It seems like even when William Shatner does something weird, it still turns out kind of amazing. Back in September, the 94-year-old actor sat down with “On the Red Carpet” and dropped a story from 2006 that sounds straight out of a late-night comedy sketch; but it’s 100% real.
“I have a kidney stone. Two days later, I got a phone call from a gambling casino in Canada and they said, ‘We heard you had a kidney stone. We’d like to buy it.’”
Yep, you read that right. A casino wanted to buy his kidney stone. Of course, Shatner didn’t just hand it over. The man’s been negotiating with aliens and lawyers on TV for decades… he knows his worth.
“I said, ‘Great. I want $100,000 for my kidney stone.’ ‘No, no, no.’ I said, ‘$100,000.’ ‘All right, I’ll take 75.’”
Classic Shatner. He didn’t even blink. And honestly, who could blame him? If someone’s weird enough to want your kidney stone, you might as well make it worth your while. The buyer turned out to be GoldenPalace.com, the same online casino that made headlines in the 2000s for buying up wild pop culture memorabilia; like famous toast and random autographed oddities.
But here’s where it gets better: Shatner didn’t pocket the cash.
From Kidney Stone to a New Home
Rather than keeping the money, the “Star Trek” actor donated the proceeds to Habitat for Humanity; and he wasn’t alone. The cast of his then-hit show, “Boston Legal,” even joined in.
“The cast kicked in $25,000. We gave that to Habitat for Humanity and we built a house and right now there’s a lovely family of five I believe living in a house in Ormans.”
So, let’s recap: one painful kidney stone turned into a $75,000 deal, which turned into a donation, which turned into a house for a family in need. Only Shatner could turn a bizarre bodily event into a feel-good story.
That’s the thing about him… he’s never just about the punchline. There’s always heart hiding behind the humor. And in this case, that heart built a home.
Getty (Ethan Miller)William Shatner: Still Boldly Going Where No One Has Before
At 94, Shatner’s still proving he can surprise people. He’s been to space, he’s conquered TV and film, and apparently, he’s also the only person on Earth who can sell a kidney stone and call it philanthropy.
It seems like the guy’s secret superpower is turning chaos into something meaningful. And let’s be real; there’s something kind of poetic about it. A painful moment turned into a permanent difference for someone else.
Weird? Definitely. Wonderful? Absolutely. And in true William Shatner fashion, he made it unforgettable.
