Nerine Kidd and Bill Shatner are pictured here in a 1997 photo. They were married later that year.

August 10, 1999
Web posted at: 7:34 a.m. EDT (1134 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Actor William Shatner found his wife dead in the swimming pool of their home late Monday, the victim of an apparent drowning that authorities said they were treating as an accident.

Nerine Kidd, 40, was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Shatner arrived at home and found Kidd at the bottom of the pool around 10 p.m. Pacific time (1 a.m. EDT), said the Los Angeles Police Department.

"(Shatner) dialed 911 and dove into the pool to render aid to his wife," police Lt. Adam Bercovici said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was called to the Studio City home, but efforts to revive Kidd were unsuccessful, said department spokesman Brian Humphrey. "Sadly, she was beyond our help."

When paramedics arrived at the scene about 10:30 p.m., Kidd was lying by the side of the pool.

Shatner told fire officials that the last time he saw his wife alive was early Monday morning. Foul play apparently did not play a role in her death, Bercovici said.

"She was home alone for a short period of time and accidentally drowned while swimming," he said.

The Los Angeles Coroner's office was scheduled to perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The couple was married in November 1997. Kidd was Shatner's third wife.

Shatner, 68, is best known for his role as Capt. James T. Kirk on the science fiction television show "Star Trek." He also appeared in several "Star Trek" movies and the 1980s television police drama "T.J. Hooker."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.