William Shatner has worn many hats in his decades-long career—actor, author, director—but for millions, he’ll always be Captain James T. Kirk. As the fearless Starfleet captain in Star Trek: The Original Series, Shatner became a symbol of intergalactic heroism. But beyond the warp drives and alien encounters, there’s a 94-year-old man coming to terms with the most human experience of all: death.
In his new documentary You Can Call Me Bill, Shatner invites fans behind the curtain. And this time, it’s not about phasers or Klingons—it’s about legacy, loss, and asking the big, uncomfortable questions we often avoid.
“You Don’t Know When You’re Dying, Until What?”
During an emotionally raw interview with IGN, Shatner opened up about what spurred his recent exploration of mortality. He shared a story that left him visibly shaken—and might just leave you with goosebumps.
“And you get to a certain age, you think, ‘Wait a minute, am I dying?’ You don’t know when you’re dying, until what?”
These words, reflective yet chilling, emerged from a deeply personal moment. Shatner recalled the death of a close friend, who passed away while her daughter was at her side. The friend’s final moments were filled with disbelief—”I’m dying?”—before she slipped away.
The event stuck with Shatner. Not as a scene to memorize or a role to play, but as a real moment that forced him to confront his own finite time.
From Icon to Immortal… in a Different Way
While his portrayal of Kirk made him a pop culture fixture, Shatner doesn’t believe legacy is built on fame alone. In fact, the veteran actor is skeptical about the permanence of traditional legacies.
“I never quite grasped the idea of legacy. They don’t last. Statues come down. Monuments disappear.”
In You Can Call Me Bill, Shatner doesn’t try to immortalize himself as an actor or icon. Instead, he gets candid about the emotional landscapes of aging and parenthood. He made it clear: this documentary isn’t for fans—it’s for his children.
“I can leave my kids is this documentary and the knowledge that your legacy is based on the good things you do in your life.”
Shatner’s words echo a philosophy built not on stardom, but on sincerity. Rather than chase immortality through awards or tributes, he’s choosing to live on through acts of kindness and meaningful reflection.
There’s a poetic contradiction in the man who once cheated death on-screen now grappling with it off-screen. In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Captain Kirk famously bent fate to his will. But William Shatner, the man, is learning to embrace the inevitable—not with fear, but with openness.
What makes You Can Call Me Bill so gripping isn’t just the nostalgia—it’s the humanity. Shatner doesn’t shy away from the heavy questions. He dives into them. He shows us that even sci-fi legends wake up wondering how much time they have left.
And in doing so, he challenges us to look at our own lives with the same vulnerability.
Beyond the Final Frontier
Whether you’ve followed him from the bridge of the Enterprise or first saw him on The Tonight Show, one thing is certain: William Shatner’s final act isn’t just about remembrance—it’s about resonance.
His documentary isn’t a curtain call—it’s a conversation. One about love, loss, legacy, and letting go.
“Your legacy is based on the good things you do in your life.”
It’s a mantra we could all live by. One that transcends fandom and fame. And one that proves, even in his 90s, William Shatner is still boldly going where few dare to tread.