William Shatner Breaks Silence On Health Scare With Humor

William Shatner is back on his feet following a health scare that had many worried!

On Thursday, September 25, the Hollywood icon, best known for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the "Star Trek" franchise, broke his silence on the highly publicized incident. He addressed the speculations with his signature wit, assuring fans all is well.

William Shatner's medical emergency sparked widespread fear for his life, given his age and past battles with severe conditions, including a stage 4 melanoma diagnosis.

The renowned actor updated his Instagram page with a picture of his guest performance as author Mark Twain, a character he portrayed on the ninth season of the "Murdoch Mysteries."

Shatner proved he was hale and hearty by setting Elton John's hit song "I'm Still Standing" as the post's background music alongside the words, "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!" Shatner further stressed that his condition wasn't a cause for concern in the caption, writing:

"I over indulged. I thank you all for caring, but I'm perfectly fine. I keep telling you all: don't trust tabloids or Al! [winking face emoji]."

Shatner's humorous reaction to his reported medical emergency assured fans that he had more days to spend with them. Many heaved a sigh of relief in the comment section, particularly Trekkies who shared gifs of their favorite Captain.

"You and Chuck Norris will be here at the end of all things!" an IG user declared. Another implored Shatner to prioritize his health, noting, "Don't overindulge, so we have you for as long as we can, because we love you."

The love for Shatner continued with a "Star Trek" fan writing, "Glad to see you doing well, Captain." A fellow admirer believed that stronger measures when needed to keep the actor safe, stating, "Do we need to put you in a bubble? Respectfully, I think we should put you in a protective bubble."

News of Shatner's medical emergency was reported by TMZ after his agent, Harry Gold, informed the outlet about the incident. Gold allegedly claimed Shatner had experienced a blood sugar issue late Wednesday afternoon while at his Los Angeles home.

The legendary actor reportedly called emergency medical service workers as a precaution and was transported to a local hospital in an LAFD ambulance. Gold noted Shatner returned home shortly after and was fine.

However, ABC refuted the hospitalization claims. The outlet reported that Shatner's agency, TalentWorks, emphasized that the widespread reports of his medical emergency were false.

Shatner's medical emergency drama comes a year after he revealed he won the battle against stage 4 melanoma. He did not specify the year he got the diagnosis but recalled how dire the doctor made his situation seem.

The entertainer explained that he had gone to the hospital to remove a lump under his right ear, only to discover he had stage 4 melanoma. "I said, 'Stage 4?' And someone in the room said, 'Sorry,'" he told Healio.

"It was like, 'Better pack your things.' That person who said 'sorry,' that was very sad, like you are going to die. And I was," Shatner continued. He explained that doctors estimated he had about five months left if the treatment they administered failed.

Shatner shared another health updated in July 2025, with The Blast reporting that he reflected on living with tinnitus, a permanent hearing condition. He suspected the issue stemmed from standing too close to the special effects explosion used on the "Star Trek" episode "Arena."

Shatner broke records in 2021 as the oldest person to fly in space when he joined a Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule at 90. However, the stellar achievement wasn't a positive experience for the Hollywood veteran.

The Blast covered Shatner's confession about the space trip in 2023, noting he spilled the tea in the book, "Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder." The actor explained that his excitement for the flight mellowed once he saw the darkness and emptiness of space.

"My trip to space was supposed to be a celebration; instead, it felt like a funeral," Shatner admitted. He described the moment as one of the "strongest feelings of grief" he had ever experienced, noting the overwhelming darkness made it seem like he was surrounded by death.

Here's to hoping William Shatner stays healthy.