Actor William Shatner and his daughter both beat Stage 4 Cancer
Jul 23, 2026, 6:01 PM
It’s a miracle and Captain Kirk received it.
William Shatner and his daughter Melanie just revealed something incredible in a new People cover story.
Both of them were fighting stage 4 cancer at the same time — and both survived.
Melanie was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2022 after finding a lump. She went through chemo, a double mastectomy, and 30 rounds of radiation over 18 months.
Then, just as she was nearing the finish line, her dad got his own diagnosis — stage 4 melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain. He’s 95 years old.
By late 2024, doctors declared them both cancer-free. That’s amazing.
It’s amazing considering it was Stage 4 for both of them and the fact that Mr. Shatner is 95 years old. We should all be so lucky to survive it.
One detail that really got me: when Melanie was stressing about medical costs, Shatner told her, “I do not want you to worry. Just send me the bills.” Then later joked she better hurry up and get well or they’d end up in the poorhouse. I love that they still laughed through all of it.
They’re now launching a podcast together called No Time But Now.
Read more about the cancer battles here
