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points by WalterBright 7 hours ago | 0 comments

I suspect the key thing about Shatner's longevity is his obvious enjoyment of life. For example, he's currently recording a bunch of heavy metal albums. Of course he is not a good singer, but he couldn't care less, and has a great time doing it. He's always up for doing fun things, like getting blasted into space on a rocket.

[–] LogicFailsMe 7 hours ago

Good genes and he's always been a swimmer. He also apparently didn't carry any copies of the apoe4 gene.

[–] rootbear 6 hours ago

My father and grandmother, who both lived past 90, had Alzheimer's, which is a concern for me, but I'm encouraged by the fact that I do not carry the apoe4 gene. I do need to eat better and get more exercise.

[–] IshKebab 7 hours ago

And Patrick Steward didn't enjoy life?

It's really enticing to think that there's some nice controllable reason why some people live longer (assuming you don't smoke, do drugs to excess, etc.) but really it's mostly genetics and chance.

[–] WalterBright 7 hours ago

I know nothing about Stewart's personal life.

I visited a cardiologist today, who has seen thousands of patients. He remarked that two big factors in staving off heart disease are staying slim and long term aerobic exercise.

Those two factors are under one's control.

(Nobody said it was easy, though.)

[–] abootstrapper 6 hours ago

It gives subtle tones of blaming the sick and deceased for their predicament. People get sick all the time from no fault of their own and death comes for us all. But of course diet and exercise are good for your health.

[–] WalterBright 3 hours ago

Many diseases randomly affect people. Many other diseases are the result of lifestyle choices.

For example, I seriously doubt that lung cancer causes smoking.

[–] tarsierscripter 4 hours ago

Sure, though it’s quite hard to stay active after one has had heart disease.

Many of the studies that associate lifestyles with health outcomes have this issue with the causative arrow: disease tends not to enable activity.

[–] andsoitis 7 hours ago

And healthy eating, sleep, exercise, being sociable.

These seem within one’s agency.

[–] TheFuzzball 7 hours ago

You're kidding right? Shatner's had a beer belly for the last 40 years and Patrick Stewart has always been quite thin. It's just luck and genetics.

[–] TeamGTN 6 hours ago

Shatner had the gut, but did you see him use an elevator to get on Jeff's rocket? He climbed the stairs, 7 flights, roughly 70 feet above ground, at 90+ and clinically obese. Was he gasping when he got to the top? Yes. Did he do it? Yes! Did he keep up with the kids half his age? Yes!! Did he complain? No! Did they use a (danny) crane to hoist him up there? No! Could Patrick have done that? I doubt it after watching his performance in Picard. He looked and acted feeble in that. Patrick was thin, but that doesn't mean fit. Shatner was fat, but strong.

[–] eszed 1 hour ago

I only watched the first season of Picard (and, sadly, didn't like it much), but I got the impression that Stewart was acting feeble. I saw him on TV a few times (Graham Norton, the Oscars, maybe something else) around that time, and he looked and moved way better than he did in the show.

[–] olyjohn 27 minutes ago

Season 3 was way better.

[–] WalterBright 6 hours ago

I watched "Boston Legal" because of him. He clearly was enjoying himself, including making snide remarks about himself and making references to Star Trek. I wish him many more happy years.

[–] phainopepla2 7 hours ago

The causative arrow could point in the other direction, here. Or both directions at once

[–] freediver 7 hours ago

> For example, he's currently recording a bunch of heavy metal albums.

Oh, any links?

[–] modeless 7 hours ago

Based on this video I would believe you if you told me he was 69. This is unbelievable for 95. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaButvSxPWQ

[–] soneil 3 hours ago

Not Shatner, but I need to drop that Patrick did a backing track on Brent Spiner's album. It has to be in here somewhere, and this seems as good a place as any.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFwiLa3TYwg&list=PL1T3N4t2kU...

> Sunspots: LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart.

uNF!

[–] WalterBright 7 hours ago

I've got a copy of his first album, The Transformed Man, which is quite entertaining to listen to. I have heard him do a cover of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man".

"Seeking Major Tom" might be of interest to you.

Google sez:

William Shatner’s heavy metal album, titled What the F Is Heavy Metal?, does not have an exact release date yet, though it is tentatively scheduled for winter 2026 or 2027 via Cleopatra Records.

Album Details

• Title: What the F Is Heavy Metal? • Band Name: The *uckers • Expected Release: Winter 2026 / 2027 • Label: Cleopatra Records • Format & Content: Features a mix of original tracks and heavy metal/hard rock covers (including Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, and Ozzy Osbourne). • Notable Collaborators: Rob Halford, Tony Iommi, Zakk Wylde, Brian May, and Dave Lombardo, among dozens of other rock and metal musicians. • Live Debut: Shatner and his band debuted songs from the project live at Riot Fest in Chicago in September 2026. • William Shatner on Instagram Ladies, gentlemen, SWs fans… I have explored space. I have explored time. Now… I explore distortion. Yes. You read that correctl... • USA Today William Shatner debuts heavy metal band at age 95 At 95, William Shatner is starting a heavy metal band Greta Cross USA TODAY Sept. 17, 2026Updated Sept. 18, 2026, 9:14 a.m. ET Wil...