At 95, William Shatner continues to keep a remarkably full schedule, but his latest Los Angeles outing reportedly delivered an unexpected dose of road drama.
A witness claims the veteran actor made several risky maneuvers while driving through the San Fernando Valley, allegedly forcing another motorist to brake suddenly.
Yet the reported encounter did little to derail Shatner’s day. He continued running errands, checked on his beloved dogs and carried on with the kind of energetic routine he has maintained well into his tenth decade.
William Shatner Was Seen Caring For His Dogs After The Alleged Road Scare
Whatever happened on the road didn’t seem to stop Shatner from continuing his afternoon.
After driving his Porsche SUV through the San Fernando Valley, he reportedly stopped at Denise Johnson Originals, a wig store he favors, while his two Dobermans remained inside the vehicle.
In photos obtained by the Daily Mail, the “Iron Man” actor was later seen leaning into the Porsche to pet one of his dogs and plant a kiss on the animal before getting back into the vehicle.
That calm scene followed an eyewitness account of a much more chaotic drive. According to the witness, Shatner was traveling at high speeds, went through several stop signs and allegedly made an illegal turn while trying to enter the freeway.
The maneuver allegedly forced another motorist to slam on the brakes. The witness said the driver then gestured and shouted toward Shatner’s vehicle.
Shatner was also photographed with a cellphone near his ear, although the photographs did not establish whether Shatner was using the phone while the vehicle was moving.
Shatner Previously Recalled Speeding In His Captain Kirk Costume
William Shatner’s latest reported driving episode was not his first unusual experience behind the wheel. At Calgary Expo in April, he recalled an incident from his “Star Trek” years when he was rushing to reach a 4 a.m. call time at Vasquez Rocks in Los Angeles County.
Shatner said he had been speeding to get to the set while dressed as Captain Kirk when police pulled him over.
He initially feared the traffic stop could lead to his arrest, but the situation changed when he realized the officer was a fan of the series.
“He raises his hand in a Vulcan salute and says ‘live long and prosper,’” Shatner told the crowd.
A few months prior, he was also photographed driving around Studio City while eating breakfast from a ceramic bowl with a silver spoon.
William Shatner Still Has Plenty On His Schedule At 95
Away from his risky driving habits, Shatner has continued taking on projects that keep him firmly in the public eye.
In September, he performed with his band The *uckers at Chicago’s Riot Fest, becoming the oldest performer in the festival’s history.
The Hollywood star had spoken about the appearance earlier in the summer, connecting his interest in music to the exploratory spirit that has followed him since his “Star Trek” days.
“I’ve always believed that music, like space, is about exploration,” he told PEOPLE in July, further noting, “Riot Fest is exactly the kind of place where anything can happen.”
He added, “We’re bringing volume, intensity, and a few surprises. I can’t wait to share this experience with the fans.”
More From The Blast
Shatner Was Still Working When He Revealed His Stage 4 Cancer Battle
Although William Shatner is still filling his calendar with performances, interviews and new projects, his ability to keep moving forward carries a deeper significance after a private health battle he once chose not to make public.
In 2023, the actor was diagnosed with Stage 4 malignant melanoma after a lump he initially believed was connected to a salivary gland continued to grow.
Doctors ultimately discovered that the cancer had spread to his brain and lungs, leading to surgery and two years of immunotherapy before he was declared cancer-free.
In a July interview with CBS News, Shatner said the lump initially seemed relatively minor, but its continued growth prompted him to seek another opinion. He was eventually referred to an oncologist, who urged him to have it removed immediately.
“I went to a great oncologist who said, we gotta dig that out now,” Shatner recalled, adding, “Because it had spread to your brain.”
Doctors later identified what the icon described as “little points of light” in his brain and lungs. The diagnosis led to treatment that lasted two years.
William Shatner Never Believed His Diagnosis Meant He Would Die
The cancer diagnosis also gave Shatner a different perspective on mortality, particularly because his daughter, Melanie, was dealing with her own Stage 4 diagnosis at roughly the same time.
While Melanie initially feared that her cancer would be fatal, Shatner noted that he reacted differently when doctors told him his melanoma had reached Stage 4.
Speaking to TV Insider in July, he shared, “When I got the news, and my daughter got her news of breast cancer at the same time — stage 4 breast cancer — she thought she was going to die. I, on the other hand, said, ‘Really? Stage 4?’ It didn’t occur to me that I was going to die.”
Shatner also recalled being told that he needed to act quickly rather than postpone treatment. His response reflected the optimism he maintained during the ordeal.
“See? That’s my life. I think the universe is taking care of me,” he said.
