William Shatner plays Captain James T. Kirk in a 1968 "Star Trek" episode. He starred on the show from 1966-1969 and played Kirk in many of the "Star Trek" movies.
William Shatner's life in pictures
William Shatner plays Captain James T. Kirk in a 1968 "Star Trek" episode. He starred on the show from 1966-1969 and played Kirk in many of the "Star Trek" movies.
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Updated 2303 GMT (0703 HKT) October 14, 2021

William Shatner, the award-winning actor best known for his iconic role as "Star Trek" captain James T. Kirk, has become the oldest person ever to travel to space.

Shatner, 90, was part of a Blue Origin crew that took an 11-minute suborbital flight on Wednesday, October 13. Their spacecraft grazed the edge of space, experiencing about three minutes of weightlessness before parachuting to a landing.

"What you have given me is the most profound experience," a visibly overcome Shatner told Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos immediately after emerging from the capsule. "I am so filled with emotion, just extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this. I hope that I can maintain what I feel now."

Shatner turned 90 in March 2021, but that hasn't slowed him down much. Check out these photos from a career that has spanned more than half a century.

Shatner and Gloria Vanderbilt appear in "No Deadly Medicine," an episode of the CBS series "Studio One" in 1957.
Shatner and Gloria Vanderbilt appear in "No Deadly Medicine," an episode of the CBS series "Studio One" in 1957.
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Shatner and his first wife, actress Gloria Rand, are seen in 1957.
Shatner and his first wife, actress Gloria Rand, are seen in 1957.
MGM/Kobal/Shutterstock
Shatner appears in 1958's "Old Marshals Never Die," which was part of the TV series "The United States Steel Hour."
Shatner appears in 1958's "Old Marshals Never Die," which was part of the TV series "The United States Steel Hour."
CBS/Getty Images
Shatner plays a teacher in the 1961 movie "The Explosive Generation." It was one of his earliest film roles.
Shatner plays a teacher in the 1961 movie "The Explosive Generation." It was one of his earliest film roles.
United Artists/Kobal/Shutterstock
One of the most memorable episodes of "The Twilight Show" starred Shatner as an airline passenger who sees a gremlin on the wing of the plane. The episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," first aired in 1963.
One of the most memorable episodes of "The Twilight Show" starred Shatner as an airline passenger who sees a gremlin on the wing of the plane. The episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," first aired in 1963.
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Shatner says goodbye to his baby daughter, Melanie, before leaving on a trip in 1965. Shatner and Gloria Rand had three daughters together before divorcing in 1969.
Shatner says goodbye to his baby daughter, Melanie, before leaving on a trip in 1965. Shatner and Gloria Rand had three daughters together before divorcing in 1969.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Shatner appears with castmates on the set of the TV show "Star Trek" in 1966.
Shatner appears with castmates on the set of the TV show "Star Trek" in 1966.
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images
Shatner kisses Nichelle Nichols during the "Star Trek" episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in 1968. It is often credited as<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2015/11/20/world/first-interracial-kiss-on-tv/index.html" target="_blank"> the first interracial kiss on American television.</a>
Shatner kisses Nichelle Nichols during the "Star Trek" episode "Plato's Stepchildren" in 1968. It is often credited as the first interracial kiss on American television.
CBS/Getty Images
Shatner, right, appears with Vince Edwards and Richard Basehart in the 1970 television film "Sole Survivor."
Shatner, right, appears with Vince Edwards and Richard Basehart in the 1970 television film "Sole Survivor."
CBS/Getty Images
Shatner married actress Marcy Lafferty in 1973. They were married for more than two decades before divorcing in 1996.
Shatner married actress Marcy Lafferty in 1973. They were married for more than two decades before divorcing in 1996.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Shatner appears in the television movie "Pioneer Woman" in 1973.
Shatner appears in the television movie "Pioneer Woman" in 1973.
Walt Disney Television/ABC/Getty Images
Shatner talks to fans at a "Star Trek" convention in 1976.
Shatner talks to fans at a "Star Trek" convention in 1976.
Anthony Casale/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
Shatner, his wife and his three children are photographed together in 1979.
Shatner, his wife and his three children are photographed together in 1979.
David Parker/ANL/Shutterstock
Shatner sits with "Star Trek" co-star Leonard Nimoy while filming the show "T.J. Hooker" in 1982. The police drama ran from 1982-1986.
Shatner sits with "Star Trek" co-star Leonard Nimoy while filming the show "T.J. Hooker" in 1982. The police drama ran from 1982-1986.
RED/AP
Shatner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983.
Shatner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983.
Reed Saxon/AP
Shatner is kissed by a whale while visiting a wildlife park in Vallejo, California, in 1987. Shatner was promoting contributions to the California Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Program.
Shatner is kissed by a whale while visiting a wildlife park in Vallejo, California, in 1987. Shatner was promoting contributions to the California Rare and Endangered Species Preservation Program.
Paul Sakuma/AP
Shatner is flanked by his co-stars on the set of the 1989 film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." Shatner also directed the movie.
Shatner is flanked by his co-stars on the set of the 1989 film "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier." Shatner also directed the movie.
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images
Shatner and Leonard Nimoy leave their handprints in Hollywood in 1991.
Shatner and Leonard Nimoy leave their handprints in Hollywood in 1991.
The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Shatner speaks to reporters after the death of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, in 1990. Shatner found her body after she had drowned in their swimming pool.
Shatner speaks to reporters after the death of his third wife, Nerine Kidd, in 1990. Shatner found her body after she had drowned in their swimming pool.
Nick Ut/AP
Shatner appears next to Sandra Bullock in a scene from the 2000 film "Miss Congeniality."
Shatner appears next to Sandra Bullock in a scene from the 2000 film "Miss Congeniality."
Warner Brothers/Moviepix/Getty Images
Shatner appears with Mark Valley and James Spader in an episode of "Boston Legal." The show ran from 2004-2008.
Shatner appears with Mark Valley and James Spader in an episode of "Boston Legal." The show ran from 2004-2008.
Carin Baer/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images
Shatner is carried by a group of "Star Wars" stormtroopers during a tribute to "Star Wars" creator George Lucas in 2005.
Shatner is carried by a group of "Star Wars" stormtroopers during a tribute to "Star Wars" creator George Lucas in 2005.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Shatner won an Emmy Award in 2005 for his supporting role in "Boston Legal."
Shatner won an Emmy Award in 2005 for his supporting role in "Boston Legal."
Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Shatner waves to the crowd prior to a celebrity race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2006.
Shatner waves to the crowd prior to a celebrity race at the Grand Prix of Long Beach in 2006.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
Shatner does voice work for the 2006 animated film "Over the Hedge."
Shatner does voice work for the 2006 animated film "Over the Hedge."
Dreamworks Skg/Kobal/Shutterstock
Shatner and Leonard Nimoy reminisce at a "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas in 2006.
Shatner and Leonard Nimoy reminisce at a "Star Trek" convention in Las Vegas in 2006.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Shatner attends a celebrity roast in his honor in 2006.
Shatner attends a celebrity roast in his honor in 2006.
Jason Merritt/TERM/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Shatner attends the unveiling of a Captain Kirk wax figure at the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Los Angeles in 2009.
Shatner attends the unveiling of a Captain Kirk wax figure at the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Los Angeles in 2009.
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Shatner takes part in the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Shatner, a proud Canadian, was born and raised in Montreal.
Shatner takes part in the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Shatner, a proud Canadian, was born and raised in Montreal.
George Bridges/MCT/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Shatner performs during the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games in 2010. Shatner breeds and owns champion horses.
Shatner performs during the opening ceremonies of the World Equestrian Games in 2010. Shatner breeds and owns champion horses.
Ed Reinke/AP
Shatner appears with Jonathan Sadowski in an episode of "$#*! My Dad Says" in 2011.
Shatner appears with Jonathan Sadowski in an episode of "$#*! My Dad Says" in 2011.
Sonja Flemming/CBS/Getty Images
Shatner interacts with host Seth MacFarlane during the Academy Awards show in 2013.
Shatner interacts with host Seth MacFarlane during the Academy Awards show in 2013.
Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images
From left, Terry Bradshaw, Shatner, Jeff Dye, George Foreman and Henry Winkler appear on an episode of the travel show "Better Late Than Never" in 2016. They were in Seoul, South Korea.
From left, Terry Bradshaw, Shatner, Jeff Dye, George Foreman and Henry Winkler appear on an episode of the travel show "Better Late Than Never" in 2016. They were in Seoul, South Korea.
Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty Images
Shatner receives an honorary degree at the New England Institute of Technology in 2018. He was delivering the commencement address for that year's graduating class.
Shatner receives an honorary degree at the New England Institute of Technology in 2018. He was delivering the commencement address for that year's graduating class.
Steven Senne/AP
Shatner accepts the Governors Award on behalf of the cast and crew of "Star Trek" during the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.
Shatner accepts the Governors Award on behalf of the cast and crew of "Star Trek" during the 2018 Creative Arts Emmys.
Phil McCarten/Invision/AP
Shatner plays himself on the final episode of "The Big Bang Theory" in 2019.
Shatner plays himself on the final episode of "The Big Bang Theory" in 2019.
Michael Yarish/CBS/Getty Images
Shatner is invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Julie Payette in 2019.
Shatner is invested as an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General Julie Payette in 2019.
Chris Wattie/The Canadian Press/AP
Shatner poses with other members of a Blue Origin crew before its scheduled suborbital flight in October 2021. From left are Chris Boshuizen, Shatner, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries.
Shatner poses with other members of a Blue Origin crew before its scheduled suborbital flight in October 2021. From left are Chris Boshuizen, Shatner, Audrey Powers and Glen de Vries.
Blue Origin
Shatner and his Blue Origin crewmates float inside a capsule during their suborbital flight in October 2021.
Shatner and his Blue Origin crewmates float inside a capsule during their suborbital flight in October 2021.
Blue Origin/Handout/Reuters