William Shatner, 95, and daughter Melanie, 61, open up about battling stage 4 cancers together
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: William Shatner and his 61-year-old actress daughter Melanie have now opened up about a very difficult time they faced while battling two different cancers at the same time.
Melanie was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer four years ago, and as she was undergoing treatment, William found out about his stage 4 malignant melanoma a year later in June 2023.
Melanie Shatner thought she would lose her dad
Now, since both the father-daughter pair are cancer-free, they appeared for a joint interview with PEOPLE as the ‘Bloodstone: Subspecies II’ actress recalled, “I remember vividly thinking, 'I don't have the strength to take care of myself and lose my father at the same time.’”
“I was having a moment and was hysterical. I called you and said, 'I think I'm dying,’” Melanie shared while sitting next to her father.
William Shatner gave strength to her daughter
She further revealed, “He gave me, what I think of ever since I was a little girl, a 'daddy bear hug.’ He said, 'This is going to be a blip in your life. You're going to get through this, and it'll be a memory.’”
The ‘Star Trek’ alum also reflected on the difficult time but with a positive attitude as he claimed that the health issues actually strengthened their relationship.
“We're a very together family. We're bonded by all kinds of difficulties that we've overcome,” he explained.
William Shatner believes 'the universe is taking care of' him
The 95-year-old star, who is also the father of daughters Leslie Shatner, 67, and Lisbeth Shatner, 65, whom he shares with ex-wife Gloria Rand, went on to express his gratitude.
“They said, 'You got cancer. If you came in later, you would have been dead.' See? That's my life. I think the universe is taking care of me,” he added.
William Shatner acknowledges hardships faced by poor
William, however, also mentioned his privileges.
He told the publication, “It’s easy for us in this lovely home to say, ‘Make your life meaningful.’ It’s much more difficult to be poverty-stricken and wonder how you’re going to get through it. I’ve been there.”
“But it’s also possible to endure that and be aware of the beauty around you,” the ‘Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous’ actor stated as his daughter asserted, “[Overcoming cancer] changed my life. I’m not so afraid anymore, and there’s so much freedom and joy.”
William Shatner feels 'healthier now'
William also thanked doctors for his and his daughter’s successful treatments as he said, “We got the perfect doctors for her cancer and my cancer.”
He even claimed that he’s “healthier now than I've been in years. The brain is like a muscle. It feeds on activity.”
