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10 Best Star Trek: The Original Series Episodes To Hook New Fans

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• Star Trek: The Original Series debuted in 1966 and immediately developed a devoted following, eventually becoming a cultural sensation.
• The show featured iconic characters such as Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, who have endured for nearly 60 years.
• While the show has some aspects that haven't aged well, like outdated special effects and misogynistic undertones, the original cast remains intoxicating and capable of bringing passion and intrigue to even the thinnest of plots.

Star Trek: The Original Series - originally known simply as Star Trek - features some of the most iconic characters in all of science fiction with the crew of the original USS Enterprise. After its initial pilot episode was rejected by network NBC, Star Trek was massively overhauled with a largely new cast and a more adventurous tone. Star Trek debuted in 1966, and while it was never a ratings champion, the show immediately attracted a devoted following. Star Trek would go on to become a cultural sensation in syndication in the 1970s and was eventually revived as a hit film franchise as well as a series of successful television spinoffs that continues to this day.

There are aspects of Star Trek: The Original Series that have not aged especially well; the special effects are quaint at best, and the misogynistic undertones of many episodes are hard to ignore when viewed in the 21st century. That said, the original Star Trek cast remains intoxicating , a fantastic group of actors who could imbue even the thinnest of plots with passion and intrigue. There's a reason these characters have endured for nearly 60 years.

Star Trek: The Original Series may feel dated in some ways, but here are 10 episodes that should hook even the most skeptical new fans.

10 William Shatner As Captain James T. Kirk

Captain of the uss enterprise.

After Jeffrey Hunter declined to reprise his role as Christopher Pike from Star Trek' s initial failed pilot, "The Cage," he was replaced by William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk . Where Hunter's Pike had been an introverted and weary man, Shatner's Kirk was a swashbuckling charmer , as likely to get into a fistfight with a Klingon as he was to seduce an Orion slave girl. Kirk was largely defined by his decades-long friendship with his Vulcan First Officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy), with Kirk's dynamic bravado bouncing off Spock's measured logic resulting in one of the most fascinating relationships in all of pop culture. For many, James T. Kirk remains the gold standard for Starfleet Captains.

Paul Wesley plays the younger Lieutenant James T. Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Words.

9 Leonard Nimoy As Mr. Spock

Science officer and first officer of the uss enterprise.

Arguably the most important character in all of Star Trek , Spock was the only character to be held over from the show's original pilot ,"The Cage," though the character was reworked to be far less outwardly emotional. A product of a human mother and Vulcan father, Mr. Spock was constantly torn between his two cultures; Spock chose to live his life as a Vulcan, though he most often surrounded himself with humans. Spock's unbreakable bond with Captain Kirk and his chaotic, tempestuous friendship with Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) formed the central trio of Star Trek: The Original Series . No Star Trek character has had a greater cultural impact.

Ethan Peck plays the younger Lieutenant Spock in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

8 DeForest Kelley As Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy

Chief medical officer of the uss enterprise.

The USS Enterprise's resident curmudgeon, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy was not only the ship's brilliant physician, he was among Captain Kirk's closest and most trusted confidants. McCoy routinely went on away missions or sat in on important meetings that a ship's primary doctor wouldn't necessarily take part in generally, but "Bones" was part of Kirk's inner circle, and the Captain valued his opinion. McCoy often clashed with his friend and consistent irritant Spock , as the passionate country doctor and the cold, emotionless Vulcan could not have viewed the universe any more differently. Still, they deeply respected each other, even if they'd be loath to admit it.

7 James Doohan As Montgomery "Scotty" Scott

Chief engineer of the uss enterprise.

Known to all as Scotty, Commander Montgomery Scott (James Doohan) wore many hats on the USS Enterprise, overseeing the transporters and serving as Second Officer. However, Scotty was primarily known as the ship's Chief Engineer, able to seemingly pull off technological miracles whenever Captain Kirk needed them . A proud Scotsman, Scotty enjoyed playing the bagpipes and drinking his scotch - perhaps a little too much. Scotty was skeptical of new, untested technology, preferring to work on machines he knew well. Prone to outbursts of righteous anger, Scotty still remained one of Captain Kirk's most trusted officers, able to get the Enterprise out of virtually any jam.

Martin Quinn plays the younger Lt. Montogomery Scott in Star Trek: Strange New World s.

6 George Takei As Hikaru Sulu

Uss enterprise's helmsman.

Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) was the USS Enterprise's primary helmsman under Captain Kirk's command. Generally a reserved, genial officer, Sulu quietly contained multitudes . When a virus drove much of the ship's crew mad in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Naked Time," Sulu was seen bouncing around the ship shirtless with a foil in hand. He displayed considerable bravery more than once, which eventually paid off for his career. By the time of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country , Sulu had been promoted to Captain of the USS Excelsior, beginning what would go on to become a Starfleet career just as revered as Captain Kirk's.

5 Nichelle Nichols As Nyota Uhura

Uss enterprise's communications officer.

Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) was the Communications Officer on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. One of the few female characters and virtually the only Black character in a position of authority on Star Trek: The Original Series , Uhura was a revolutionary presence at the time the show was produced. Uhura was often relegated to being a background character, but she always shined when given the opportunity, whether it be flirting with Spock on the bridge or entertaining the crew with a song. Modern Star Trek has been much kinder to Uhura than TOS , but Nichols' immortal version is still deserving of praise.

Celia Rose Gooding plays the younger Ensign Uhura on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

4 Walter Koenig As Pavel Chekov

Uss enterprise's navigator.

Introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 when George Takei was unavailable while shooting a movie, Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) was a wide-eyed young Russian officer. Mr. Chekov was introduced not only due to Takei's absence, but also to acknowledge the Russians' at the time advanced progress in the 1960s space race. Chekov brought an innocent, youthful energy to the show, with a truly unforgettable Russian accent. Chekov was rarely the at the center of the action on TOS , but he was a character who was easy to like, and would eventually get to do some heavier lifting in the TOS film franchise.

3 Majel Barrett As Nurse Christine Chapel

Key member of uss enterprise's medical team.

Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) was Dr. McCoy's top nurse aboard the USS Enterprise. Chapel had an unrequited love for Spock , often seen pining for the Vulcan who could never give her the emotional connection she so desired. Chapel was a victim of Star Trek: The Original Series ' subpar writing for women characters in general, though things took a turn for the better by the time of the movie franchise, where it was revealed Chapel became a doctor and a full Starfleet officer. Chapel would get a much-needed reworking for the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

Jess Bush plays the younger Nurse Christine Chapel on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

2 Mark Lenard As Sarek

Vulcan ambassador and spock's father.

Introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series season 2 episode "Journey To Babel," Sarek (Mark Lenard) was the Vulcan ambassador to Earth, as well as Spock's estranged father . Sarek disapproved of his son's decision to enter Starfleet Academy, preferring him to live his life among Vulcans. The relationship between Sarek and Spock was deeply complicated ; while Sarek may have disagreed often with his son, he and Kirk risked everything dear to them to revive Spock in Star Trek III: The Search For Spock . Spock's fraught relationship with Sarek is one of the most enduring aspects of Star Trek: The Original Series .

James Frain played the younger Ambassador Sarek i n Star Trek: Discovery, which revealed that Sarek adopted Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) as a child and raised him as Spock's sister.

1 Grace Lee Whitney As Yeoman Janice Rand

Captain kirk's yeoman in star trek: the original series season 1.

Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) appeared in 8 episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series as Captain Kirk's Yeoman. Set up as a potential love interest for Kirk, Rand's role was severely reduced during production , often relegating Janice to bringing her Captain coffee and pining for the oddly resentful Kirk. The reason Whitney was fired from Star Trek was later revealed by the actress in her autobiography to be because she was assaulted by a network executive. However, Janice Rand did return in the Star Trek: The Original Series movies, and Grace Lee Whitney also played Commander Janice Rand in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager.

Star Trek: The Original Series is available to stream on Paramount+.

• William Shatner

Regular cast

This page is a list of regular cast for the Star Trek series and films .

• 1 Star Trek: The Original Series
• 2 Star Trek: The Animated Series
• 3 The Original Series films
• 4 Star Trek: The Next Generation
• 5 The Next Generation films
• 6 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
• 7 Star Trek: Voyager
• 8 Star Trek: Enterprise
• 9 The alternate reality films
• 10 Star Trek: Discovery
• 11 Star Trek: Picard
• 12 Star Trek: Lower Decks
• 13 Star Trek: Prodigy
• 14 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
• 15 See also
• 16 External links

Star Trek: The Original Series [ ]

The Original Series cast

• William Shatner as James T. Kirk
• Leonard Nimoy as Spock
• DeForest Kelley as Leonard McCoy
• James Doohan as Montgomery Scott
• George Takei as Hikaru Sulu
• Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov (seasons 2-3)
• Nichelle Nichols as Nyota Uhura
• Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel
• Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand (season 1)

Star Trek: The Animated Series [ ]

The Animated Series cast

• James Doohan as Montgomery Scott and Arex
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel and M'Ress

The Original Series films [ ]

The TOS film cast

• Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov

Star Trek: The Next Generation [ ]

The Next Generation cast (seasons 5-7)

• Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard
• Jonathan Frakes as William T. Riker
• Brent Spiner as Data
• LeVar Burton as Geordi La Forge
• Michael Dorn as Worf
• Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher (seasons 1, 3-7)
• Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi
• Denise Crosby as Natasha Yar (season 1)
• Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher (seasons 1-4)

Diana Muldaur , as Katherine Pulaski , was not billed as part of the regular cast in the opening credits for the second season and instead received a "special appearance" credit for each episode in which she appeared, at her own insistence. ( Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion , 2nd ed., p. 64)

The Next Generation films [ ]

The TNG film cast

• Gates McFadden as Beverly Crusher

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine [ ]

Deep Space Nine cast (seasons 4-6)

• Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko
• Nana Visitor as Kira Nerys
• Rene Auberjonois as Odo
• Michael Dorn as Worf (seasons 4-7)
• Terry Farrell as Jadzia Dax (seasons 1-6)
• Alexander Siddig as Julian Bashir
• Colm Meaney as Miles O'Brien
• Nicole de Boer as Ezri Dax (season 7)
• Armin Shimerman as Quark
• Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko

Star Trek: Voyager [ ]

Voyager cast (seasons 4-7)

• Kate Mulgrew as Kathryn Janeway
• Robert Beltran as Chakotay
• Tim Russ as Tuvok
• Robert Duncan McNeill as Tom Paris
• Roxann Dawson as B'Elanna Torres
• Garrett Wang as Harry Kim
• Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine (seasons 4-7)
• Robert Picardo as The Doctor
• Ethan Phillips as Neelix
• Jennifer Lien as Kes (seasons 1-3)

Star Trek: Enterprise [ ]

Enterprise cast

• Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer
• Jolene Blalock as T'Pol
• Connor Trinneer as Charles Tucker III
• Dominic Keating as Malcolm Reed
• Anthony Montgomery as Travis Mayweather
• Linda Park as Hoshi Sato
• John Billingsley as Phlox

The alternate reality films [ ]

The alternate reality film cast with director/producer J.J. Abrams

• John Cho as Hikaru Sulu
• Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott
• Chris Pine as James T. Kirk
• Zachary Quinto as Spock
• Zoë Saldana as Nyota Uhura
• Karl Urban as Leonard McCoy
• Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov

Star Trek: Discovery [ ]

Discovery cast for season 1 with Michelle Yeoh

• Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham
• Doug Jones as Saru
• Shazad Latif as Ash Tyler (seasons 1-2)
• Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets
• Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly
• Wilson Cruz as Hugh Culber (seasons 2-5, guest in season 1)
• Rachael Ancheril as D. Nhan (season 3, guest in seasons 2, 4)
• Tig Notaro as Jett Reno (seasons 4-5, guest in seasons 2-3)
• Jason Isaacs as Gabriel Lorca (season 1)
• Anson Mount as Christopher Pike (season 2)
• David Ajala as Cleveland "Book" Booker (seasons 3-5)
• Blu del Barrio as Adira Tal (seasons 4-5, guest in season 3)
• Callum Keith Rennie as Rayner (season 5)

Michelle Yeoh , primarily as Philippa Georgiou , is not billed as part of the regular cast in the opening credits and instead receives a "special guest star" credit for each episode in which she appears.

Star Trek: Picard [ ]

Picard cast for season 1 with Jeri Ryan

• Alison Pill as Agnes Jurati (season 1-2)
• Isa Briones as Soji Asha / Kore Soong (season 1-2)
• Evan Evagora as Elnor (season 1-2)
• Michelle Hurd as Raffi Musiker
• Santiago Cabrera as Cristóbal Rios (season 1-2)
• Harry Treadaway as Narek (season 1)
• Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine (seasons 2-3, guest in season 1)
• Orla Brady as Laris / Tallinn (season 2, guest in seasons 1 and 3)
• Brent Spiner as Adam Soong (season 2, guest in seasons 1 and 3 in other roles)
• Ed Speleers as Jack Crusher (season 3)

In season 3 Jonathan Frakes , Brent Spiner , LeVar Burton , Michael Dorn , Gates McFadden , and Marina Sirtis , despite being heavily promoted for the series, are not billed as part of the regular cast in the main on end credits and instead receive a "special guest star" credit for each episode in which they appear.

Star Trek: Lower Decks [ ]

• Tawny Newsome as Beckett Mariner
• Jack Quaid as Brad Boimler
• Noël Wells as D'Vana Tendi
• Eugene Cordero as Sam Rutherford
• Dawnn Lewis as Carol Freeman
• Jerry O'Connell as Jack Ransom
• Fred Tatasciore as Shaxs
• Gillian Vigman as T'Ana

Star Trek: Prodigy [ ]

Prodigy cast

• Brett Gray as Dal
• Ella Purnell as Gwyn
• Jason Mantzoukas as Jankom Pog
• Angus Imrie as Zero
• Rylee Alazraqui as Rok-Tahk
• Dee Bradley Baker as Murf
• Jimmi Simpson as Drednok
• John Noble as The Diviner
• Kate Mulgrew as " Captain Janeway "

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds [ ]

Strange New Worlds cast

• Anson Mount as Christopher Pike
• Ethan Peck as Spock
• Jess Bush as Christine Chapel
• Christina Chong as La'an Noonien-Singh
• Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura
• Melissa Navia as Erica Ortegas
• Babs Olusanmokun as Joseph M'Benga
• Bruce Horak as Hemmer (season 1, guest in season 2)
• Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley

See also [ ]

• Star Trek birthdays
• Character crossover appearances
• Cast members who directed
• Regular cast characters by rank

External links [ ]

• Official actor's websites
• Official fan clubs
• 2 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Bell Riots

10 Background Actors In Star Trek Who Got Themselves Noticed

9. invisible wheel guy (the lights of zetar).

This unknown actor has been immortalized forever, thanks to HD!

This episode, The Lights of Zetar, comes in Star Trek's third and final season. In the episode, a strange non-corporeal creature threatens to destroy Memory Alpha (no, not the epic website) and the Enterprise. In the attached photo, this crewman must act busy as the captain is walking by.

This is a scene that gained attention on the internet due to its transformation into a popular gif - the 'I don't know what I'm doing gif.' You can clearly see that the crewman is turning something on the panel. However, one doesn't even need to look closely to see that there is nothing there to turn.

He is twisting empty air.

He may be fooling his captain into believing he's working - but in fairness to him, fifty years later, we recognise that hard work!

Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick

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Published Dec 12, 2014

Remembering TNG Actor & Stand-in, James G. Becker, 1966-2014

StarTrek.com is saddened to report the passing of James G. Becker, a longtime background actor and stand-in who appeared on seasons one through three of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Becker, 48, passed away on December 5 at a hospital in Algona, Iowa; no cause of death was noted in his obituary.

Soon after arriving in Los Angeles from his native Oswego, Illinois, Becker was introduced by a mutual friend to Les Landau, who was a first assistant director on TNG as the show moved into production with " Encounter at Farpoint ." Becker returned to TNG again and again and again, more than 40 times in total, and his "character" was given the unofficial name, Ensign Youngblood. He also served as the stand-in for Jonathan Frakes. Becker later chose to return home to Illinois and, to thank him, Frakes had Becker deliver his sole line of dialogue -- actually just one word, "Gentlemen..." -- when he directed the third-season episode " The Offspring ."

Becker lived for several years in the Twin Cities area before moving to Britt, Iowa. There, he worked as an insurance agent for State Farm and eventually took over the business. He also was an assistant coach for his children's track, football and basketball teams at West Hancock High School. Becker is survived by his wife, Tammy, and their three children. StarTrek.com extends our condolences to Becker's family and friends.

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32 Famous Guest Stars We Loved On Star Trek: The Next Generation

All of these stars were great.

On a list of the best sci-fi shows , Star Trek: The Next Generation remains the gold standard. With 180 episodes, it was inevitable the series would bring in an outside famous face or two, especially with Patrick Stewart leading the ship. 

Before we dive in, I think readers will note the omission of one famous star everyone knows is in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Whoopi Goldberg . Her Guinan was a recurring character for several seasons, so she's been left off the list. With that out of the way, let's run down the list of the famous guest stars we loved in TNG . 

Stephen Hawking

When you have a holodeck, you can do a lot of things. For example, Data used it in "Descent" to see what would happen if Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking played poker together. The synth found it "most illuminating," though I still question what he learned from doing it. 

Penny Johnson Jerald

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Orville fans know Penny Johnson Jerald well through her roles on those shows, but less may know she was also on The Next Generation . Those who watch "Homeward" will spot her if they look at the wife of Worf's human brother, Nikolai. 

Kirsten Dunst

Before she was a well-known actress starring as Mary Jane in Spider-Man , Kirsten Dunst was in Star Trek: The Next Generation when she was still a child. Her Hedril helped Deanna understand the pain her mother felt over the death of her sister Kestra, who died tragically as a kid in "Dark Page." 

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy actually rejected a chance to become a producer on Star Trek: The Next Generation , instead opting to appear as Spock in a handful of episodes. This was possible, partially, because Vulcans have long lifespans, but I can't also help but credit Nimoy's love for the character as a factor for reprising him as well. 

James Worthy

Athletes in Star Trek ? It happens from time to time, and three-time NBA Champion James Worthy actually played a Klingon in "Gambit, Part II," and at six foot nine inches, he made for a particularly imposing figure. Those who go back to see his performance will note he's not hard to spot. 

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Teri Hatcher

Well-loved actress Teri Hatcher has a role as B.G. Robinson in "The Outrageous Okona," but only barely. So many of her scenes were cut from the episode that she requested her name be removed from the credits. Fortunately, she went on to be so famous people know who she is just by the brief scene alone. 

James Cromwell

Star Trek fans love James Cromwell for his iconic role as Zefram Cochrane in First Contact , but he also played a couple of roles throughout The Next Generation . He was in heavy prosthetics playing Jaglom Shrek in "Birthright Part I and II," and was Nayrock in "The Hunted." Hey, when a great actor wants to work on your series, let him play whoever he wants. 

Ken Jenkins

Actor Ken Jenkins was around Hollywood before he appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Evolution" as Paul Stubbs, though more people might recognize him now rewatching. That's thanks in part to his character Dr. Bob Kelso on the comedy Scrubs , which was in network primetime for nearly a decade in the 2000s. 

Joe Piscopo

One of the most influential Saturday Night Live stars of all time , comedian Joe Piscopo, made an appearance in Season 2 during "The Outrageous Okona." This might not be a surprise to anyone who hasn't seen the episode, but he plays a stand-up comedian. Who would've guessed? 

Ashley Judd

I think out of every famous guest star from Star Trek: The Next Generation , Ashley Judd might be the easiest to spot. As Robin Lefler, she appeared in "Darmok" and "The Game," and even shared a kiss with Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher. There was a solid romance angle there, but sadly, she only had two episodes. 

Jonathan Del Arco

Jonathan Del Arco has been around Hollywood a lot in his career, but Star Trek fans may know him a little better than general audiences thanks to his playing Hugh the Borg. Hugh was the first Borg character to humanize the species in the franchise, and the character went on to play a notable role in the Picard spinoff decades later. 

Stephen Root

Iconic actor Stephen Root made for a great Klingon in the two-parter "Unification." As K'Vada, he made sure he made Picard and Data's time on his ship as uncomfortable as possible. He only honored his deal to help them infiltrate Romulus, which is totally on brand for the Klingon species. 

Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips initially rose to fame from her singing in The Mamas And The Papas but eventually transitioned into a successful acting career. As such, she ended up being one of the first major stars on Star Trek: The Next Generation , appearing in the Season 1 episode "We'll Always Have Paris" as Jenice Manheim. 

DeForest Kelley

Leonard Nimoy wasn't the only actor from the original Star Trek to appear in TNG , as DeForest Kelley also reprised his role as McCoy, though, he was an admiral at this point. Catch him in "Encounter At Farpoint," giving Data a hard time. 

Pamela Adlon

You may know Pamela Adlon from a lot of things. I, personally, like to note her voice work as Bobby Hill in the animated series King of the Hill , but she was on The Next Generation long before that. Find her in "Who Watches The Watchers" in which she's part of an alien species convinced that Picard is some immortal being with mystical powers. 

Paul Sorvino

Rest in peace to the late Paul Sorvino , known for Goodfellas , Law & Order , and of course, Star Trek: The Next Generation . Sorvino played Nikolai Rozhenko, the foster brother of Worf. Though he and his brother had their disagreements, Worf always made time for his brother, and there was a great respect between the two in their strengths. 

Matt Frewer

Actor Matt Frewer might not be a face readers immediately recognize, and they may not remember his role as Berlinghoff Rasmussen in "A Matter Of Time" immediately either. That said, if I were to talk about the bizarre character and series Max Headroom , would that ring any bells? That's Frewer's claim to fame, playing the eerie character who even was mentioned as an easter egg in the TNG episode "Conspiracy." 

Patti Yasutake

It wouldn't feel right not to highlight Patti Yasutake following her recent passing. Many  Star Trek  fans loved her recurring character, Nurse Ogawa, and her more recent work on  Beef. While she was only in a handful of episodes, most Trekkies can remember her backing up Beverly Crusher, no matter the emergency. 

Thomas Kopache

Thomas Kopache holds the distinct honor of holding a role across all Rick Berman-era Star Trek shows and played not one, but two roles on The Next Generation . Check him out as a train engineer in "Emergence," and a Romulan scientist in "The Next Phase." 

Musician John Tesh, who NBA fans can thank for his famous song "Roundball Rock ," was also in Star Trek . He played one of the Klingons created by the holodeck in "The Icarus Factor." Not a huge role by any means, but such a random appearance that I can't help but be tickled by. 

Kevin Peter Hall

Kevin Peter Hall, who had done character acting as the predator in Predator , was actually in contention for two of the starring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation . While he ultimately lost out on the roles of Data and Geordi, he did end up appearing in the series via the episode "The Price" as the Caledonian Leyor. 

Twin Peaks actor Ray Wise plays a key role in "Who Watches The Watchers," as Arturis. Arturis accidentally stumbles upon a Starfleet duck blind observing a planet, and when he is injured in the process, the crew does what it can to treat him. Arturis then returns to his people, claiming he was rescued by their gods. 

Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen had a big role as Kamala in the episode "The Perfect Mate," and it ultimately led to a larger one alongside series star Patrick Stewart. The former Star Trek co-stars would reunite on the cast of X-Men , as Janssen would pay Jean Grey alongside his Professor X. Wild to see them work together years later at much different points in their careers!

Majel Barrett

The wife of Gene Roddenberry, and the Nurse Chapel in the original Star Trek , Majel Barrett was also in TNG . While she missed out on being a part of TOS when her character was cut from the pilot, she was given the fairly meaty role of Lwaxana Troi, the mother of Deanna Troi. Anytime she popped up in this series it was a good time, and a lot of that is a credit to Barrett's skills as an actress. 

Mick Fleetwood

You would think if Star Trek landed the founding member of the iconic rock band Fleetwood Mac, it would want to broadcast his face in full view for the world to see. That wasn't the case, and if you didn't know, Mick Fleetwood was playing a fish man in the episode "Manhunt." Hilarious in hindsight, though given how cool the fish mask was, I don't blame him for being ok with wearing it. 

Christopher McDonald

Christopher McDonald is on our short list of requests for Happy Gilmore 2 , and he's on this list because he appeared as a Starfleet Officer in the iconic episode "Yesterday's Enterprise." He served under Rachel Garrett, a character who has gained more relevance as of late thanks to her presence in Star Trek: Section 31 .

Mark Lenard

Bringing Leonard Nimoy to Star Trek: The Next Generation was an amazing coup for the show, but to bring Mark Lenard to reprise his role as Sarek, Spock's father, was an underrated win. I don't think there's two men who did a better service for laying the framework for playing a Vulcan than those two, and the complicated father/son dynamic made for compelling television all throughout TNG . 

Terry O’Quinn

By the time he played a Rear Admiral in "The Pegasus," Terry O'Quinn was a well-established actor in Hollywood. That said, readers may most know him for the role he played of John Locke in Lost . His character, Erik Pressman in  TNG,  was far less sympathetic than John, but O'Quinn was fantastic in both roles. 

Kelsey Grammer

Dr. Frasier Crane himself, Kelsey Grammer, was a part of the Star Trek family for a short while. He was Morgan Bateson in "Cause and Effect." I'm always a little sad we didn't see more with the Captain of the USS Bozeman , and hope that if we get another TNG -era series, Grammer might reprise his role for a small adventure with other characters from the show. 

Bebe Neuwirth

If Star Trek manages to find out you're a Trekkie, chances are you'll be invited to be on a show. That exact thing happened to Bebe Neuwirth, who took time out of her schedule ahead of a Cheers rehearsal to be in "First Contact." It's a brief scene but memorable as she propositions Riker for sex, with the logic that it was always a dream to sleep with an alien. 

Diedrich Bader

Diedrich Bader had a background role in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Emissary," but his face is hard to miss. This is especially true if you're a fan of The Drew Carey Show , which admittedly has fewer fans now since the series hasn't found a home on streaming. I'll continue to cross my fingers that will happen, though, and enjoy this episode all the same. 

James Doohan

Star Trek actor James Doohan appeared in the episode "Relics," when Captain Montgomery Scott was found trapped in suspension in a ship's pattern buffer for 75 years. Fortunately, we've learned that being stuck in a transporter buffer is a relatively painless process, if not disorienting, to be gone for a period of time and not know it. This is, perhaps, one of my favorite TNG episodes of all time, and totally worth watching again for those who haven't seen it in a while.

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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Actors You Didn't Know Were Huge Star Trek Fans

It's long been debated which is the best science fiction franchise of all time, but "Star Trek" has plenty of reason to be considered top dog. Yet for many, it will always have a certain reputation as a bit geekier due to its more cerebral nature. What it sometimes lacks in fast-paced, explosive adventure, it makes up for with thought-provoking stories filled with political and social allegory. 

For that reason, some "Star Trek fans" — often called "Trekkies" — may not wear their fandom as passionately on their sleeve as others. But every once in a while, a superstar actor will reveal to the world that they too are every bit as big a fan as those who go to "Star Trek" conventions and cosplay as Kirk and Spock. In fact, some have been lucky enough to get to appear in the series. 

While well-known "Trek" fans like Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Alexander, and Simon Pegg were famously able to parlay their fandom into on-screen roles in the franchise, there are other famous Trekkies that you'd never suspect, all hoping to one day chart a course to the final frontier.

"My entire family worshipped at the feet of 'Star Trek'," superstar Tom Hanks told British talk show host Graham Norton in 2019. But that was hardly the first time the "Forrest Gump" actor openly espoused being a member of the church of "Star Trek." In 2004, Hanks appeared on Conan O'Brien's self-titled talk show and discussed growing up a "Star Trek" fan. "Oh, I set the clock by 'Star Trek,' it was on at 6 o'clock on channel 2 in Oakland," he noted. He later named-dropped the classic episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion" and talked about having met William Shatner. 

While rumors have persisted for years that Hanks was once the top choice to play a major role as Zephram Cochrane in the 1996 "Star Trek" film "First Contact," the actor threw cold water on the notion in 2021. He revealed that he knew nothing of being in consideration while a guest on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast , saying, "The guy who invented warp drive? Oh come on! I would have jumped on that!" 

"First Contact" co-writer Ronald D. Moore confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter in 2021 that while Hanks' name may have come up at some point for the role, "it was never really on the table." As for what role Hanks hopes to play in the future? "Let me play a peaceful Romulan. Man, I think that'd be fun," he told Graham Norton.

While Rihanna is a music star first and foremost, she's done her fair share of acting in movies like "Battleship" and "Ocean's 8." But for the 2016 summer blockbuster  "Star Trek Beyond,"  she returned to the music studio to release a new single for the film's soundtrack. As was revealed in a promotional video released by Paramount, her participation in the film was more than just a business deal; it was a fulfillment of her lifelong dream. "'Star Trek' has been a part of my life since I was a little girl," she said in the video to promote her song and the film.

"My dad really is the one who introduced me to 'Star Trek'" she continued, revealing how she connected with the franchise from an early age. "It just took me one episode to fall in love with this other world that I couldn't understand but I felt like I could relate to." As for the song, titled "Sledgehammer," which she wrote specially for the Justin Lin-directed three-quel, she knew it had to be something special because of what the series meant to her.

"This is something that's been a part of me since my childhood. It's never left me. So, it wasn't just like doing a song for any random film." The electro-pop ballad ultimately charted on the Billboard Top 40 , while she released an accompanying music video that features new "Trek"-related sequences with the Enterprise and Rihanna made up as one of the film's signature aliens.

Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig came to fame in the 2004 crime comedy "Layer Cake" before shooting to superstardom as James Bond in "Casino Royale" a few years later. Today, many know him as the world's greatest detective with a Southern drawl, Benoit Blanc, from Rian Johnson's "Knives Out" series. But while Craig did have a secret cameo in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," his real dream has always been to appear in "Star Trek."

In 2007, not long after making his debut as the iconic British super spy, Craig told World Entertainment News about his hidden agenda to take flight into the final frontier. "I would love a stint in the TV show or in a film," Craig told the outlet (via AirlockAlpha ). "It's been a secret ambition of mine for years," he continued. 

At the time, "Star Trek" had been off the air for a couple of years following the cancelation of "Star Trek: Enterprise," and the JJ Abrams-directed movies were still two years away. Though Craig's comments didn't make much noise at the time, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" star Brent Spiner included Daniel Craig in his dream cast of a proposed adaptation of his book "Fan Fiction," a story where he and his fellow "Star Trek" cast-mates get caught up in a sinister conspiracy (via Inverse ). Could Craig one day join "Trek"? With so many new "Star Trek" shows in development (via Trek Movie ), anything is possible.

Rosario Dawson

In 2020, actress Rosario Dawson joined the "Star Wars" universe as Ahsoka Tano in "The Mandalorian," and she'll be getting her own solo series on Disney+ in 2023 (via IndieWire ). A self-professed sci-fi geek, Dawson fangirled over getting the part, telling audiences at Star Wars Celebration, "It's been just such a thrill and honor to bring this character to life" (via Entertainment Weekly ). But Dawson's geek cred doesn't end there, and according to a 2020 interview with Variety's After Show,  she won't be satisfied until she appears in "Star Trek" too.

"The two universes, 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars.' I get in those two, I'm telling you, man, that's it," she said, "I will just retire." During the discussion, Dawson was already dreaming up ways she could join the "Star Trek" universe. "I could jump on ["Star Trek: Discovery"], I could be on 'Picard.'" She admitted she'd be willing to don heavy makeup just to play a background alien, saying, "I could just be a background Romulan or Vulcan, whatever, it'd be so fun. Just throw me in there, I can walk through as a Klingon." 

In fact, Dawson is so desperate to be a part of the franchise, she'd be happy to play a doomed character with no dialog. "I can be a redshirt and get killed right away." However, Dawson's Trekkie family is having none of that. Apparently, her brother shut that idea down and said she had to be a captain. Given Dawson's meaty role in "Star Wars," we can't say we blame him.

Robin Williams

Sadly, one celebrity "Trek" fan that never got to appear on the series is comedian Robin Williams, who died in 2014. Over the years, several "Trek" regulars have mentioned how Williams was a Trekkie at heart, and in 2021 a reunion of "Star Trek: Voyager" cast members talked about how Williams sometimes visited the set while filming nearby (via TrekMovie ).

In Ben Robinson and Mark Wright's book "Star Trek Voyager: A Celebration," Ethan Phillips, who played alien cook Neelix, reminisced about meeting Williams, who was on the lot filming "The Birdcage" (via TrekMovie). He and Williams ran into each other between two sound stages and as Williams got closer, "He sees me and goes, 'Oh my God, Mr. Neelix!' Then he does this whole routine about what it's like to be a chef in outer space. ... I had a private performance for like a minute and it was really funny. Then he came up, gave me a big hug and said, 'I love your character, sir.'"

Williams being a Trekkie was not news to some, as original series cast member Walter Koening wrote in his book "Chekov's Enterprise" that the "Mork and Mindy" star often visited the Enterprise set during production on the first "Star Trek" film in the '70s (via TrekMovie).

The producers of "Trek" were well aware of Williams' love for the franchise and even wrote a role for him on "The Next Generation." The part played by Matt Frewer in the fourth season episode "A Matter of Time" was originally developed for Williams, but production on the 1991 Spielberg film "Hook" got in the way (via StarTrek.com ).

Many may be most familiar with Mila Kunis as the flighty brunette Jackie on "That '70s Show" or always-bullied Meg on "Family Guy." But since her star-making turn as Jackie, the actress has had an impressive career, most notably starring in Darren Aronofsky's Academy Award-winning   psychological-horror "Black Swan." In 2011, Kunis came out to the world as a diehard Trekkie, thanks to a Q&A session with GQ in the wake of that film's release.

"I got into ["Star Trek"] in my late teens; 18, 19, 20. Something like that. I got into it later than most people," she acknowledged. "But let's not talk about it in the past tense. I'm still a 'Star Trek' fan. You never stop being one." Kunis ranked the various "Trek" series' that existed at the time in what she calls an "ongoing argument" with "Family Guy" creator Seth McFarlane. For Kunis, "The Next Generation" is her favorite, while somewhat controversially, she places "Voyager" ahead of "Deep Space Nine."  

But her love of the franchise goes beyond just being a passive viewer, as she even admitted to attending some in-person "Trek" events. "I went to the Star Trek Experience in Vegas maybe five years ago. I hung out with a bunch of fake characters inside Quark's bar," Kunis revealed, referring to the tourist recreation of the set of "Deep Space Nine" that ran from 1998-2008. "There were all these actors there pretending to be the different characters from the different shows. Yes, I loved it." But that's not all, as Kunis says she's also a collector, counting a signed Leonard Nimoy photo and several "Star Trek" figurines among her possessions.

Ben Stiller

If you haven't been paying attention to Ben Stiller outside of his biggest films, you may never have realized what a huge "Star Trek" fan he is. But the truth is, if you've followed his career closely you'd be aware, because he hasn't exactly been shy about it. Turn back the clock to 1996: Stiller hosted the "Star Trek" 30th anniversary TV special , and went on a personal diatribe about his love for the franchise, and growing up watching Kirk, Spock, and Mr. Sulu. 

To this day, Stiller continues to be open about his fandom, and in 2020, he appeared as the very first guest on the debut episode of "The Pod Directive," an official "Star Trek" podcast hosted by "Star Trek: Lower Decks" star Tawny Newsome. In the episode , Stiller talked at length about considering the series "his best friend" while growing up. "'Star Trek' for me was something you could watch every night," he told Newsome and co-host Paul F. Tompkins. But his love for "Trek" didn't stop when the TV turned off. "My mom took me to a couple of conventions in the late '70s," revealing how he'd stand in line to collect memorabilia and autographs.

Unlike some other stars though, Stiller's fandom benefited from growing up in a showbiz family. "My parents knew William Shatner a little bit," he said, revealing that his mother's work on the game show "The 10,000 Pyramid" gave him rare access to certain celebrities. "That was exciting for me!"

Seth MacFarlane

Admittedly, the revelation that Seth MacFarlane is a massive "Star Trek" nerd might not come as a huge surprise, even if you've never seen him talk about it . You may have never even have seen his homemade "Star Trek" movies , but fans of "Family Guy" have seen countless homages to the show, most notably in the episode "Not All Dogs Go To Heaven." 

McFarlane also cast Patrick Stewart as the lead in "American Dad." But his love of the sci-fi franchise shines most brightly in his live action sci-fi comedy "The Orville," which wears its love for "Star Trek" unashamedly on its sleeve.

In fact, when building out his production team for the sci-fi sitcom "The Orville," MacFarlane brought in a number of "Star Trek" veterans. This includes producers Brannon Braga and David A. Goodman, writers Andre Bormanis and Joe Menosky, plus directors James Conway, Jonathan Frakes, and Robert Duncan McNeill (the latter of whom played Commander Riker on "TNG" and Tom Paris on "Voyager"). "He filled the room with 'Next Gen' people so that the show would look and feel like it," Frakes told the audience at the Lexington Comic and Toy Convention in 2018.

But unlike so many others, MacFarlane actually got the chance to fulfill his dream of being a part of the "Star Trek" franchise. In 2004, when "Family Guy" was in the midst of its first cancelation, he played Ensign Rivers, a young engineer in a pair of episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise."

Olivia Wilde

Sci-fi fans probably recall Olivia Wilde's turn as the digital dame Quorra in the 2010 film "Tron: Legacy." More recently though, Wilde has decided to transition to sitting behind the camera, and directed "Star Trek" star Chris Pine in the 2022 indie drama "Don't Worry Darling." But we have to wonder if while making the movie, she wasn't a little bit excited to be meeting the modern day Captain Kirk, as the actress-turned-director described herself as a Trekkie in a 2011 interview with  Gizmodo .

The interview was to promote Wilde's film "Cowboys and Aliens," and Gizmodo asked about Wilde's participation in science fiction films like "Tron," wondering if she might be interested in any other franchise. To the surprise of many, she name-dropped "Star Trek," since she "grew up as a Trekkie" and had some unexpected ideas about who she could play. She told Gizmodo that "I think 'Star Trek,' they were always great female roles, but there's no reason the captain shouldn't be a woman. I think we could do Captain Kirk as a woman."

While she might not have seen "Star Trek: Voyager," which featured actress Kate Mulgrew as the show's first leading female captain, it sounds like Wilde thinks a gender-swapped Kirk could work on-screen. Considering some of the wild sci-fi shenanigans the franchise has experience before, there's really no reason it couldn't, and Wilde is as good a choice as any to take on the role. 

Christian Slater

Many people know Christian Slater from  "Mr. Robot," or any number of iconic films throughout his career, including "Heathers" and "Untamed Heart." What some may not know, however, is his bit role in the 1991 "Star Trek" film, "The Undiscovered Country." It's a role he got thanks to his mother — the film's casting director — whom he asked to get him even a tiny role in his favorite franchise.

Appearing on "Conan"  in 2012, Slater talked about his cameo, where he played a Starfleet ensign serving under Captain Sulu. "That was a big deal," he told the talk show host. But O'Brien also exposed the true depths of Slater's obsession with "Trek" when he asked if he owned any memorabilia. "A buddy of mine knows I'm a huge Trekkie, knows I love the show ... [he] did get me the Captain Kirk chair," the actor admitted, referring to a full-size replica of Captain Kirk's famous command chair from the bridge of the original Enterprise. "You can push the buttons and all the lights go on and I love it!"

But when O'Brien asked the actor if he had ever dressed up as Kirk while sitting in the chair at home, Slater demurred. "I can't really confirm or deny that." If he did, he'd have authenticity on his side, as he confessed on Graham Norton's radio show in 2017 that he stole a Starfleet uniform from the set of "Star Trek VI." He said, "I have it in a box somewhere. It was William Shatner's costume from Star Trek II, actually" (via Digital Spy ).

It seems like every week, someone you never expected is revealed to be a "Star Trek" fan, and in 2019, Sam Witwer added himself to the list. No stranger to iconic science fiction franchises, Witwer starred in "Battlestar Galactica" as Raptor pilot Crashdown, in "Smallville" as the arch villain Doomsday, and as the voice of both Emperor Palpatine and Darth Maul in various "Star Wars" animated projects like "Clone Wars" and "Rebels." 

But while he's wasn't campaigning for a role in "Star Trek," he did reveal himself to be a Trekkie in a surprising way. In November 2019, Witwer took to Twitter to voice his support for an HD remastering of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," suggesting that it would help fuel the "streaming wars." 

As diehard fans know, only the original "Star Trek" and "The Next Generation" have received HD remasters and restorations, with "DS9" and "Voyager" to this day only available in original standard definition ("Enterprise" was filmed in high definition on its debut in 2001).

But while Witwer may not be pushing to star in the next big "Star Trek" series on Paramount+, that might be because he's already been a part of the franchise. In addition to providing voice work for the "Star Trek: Online" video game, Witwer appeared in "Star Trek: Enterprise" as an unnamed alien Xindi in the 2003 episode "The Shipment."

Nicolas Cage

A self-professed comic geek, Nicolas Cage has played the comic book hero "Ghost Rider" and appeared in a supporting voice in "Into the Spider-Verse," but has never appeared in a major sci-fi or fantasy franchise. So, when interviewed in early 2023 about the possibility of ever joining the "Star Wars" universe alongside his "Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" co-star Pedro Pascal, Cage stunned everyone when he spurned the galaxy far, far away by revealing his Trekkie status for the first time. 

"'No,' is the answer and I'm not really down. I'm a Trekkie, man," Cage told Yahoo's Kevin Polowy in an interview posted to Twitter . Cage noted that he's been a fan of the Final Frontier since he was young, when he would watch William Shatner on the series, but he loves the movies starring Chris Pine as well.

He further explained what he loves about "Star Trek" and science fiction generally: "To me what science fiction is really all about and why it's such an important genre is that is really where you can say whatever you want, however you feel. You put it on a different planet, you put it in a different time ... and 'Star Trek' really embraced that."

But despite being encouraged by Pascal to make an appearance on "The Mandalorian" (via  Yahoo ), Cage insisted to Polowy that there was no room in his fandom to betray his favorite sci-fi saga: "I'm on the Enterprise. That's where I roll." 

Every Actor Who’s Ever Played Spock, In Order

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Out of all the characters to come out of the long-spanning Star Trek franchise, there are few that are as beloved as Spock . A stoic source of wisdom, the Vulcan has become synonymous with the image of the hit TV show created by Gene Roddenberry. While Leonard Nimoy would come to offer what is arguably the definitive performance of Spock, other actors would step into the role and make their own significant impact. At the same time, there are many actors, mostly forgotten, who played the Vulcan for but a brief, fleeting moment.

Spock's legacy continues to this day, with actor Ethan Peck being the newest iteration of the character in the critically and fan-acclaimed Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . The Vulcan is certainly set to "Live long and prosper," likely to always have a place in upcoming Star Trek productions. We will look at everyone who has played Spock up to date, placing them in chronological order.

11 Leonard Nimoy

When someone mentions Spock, most will instantly think of Leonard Nimoy . Leonard Nimoy, while having many roles throughout his career, is forever tied to the character. While the simplest reason for this is him being the first to step into the role in Star Trek: The Original Series , which ran from 1966 to 1969, it is his impeccable performance that cemented him as the definitive Spock. From mannerisms like the Vulcan salute to the raised eyebrow to lines of dialogue now integrated into pop culture, Nimoy was, by all intents and purposes, Spock. He would even carry this persona into his writing and music, fully embracing the character, albeit with a few hiccups along the way.

Still, Leonard Nimoy would come to play Spock longer than any other actor, amassing multiple credits as the logical Vulcan. His final performance as the character in Star Trek: Into Darkness from his first appearance marks 47 years; a feat only beaten by a small handful of actors, most in the realm of soap operas. Leonard Nimoy's passing in 2015 at the age of 83 was certainly felt by the fandom, but he will always be remembered for his impact on Star Trek through his performance as Spock.

• Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)
• Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974)
• Star Trek: The Next Generation — Unification Parts I & II (1991)
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
• Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)
• Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
• Star Trek (2009)
• Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)

Leonard Nimoy Almost Quit Playing Spock Before Star Trek Even Aired

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10 Billy Simpson

Billy Simpson was the first of many to portray Spock in his childhood, albeit in a minor role in the episode "Yesteryear" of Star Trek: The Animated Series; a role so brief it goes uncredited. Simpson's career was short, only having a handful of minor roles. However, his most significant contribution to entertainment came through his work as a "Demented News correspondent" for the Dr. Demento Show . This legendary radio show highlighted those on the outskirts of society and fringe artists, with most knowing of him from Rainn Wilson's performance as the DJ in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story .

• Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) as Young Spock

9 Carl Steven

Many young actors got to play the iconic Vulcan because of the time-spanning story in Star Trek III: The Quest for Spock, including Carl Steven , who played a 9-year-old Spock. Carl Steven would have a modest career in TV, film, and voice acting. He is probably best known for his performance as Tommy Pervis in Honey I Shrunk the Kids or the voice of Fred Jones in A Pup Named Scooby-Doo .

• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) as Spock, age 9

8 Vadia Potenza

Vadia Potenza played a 13-year-old Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. This is Potenza's most significant role, and his IMDb page is pretty scant. Most of his work was behind the scenes, including 21 editor credits. Most recently, Potenza acted as associate producer on the 2022 indie comedy UFO Club, which currently stands at 8.1 with only 15 reviews; for those interested, the comedy movie is free on Tubi .

• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) as Spock, age 13

7 Stephen Manley

Stephen Manley would play a 17-year-old Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Out of all the actors to step into the role of a younger Spock, Manley would go on to be a consistent force in the industry, albeit in more minor roles and indie productions. Still, Manley is still working and has some interesting upcoming projects. Notably, he is slated to play Adolf Hitler in the sci-fi TV series The Time War .

• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) as Spock, age 17

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6 Joe W. Davis

The last in line to play a younger Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is Joe W. Davis , who played the Vulcan at 25. Not much is known about Davis beyond this appearance, and his following credits after Star Trek are minor cameo appearances in largely forgotten productions, with perhaps the exception being a quick appearance in the John Cusack-led comedy Better Off Dead.

• "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984) as Spock, age 25

5 Frank Welker

Frank Welker may not be a household name, but almost any kid will recognize one of his voices, with over 800 credits in voice acting. Welker has voiced various Transformers in the recent blockbuster franchise, Scooby-Doo since 2002, Grafield, Curious George, Baby Kermit, and various roles in The Simpsons . This is just scratching the epic career of Frank Weller. It is not surprising he would voice Spock, though this is such a minor entry in his vast credits. Frank Welker provided some of the screams of Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock .

• Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) as Spock, voice

4 Zachary Quinto

Zachary Quinto certainly had big shoes to fill when he became the first real successor to Leonard Nimoy's Spock when he was cast in J.J. Abrams' 2009 action sci-fi epic Star Trek . Leading up to this role Quinto was a relatively unknown name with his only major credit predating his stepping into the role of Vulcan, coming via a recurring role as Adam Kaufman in the popular series 24 starring Kiefer Sutherland.

Quinto's performance, which is largely considered overshadowed today, sitting between Leonard Nimoy and Ethan Peck, was well received at the time, and today many believe deserves more of a spotlight when looking at the characters' legacy. Quinto portrayed a more young and rash Spock, who carried many of the signature mannerisms of the character but also showed a youthful rebellious nature that was never explored with Nimoy's Spock. Leonard Nimoy even approved of the performance, feeling Zachary Quinto was a worthy successor.

• Star Trek: Beyond (2016)

3 Jacob Kogan

Jacob Kogan would go on to play a young Spock in 2009's Star Trek. Kogan first appeared on-screen as one of the kids in the controversial TV series Wonder Showzen and followed that up with a lead role in the 2007 horror thriller Joshua . However, since his appearance in Star Trek , Kogan would go on to a few minor roles, last appearing in the 2017 made-for-TV movie Inside the Woods .

• Star Trek (2009) Young Spock

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2 Liam Hughes

Liam Hughes would appear as a young Spock in three episodes of the second season of Star Trek: Discovery . The youngest actor to make this list, Hughes is still trying to make a name for himself in the industry. Still, things look promising for the young actor, who has already appeared in notable TV shows like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina , Flash , Supernatural , and Peacemaker .

• Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 (2019) young Spock.

1 Ethan Peck

First appearing in season two of Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024), Ethan Peck would soon become a fan-favorite, and the announcement of his continued role in helping to redefine the original series in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was certainly welcome. Leading up to his role as Spock, Peck was a relatively unknown actor, performing minor roles in a handful of TV series and supporting roles in smaller independent films. Despite his limited experience, Peck has proven to be the perfect fit for Spock.

While you can say it is all in the voice, with Peck's calm yet deep voice reminiscent of Nimoy in a way that has sparked nostalgia, it is the balance of emotions and the logical side of the character that has made the performance feel very authentic and true to the character's legacy. Ethan Peck would also see praise from the Nimoy family, with Leonard's son, Adam Nimoy, publicly endorsing Peck's performance, praising the balance of bringing a new sensibility to the character while still honoring Spock's roots and importance to the fandom.

• Star Trek: Discovery Season Two (2019)
• Star Trek: Short Treks (2019)
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–)

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• Star Trek Series | 2364 - 2378
• Star Trek: The Next Generation

Background Actors?

• Thread starter Taylirious
• Start date May 6, 2014

Rear Admiral

• May 6, 2014

I was re-watching S1 and there is a background actor I saw in almost every EP of S1. I looked it up but didn't see her in the list. I was wondering if she had been in later seasons which I have not re-watched yet and might have had an actual role I didn't remember. She is a redhead in a yellow/gold skirt uniform? Usually seen on the bridge, sometimes in the halls and maybe in engineering if it is the same person.  

T'Girl

Vice admiral, fleet captain.

Hm, redheaded background actress, that was probably Diana Giddings. http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Diana_Giddings  

I always wondered how much Trek background actors made. Some of them were in a lot of episodes.... they must have been paid enough to pay the bills! I'm guessing that they don't make residual checks off of any reruns that air.  

TayLaLaLa said: I was re-watching S1 and there is a background actor I saw in almost every EP of S1. I looked it up but didn't see her in the list. I was wondering if she had been in later seasons which I have not re-watched yet and might have had an actual role I didn't remember. She is a redhead in a yellow/gold skirt uniform? Usually seen on the bridge, sometimes in the halls and maybe in engineering if it is the same person. Click to expand...

• May 7, 2014

There's a guy with black hair, I know he was in "The Game" putting a game head set on when Crusher & Lefler left ten forward. He's seen a bunch of times.  

Maxwell Everett

Ro_Laren said: I always wondered how much Trek background actors made. Some of them were in a lot of episodes.... they must have been paid enough to pay the bills! I'm guessing that they don't make residual checks off of any reruns that air. Click to expand...

Trekker4747

Boldly going....

As said above, background extras are the grunts of any TV/movie work. They're literally paid a few $100, given some access to the craft-services table and told to shoo when everything is wrapped. No residuals, nothing. If they *speak* it bumps them up a whole other pay-grade. Which is a shame, the red-haired woman in the skant really needed to be paid more.  

Trekker4747 said: Which is a shame, the red-haired woman in the skant really needed to be paid more. Click to expand...

jimbotron said: Yeah well, she put out for Okona. Click to expand...

Maxwell Everett said: Ro_Laren said: I always wondered how much Trek background actors made. Some of them were in a lot of episodes.... they must have been paid enough to pay the bills! I'm guessing that they don't make residual checks off of any reruns that air. Click to expand...

• May 8, 2014

Several actors portrayed characters on the Bridge for a few episodes. They sometimes got a small speaking part.  

T'Girl said: jimbotron said: Yeah well, she put out for Okona. Click to expand...

• May 15, 2014

varek said: Several actors portrayed characters on the Bridge for a few episodes. They sometimes got a small speaking part. Click to expand...

• May 20, 2014

Ro_Laren said: It seems like we had more reoccurring background actors in Voyager than in TNG. They also seemed to have more lines. But, maybe I just need to rewatch both shows. Click to expand...

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How Patti Yasutake's Star Trek Character Grew From Walk-On To Series Regular

Actress Patti Yasutake, best known to Trekkies as Nurse Alyssa Ogawa, died on August 5, 2024, of a rare type of T-cell lymphoma. She was 70 years old. 

Nurse Ogawa first appeared on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in the episode "Future Imperfect" (November 12, 1990) more or less as a background character. She was one of Dr. Crusher's retinue of medical staff, there to give viewers the impression that the ship's sickbay was constantly bustling. She went on to star in 14 additional episodes of the show, and was usually merely standing next to Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) , passing her tools or saying "Yes, Doctor." She had a good bedside manner, and her repeated appearances had viewers wondering who she was and what her story might be. As the series progressed, Nurse Ogawa's role expanded incrementally, eventually leading to her becoming a legitimate supporting player. 

Indeed, by the show's seventh season, Nurse Ogawa began to have significant episodes of her own. In "Parallels" (November 29, 1993), for instance, Worf (Michael Dorn) found himself unexpectedly shunting between parallel dimensions, and in one of them, Dr. Crusher was dead (or just absent) and Dr. Ogawa had taken her place. It was nice to know that, even in a parallel universe, Nurse Ogawa's professional medical career would continue apace. 

Nurse Ogawa was also one of several featured characters in the episode "Lower Decks" (February 7, 1994), which would serve as the primary inspiration for the modern-day animated series that shares its namesake. That episode was about a random assortment of ensigns on the U.S.S. Enterprise, Nurse Ogawa among them, who don't always get a full description of the missions the senior staff is involved with. It's frustrating when you only have to follow orders. 

Nurse Ogawa's 14 episodes

On the DVD commentary track for "Lower Decks," writer René Echevarria said Nurse Ogawa was included among that episode's main characters because the "NextGen" writers always liked Patti Yasutake, and wanted to give her something significant to do. She wasn't in earlier drafts of that script, but Echevarria found a way to work her in. 

In the season 7 episode "Genesis" (March 21, 1994), Nurse Ogawa announced to Dr. Crusher that she was pregnant, a surprise to her boss, as it didn't seem like her relationship with the off-screen Lieutenant Andrew Powell. Indeed, Nurse Ogawa seems to have had several romantic relationships on "NextGen," including with someone named Ensign Markson, as stated in the episode "Attached" (November 8, 1993). Andrew Powell was said to have proposed marriage in "Lower Decks," and Ogawa would become pregnant with their child by "Genesis." Nurse Ogawa's pregnancy proved to be a plot point in that episode. A virus was causing the ship's crew to devolve into animals (Ogawa became an ape), but her fetus was protected by its amniotic locale. Data (Brent Spiner) was able to extrapolate a cure from Nurse Ogawa's body. 

Also notable: in 1993, Patti Yasutake appeared in a TV commercial for Hallmark's "Star Trek: The Next Generation" collectible ornament. That year, Hallmark put out an ornament of the U.S.S. Enterprise D, and the commercial depicted Nurse Ogawa, in her quarters, asking the ship's computer (Majel Barrett) about the object in question. She liked it so much, she replicated one herself.

Nurse Ogawa in the movies

Although she has little to do in them, Nurse Ogawa also appeared in the first two "Star Trek: The Next Generation" spinoff movies "Star Trek: Generations" and "Star Trek: First Contact." In the former, she was merely a medical professional again, standing alongside Dr. Crusher. While nothing was added to her story, it was comforting to see that she was still on the ship for its first big-screen outing. In "First Contact," she could be seen steering people to safety during a Borg attack. Looking closely at her rank pips in the movies reveals that Nurse Ogawa had been promoted from an ensign to a lieutenant. 

Yasutake stayed in the orbit of "Star Trek" for a few years thereafter, providing her voice for various characters in "Star Trek: Armada II" (2001), and appearing as Dr. Beverly Krasher in the 2016 "Star Trek" spoof "Unbelievable!!!!!" That film also featured Snoop Dogg and over 40 known Trek actors, including Walter Koenig, and Nichelle Nichols in her final film role. 

Yasutake began her career in the 1980s, and some might recall her role as Umeki in Ron Howard's "Gung Ho," a role she reprised for the spinoff TV series. She was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award in 1988 for her performance in Michael Toshiyuki Uno's "The Wash," and played a newscaster in the Sylvester Stallone vehicle "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot!" She's a cult favorite as Mrs. Howard in "Drop Dead Gorgeous" but most recently, Yasutake appeared on the heavily awarded TV series "Beef" as Fumi.

She was always a welcome presence on "Star Trek," and a warm human being otherwise. Rest in peace.

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Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

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‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ actor dead at 70

• Updated: Aug. 08, 2024, 7:17 a.m.
• | Published: Aug. 08, 2024, 7:10 a.m.

Patti Yasutake, a cast member in "Beef," poses at the premiere of the Netflix series Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Tudum Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

• Mark Heim | [email protected]

Patti Yasutake, best known for “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” died after a long battle with cancer on Monday.

The 70-year-old actress was surrounded by friends and family, her manager and friend Kyle Fritz told Deadline .

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