“Star Trek” actor William Shatner is refuting reports he was hospitalized for a medical emergency, reassuring fans with a post making light of the situation.
The 94-year-old shared a mustached photo of himself to Instagram on Sept. 25 with the caption: “Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!”
“I over indulged,” Shatner continued. “I thank you all for caring but I’m perfectly fine. I keep telling you all: don’t trust tabloids or AI!,” followed by a winking emoji.
Questions surrounding his health began to swirl after TMZ first reported he was rushed to a hospital on Sept. 24, with paramedics pictured at his Los Angeles residence.
According to the outlet, Shatner’s agent said he was not admitted to the hospital but rather “experienced an issue with his blood sugar” and was checked out.
Fans were quick to express their relief, with many commenting “Still the Captain!” referring to his iconic role as Capt. James T. Kirk in the original 1966 “Star Trek” television series.
Shatner appeared in over 250 television and film credits combined throughout his decades-long career, and continues to work on various projects with no signs of slowing down.
Next in pre-production he is set to star in “Family Tree,” a holiday-set dramedy series that he created with Tom Bergeron.
It follows the story of three estranged siblings whose crumbing childhood home brings them back together, possibly mending a fractured relationship.
In another notable feat, Shatner blasted off into space aboard Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin flight in 2021. Then 90, he became the oldest person to visit space. The actor and three fellow passengers were launched in the New Shepard rocket to an altitude of 66.5 miles over West Texas.
“What you have given me is the most profound experience,” he said at the time. “I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now. I don’t want to lose it.”
In 2023, Shatner narrated his first feature-length documentary called “You Can Call Me Bill,” which delves into his life and career over the last nine decades.
His aim is much greater than keeping busy in his day-to-day life: He'd like to cement a lasting impact for years to come.
“I’ve turned down a lot of offers to do documentaries before. But I don’t have long to live,” he told Variety in an interview at the time.
“Whether I keel over as I’m speaking to you or 10 years from now, my time is limited, so that’s very much a factor. I’ve got grandchildren. This documentary is a way of reaching out after I die.”
