Shatner with his late wife Nerine

August 12, 1999
Web posted at: 12:54 p.m. EDT (1654 GMT)

LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Autopsy results in the death of actor William Shatner's wife have been deferred pending toxicology tests, according to the Los Angeles Coroner's office.

Nerine Kidd Shatner, 40, was discovered at the bottom of the swimming pool at the couple's Studio City, California home Monday. Police say Shatner pulled her from the pool and tried to resuscitate her.

"The autopsy has been completed, but the cause of death is deferred pending toxicology tests," said Los Angeles Coroner spokesman Will Gryce.

"There are other considerations apparently found in the autopsy that the medical examiner wants to compare," Gryce said, without elaborating.

Police say Nerine Shatner, a former model and actress, apparently drowned while swimming alone Monday evening. The Shatners had been married nearly two years, but briefly separated last fall, according to Nerine Shatner's agent and longtime friend, Pam Loar.

Loar tells CNN the couple had since reconciled and were living together. "Nerine's marriage was the most important part of her life and both of them were getting along extremely well," Loar said.

William Shatner is best known for his long-running role as Captain James T. Kirk in the classic "Star Trek" television and film series. The actor recently turned to writing science fiction novels.