William Shatner Celebrates 95th Birthday with Cigar

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William Shatner, the legendary actor known for his role as Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, recently celebrated his 95th birthday. In a post on Instagram, Shatner was seen puffing on a cigar, which would have been against Starfleet regulations during the original Star Trek series. This caught many fans off guard, as the show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, had a strict no-smoking policy on set. However, Shatner's birthday celebration showcases his continued active lifestyle and love for life, even at 95 years old.

Why it matters

Shatner's birthday post with a cigar is a stark contrast to the strict no-smoking policies enforced on the set of the original Star Trek series. This highlights the actor's evolution beyond his iconic role as Captain Kirk and his ability to embrace modern customs, even if they go against the utopian vision of the franchise.

The details

In the Instagram post, Shatner is seen puffing on a cigar, which would have been prohibited on the set of the original Star Trek series. The show's creator, Gene Roddenberry, had a strict no-smoking policy, as he believed a utopian society like Starfleet would have eradicated the habit. This policy prevented the show from featuring smoking-related advertisements. While some later Star Trek series, like Picard, have featured characters who smoke, Shatner's birthday celebration is a far cry from the clean-cut image of Captain Kirk.

• William Shatner celebrated his 95th birthday on March 22, 2026.

What’s next

As the Star Trek franchise continues to evolve, it remains to be seen if future installments will further embrace modern customs and behaviors that were once prohibited, or if they will maintain the strict utopian ideals established by the franchise's creator.