William Shatner is a name synonymous with science fiction, adventure, and an enduring career that has spanned over seven decades. Best known for his legendary portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, Shatner has become one of the most recognizable figures in pop culture history. Now at ninety-five years old, he continues to surprise and inspire audiences with new ventures, proving that age is merely a number.
In 2026, Shatner remains as active as ever. He has recently announced a bold new chapter in his career: debuting a heavy metal performance with his band The Uckers at the Riot Fest music festival in Chicago, This comes after he made history in 2021 as the oldest person to travel to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.
This article provides a comprehensive look at William Shatner’s life today, covering his age, net worth, marital history, career milestones, and what he is up to right now.
How Old Is William Shatner Today?
William Shatner was born on March 22, 1931, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, As of July 2026, he is ninety-five years old. He celebrated his most recent birthday earlier this year and continues to maintain a remarkably active schedule.
His longevity and vitality have made him a subject of fascination. He has been open about his health and has continued to work on various projects well into his tenth decade. In early 2026, Shatner had to publicly deny false rumours spread by an AI-generated Facebook page that claimed he had stage four brain cancer. He condemned the page for creating “horrible fake news stories” to monetize their content.
Who Is William Shatner’s Spouse?
William Shatner has been married four times throughout his life.
Gloria Rand: Shatner’s first marriage was to Gloria Rand, which lasted from 1956 until their divorce in 1969. This marriage produced his three children.
Marcy Lafferty: His second marriage was to Marcy Lafferty, who is the daughter of producer Don Lafferty. They were married in 1973 and divorced in 1996.
Nerine Kidd: He married Nerine Kidd in 1997. Tragically, their marriage ended with her death in 1999.
Elizabeth Anderson Martin: His fourth and most recent marriage was to Elizabeth Anderson Martin. They were married in 2001 and divorced in 2020.
Currently, William Shatner is not married. He has three daughters from his first marriage: Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie. He is also a proud grandfather.
What Is William Shatner’s Net Worth?
William Shatner has built a substantial fortune over his long and varied career. As of 2026, his net worth is estimated to be $100 million. This wealth is not solely from acting, but from a diverse portfolio of work spanning television, film, books, music, and advertising.
While Star Trek brought him fame, it did not initially bring him massive wealth. In fact, he was near broke during the show’s original run and went through a painful divorce. His financial success came later from several sources:
• Television Roles: He starred in popular series like T.J. Hooker and won an Emmy Award for his performance as the eccentric lawyer Denny Crane in Boston Legal.
• Books: He is a celebrated author who has written memoirs and fiction novels. His biggest seller, “Star Trek Memories,” sold more than 400,000 copies.
• Convention Appearances: Shatner earns significant income from appearances at fan conventions. According to some reports, he charges $10,000 for travel expenses, along with $10,000 per hour, requiring a minimum of five hours for each appearance.
• Priceline Commercials: A persistent rumour claims Shatner made $600 million as the face of Priceline.com‘s iconic commercial campaign. However, Shatner has repeatedly denied this, stating the figure is far from accurate.
His wealth has been accumulated over a career of consistent work and smart business decisions, making him one of the most financially successful actors of his generation.
William Shatner’s Movies and TV Shows
William Shatner’s body of work is immense. He is best known for his portrayal of James T. Kirk, but his filmography extends far beyond the starship Enterprise.
Iconic TV Series
• Star Trek: The Original Series (1966–1969): His most famous role, playing Captain Kirk for three seasons, which defined a generation of science fiction.
• T.J. Hooker (1982–1986): He starred as the titular police sergeant in this action-drama series.
• Boston Legal (2004–2008): He won two Emmy Awards for his performance as the eccentric lawyer Denny Crane.
• Rescue 911 (1989–1996): He hosted the popular dramatic reenactment series.
• 3rd Rock from the Sun (1999–2000): He played the alien “Big Giant Head” in seasons 4 and 5 of the NBC series.
• The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Early in his career, he appeared in several episodes of these iconic anthology series, including the memorable “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.
Star Trek Films
After the original series ended, Shatner reprised his role as Captain Kirk in a series of successful feature films:
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), which he also directed and co-wrote
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
• Star Trek: Generations (1994), which featured the handoff from the original cast to The Next Generation cast.
Other Notable Film Appearances
His film credits also include a wide variety of roles, both dramatic and comedic. He starred in the cult classic Kingdom of the Spiders (1977), The Devil’s Rain, Big Bad Mama, and The Intruder (1962). He had memorable comedic cameos in films like Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Loaded Weapon 1 (1993), and the Miss Congeniality films. He also lent his voice to animated films such as Over the Hedge (2006) and Escape from Planet Earth (2013).
How Tall Is William Shatner?
William Shatner is an impressive 6 feet 2 inches (approximately 1.88 meters) tall. He has often described his own physique in interviews, noting that he has maintained a strong, wedge-shaped build throughout his life.
In a 2011 interview with the Seattle Times, Shatner joked about his height and build, saying, “I’m 6 feet 2 inches, 180 pounds, wedge shaped, tapering down to a slim waist and muscular shoulders” This self-deprecating humour has become a hallmark of his public persona.
William Shatner’s Surprising Heavy Metal Debut
In 2026, William Shatner announced a surprising new venture: he will debut his heavy metal performance at the Riot Fest music festival in Chicago on September 20. He will take the stage with his newly formed band, The Uckers.
The announcement came with a video message from Shatner himself, where he said: Riot Fest fans, Shatner here. I’ve been thinking about all those letters you sent me, and I decided you’re such big fans of mine that I’m going to debut my heavy metal record at Riot Fest and I hope you’ll be there, I hope I’m there.
The band features Marcus Nand on guitar, Fred Aching on drums, Britt Lightning on guitar, and Phil Soussan on bass. The performance will “reimagine songs” from Shatner’s back catalogue, as well as debuting tracks from The Uckers’ heavy metal album titled What the F Is Heavy Metal.
Shatner has a history of music ventures, including his 1968 album The Transformed Man, his 2004 album Has Been produced by Ben Folds, and his 2011 metal-inspired album Seeking Major Tom. This performance at Riot Fest is the latest chapter in his eclectic musical journey.
William Shatner’s Historic Space Flight
On October 13, 2021, William Shatner made history by becoming the oldest person ever to travel to space at the age of ninety. The flight, aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, was a suborbital trip that lasted approximately ten minutes and seventeen seconds.
The journey took Shatner and three other passengers above the internationally recognized boundary of space known as the Kármán Line, reaching an altitude of about 66 miles (106 kilometers) above Earth. The crew experienced about three to four minutes of weightlessness before the capsule returned to the Texas desert under parachutes.
Upon emerging from the capsule, Shatner embraced Jeff Bezos and described the experience as “the most profound experience I can imagine” He added: “I hope I never recover from this. I hope I can maintain what I feel now – I don’t want to lose it”. The experience added another remarkable chapter to his already extraordinary life and career.
William Shatner is a true pop culture icon whose career continues to evolve in remarkable ways. At ninety-five years old, with an estimated net worth of one hundred million dollars, he remains a dynamic and vital presence in entertainment. His legacy, defined by his groundbreaking role as Captain Kirk and his enduring willingness to try new things, is secure.
From the bridge of the USS Enterprise to the edge of space aboard a Blue Origin rocket, and from Broadway stages to heavy metal music festivals, William Shatner’s journey is a testament to a life lived boldly. He has faced financial struggles, personal losses, and professional challenges, yet he continues to push boundaries and inspire generations of fans around the world. As he approaches his ninety-sixth birthday, one thing remains certain: William Shatner is far from finished.
