William Shatner, the legendary actor best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk on “Star Trek,” recently cleared up incorrect reports that he was in failing health. These same rumors alleged that he’d been sent to the emergency room and never made it. The rumors gained traction on September 25, 2025, after a fan on Twitter alerted Shatner with a message that read, “@WilliamShatner I thought you might want to know you’re dead.”
The 93-year-old actor’s agency was swift to deny the allegations. They told ABC News that Shatner is at home and alive and well. Not surprisingly, this incident is not the first time Shatner has been subjected to this kind of speculation. In 2018, he answered a scam Facebook ad claiming he was dead.
Humorously and in serious fashion, Shatner himself confronted the new speculation head-on on Twitter. He thanked the world for their concern and confirmed, in a very 2023 way, that he is indeed okay, writing simply, “Thanks you. 😉”
To add to the drama, Shatner logged in to Instagram to more fully explain himself. He shared a meme that stated, “Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!” This cheeky rejoinder highlights his deep poise and capacity to respond to unfounded speculation with a flick of the wrist.
“Thank you. I’m not planning on dying so please continue to block those kinds of ads.” – William Shatner
The actor’s agency has since doubled down on that denial, saying that Shatner is indeed in good health and still active with his fans on social media. The persistent rumors about his health highlight the challenges faced by public figures in managing misinformation in the digital age.
