William Shatner tells the world how he’s going to die

William Shatner, the one, the only Captain Kirk and more recently star of Boston Legal, has been telling audiences exactly how he plans to die.

His decision is based on the experience of seeing his best friend for 50 years, Leonard Nimoy, battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Speaking about Spock’s death in February, Mr Shatner said, “He couldn’t get his breath, he was drowning in his own fluids. What a difficult way of passing. His death affected me a great deal.

“I don’t want to be anticipating my death thinking I can’t breathe and what’s going to happen and where’s my family and all the thoughts that must come to you when you realise you’re in your last breath,” he says, as reported by News Limited. “How much fear must you feel? How much better would it be to die suddenly doing something that you love or being with someone that you love … but you don’t go through the pain of it”.

So Mr Shatner has decided he would like to drop dead from a heart attack while on stage, probably while performing his autobiographical comedy show Shatner’s World … We Just Live In It.

Considering Mr Shatner’s high-achiever tendencies, it’s quite likely he will reach this goal through sheer will alone. And, while the actor looks like he’s in his 60s and is reportedly in rude health, let’s not forget he is actually 84 (can you believe it?).

Mr Shatner is on tour with his show, and visiting Australia in October. He has also just released his 35th book, called Catch Me Up, which is about reinventing yourself at any age, supports numerous charities and will appear in three movies this year – not Star Trek 3 although he says he would “love for them to find a way of including me”.

He is also in the midst of qualifying for his helicopter licence and is an avid horse rider.

“It’s an ancient philosophy … lead your life as though you knew you were going to die at any moment and that way you would cherish every moment you’re living in,” he says.

What do you think  of William Shatner’s plan? Do you wish it were that easy to choose the way you exit this world?

See Shatner’s World in Brisbane, October 11, qtix.com.au; Adelaide, October 13, bass.net.au; Perth, October 14, premier.ticketek.com.au; Sydney, October 16, ticketmaster.com.au; Melbourne, October 17, ticketmaster.com.au