Iconic actor William Shatner and his youngest daughter, Melanie Shatner Gretsch, have opened up about a harrowing period three years ago when they both faced simultaneous Stage 4 cancer diagnoses. The "Star Trek" legend, now 95, shared that his own health crisis began in June 2023 after he discovered a growing lump on his cheek. His doctor confirmed it was a Stage 4 malignancy, noting that a decade earlier, the prognosis would have been fatal. Shatner recalls the doctor telling him he had only five months to live, a terrifying timeline that he and his daughter faced together.
Around that same time, Melanie, now 61, was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. Shatner remembers the chilling reality of the situation, noting that they were both given similar, grim timeframes of five months at most. Reflecting on the emotional weight of their shared struggle, Melanie told People in a joint interview that she vividly remembers feeling as though she lacked the strength to care for herself while simultaneously facing the potential loss of her father.
Shatner’s cancer eventually spread to his lungs and brain, but he has since recovered following surgery and two years of immunotherapy. Melanie has also successfully moved past her own health scare. To honor their journey and support others, the father-daughter pair is launching a weekly podcast titled "No Time But Now" on July 29. The series will feature interviews with health experts and fellow survivors, including Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton, end-of-life advocate Alua Arthur, author Anita Moorjani, researcher Dr. William Li, and Ian Ward, known as "The King of Chemo."
Beyond his youngest child, Shatner is the father of two other daughters, 67-year-old Leslie and 65-year-old Lisabeth, whom he shares with his late wife, actress Gloria Rand.
