William Shatner Honored at 52nd Saturn Awards Amid Wildfire Relief Efforts

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — William Shatner, the iconic Captain Kirk of the “Star Trek” franchise, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd Saturn Awards on Feb. 2, 2025. The ceremony, hosted by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, will also serve as a fundraiser for California wildfire relief efforts.

The event will take place at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City hotel and will be livestreamed for free on ElectricNow and The Roku Channel. Attendees and viewers at home can donate to wildfire relief through QR codes displayed during the ceremony.

“We hope that this year’s Saturn Awards will celebrate our vibrant community and genre family, just as it did after the Covid crisis. Coming together with old and new friends is essential during challenging times,” said Robert Holguin, president of the Academy, alongside producers Bradley Marcus and Kevin Marcus in a statement.

Shatner, a “living legend” according to the Academy, has a storied history with the Saturn Awards. He won Best Actor in 1983 for “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” and received a Life Career Award in 1980. This year, he joins other honorees, including the cast and creators of “Back to the Future,” which will be recognized for its 40th anniversary with the George Pal Memorial Award.

The Spotlight Award will go to the team behind a Prime Video series set centuries after a nuclear apocalypse. The ceremony will also honor other genre-defining works and individuals, blending celebration with community support.

In addition to Shatner, actors Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson, composer Alan Silvestri, and writer-producer Bob Gale will represent “Back to the Future” at the event. The Academy emphasized the importance of unity and resilience, particularly in light of recent wildfires that have devastated parts of California.

This year’s Saturn Awards mark a return to in-person festivities while maintaining a focus on global accessibility and charitable giving. The event underscores the enduring impact of science fiction, fantasy, and horror in entertainment and beyond.