At 92, ‘Star Trek’ Star William Shatner Looks Timeless Despite Confessing That ‘Getting Older Is Terrifying’

Jun 15, 2023 by apost team

William Shatner is known for many roles he has played in his career as an actor, but nothing is as prominent as his character Captain James T. Kirk, from the "Star Trek" franchise. Millions of fans hail Shatner even today for bringing to life one of the most memorable and iconic characters in the Star Trek universe. Taking place in outer space, Star Trek continues to be one of the most beloved and celebrated television series of all time. 

Born in March 1931, Shatner began his illustrious entertainment career acting in Canadian film and television. He made his huge American film debut in “The Brothers Karamazov” in 1958, while his television debut happened four years before in 1954 for “The Canadian Howdy Doody Show.”

As he beefed up his filmography throughout the years, he eventually landed the role of the dashing Captain James Kirk in “Star Trek: The Original Series” in 1966. Since then, he became iconic in his Starfleet uniform, becoming one of the most revered pop culture icons in history. 

The charismatic actor’s love life was also put into the spotlight numerous times because of the number of his partners throughout his life. Experiencing both heartbreak and wins, Shatner did not let life consume him as he powered through each marriage he had. 

Looking back, Shatner reaped the fruits of his labor when he was bestowed with the coveted Hollywood Walk of Fame star in 1983. He was also given a star at the Canada Walk of Fame for being the first Canadian actor to star in major series on three US networks — NBC, CBS and ABC. 

At 92, Shatner still looked the same as he was back in his prime, which has been amazing to many people because of how timeless he looked throughout the years. 

Unbeknownst to many, Shatner has been married four different times. In 1956, he married Gloria Rand, but they divorced in 1969. In 1973, he married Marcy Lafferty, but it ended in another divorce in 1996. His shortest marriage was the third one with Nerine Kidd in 1997, as his wife died in 1999. 

His marriage to Elizabeth Anderson Martin was the most recent, tying the knot in 2001, and ended in 2020. Shatner had three children, but only from Rand – Leslie, Lisabeth and Melanie. Speaking to The Guardian about his three daughters, Shatner described himself to be a “hands-on dad.” 

"In my mind, I was gone a lot of the time in an effort to make a living, so I am gratified that my kids think that they are who they are today because of my influence on them and my sense of being there for them — although it was only at weekends,” he said about his fatherhood. 

Melanie, the youngest of the three daughters, spoke to Senior Voice Alaska about her father, confirming how “hands-on” father Shatner is.

"He would do whatever it took to get home to see us, even if it meant driving all night. I think that illustrates what a wonderful, committed father he was and is,” she recalled. 

Despite being in his 90s already, Shatner defied odds and conventions as to what people his age should do. In 2022, he even competed in “The Masked Singer,” he even had a movie in 2021, “Senior Moment,” with Jean Smart and Christopher Lloyd.

Challenge doesn’t seem to faze the 92-year-old actor as he became the oldest person to go into outer space as he onboarded the four-man group on the New Shepard rocket in October 2021 — talk about living the “Star Trek” dreams!

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As to how he managed to maintain his vitality and strength despite his old age, Shatner revealed his ultimate secret in an interview. 

When asked by The Guardian about how he managed to retain his youthful appearance, Shatner denied having any work done to his face and body. 

“Ha! Well, I don’t have any secret potions. It must be genetic. I ride a lot of horses and I’m into the bewilderment of the world, so I open my heart and head into the curiosity of how things work,” he said. Turns out, it was riding horses that kept Shatner active. 

“Yes, I’m a competitive rider in an equine skill called reining. I don’t know if you know it, but it’s very athletic and cowboyish,” he also said. 

Shatner is an equestrian enthusiast. He was given the 1985 American Saddlebred Horse Association Meritorious Service Award, the 2017 National Reining Horse Association Dale Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2021 ASHA CJ Cronan Sportsmanship Award. 

However, this doesn’t mean that Shatner wasn’t aware of the limitations his age posed. 

Speaking to CBC Radio's Q, Shatner had this to say about his age at the time: 

“It's a disgusting number. I mean, I don't like 90. When I heard that 90 was coming up, I thought, 'What the heck is that?' I remember 90 way back when I was in Canada, and I thought, '90! People don't live till 90.' And here I am."

While working on his movie “Senior Moment,” Shatner confessed that he was once hit with a “shaft of fear.” 

"Getting older is terrifying," he said. "Like, wait a minute, I don't know where I'm going. I'm totally lost. I totally don't know where I'm going and what I'm doing. I had that for a moment — a split second.

Are you a fan of William Shatner? What can you say about his ultimate secret to living young? What about his perception of aging? Do you agree with him? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other William Shatner fans!