(NewsNation) — William Shatner, who immortalized the role of Capt. James T. Kirk on the original “Star Trek” television series, celebrates his 93rd birthday by exploring some of life’s biggest questions about aging and humanity’s larger purpose in his new documentary “You Can Call Me Bill.”
In a Tuesday interview on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports,” Shatner reflected on his unexpected foray into documentary filmmaking.
“Over the years, I’ve been asked to do a biography film, but it seemed so final. This is your last word, and I didn’t want to go there,” Shatner shared. “But then, as time went by, and I got to be the age I am, I felt it was the right moment to share my story.”
In the film, which was released in theaters nationwide over the weekend, the veteran actor candidly examines the process of acting and life’s existential queries.
“As we get older, we ask ourselves questions. Do we really know each other? Do we really know ourselves? Why are we here?” Shatner asks in the documentary.
Shatner said the film aims to tackle those universal themes. Just three years ago, Shatner became the oldest person to go to space after hitching a ride on a Blue Origin rocket.
“It took 3.8 billion years to evolve into what I’m looking at — the trees and sky and the beauty of the Earth,” Shatner recounted about his space voyage. “And we’re causing so much life that’s here on Earth to go extinct.”
Despite his remarkably energetic spirit and healthy lifestyle, even Shatner is at a loss to explain his longevity.
“Obviously, it’s DNA from my mother and father,” he said. “I’ve had a great deal of luck in my life … but nothing really lasting. Everything good healed.”
Despite his age, he remains undeterred in his pursuit of new experiences. “Life is a series of accidents, and hopefully, most of them are good,” he remarked. “What I want to do is grasp the next thing.”
