William Shatner had to have surgery after wild horse accident sent him flying: 'I'm not a young stuntman anymore'
William Shatner had to have surgery after wild horse accident sent him flying: 'I'm not a young stuntman anymore'
Leigh BlickleyThu, March 12, 2026 at 4:17 PM UTC
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William Shatner at the Saturn Awards on March 8, 2026Credit: JB Lacroix/WireImage
William Shatner is hoping to be pain-free after undergoing surgery on his shoulder following a scary horseback riding accident late last year.
The 94-year-old actor, who is set to celebrate his 95th birthday on March 22, had an operation on his right shoulder on Wednesday, reports Page Six. Star Trek's original James T. Kirk opened up about the procedure during the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films' 53rd annual Saturn Awards in Burbank, Cali., on Sunday.
As he accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of the Star Trek franchise, Shatner said he was feeling "old, tired, and kind of hurt" before launching into a story about his equestrian mishap.
"I ride the horses that can compete in equine skills, which is fast down and ends on a sliding stop — and the horse that I owned, I came off," he told the press at the event, adding that his horse "had a habit of going too far, like six inches to the side," and that, as a result of it and the fast trot, he fell off.
Despite his experience with stunts that helped him brace for the impact, the Boston Legal alum was seriously injured in the fall.
"I'm not a young stuntman anymore," he said. "I started to roll, but hit the dirt with my shoulder. So I wrecked my shoulder."
William Shatner at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center Equidome in Los Angeles in 2006Credit: Mark Mainz/Getty
The actor added that he was scheduled to undergo a "new type of shoulder operation called a reverse something or other" on March 11, saying, "You put the ball in the socket and the socket in the thing, and you come out 10 hours later, and you're pain-free. So that's what I am meandering towards."
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This is not the first medical complication the legendary star has faced in recent months. In September 2025, Shatner was hospitalized after suffering "an issue with his blood sugar," reported TMZ.
Shatner took to Instagram a day later to share a mustachioed photo of his face emblazoned with the words, "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated!" He reassured followers he was just fine in the caption, writing, "I overindulged. I thank you all for caring, but I'm perfectly fine. I keep telling you all: Don't trust tabloids or AI!"
William Shatner as Captain Kirk on 'Star Trek' in 1968Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty
At the time, TMZ reported that Shatner had been rushed to the hospital on Sept. 24 after he experienced a blood sugar issue in his Los Angeles home and called emergency service workers as a precaution, per his agent, Harry Gold. Shatner was then transported to a local hospital, where he was examined before being sent home.
Despite his age, the actor continues to keep an active lifestyle, working on various projects like History Channel's The UnXplained. In 2021, he made history as the oldest man ever to go to space when he flew on Blue Origin's NS-18 Mission at the age of 90.
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