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William Shatner gave Arabella Tatlock an experience that the 3-year-old will carry with her for the rest of her life.
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Arabella approached the “Star Trek” acting legend during his GalaxyCon Raleigh panel on Saturday by walking up to the stage in the Raleigh Convention Center. The 95-year-old actor responded to the unexpected moment with his usual acerbic wit.
“Little girl, you’re 3 years old. Sit down,” Shatner told Arabella, who was showing him his photo in GalaxyCon’s program
“What is it, honey?” Shatner said as he looked at his photo. ”That’s me. You’re right. That’s me.”
Amid laughter from the crowd, Shatner told Arabella’s parents, who were sitting in the front row, to “hold on to her, will you? She’s interrupting me.”
Arabella’s mother, Laura Tatlock of Raleigh, was appreciative of her daughter’s unique experience.
“It was very cute,” Tatlock said in an interview with The News & Observer.
Shatner’s convention appearances are known for their comedic moments, such as in 2022 when he told then Raleigh City Councilman David Cox to “get lost.” Cox called it “the best fun that I’ve had in awhile.”
Both GalaxyCon Raleigh experiences are reminiscent of Shatner’s famous 1986 “Saturday Night Live” skit where he tells “Star Trek” fans at a science-fiction convention to “get a life.”
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During the 45-minute panel, Shatner reflected on his long career that includes acting roles such as Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek” and Denny Crane in “Boston Legal.” Shatner also gushed about eating at Prime Barbecue the night before.
Shatner’s thoughts also turned back to Arabella as he looked back on how much the world has changed in his lifetime.
“This 3-year-old child is being born into a world that didn’t exist 50 years ago,” Shatner said. “In her lifetime, the magic of our invention, of human invention, will take place.
“Her parents will no longer recognize the world when she’s a mature human being. It’s incredible what’s happening, and it’s happening because of our intelligence, because of our creativity, because of our curiosity, which is part of the universe.”
Saturday’s appearance at GalaxyCon comes shortly after Shatner revealed that he and his 61-year-old daughter had both been declared cancer free after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
“I’m looking for the guy with the scythe, wondering when he’s going to cut me down,” Shatner said. “But I’m telling you that the mystery of life, and the joy of learning, and the joy of finding out the commonality of all of us, the human spirit is with us all, and we should recognize it.
“She (Arabella) is the earliest purveyor of that human spirit. She doesn’t know it yet, but she’ll find out in a few years.”
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This story was originally published July 27, 2026 at 11:24 AM.