William Shatner Celebrates 95th Birthday with Cigar, 'Rocket Man', and X Money

The iconic Star Trek actor marks his milestone birthday with pop culture celebrations and a new digital payment venture.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:55pm

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William Shatner, best known for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, celebrated his 95th birthday this week. Shatner marked the occasion by posting a photo of himself smoking a cigar, joking that at 95 he's "still smokin'" and has learned "never waste a good cigar" and "never trust anyone who says you should 'act your age'." Shatner also revisited his famous performance of "Rocket Man" and is now involved in early testing of the upcoming digital payment system X Money.

Why it matters

At 95 years old, William Shatner remains a beloved pop culture icon who has maintained his youthful spirit and continued to pursue new creative and entrepreneurial endeavors. His enduring popularity and ability to connect with fans through his acting, music, and technology ventures underscores his lasting impact on entertainment and culture.

The details

For his birthday celebrations, Paramount's Pluto TV streaming service is hosting a "Trek TV takeover birthday celebration" with marathons of Star Trek movies and TV shows. Shatner also appeared at the MegaCon convention in Orlando, where he shared stories about his unique interpretation of the song "Rocket Man." Shatner revealed that he worked with the band to make the song more about the loneliness of being alone in space, which resonated with the 4,000-person audience who gave him multiple standing ovations. Additionally, Shatner has been involved in early testing of the upcoming digital payment system X Money.

  • William Shatner was born in 1931.
  • Shatner portrayed Captain Kirk in the Star Trek TV series 60 years ago.
  • Shatner traveled to space on a Blue Origin flight 5 years ago.
  • Shatner celebrated his 95th birthday on March 22, 2026.
  • Paramount's Pluto TV birthday celebration will run through April 3, 2026.

The players

William Shatner

A 95-year-old Canadian actor best known for his role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He remains a popular celebrity who continues to engage with fans through various entertainment and technology ventures.

Pluto TV

A free, ad-supported streaming television service owned by Paramount Global that is hosting a "Trek TV takeover birthday celebration" for William Shatner's 95th birthday.

X Money

An upcoming digital payment system that William Shatner is involved in early testing of.

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What they’re saying

“At 95, I'm still smokin'!”

— William Shatner

“Never waste a good cigar. Never trust anyone who says you should 'act your age.'”

— William Shatner

“Freeâ½ My favorite price!”

— William Shatner

What’s next

Shatner will continue to engage with fans through upcoming Star Trek-themed events and the launch of the X Money digital payment system.

The takeaway

At 95 years old, William Shatner remains a vibrant and influential figure in pop culture, seamlessly blending his iconic Star Trek legacy with new creative and entrepreneurial pursuits. His enduring popularity and ability to connect with fans across generations underscores his lasting impact on entertainment and technology.