‘Star Trek’ Legend William Shatner, 94, Rushed to Hospital

Star Trek fans were devastated to learn that William Shatner was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. 

TMZ was the first to report the news, with an unnamed direct source familiar with the situation providing the outlet with information on what is known at this time. According to the source, the 94-year-old entertainer called emergency medical services to his Los Angeles home on Wednesday after experiencing issues with his blood sugar levels. 

No details were given as to whether the blood sugars were too high or low, though both scenarios can pose a variety of medical complications. 

According to TMZ, “Shatner called emergency medical service workers for help as a precaution and paramedics showed up in an LAFD ambulance.” From there, he was taken to a nearby hospital in order to receive medical treatment. 

While it is not known whether Shatner was admitted to the hospital, or if he is still there, TMZ was told that the two-time Emmy winner is doing well and “resting comfortably.” 

Shatner, who rose to fame playing Captain James T. Kirk on the original Star Trek TV series and several of the Star Trek films that followed, has spent the better part of 60 years as one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors. 

Shatner’s first professional gig as an actor came in 1951, when he was cast in the role of a crook in the Canadian dramedy The Butler’s Night Off. His bigger successes in those early days of his career came via the stage; he worked with several theater groups, including Ontario’s Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

While Star Trek is the franchise Shatner will always be most closely associated with, he has experimented with a variety of other roles within the entertainment industry, including TV host, reality TV star, voice actor, spoken word poet, and musician. 

In 2021, at the age of 90, Shatner said yes to being a passenger aboard Blue Origin’s second sub-orbital human spaceflight, setting a record as the oldest person to travel into space. 
While he may be a nonagenarian, age is clearly just a number to Shatner. In August, he released a book, William Shatner… And You, and regularly appears live on stage to share moments in his life with his fans.