William Shatner’s Three Daughters: Get to Know Leslie, Lisabeth, and Melanie
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- UPDATED AUGUST 08, 2025
by Kristine Bowman
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William Shatner isn’t just a sci-fi icon — he’s also a devoted dad to three daughters.
The legendary Star Trek actor became a father during his first marriage to actress Gloria Rand, which began in 1956. The couple welcomed three daughters: Leslie, now 66; Lisabeth, 64; and Melanie, 61. Though Shatner and Rand divorced in 1969, he remained a steady and loving presence in his daughters’ lives.
Following his first marriage, Shatner went on to wed three more times — to Marcy Lafferty (1973–1996), Nerine Kidd (1997–1999), and most recently, Elizabeth Shatner (2001–2020).
Even after his split from Rand, Shatner maintained a close bond with his daughters. In a 2014 interview with The Guardian, he reflected on his role as a parent: “I must have been a hands-on dad because that’s what my children tell me,” he said. “In my mind, I was gone a lot of the time in an effort to make a living, so I am gratified that my kids think that they are who they are today because of my influence.”
Melanie, his youngest, echoed that sentiment in a conversation with Senior Voice Alaska: “He would do whatever it took to get home to see us, even if it meant driving all night. That shows the kind of committed father he was — and still is.” She added that they often visited him on set, creating cherished memories watching their dad at work.
Here’s a closer look at each of William Shatner’s daughters.
Leslie Shatner, 66
Leslie Carol Shatner was born on August 31, 1958, in Canada. As a young girl, she made a brief appearance on Star Trek: The Original Series during its first season, sharing the screen with her father. That would be her only on-screen acting role, aside from appearing in a 1989 episode of This is Your Life focused on her father.
Rather than pursuing a career in entertainment, Leslie chose a path in healthcare. According to her LinkedIn profile, she works as an occupational therapist in Orange County, California. She’s married to Gordon Walker, and together they have two sons, Grant and Eric.
In 2021, when Shatner became the oldest person to travel to space at age 90, Leslie and her sisters had their concerns. “They were trying to talk me out of it,” he told CNN. “‘But Dad, why don’t you just go to Australia instead?’” Despite their hesitation, Shatner called the journey an emotional and eye-opening experience: “It sharpens your awareness of the beauty of Earth and the you love.”
Lisabeth Shatner, 64
Lisabeth Mary Shatner was born on June 6, 1961, in California. Like Leslie, she had a cameo in Star Trek‘s first season, but her career took a more creative turn beyond acting.
In a 2002 interview with Whoosh.org, Lisabeth revealed her passion for writing and sculpture, although she didn’t rule out work in the entertainment industry. “I never say no to a new experience. I learned that from my dad,” she said.
She also described her upbringing as relatively normal, despite her father’s fame. “When I was really young, I didn’t realize he had a job that was so different from most dads.”
Lisabeth is married to Andy Clement. Though little is publicly known about their private life, Shatner once told The Guardian that all three of his daughters have become “incredible mothers.”
Melanie Shatner, 61
The youngest of the Shatner sisters, Melanie Ann Shatner, was born on August 1, 1964, in Los Angeles. Of the three, Melanie showed the most interest in following in her father’s footsteps.
She made her film debut in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and even appeared with her dad in a 1988 commercial. In the ’90s, she acted in several film and TV projects but eventually decided to move on from the industry.
“I didn’t fully enjoy acting,” she shared with Senior Voice Alaska. “I made a living at it for a while, but wanted to be successful in other ways.” Her father supported the decision. “Anything I wanted to do was okay by him,” she said.
Shatner himself later reflected on the harsh realities of show business in an interview with Yahoo: “Success is so spare… That’s why I didn’t want my kids to be a part of it, and for the most part, they’re not.”
Melanie married actor Joel Gretsch in 1999, and they have two children: Kaya and Willow.
Despite occasional self-doubt about his parenting, Shatner says he couldn’t be prouder. “I’m always worried about whether I’ve done a good job,” he admitted to The Guardian. “But my daughters have raised their families in ways I only wish I had. So something good must have happened.”
He added with a smile, “Being a grandparent is the greatest joy for me.”