William Shatner has cultivated a career that has spanned 50 years as professional actor, director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He is one of pop culture’s most recognizable figures and has also established himself as a major Hollywood philanthropist.

Born in Montreal, Shatner developed an early interest in acting and started working professionally at the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) even before he reached his teens. While at Stratford, Shatner found time to write plays for the CBC. He made his film debut in the 1957 film The Brothers Karamazov, followed by Judgment at Nuremburg and The Intruder.

He has since guest starred in over several hundred television programs including classics such as The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Mission: Impossible.

In 1966, Shatner originated the role of Captain James T. Kirk in television series Star Trek, which rocketed into fame only after the show was cancelled and re-launched in syndication. The series spawned a feature film franchise and Shatner reprised the role of Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek motion pictures.

He made his feature film directorial debut in 1989 with Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (in which he also starred, as well as helped conceive the story). Since then, he has directed several other features, television movies, and episodics.

Off the screen and broadcast waves, Shatner has authored over 20 best-selling books in both the fiction and non-fiction genres.

Shatner has also become a success at another career-- horse breeding. A longtime dedicated breeder of American Quarter horses, he has had smashing success with the beautiful American Saddlebred, developing and owning the World Champion “Sultan’s Great Day.” This love for horses led him to his involvement with AHEAD With Horses, a charity organization that gives physically and mentally challenged children the thrill of riding a horse, and boosts their confidence and self-esteem.

Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still managing to find time to work with charities and further his passion in the equestrian sports. He and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Los Angeles.