William Shatner Says He ‘Doesn’t Have Long To Live’

Star Trek star William Shatner has spoken frankly about the reality of his mortality, having acknowledged he doesn’t “have long to live.”

The ninety-one-year-old has enjoyed a long and prosperous career in television and cinema and is most known for his position as James T. Kirk in the hit Star Trek series, which he initially assumed way back in 1966.

Although the successful actor has won Emmys and Golden Globes for his iconic performances, that just wasn’t enough for the star, so much so, that in 2021, he became the oldest person to travel to space after he chose to launch himself off-planet on a Blue Origin sub-orbital spacecraft.

Now that’s impressive.

However, it seems as though his adventuring days are over, as he’s now reminiscing on all his incredible accomplishments in his new documentary You Can Call Me Bill, which will reflect on his great career and personal accomplishments. 

The film, which will have its world debut at SXSW from Friday 10 March to Sunday 19 March, was created by Alexandre O. Philippe. It is a contemplation on life and death, a subject the actor has been considering increasingly as he’s gotten older.

Shatner recently opened up to Variety to discuss his reasoning for making the documentary, he explained: “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.”

Shatner continued: “There was a time when actors, and I include myself in this, would portray death by falling to the ground and your eyes would flicker and you’d slump around and then you’re dead. That’s not how you die.

“This is how you die [Shatner’s eyes go wide abruptly and his breath stops]. See? I’m dead. Ever put a dog down? When I have to put a dog down and I’m at the vet, I cup my dog’s head and I say, ‘I’m with you baby, I’m with you.’ And the injection goes in and the dog looks at me with love, and that’s it. You don’t know they’re dead.

“That’s how you die. It’s abrupt. My wife’s brother walked out of the living room and into the bedroom. There was a thud. His wife walked in, and he was dead. Death comes anew to all of us.”

Fans of the star have taken to social media following the news of his upcoming documentary, with one writing: “The man won life. No doubt it will affect me deeply when he passes, but as human beings go, he had a life in the top 5% as far as happiness and fulfillment. He spent his life entertaining, teaching, and inspiring. That’s got to be cause for celebration and admiration, not for sorrow. Thank you, Bill.”

While another commented: “Shatner is in better shape walking without a cane than any 90-year-old one ever seen before. Idk what makes him think he’s running out of time. It’s obvious he can make it to 100.”

“It’s a sad fact of life when you have fewer years in front than behind, but nothing is guaranteed in life, you could die tomorrow from some weird aneurism, so live for today, time is a commodity,” a third said.


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