Famous Al-Anon’er: William Shatner

“Captain, that’s not logical.” Dr. Spock said it often to Captain Kirk, but Leonard Nimoy also said something similar to William Shatner before his wedding.

He said just one sentence, 'Bill, you do know that Nerine is an alcoholic.' I'm not sure what Leonard expected me to say. 'I know she is,' I told him. 'But I love her.' Leonard didn't speak for a minute and then he said, sadly, 'Well, Bill, then you are in for a rough ride'."~ The Age

Nimoy was not channeling his Vulcan character, as a recovering alcoholic he knew first hand the potential pain Shatner could face. Nine years later Shatner came home to find his floating face down in the pool, dead from an overdose of alcohol and valium.

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I often write about famous alcoholics, but after reading this article from TheAge.com thought it would be a good change of pace to write about a famous Al-Anoner.

He says it's cathartic to speak of Nerine. "Looking back, I know Leonard, who was a recovered alcoholic himself, was warning me not to marry her," he says. "But I did try everything to help her." He joined Al-Anon, the support group for families. "Then I realized I was going there to learn how to live with an alcoholic. And I didn't want her to be an alcoholic. But I couldn't compete with the drink"

Maybe it is because of the misery I put my friends and family through that I am always amazed at those so willing to take on this mantle of responsibility, an alcoholic’s keeper. Anything in the name of love… right? Unfortunately they find out all too soon that it is more like anything in the name of alcohol.

"Our wedding day was wonderful. Nerine was sober and we went to bed that night ecstatic. I woke up the next morning at eight and she was drunk. Later, I found she had hidden bottles of vodka all over the house."

So here’s to William Shatner, my first famous Al-Anon’er and starship captain to get a TDA salute for following his heart and ultimately paying the price. There is always hope though, for every recovering alcoholic like myself there is many times a family member or a loved one that never gave up… and gave us something to come home to.