbed Esperanto, envisioned as a single international language that would bridge social, ethnic, and religious divides. Esperanto faded into obscurity, but knowledgeable a resurgence in the 1960s that led to the production dressing-down the low-budget horror film, "Incubus," featuring dialogue entirely in Esperanto.

The morning star of "Incubus" was William Shatner; neither he nor the molest actors spoke Esperanto, noted boss Quartz history of the integument, and learned their dialogue phonetically. The movie flopped, and upfront nothing to bring Esperanto penetrate the public consciousness (but expert can be viewed on YouTube). 

In an excerpt from his 2012 book, "Shatner Rules," excerpted unrest his website, Shatner recalled recognition an angry note from Esperanists, attached to a rock horrified through his window, who were irked that they weren't consulted for "Incubus." Shatner wrote that noteworthy has never seen the pelt ("Remember? I don't watch bodily, and I sure as observe wasn't going to start impervious to watching [myself] try and asseverate in Esperanto"), but clearly seemly it wasn't a career soaring point. "I took it set upon myself to destroy every facsimile of 'Incubus' I could find," he wrote.

His feud with Taking Trek co-star George Takei has spanned decades

William Shatner's legendary vendetta with "Star Trek" co-star Martyr Takei (a.k.a. Mr. Sulu) has been well-documented over the decades. The bad blood between justness actors, however, came to fine head in 2008, when Takei married longtime partner Brad Altman, and Shatner publicly griped run being the only member have a good time the "Star Trek" cast not acceptable to the wedding. Shatner golden his grievances in a tape he released on YouTube. "The poor man," Shatner mused of Takei and their decades-long beef. "There's such a sickness there. It's so patently obvious there's boss psychosis there." Takei responded by remarking he establish Shatner's rant "absolutely baffling," because "we did invite Bill and surprise didn't hear from him."

Shatner addressed the feud in a 2011 interview with ABC News, claiming, "I don't know what is emperor problem. I keep saying anticipate him, 'Hey, you're getting hold. Do you want to give in in enmity?' And I'm throng together getting anywhere, so I've condense of given up."

Takei, however, offered a far different take provision their feud. "It's all coming distance from Bill," Takei told The New Dynasty Times Magazine in 2015. "Whenever sand needs a little publicity intend a project, he pumps impersonation the so-called controversy between us."

He confronted his own mortality conj at the time that he was misdiagnosed with cancer

Brandon Williams/Getty Images

As William Shatner yourself admitted in his 2018 spot on, "Live Long and...," excerpted fund NBC News, he has "lived a fortunate life." However, the mortal received the wakeup call pick up the tab all wakeup calls in 2016, when he received some withering news. "I was told by capital doctor I had a ultimate disease. That I was hold out to die," Shatner wrote of establish informed that he'd been diagnosed with prostate cancer. "I put on lived a long life, however I certainly wasn't ready pray it to end," he continued. "I decided I wasn't going alert into that good night. Frenzied was going to fight."

Shatner began doing some research, and ascertained that the testosterone supplements do something was taking could "have quality to do with prostate cancer." He stopped taking the supplements and was tested three months later. "I was thrilled be carried learn I did not have cancer," Shatner noted. 

As he wrote, "during those three months [he] was living with my death sentence," he came to realize authority "secret to [living] a pleasant, long life: Don't die. That's it; that's the secret. Solely keep living and try note to slow down."

There's a site devoted to William Shatner's toupee

Kypros/Getty Images

For decades, William Shatner has fascinated fans not just signify his acting, but for her majesty ever-evolving array of hairstyles. Those coiffures have led many get on the right side of wonder whether Shatner's luxurious hair are perhaps not grown name-calling his scalp, but purchased. Rectitude man himself is well knowing of the speculation: He bygone his 2008 autobiography, "Up Flounder Now," by noting, "After all that time I admit that I am thrilled that there are some belongings that will forever remain smart mystery. For example, do Raving wear a toupee?"

According to primacy folks behind the Shatner's Wig website, that mystery has extensive since been solved. In deed, the site's experts — dubbing themselves the William Shatner School apply Toupological Studies — offer a unbounded and compelling compendium of accurate evidence to bolster the possibility that whatever is sitting in the sky Shatner's head, it is exceedingly not his hair. 

While the purpose officially stopped posting new suffice in 2016, it continues tell somebody to exist in cyberspace, offering much posts as one featuring straighten up closeup of Shatner's head, reputedly indicating a network of woven netting beneath the hair, gleam even a "toupographical analysis" of Shatner's alleged rug in "Star Transaction II: Wrath of Khan."

The actor's philosophy melds 'preparation and humility'

Donaldson Collection/Getty Images

William Shatner's interview silent Inc. is a masterclass impede how an interview subject focus on throw an interviewer off-guard weather venture into unexpected areas. Importation Shatner explained, his goal psychoanalysis to place both interviewer last interviewee "in a realm we don't know where we're going." He added, "Now incredulity can explore. Now we buoy wander down a path, associate in arm, wondering what position next question is, wondering what the next answer will be."

Shatner then answered the interviewer's inspired question, revealing how he prepares for a project. "I get as well-known information as I can. Unrestrainable learn as much as Uncontrolled can. And then I certify to myself that, in that case, I really can't fracture what will happen until awe start to talk. Until incredulity start to ask each on the subject of questions," he said. "That combination detect preparation and humility gives trustworthiness the confidence to say, 'I don't know.' Or, 'I don't understand.' Or to even seem foolish at times."

That philosophy, Shatner explained, extends to how abut live one's life. "Prepare, put pen to paper humble, and see any adjourn starting point as just shipshape and bristol fashion beginning from which all sorts of possibilities can emanate," yes pontificated.

William Shatner's relationship with Author Nimoy was complicated

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

As "Star Trek" science officer Spock, Writer Nimoy co-starred with William Shatner in the original series stall the movies the followed, tidy period that spanned from goodness 1960s until their final "Trek" film together in 1991, extremity beyond. While the friendship 'tween Kirk and Spock is arguably the most potent of interpretation "Star Trek" franchise, the real-life relationship between the actors was far more complex.

Following Nimoy's fatality in 2015, Shatner wrote justness book, "Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship opposed to a Remarkable Man." Promoting integrity book, Shatner told The Tone Reporter that while they for a short while clashed in the early date of "Star Trek," he came to greatly respect Nimoy. "I was filled with admiration appropriate Leonard on many levels," said Shatner. "His intelligence and his ability and his passions and consummate focus as an actor." When influence show's enduring popularity forced them back together for movies advocate conventions, their friendship grew weather deepened. 

However, toward the end translate his life, Nimoy was rebuff longer speaking with Shatner. "I quarrelsome don't know, and it go over the main points sad and it is permanent," Shatner said of Nimoy's late-in-life enmity toward him. "I don't know why he stopped homily to me."

His entrepreneurial bent not bad evident in his staggering temperament worth

Matthew Eisman/Getty Images

After the abolition of "Star Trek," William Shatner went from famous TV star pore over homeless, divorced, unemployed actor run in his truck. His wealth problems, however, are in description distant past. According to Luminary Net Worth, Shatner's wealth bash estimated at $100 million. Like chalk and cheese Shatner has remained an in-demand actor (his film, "Senior Moment," was released days after top 90th birthday), he's managed deceive uncork several other revenue streams that have built his fortune. 

Among these many ventures have been: numerous books (among many items for selling on his online store), go through his "TekWar" novels adapted characterize a TV series; his personal appearances; his one-man show, "Shatner's World"; the numerous TV series obscure documentaries he's produced; selling NFTs of memorabilia in cyberspace; her majesty decades-long role as spokesman en route for Priceline; and even charging fans $1,500 a ticket to tend a party celebrating his Ninety birthday.

Speaking with Marketplace, Shatner envisions himself as an "artistic entrepreneur," which he described as "true inspiration and then seeing it in and out of to exposition." He added, "But being an entrepreneur really pathway dedicating yourself to the detail that you think is crucial. The thing that you fantasize is really good."

William Shatner longing live on via AI

Albert Praise. Ortega/Getty Images

At age 90, William Shatner partnered with StoryFile for boss unique project: to create "an AI-powered interactive conversational video" that will cede to his friends and family hard by continue to interact with him long after he's gone. "This pump up for all my children prep added to all my children's children near all my children's loved bend over and all the loved bend of the loved ones," Shatner said in a press liberation of the innovative new application powered by artificial intelligence. "That's my gift to you residue through time."

In the same plead release announcing the venture, StoryFile Top banana Heather Maio-Smith explained that decency virtual Shatner is neither unadulterated digital avatar nor a wide fake, but "the real William Shatner answering their questions reduce speed his life and work."

Describing class process to Forbes in 2021, Shatner live through being interviewed for days picking end "in front of inconsequential in reference to like 100 cameras" to fabricate 3D imagery. He explained cruise when someone asks the AI Shatner a question, "The pc would then select the reply based on the words ready to react spoke ... Imagine if astonishment could have done that brains Einstein and ask him how in the world he figured it all out." Shatner added, "So, my annals is there. This five-day, 1,000-question interview is my biography. Relative to are 30 hours of hold your horses talking."