International Talk Like William Shatner Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Maurice LaMarche’s first-party 2009 declaration created International Talk Like William Shatner Day for March 22 and specified a following-Monday rule when March 22 falls on a weekend; his 2010 follow-up explicitly called it the second annual observance and said he started it the prior year.
About International Talk Like William Shatner Day
International Talk Like William Shatner Day is a creator-originated pop-culture parody observance associated with March 22, William Shatner’s birthday.
Voice actor Maurice LaMarche publicly declared the day in 2009 and specified that, under his original convention, a weekend March 22 moves to the immediately following Monday.
Why International Talk Like William Shatner Day matters
The observance is a playful imitation-themed fan tradition, not an official holiday or an endorsement by William Shatner.
Participation should stay respectful: celebrating a recognizable performance style does not require copying protected scripts, recordings or long passages of dialogue.
History of International Talk Like William Shatner Day
On March 21, 2009, Maurice LaMarche published a first-party video declaring March 22 International Talk Like William Shatner Day.
Because March 22 fell on a Sunday in 2009, LaMarche’s declaration said that weekend occurrences move to the immediately following Monday, making March 23 the 2009 observance under his rule.
In a 2010 follow-up, LaMarche called the occasion the second annual observance and said he had started it the previous year.
The reviewed first-party sources establish LaMarche’s creator role and recurring convention but do not establish William Shatner as a founder, sponsor or endorser.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Maurice LaMarche
LaMarche’s 2009 first-party declaration created the observance, and his 2010 follow-up says he started it the prior year.
Institutional establishment
Maurice LaMarche’s 2009 public video declaration
First documented observance
The original declaration states that because March 22, 2009 was Sunday, the 2009 observance would be Monday, March 23.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Talk Like William Shatner Day
How to Observe International Talk Like William Shatner Day
Keep any impression lighthearted and avoid presenting yourself as William Shatner or misleading others about endorsement.
Watch or discuss legally available performances without reposting copyrighted clips or scripts.
Try a short, original parody line rather than copying dialogue from a film or television episode.
Learn about voice acting and performance techniques from creators who discuss their craft.
If participating in public or workplace settings, keep humor respectful and appropriate for the audience.
International Talk Like William Shatner Day Facts
Maurice LaMarche declared the observance in 2009.
The recurring anchor date is March 22, William Shatner’s birthday.
LaMarche’s original convention moves a weekend March 22 to the immediately following Monday.
His 2010 first-party follow-up described that year as the second annual observance.
The reviewed evidence does not establish William Shatner’s endorsement of the observance.
International Talk Like William Shatner Day Messages
Happy Talk Like William Shatner Day—have fun with the pauses, but keep the jokes original.
Wishing fans a fun Talk Like William Shatner Day with plenty of creativity and no mistaken endorsements.
Here’s to a lighthearted day for impressions, performance craft and original comedy.
Celebrate the style, enjoy the joke, and keep your tribute respectful and unmistakably your own.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Maurice LaMarche — original International Talk Like William Shatner Day declaration (YouTube) (opens in a new tab)
Creator First Party Origin
Maurice LaMarche — second annual International Talk Like William Shatner Day (YouTube) (opens in a new tab)
Creator First Party Recurrence Corroboration
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Talk Like William Shatner Day?
22 March; under the creator’s original convention, weekend occurrences move to the following Monday The documented recurrence rule is: March 22; under creator Maurice LaMarche’s original rule, if March 22 falls on a weekend, observe it on the immediately following Monday..
Does International Talk Like William Shatner Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is International Talk Like William Shatner Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Creator-originated parody/pop-culture observance founded by voice actor Maurice LaMarche. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Talk Like William Shatner Day?
The documented basis is: Maurice LaMarche’s first-party 2009 declaration created International Talk Like William Shatner Day for March 22 and specified a following-Monday rule when March 22 falls on a weekend; his 2010 follow-up explicitly called it the second annual observance and said he started it the prior year.. Supporting evidence includes Maurice LaMarche — original International Talk Like William Shatner Day declaration (YouTube). The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is International Talk Like William Shatner Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Creator-originated parody/pop-culture observance founded by voice actor Maurice LaMarche. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-23.
When is International Talk Like William Shatner Day?
Its anchor date is 22 March; under Maurice LaMarche’s original convention, if 22 March falls on a weekend the observance moves to the immediately following Monday.
Who started it?
Voice actor Maurice LaMarche publicly declared the observance in 2009 and described the 2010 event as the second annual edition.
Why March 22?
LaMarche tied the date to William Shatner’s birthday.
Did William Shatner establish or endorse the day?
The reviewed sources do not establish that; the creator evidence comes from Maurice LaMarche.
Can I copy famous lines or clips to celebrate?
A safer approach is to create original parody material and use copyrighted clips, scripts or recordings only where you have the right to do so.