Elizabeth Shatner (born December 30, 1958) is a 65-year-old American equestrian, instructor, equine judge, digital artist, photographer, and the ex-wife of William Shatner, the famous Canadian veteran actor.
It is no longer news that women are starting to make headway and excel in several occupations and career endeavours, unlike in the past when men were the only ones venturing into the world of fame. Elizabeth Shatner has made a name for herself as a famous equestrian and instructor, winning the WHINNY Award for her contributions to the horse industry. Read on to learn everything about William Shatner’s ex-wife.
Summary of Elizabeth Shatner’s Bio
- Full name: Elizabeth Anderson Shatner
- Gender: Female
- Date of birth: December 30, 1958
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Age: 65 years old
- Ethnicity: English
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Divorced
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Ex-husbands: Michele Gleen Martin (1992-1997), William Shatner (2001-2020)
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Step-daughters: Leslie Carol Shatner, Lisabeth Shatner, Melanie Shatner
- Siblings: Daniel Leith Anderson (brother – deceased) and Gayle Anderson (sister)
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 9 inches
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Height in Centimetres: 175cm
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Weight: 65kg
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Net worth: $5 million
- Famous for: Being the ex-wife of Canadian actor, William Shatner
- Elizabeth Shatner’s Instagram: @elizabethandersonmartin
- Twitter: @ElizShatner
- Facebook: @Elizabeth Shatner
Elizabeth Shatner Is Currently 65 Years Old
Elizabeth Shatner was born on December 30 1958, to her parents in the United States of America as Elizabeth Joyce Anderson. Her place of birth, ethnicity, and parents are unavailable as William Shatner’s ex-wife is very private and does not share much information about her personal life.
There is no information on her childhood days, such as where she grew up, but one fact that is known is that Elizabeth Shatner was not an only child. She was born alongside her late older brother, Daniel Leith Anderson, and sister, Gayle Anderson. Daniel Anderson died from heart failure on December 4, 2019 at the age of 74.
Speaking on her education, Elizabeth went further after completing her primary and high school and graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Animal Science and Equine. Elizabeth received numerous honors for her contributions to the equestrian world, including the WHINNY Award.
William Shatner’s Ex-wife Began Her Equestrian Career At A Young Age
Elizabeth Shatner began her career at a young age. The sports lover disclosed that she has been in love with horses since she was five and was already a decent horseback rider. By the time she was eight years old, she had her horse, a Gailceno pony and when she got to the age of fourteen, she was already a professional and had started teaching other riders how to ride horses.
She gained great mastery of the sport (horse riding) and not only got to become a horse trainer but also got to be part of the judging panels of a few horse competitions. William Shatner’s ex-wife is a USEF multi-breed licensed horse judge with seven-judge cards and was part of the judges in the Indiana Arabian Club competition. She is also listed on the reputable governors’ advisory board of the World Equestrian Games.
She Is A Digital Artist And Horse Photographer
Elizabeth Shatner is a multi-talented woman. Though she has excelled as a horseback rider, that is not the only thing the 65-year-old is known for. Besides being a horse rider, Elizabeth is also a photographer – a skill she came to by ‘accident’.
She was on a safari trip to Israel with her husband, where she took some photos and realized she was very good at it. After she returned, the talented equestrian decided to explore photography and digital art. Elizabeth Shatner called her art Flowrosophy and enjoys using her artwork to bring the shapes, light, and colors – found in nature – to life.
The gifted horseback rider, determined to develop her photography and digital art skill, went ahead to launch a website titled Art by Nature series, which feature animals, plants, and the forms and colors of nature, including horses and flowers.
Again, the above-mentioned are not the only things Elizabeth Shatner is involved in. When Shatner is not doing photography or horse riding, she is exploring another aspect of her career as a T.V. personality. William Shatner’s Ex-wife has been credited in several documentaries and T.V. shows.
In 2002, she got to feature as herself in E! True Hollywood Story and went further in that same year to feature in the Big Game documentary, Spplat Attack. Shatner further made appearances in other shows like Gonzo Ballet, The Captains, Beyond Trek: William Shatner, and American Pickers, among many others.
Elizabeth Shatner Was The Fourth Wife Of William Shatner
While we have mentioned that the marriage to Williams Shatner was Elizabeth’s second marriage, it is equally important to note that she was her ex-husband’s fourth attempt at finding companionship through the platform of marriage. According to reports, the actor had been married to and divorced three women before meeting her.
Gloria Rand was William’s first wife from 1956 to 1969, and they had three children together before they went their separate ways. After they divorced, William had a second marriage in 1973 when he was hitched to Marcy Lafferty. His marriage to Lafferty lasted for 23 years before it hit the rocks in 1996.
The actor wasted no time as a single man as in 1997, just one year later, he got married to Nerine Kidd, a model who had struggled with addiction. On August 9, 1999, Nerine was found dead after she drowned in their backyard pool. The incident affected William so much but with the help of his Star Trek co-star Leonard Nimoy, who had also struggled with addiction, William was able to recover from Nerine’s death.
Elizabeth and William co-run the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, an annual event in which top horses and riders compete for various titles. The event was targeted at charity and whatever funds they generated were donated to help needy children.
Elizabeth Shatner’s Ex-Husband William Shatner Is A Popular Canadian Actor
Elizabeth Shatner’s ex-husband, Williams Shatner, is a well-recognized Canadian actor, comedian, and singer who is famous for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the cult television series Star Trek. The actor has worked in television for most of his life and has also written some episodes like in the T.V. series titled T.J. Hooker, which was produced in 1982.
He is an exceptional actor who has entertained his fans with several performances on the silver screen. These stellar performances have helped him attain the status he currently enjoys in the industry.
A particular performance of note that saw his stock rise in Hollywood was when he played the character Denny Crane in the T.V. series, The Practice. Other notable appearances by Williams Shatner would include his appearance in the T.V. series Boston Legal, Rescue 911, and Better Late Than Never, among many others.
Not one to rest on his oars, Williams Shatner has pushed himself equally as a singer, and the result has been quite interesting. His first album, titled “The Transformed Man”, was released in 1968. However, his most successful album was his third album, titled “Seeking Major Tom”, which was released in 2011.
Elizabeth Shatner And Her Ex-husband Got Divorced In 2019
Unfortunately, the marriage of Elizabeth and William ended in December 2019 with the couple citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their divorce. Because they had a pre-nuptial agreement and no children together, the divorce was relatively quick. In no time, they both went their separate ways, with William Shatner keeping the majority of his fortune.
As of the time of their divorce, William Shatner’s net worth is more than $100 million and Elizabeth was to keep her share of her family’s farm in Indiana, two horses, a Malibu home, a Kentucky home, three cars, and $2 million in spousal support.
She also received the right to harvest some fruit from William’s ranch on occasion and visitation rights to the ranch and some of William’s animals but had to give advance notice before visiting.
Her Marriage To William Shatner Was Not Her First MarriageÂ
Elizabeth Shatner’s marriage to William Shatner may have been her ticket to the limelight in certain terms, but it was not the first she was giving up her surname in favor of another. The talented equestrian’s first marriage was to Michael Gleen Martin, and at the time, she was known as Elizabeth Anderson Martin. They were married for fourteen years before he died in August 1997.
Moving on, Elizabeth found love again and got married to William Shatner. Elizabeth and William met in 1999 while they were both grieving the death of their spouses. They shared the same passion for horses, but that was not the only thing that knocked the Canadian actor off his feet.
It has been reported that another thing that drew William Shatner’s attention to the equine star is her beauty and brain. The actor had since disclosed that he is blessed to have found such a smart and loving woman who shared his passion for horses.
After they got acquainted, the duo began dating which lasted for six months before they took their relationship to the next level by getting married in Indiana in 2001. Elizabeth, whose last name was ‘Martin’, changed it to ‘Shatner’ after they were married.
At the time of their wedding, Elizabeth was 42 years old, and William was 69 years old.Their age difference raised a lot of eyebrows as many felt that the gap between their ages was much, but the lovebirds remained unbothered as all that mattered to them was their love for each other.
She Had No Biological Children But Was A Stepmother To William Shatner’s Children
When Elizabeth Anderson Martin married William Shatner, she became the stepmother of Shatner’s three grown daughters, Melaine, Lisabeth, and Leslie Shatner. As mentioned earlier, the equestrian never had any kids in the 18 years she was married to the actor.
Although the reason for that was not publicly ascertained, the fact that she also did not have any children despite being married to her first husband, Michael Gleen Martin, for 15 years, may suggest that her childlessness is down to her.
Regardless of the fact that Elizabeth and William have parted ways, they remain in contact and still maintain a cordial relationship. According to reports, William Shatner has continued to wear his wedding ring even after their divorce was finalized. They reunited in 2021 for William Shatner’s 90th birthday party and appeared to be in good spirits while having a great time together.
Elizabeth Shatner Is Also A Philanthropist
Another noble quality of Elizabeth Shatner is that she is not just about herself but also a philanthropist. The celebrity believes in giving back to society and so derives joy in donating to charity on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her photographs is donated to horse-related charities. She also participates in her ex-Hollywood husband’s Charity Horse Show, a charity event raising millions of dollars for disabled children.
The famous photographer also established All Glory Project Inc, a non-profit movement. The movement is structured in such a way as to provide to military veterans and their families through institutions using animal-assisted and adjunct therapies.
She embarked on this initiative after she and her ex-husband jointly won the “All Glory” horse together. The horse was later selected as the Celebration Horse at Breyerfest, and this made her earn enough money that she was able to sponsor the program without struggles.
William Shatner’s Ex-wife Still Works With Horses
Elizabeth Anderson Martin, also known as Elizabeth Shatner, keeps doing what she does best. She is still active in the horse world as a rider, a trainer, and a judge. Her work in this field continues to gain recognition, as she currently holds seven judges cards of which she is an active member of all the circuits.
What is Elizabeth Shatner’s Net Worth?
Elizabeth Shatner’s net worth is estimated to be $5 million. Her earnings are from her career as a horse rider, instructor, and photographer, but most of her wealth was obtained from her marriage to William Shatner and Michael Gleen Martin.
Key Takeaways
- Elizabeth Shatner, born Elizabeth Joyce Anderson on 30th December 1958, is the ex-wife of William Shatner. She is also a renowned horse trainer, photographer, digital expert, and philanthropist.
- Her passion for horse riding developed during her childhood, and she became a talented horseback rider at the tender age of five. By the age of 14, she had become a professional trainer. Her love for horses was a significant bonding point with her then-husband, William Shatner.
- She graduated from Purdue University, based in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, with a degree in equine and animal science, further fueling her passion for horses and providing academic backing to her career.
- Elizabeth has been a part of several horse competitions not only as a competitor but also as a judge. She has been part of the judging panels for competitions such as the Indiana Arabian Club competition and has received accolades like the WHINNY Award for her contributions.
- In addition to horse training, Elizabeth has explored her creative side through photography and digital art. She runs a website named “Art by Nature,” which showcases her photography work, branded as “Flowrosophy”.
- She has demonstrated her commitment to giving back to society by participating in charity organizations and events. Notably, she has been a part of her ex-husband’s Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which supports children in need.
- Despite her primary profession being in horse training and the arts, Elizabeth has made appearances on television. She has been featured on shows like “E! True Hollywood Story” (2002), “Balls of Steel” (2008), “American Pickers” (2011), “Howard Stern on Demand” (2012), and “The Shatner Project” (2014).
- She was first married to Michael Glenn Martin from 19th November 1983 until his death on 3rd August 1997.
- Elizabeth became the fourth wife of famous Canadian actor William Shatner on 13th February 2001, despite a significant age gap of 26 years. The couple, who both had a passion for horses, parted ways in 2020 after a divorce filed by William Shatner in 2019.
- Neither of her two marriages resulted in children, and she is the stepmother to William Shatner’s three daughters from his previous marriages: Leslie Carol Shatner, Lisabeth Shatner, and Melanie Shatner.
- Her estimated net worth is $5 million, demonstrating her success in her various careers and accomplishments.
- She currently holds seven judges’ cards and remains active in the horse show judging circuit. She also continues to compete in various disciplines and breeds, proving her ongoing commitment to the world of horse riding and training.
