William Shatner, the iconic actor who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek, and his daughter Melanie have shared that they both underwent treatment for stage 4 cancer at the same time. The pair supported each other through their respective diagnoses and treatments, and have both been declared cancer-free.
Melanie Shatner Gretsch received chemotherapy for stage 4 breast cancer. In June 2023, William Shatner was diagnosed with stage 4 malignant melanoma that had metastasized to his lungs and brain. He underwent surgery to remove a facial tumor, followed by two years of immunotherapy for the cancer affecting his lungs and brain. Both father and daughter achieved remission in late 2024.
Following their recovery, Shatner and Melanie are launching a podcast titled "No Time but Now," which will feature interviews with health experts and other cancer survivors. Shatner expressed optimism about his current health, stating, "I’m healthier now than I’ve been in years. The brain is like a muscle. It feeds on activity."
Meanwhile, the creative team behind the current Star Trek series, "Strange New Worlds," has reportedly made attempts to recruit Shatner for a guest appearance. These efforts have persisted since the show's inception, despite Shatner's last portrayal of Captain Kirk being in the 1994 film "Star Trek Generations." At a convention in 2025, Shatner indicated his openness to returning to the role under specific conditions, suggesting a scenario where Kirk remains in Depression-era New York with Joan Collins' character, Edith Keeler, post the events of "The City on the Edge of Forever." He stated, "I have been asked to come back as Kirk so many times. If Kirk is going to come back, it has to mean something."