Elizabeth Shatner: Horse Trainer, Artist, and William Shatner’s Ex-Wife Who Won His Heart Twice
Many people know the name Elizabeth Shatner because of one thing: she was married to Star Trek actor William Shatner. But her story is much bigger than that. She built her own career with horses, then became an artist and photographer. She also went through hard times, found love again, lost it, and then found it a second time with the same man. This is her full story, told in simple words.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Joyce Anderson (also known as Elizabeth Anderson Martin, Elizabeth Shatner) |
| Date of Birth | December 30, 1958 |
| Age | 67 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Education | Purdue University (degree in Equine and Animal Science) |
| Career | Horse trainer, equine judge, photographer, digital artist |
| First Husband | Michael Gleen Martin (married 1982, he passed away in 1997) |
| Second Husband | William Shatner (married February 13, 2001) |
| Marriage to Shatner | 2001 to 2020 (divorce finalized) |
| Children | None |
| Stepchildren | Leslie Carol Shatner, Lisabeth Shatner, Melanie Shatner |
| Known For | Horse training, digital art, being William Shatner’s fourth wife |
Early Life and Love for Horses
Elizabeth was born on December 30, 1958, in the United States. Not much is known about her parents or where she grew up, because she likes to keep her personal life private.
What we do know is that she loved horses from a very young age. She started riding when she was just five years old. By the time she was eight, she had her own pony. When she turned fourteen, she was already teaching other people how to ride. This is quite impressive for someone so young.
Her love for horses did not stop as a hobby. She went to Purdue University and earned a degree in Equine and Animal Science. This means she studied horses and animals in a serious, academic way. After finishing school, she turned her passion into a real career.
A Career Built on Horses
Elizabeth became a well-known name in the horse world. She worked as a horse trainer and later became a licensed judge. She holds seven judge cards from the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF), which means she can judge many different breeds of horses. She also sat on the judging panel for the Indiana Arabian Club and was part of the governors’ advisory board for the World Equestrian Games.
For her hard work and skill, she won the WHINNY Award, which honors people who help the horse industry grow. This shows that Elizabeth was respected in her field long before most people knew her name.
Her First Marriage
Before she met William Shatner, Elizabeth was married to a man named Michael Gleen Martin. They got married in 1982. Sadly, Michael passed away in August 1997. This was a painful time in Elizabeth’s life.
Meeting William Shatner
Around the same time that Elizabeth lost her husband, William Shatner also lost someone close to him. His third wife, Nerine Kidd, drowned in their swimming pool in August 1999. It was a shocking and sad loss for him.
After hearing about Nerine’s death, Elizabeth sent William a condolence card. This small, kind act started their connection. They began talking, and by mid-2000, they were dating. Just a few months later, they knew they wanted to be life partners.
William and Elizabeth got married on February 13, 2001, in a small ceremony in Indiana. At the time, William was 70 years old, and Elizabeth was 44. This means there was a 26-year age gap between them, but that did not stop their bond from growing strong.
Life Together
Elizabeth became stepmother to William’s three daughters: Leslie Carol, Lisabeth, and Melanie. She did not have children of her own, but she stayed close with his family for many years.
During their marriage, Elizabeth also grew as an artist. She discovered her passion for digital art and photography during a safari trip with William in Israel. While taking pictures of nature, something changed in her. She fell in love with capturing beauty through a camera and later through digital painting. Horses, of course, became one of her favorite subjects.
Elizabeth also appeared in a few television projects over the years, mostly as herself. She showed up in shows like American Pickers, The Captains, and The Shatner Project. She even helped write a song called “Together” for William’s music album Has Been.
Both Elizabeth and William were active in charity work. William started the Nerine Shatner Foundation in memory of his third wife, and Elizabeth supported causes close to her heart, especially ones connected to animals.
The Divorce
After 18 years of marriage, things changed. In December 2019, William filed for divorce from Elizabeth. The couple said the reason was “irreconcilable differences,” which means they simply grew apart and could not fix their problems.
Because they had signed a prenuptial agreement before marriage and had no children together, the divorce process moved fairly quickly. William was able to keep most of his fortune, which was reported to be around $100 million. As part of the settlement, the two also divided their horses and property. Elizabeth kept their farm in Versailles, Kentucky, where they had trained American Saddlebred horses for years.
Their divorce was finalized in 2020.
Getting Back Together
Here is where the story takes a sweet turn. In 2023, William gave an interview to The Mirror and spoke warmly about Elizabeth, calling her “the zest of life.”
Then, in a 2024 interview with Parade magazine, William shared bigger news. He said he and Elizabeth were living together again. “My little secret is I’m living with my former wife,” he said. He explained that they had, in his words, “in effect remarried,” but without a new wedding ceremony.
They were later seen together at public events, including the Cirque du Soleil “KOOZA” premiere in October 2024, looking happy and close. Insiders said the couple had reconnected during the COVID-19 quarantine period and that their old problems had faded away.
In 2025, the two were spotted out in North Hollywood, with Elizabeth wearing a large diamond ring. This made fans wonder if they had secretly remarried, though nothing was officially confirmed.
Elizabeth’s Life Today
Today, Elizabeth Shatner is known not just as William Shatner’s former wife, but as a skilled artist, horse expert, and kind person who has helped many through her charity work. Her digital art, inspired by nature and horses, has appeared in galleries. Reports suggest her net worth is around $10 million, money she earned mostly through her own career, not just her marriage.
She continues to be private about her personal life, but her bond with William Shatner remains a story that many fans follow with interest.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Shatner’s life shows that a person can be much more than one label. Yes, she is known as William Shatner’s ex-wife, but she is also a respected horse trainer, a licensed judge, a talented artist, and a woman who built her own path in life. Her story of loss, love, separation, and reunion with William Shatner has touched many people. Whether or not they ever have another wedding, their long history together proves that some connections are hard to break.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Elizabeth Shatner?
Elizabeth Shatner was born on December 30, 1958. As of 2026, she is 67 years old.
Why did Elizabeth Shatner and William Shatner get divorced?
The couple divorced in 2020 after 18 years of marriage. They said the reason was “irreconcilable differences.” They had signed a prenuptial agreement, which made the legal process faster.
Are Elizabeth Shatner and William Shatner back together?
Yes, in a 2024 interview, William Shatner confirmed that he and Elizabeth were living together again. He said they had “in effect remarried” without a formal ceremony, and they have since been seen together at public events.
