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Is William Shatner immortal? It sure seems that way. The iconic actor is still going strong at the age of 88 – 88! – and he shows no signs of slowing down.
Let’s celebrate the man, the myth, the legend with these 15 facts about his life and work.
1. Reality star
Photo Credit: NBC
Shatner starred alongside such celebs as Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Terry Bradshaw in a show called Better Late Than Never from 2016-2018 where the group traveled to spots around the globe without any luxuries.
2. Just another gig
Shatner thought Star Trek was “just another gig” when he took the role of Captain Kirk. The show lasted 79 episodes but really took off in the 1970s when it ran in syndication, spawning several movies, books, spin-offs and legions of adoring fans.
3. A legend in Canada
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Shatner was awarded the Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award in his native Canada in 2011. He was inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2000.
4. Career change
Shatner graduated from Montreal’s McGill University in 1952 determined to pursue a career in finance. After he graduated, he changed his mind and turned to acting. Good for us!
5. Horse lover
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Shatner is well-known for his love of horses, and he spends a lot of his spare time breeding and showing the animals.
6. Always energized
The actor is known for his boundless energy. Shatner said, “I was built for the long run, not the short dash.”
7. The mask
Photo Credit: Compass International Pictures
The terrifying mask in the Halloween films is based on a Captain Kirk mask. The mask was purchased from a Halloween store and painted white for the first Halloween in 1978 – and the rest is history.
8. Call 911!
In the 1990s, Shatner hosted a TV show called Rescue 911 that featured re-enactments of emergency calls. Remember that one?
9. Now that’s strange…
Photo Credit: Contempo III Productions
Shatner starred in the 1966 film Incubus which was filmed entirely in Esperanto, a language made up in the 1800s. He said of the experience, “No one forgot his lines; although that may have been due to the fact that no one knew their lines, no one understood their lines, and no one knew if anyone else was saying their lines correctly.”
10. Down and out
When Shatner and his wife divorced in 1969, he only had $1,800 to his name after Star Trek was canceled. He lived in his truck for three years with his dog and did theater roles.
