In the next few days, William Shatner will be turning 94. One can say that the Star Trek legend has lived life to the brim as he has achieved several feats in his life. From being a pop cultural icon to being the oldest man in space, Shatner has truly lived a full life, taking no excuses to use the opportunities given to him.
All was not smooth sailing for the Boston Legal star as he was reportedly diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma once and also got a prostate cancer scare. However, he was soon cured and did not let the diagnosis stop him from appearing at several conventions and making documentaries. He once revealed his secret to a life of longevity.
William Shatner has faced several challenges in the 94 years he has been on Earth
William Shatner went boldly where no man ever went when he headlined Star Trek: The Original Series. The actor played Captain James T. Kirk in the three seasons of the show and returned for the six feature films. He has since been associated with the franchise, appearing at fan conventions and featuring in and directing documentaries.
While Star Trek has given the actor a lot of stardom, a tragic day during production also gave him tinnitus. While filming the episode ‘Arena’, Shatner reportedly stood too close to a special effect explosion, leading to him developing tinnitus in his left ear (via ATA). Co-star Leonard Nimoy too was reportedly affected by the explosion.
Shatner has since coped with his tinnitus. However, the actor was reportedly also diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, which was treated with immunotherapy and surgery (via MHE). Despite all these obstacles, Shatner remained committed to living life to the fullest. During the release of his documentary You Can Call Me Bill, he said to Variety,
I’ve turned down a lot of offers to do documentaries before. But I don’t have long to live. Whether I keel over as I’m speaking to you or 10 years from now, my time is limited, so that’s very much a factor. I’ve got grandchildren. This documentary is a way of reaching out after I die.
The actor also reportedly got a major health scare when he was misdiagnosed with prostate cancer after his PSA level increased. However, with his 94th birthday around the corner, the actor remains more active than ever.
William Shatner reveals the secret to his longevity
Apart from being the face of Star Trek, William Shatner has been a legendary personality in Hollywood. The actor has played several iconic roles and off-screen has used his status to endorse several noble causes. He has been a huge advocate for climate action and has even been to space at the age of 90.
The actor will turn 94 on March 22 and while he had several hurdles, including melanoma and a cancer scare, he is still living life fully with plenty of plans for the future. He wrote in his memoir Live Long And…: What I Learned Along the Way (via TODAY),
Don’t die. That’s it; that’s the secret. Simply keep living and try not to slow down
He also mentioned that the way he keeps his zeal for living alive every day is to look for joy in everyday things, be it at work or even at a piece of cheese. Shatner seems to have cracked the formula to live long and prosper.
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