William Shatner has candidly opened up about his own mortality ahead of the release of a documentary about his renowned career.
The 91-year-old Star Trek icon is best known for playing James T. Kirk, the captain of the USS Enterprise in the sci-fi series, for nearly 30 years.
In recent years, he hasn't let his age slow him down as in 2021, he signed up to be sent to space aboard a Blue Origin sub-orbital capsule. This saw him become the oldest person to fly to space.
However, the Canadian star is now reflecting on his life and career in a new documentary titled You Can Call Me Bill, which is directed by Alexandre O. Philippe and will premiere at the forthcoming SXSW Film Festival in Texas.
The Boston Legal star revealed in an interview with Variety that he "doesn't have long to live" but chose to make the film as a way of being about to connect with his grandchildren after he passes away.
"I've turned down a lot of offers to do documentaries before. But I don't have long to live," he shared. "Whether I keel over as I'm speaking to you or 10 years from now, my time is limited, so that's very much a factor. I've got grandchildren. This documentary is a way of reaching out after I die."
Shatner then spoke about how he doesn't believe in a legacy because "statues were torn down, graveyards are ransacked and headstones are knocked over," but added, "What does live on are good deeds. If you do a good deed, it reverberates to the end of time. It’s the butterfly effect thing. That’s why I have done this film."
He was also asked by the publication about his perspective of death as an actor and said: "There was a time when actors, and I include myself in this, would portray death by falling to the ground and your eyes would flicker and you'd slump around and then you’re dead. That's not how you die."
"This is how you die [Shatner’s eyes go wide abruptly and his breath stops]," he demonstrated, also sharing an example of how a dog passes away after being euthanized.
"That’s how you die. It’s abrupt. My wife's brother walked out of the living room and into the bedroom. There was a thud. His wife walked in, and he was dead. Death comes anew to all of us," he stated.
As The Twilight Zone star explained, the documentary about his illustrious career is dedicated to his five grandchildren from daughters Leslie, 64, Lisabeth, 61, and Melanie, 58.
Back in 2014, he spoke about how much he loves being a grandfather in an interview with The Guardian and said: "Being a grandparent is the greatest joy for me. I have the time now to grab a grandchild and talk, and hug and kiss them and make sure that I'm taking time to be with them and to give them some aspect of the things I've learned.
"Family life is totally encompassing. I see my daughters every weekend. And we go off on holidays together - everything from skiing to snorkeling," he added.
You Can Call Me Bill will debut at SXSW which will run from March 10 to March 19.