William Shatner sued by 'long lost son'

William Shatner is most famously known for his role as James T. Kirk in the science fiction television TV series Star Trek. Photo / Sarah Ivey

William Shatner has been hit with a multi-million dollar lawsuit from the man claiming to be his long-lost son.

The Star Trek legend had previously denied fathering Peter Sloan, who also goes by Peter Shatner, with late Canadian actress Kathy McNeil after a one-night-stand in 1956. Peter was born without William's knowledge and given up for adoption.

William claims Peter is trying to prosper from the alleged family connection, but the 59-year-old wants the actor to submit to a DNA test to prove his paternity once and for all.

Peter filed the lawsuit in Tampa, Florida last week demanding A$225 million for libel, defamation and slander, according to New York Post gossip column Page Six. He also wants a jury trial.

In the paperwork, the Florida radio host claims he met William in 1984 on the set of TV show T.J. Hooker and the actor initially "admitted he was the plaintiff's father" but his representative later got in touch saying William, 85, was "totally denying paternity" and refused to take a DNA test.

William's representative tells the website,"Mr. Shatner has three lovely daughters, but no sons... Mr. Shatner is aware of the lawsuit, but there's nothing there because he isn't his father."

The actor has 'pinned' a tweet in which he pointedly professes his love for his children so it remains at the top of his Twitter account. He wrote, "My children are my life. I have three kids in total; Leslie, Lisabeth & Melanie. They are my reason to get up & live each day to the fullest."

Written in May, 2015, the tweet appeared online just days after Peter told the Tampa Tribune he was William's son.

The veteran actor has three adult daughters from his first marriage to Gloria Rand. They divorced in 1969, and he has since been married to Marcy Lafferty, from 1973 to 1996, and Nerine Kidd Shatner, from 1997 until her death in 1999.

He tied the knot with current wife Elizabeth Anderson Martin since 2001.

- WENN