William Shatner, born March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is a Canadian actor, author, and musician best known for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series and its subsequent films. His career spans over seven decades, making him one of the most recognizable figures in entertainment.

     Shatner began his acting career in Canadian films and television before moving to the United States, where he took on guest roles in Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, and The Outer Limits. His breakthrough came in 1966 when he was cast as Captain Kirk, the charismatic leader of the USS Enterprise. He reprised the role in seven Star Trek films, including Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).

     Beyond Star Trek, Shatner starred in T.J. Hooker (1982–1986), hosted Rescue 911 (1989–1996), and won two Emmy Awards for his role as Denny Crane in Boston Legal (2004–2008). He has also appeared in Miss Congeniality (2000), The Big Bang Theory (2019), and Better Late Than Never (2016–2018).

     Shatner has authored several books, including Star Trek Memories, Up Till Now: The Autobiography, and the TekWar series. He has also released spoken-word albums, such as The Transformed Man (1968) and Seeking Major Tom (2011).

     In 2021, at age 90, Shatner became the oldest person to travel to space, flying aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. His journey was widely celebrated as a fitting tribute to his legacy in science fiction

     William Shatner has been married four times. His first wife was Gloria Rand, whom he married in 1956. They had three daughter, Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie. They divorced in 1969. He later married Marcy Lafferty in 1973, and they remained together until 1996. His third marriage was to Nerine Kidd in 1997, but tragically, she passed away in 1999 due to drowning. In 2001, he married Elizabeth Anderson Martin, but they divorced in 2020.

     Shatner has spoken openly about loneliness and his views on life, stating that he does not believe in an afterlife but envies those who do.