original star trek tv show cast

WHERE ARE THEY NOW: The cast of 'Star Trek: The Original Series'

• " Star Trek " debuted 56 years ago on September 8, 1966.
• After the show, the cast of the original series remained sci-fi icons.
• Only three stars of " The Original Series " are alive today, after Nichelle Nichols' death in July.

William Shatner led the crew of the USS Enterprise as Captain James T. Kirk.

"Star Trek" was originally going to be focused on a different  captain, Captain Christopher Pike, played by Jeffrey Hunter. A pilot was even filmed, called "The Cage," but it didn't make it to airwaves until the '80s. Gene Roddenberry, the creator, eventually retooled the show and cast Shatner as a new captain, Kirk. Some footage from "The Cage" was then reused for a season one episode called "The Menagerie."

Before "Star Trek," Shatner was famous for his role in an iconic " Twilight Zone " episode, "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," in which he played a man recently released from a mental hospital who becomes convinced he can see a creature on the wing of the plane he's flying on. It aired in 1963, three years before "Star Trek."

In addition to his "Star Trek" roles, Shatner acted in "T.J. Hooker" and "Boston Legal," hosted "Rescue 911," and he has written numerous books. He finally made it to the final frontier in October 2021.

Though he's 91 years old, Shatner has shown no signs of slowing down. After "Star Trek" was canceled in 1969, he briefly returned to voice Kirk for the "Star Trek" animated series. In 1979, he again reprised his role as Kirk in " Star Trek: The Motion Picture ." He'd continue to do so regularly until 1994's "Star Trek Generations." He even directed one of the "Star Trek" movies: " Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. "

Besides "Star Trek," Shatner starred as the titular police officer on the '80s procedural "T.J. Hooker" and narrated " Rescue 911 ," a show that consisted of dramatic reenactments of real crimes.

Other roles that you might recognize Shatner from: a pageant host in " Miss Congeniality ," attorney Dennis Crane in " The Practice " and its spin-off " Boston Legal " for which he won two Emmys , and in the 2016-2018 reality show " Better Late Than Never ," in which Shatner, Henry Winkler, George Foreman, and Terry Bradshaw traveled around the world and experienced different cultures.

The actor is set to appear in the upcoming "Masters of the Universe: Revolution" series on Netflix. He also finally made it to space himself during a Blue Origin flight in October 2021, making him the oldest person to go into space at 90.

Shatner has written multiple books, both fiction and non-fiction over the course of his career. His 2016 book, " Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man ," was about his friendship with "Star Trek" co-star Leonard Nimoy, who played his on-screen better half, Commander Spock.

Walter Koenig was cast as Ensign Pavel Chekov because of his resemblance to the Monkees' Davy Jones.

While Chekov was Russian, Koenig was born in America and based his accent on his parents' accents — they were Russian immigrants. Koenig was cast because, according to legend, he was supposed to help attract young girls as viewers due to his resemblance to teen idol Davy Jones. He even wore a Davy Jones-esque women's wig for the first seven or eight episodes, he told TV Insider in 2016.

Koenig's mainly recognized for his on-screen role as Chekov, though he became a pretty prolific screenwriter in the '70s. He wrote episodes for the "Star Trek" animated series, anthology series "What Really Happened to the Class of '65?" and children's series "Land of the Lost."

Koenig appeared in the 2018 film "Diminuendo."

Koenig, 85, (he's turning 86 on September 14) still makes frequent appearances on the "Star Trek" convention circuit, as well as acting in the occasional film. He appeared in 12 episodes of " Babylon 5 " in the '90s, voiced himself in an episode of "Futurama," and also voiced Mr. Savic on the Netflix animated series " Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters. "

While not all of the "Star Trek" cast were on great terms, Koenig and his co-star George Takei remain close. Koenig was even the best man in Takei's wedding in 2008.

George Takei played Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, a helmsman on the Enterprise.

Over the course of the show, Sulu was revealed to have many interests outside of Star Fleet, most famously fencing. At the time, Sulu was one of the first Asian characters on TV who wasn't explicitly a villain, and instead was a fully formed hero.

"Up until the time I was cast in 'Star Trek,' the roles were pretty shallow — thin, stereotyped, one-dimensional roles. I knew this character was a breakthrough role, certainly for me as an individual actor but also for the image of an Asian character: no accent, a member of the elite leadership team," Takei told Mother Jones in 2012.

Takei originally was supposed to play Sulu as an astrophysicist, but the role was changed to helmsman. Before "Star Trek," Takei also appeared in " The Twilight Zone " like his co-star William Shatner, among other '50s and '60s procedurals.

Takei is still acting to this day, though many people know him now for his social media presence.

Who says an 85-year-old doesn't know how to use social media? Takei's Facebook page has 9.5 million likes to date, and he has 3.4 million followers on Twitter .

In addition to his continued acting in films like "Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank," " Kubo and the Two Strings ," "Blazing Samurai," and "Mulan," and TV shows like "Heroes," "Supah Ninjas," and " Star Wars: Visions ," Takei is an activist. He came out as gay in 2005  and began working as a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.

Takei also starred in the 2012 musical "Allegiance," which was based on his and his family's experiences during Japanese internment in World War II.

Nichelle Nichols played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, a translator, communications officer, and linguistics expert.

Uhura was one of the first Black television characters that didn't have a menial job — instead, she was in a position of power. She and Shatner were also involved in what is thought to be the first interracial kiss on American TV.

Nichols stayed with the show for all three seasons, but it wasn't without drama. She was tempted to leave during the first year, but none other than Martin Luther King Jr. convinced her to stay. She told the New York Post in 2011 that when she told him that she wanted to leave, he told her, "You can't do that. You have the first non-stereotypical, non-menial role on television. You have created strength and beauty and intelligence. For the first time, the world sees us as we should be seen. It's what we're marching for. You're a role model and whether you like it or not, you belong to history now."

She also released an album in 1967, "Down to Earth." In between "Star Trek's" cancellation and its return on the big screen, Nichols starred in the 1974 blaxploitation film " Truck Turner ," as Dorinda, a madam.

Nichols died in 2022 at the age of 89. She had retired from public appearances in 2018.

From 1977 until 2015, Nichols was involved with Women in Motion, a recruiting program for NASA to help get more women involved in the space program. In July 2020, a documentary about the program finally secured distribution and will be released in 2021, Deadline reported. 

"Nichelle Nichols not only was a trailblazer in Hollywood, she was a trailblazer for the future of our society. She took the fight for Civil Rights, diversity and inclusion and gender equality to new frontiers with NASA which continue to serve America's space program today. She was ahead of her time," said executive producer Ben Crump.

Nichols also appeared in " The Young and the Restless, " "Heroes," and " Futurama ." She was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 and subsequently retired from public appearances.

In July 2022, Nichols' son announced on social media that Nichols had died at the age of 89 .

Leonard Nimoy played Captain Kirk's first officer and close friend Commander Spock.

Spock was the only alien member of the original crew, as he was half-human, half-Vulcan — an alien race from the planet Vulcan whose residents operate solely from a point of logic, not feelings. Much of the show's comedy came from Spock and Kirk's differences and their amusement at each other. His frequent farewell, " Live Long and Prosper ," accompanied by the Vulcan Salute, are among the most recognizable pieces of the "Star Trek" canon.

Nimoy had multiple small parts in B movies and TV shows before booking "Star Trek," including an episode of " The Man from U.N.C.L.E. " alongside future co-star William Shatner, as well as an episode of " The Twilight Zone ."

But once "Star Trek" premiered, Nimoy would be forever linked with his Vulcan counterpart, and he mainly did voice work after the show ended. He also reunited with Shatner for an episode of his show, "T.J. Hooker."

Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83. He played Spock for the final time in 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness," meaning he played the role for almost 50 years.

Nimoy is the only actor from the original series to appear in JJ Abrams' rebooted films, as he appeared in 2009's "Star Trek" and its 2013 sequel " Star Trek Into Darkness " as an older version of Spock who was trapped in an alternate universe.

In addition to acting, Nimoy was a photographer, recording artist, author, and director. He directed two "Star Trek" movies (" The Search for Spock " and "The Journey Home"), and "Three Men and a Baby," which became the highest-grossing film of 1987 .

Nimoy died in 2015 at the age of 83 due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

DeForest Kelley played the ship's curmudgeonly chief medical officer, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.

Bones, as he was affectionately called, was one of the oldest members of the crew, and thus got to be a bit more obnoxious than the rest of them. His frequent catchphrase, " I'm a doctor, not a ___, " is one of the most parodied lines of dialogue from the show.

Like his character, Kelley was older and a more established actor than the rest of the cast. Before the show, he had appeared in Westerns and historical films like " Gunfight at the O.K. Corral ," "Warlock," and " Raintree County " in the '50s.

Kelley died in 1999 at the age of 79, nine years after playing McCoy for the last time.

Kelley essentially retired from acting, besides playing McCoy, after the success of "Star Trek." He appeared in all six films starring the original cast, and appeared in an episode of " Star Trek: The Next Generation " as McCoy, as well.

While he wasn't much of a sci-fi fan, Kelley was proud of his "Star Trek" legacy. When asked what he thought his legacy would be, he explained that his character inspired people to enter the medical field. He told the New York Times , "These people [fans] are doctors now, all kinds of doctors who save lives. That's something that very few people can say they've done. I'm proud to say that I have.''

He died in 1999 at the age of 79 due to stomach cancer .

Majel Barrett had a recurring role as Nurse Christine Chapel.

Barrett was originally cast in the first version of "Star Trek" as Pike's first officer, but when that episode was scratched, so was her character. However, due to her romantic relationship with "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry (who she later married), she was brought back as Nurse Chapel (a divisive character).

Before the show, Barrett was in various bit parts in '50s and '60s shows, but her big break was " Star Trek ," which she stayed involved in for the rest of her life.

Barrett died in 2008 when she was 76 years old. Up until her death, she had been involved with every "Star Trek" series in some way, leading fans to call her the First Lady of "Star Trek."

Barrett reprised her role as Chapel in " Star Trek: The Motion Picture " and " Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ." She also appeared in " Star Trek: The Next Generation " and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" as Lwaxana Troi, the mother of Deanna Troi, a main character in "Next Generation." Her other involvement in the series was the voice of the computer in many of the other " Star Trek" films: "Generations ," " First Contact ," "Nemesis," and 2009's reboot.

She died in 2008 at the age of 76 due to leukemia . 

James Doohan played chief engineering officer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott.

Contrary to popular belief, the phrase " Beam me up, Scotty " is never actually uttered in the original series. The man on the other end of that command, Scotty, was played by Doohan, who was Canadian in real life, not Scottish.

Before "Star Trek," Doohan served in the Canadian military and was even on the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, and was a pilot as well. After the war, he began acting and became a successful radio actor. Like his co-stars, he also appeared in an episode of " The Twilight Zone ," and other popular procedurals. 

In the animated series, Doohan proved to be indispensable, with his talent for voice acting and accents. He voiced over 50 characters during the show's run.

James Doohan died at the age of 85 in 2005.

Doohan didn't find much success outside of the world of "Star Trek," and thus embraced his role as Scotty. He appeared in "Generations," as well as an episode of " The Next Generation ." 

However, his impact on the field of engineering cannot be overstated. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Milwaukee School of Engineering "after half the students there said that Scotty had inspired them to take up the subject," according to the BBC .

Towards the end of his life, Doohan suffered from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and retired from public life in 2004. He died the following year, at 85, due to complications from pneumonia .

Grace Lee Whitney appeared in the first season of the show as Yeoman Janice Rand.

Rand appeared in eight episodes of the show's first 15-episode season as a clerical and administrative worker aboard the ship, before Whitney was released from her contract. At the time, the story was that the show didn't have enough money to keep everyone, but years later in her autobiography, Rand accused an unnamed executive producer , whom she called "The Executive," of sexually assaulting her.

"I tried to do what he wanted me to, so I could get it over with. I knew, deep down inside, that I was finished on 'Star Trek.' At that moment, however, I didn't care about that. Nothing else mattered — not my tarnished virtue, not my career, not my role on 'Star Trek.' The only thing that mattered was getting out of that room alive," she wrote.

Star Trek: The Original Series

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Star Trek: The Original Series (referred to as Star Trek prior to any spin-offs) is the first Star Trek series. The first episode of the show aired on 6 September 1966 on CTV in Canada, followed by a 8 September 1966 airing on NBC in America. The show was created by Gene Roddenberry as a " Wagon Train to the Stars". Star Trek was set in the 23rd century and featured the voyages of the starship USS Enterprise under Captain James T. Kirk .

Star Trek was later informally dubbed The Original Series , or TOS, after several spin-offs aired. The show lasted three seasons until canceled in 1969 . When the show first aired on TV, and until lowering budget issues in its third season resulted in a noticable drop in quality episodes and placed in a 10 pm Friday night death slot by the network, Star Trek regularly performed respectably in its time slot. After it was canceled and went into syndication , however, its popularity exploded. It featured themes such as a Utopian society and racial equality, and the first African-American officer in a recurring role.

Ten years later, Star Trek: The Motion Picture reunited the cast on the big screen aboard a refurbished USS Enterprise . They appeared in five subsequent films, ending with Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 1991, during production of the spin-off series Star Trek: The Next Generation and shortly before Gene Roddenberry's death. Several original series characters also appeared in the seventh movie, Star Trek Generations , and in other Star Trek productions.

• 1 Opening credits
• 2.1 Starring
• 2.2 Also starring
• 2.3 Co-stars
• 3 Production crew
• 4.1 First pilot
• 4.2 Season 1
• 4.3 Season 2
• 4.4 Season 3
• 5.1 Concept
• 5.2 The first pilot
• 5.3 The second pilot
• 5.4 The series begins
• 5.5 The first season
• 5.6 Syndication
• 5.7 Reception
• 5.8 Remastered
• 6 Related topics
• 8 External links

Opening credits [ ]

• Main Title Theme (Season 1)  file info (composed by Alexander Courage )
• Main Title Theme (Season 2-3)  file info (composed by Alexander Courage )

Main cast [ ]

Starring [ ].

• William Shatner as Captain Kirk

Also starring [ ]

• Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
• DeForest Kelley as Dr. McCoy

Co-stars [ ]

• James Doohan as Scotty
• Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
• George Takei as Sulu
• Walter Koenig as Chekov ( 1967 - 1969 )
• Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as Christine Chapel
• Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand

Production crew [ ]

• Gene Roddenberry – Creator, Writer, Producer, Executive Producer
• Gene L. Coon – Writer, Producer
• John Meredyth Lucas – Writer, Producer, Director
• Fred Freiberger – Producer (1968-69)
• Robert H. Justman – Associate Producer (Season 1-2), Co-Producer (Season 3), First Assistant Director (two pilots)
• D.C. Fontana – Writer, Script Consultant (1967-68)
• Steven W. Carabatsos – Writer, Story Consultant (1966)
• John D.F. Black – Associate Producer, Writer, Story Editor (1966)
• Arthur H. Singer – Story Consultant (1968-69)
• Byron Haskin – Associate Producer (first pilot)
• Walter "Matt" Jefferies – Production Designer, Art Director
• William E. Snyder – Director of Photography (first pilot)
• Ernest Haller – Director of Photography (second pilot)
• Jerry Finnerman – Director of Photography (61 episodes, 1966-1968)
• Keith Smith – Director of Photography (1 episode, 1967)
• Al Francis – Director of Photography (16 episodes, 1968-1969), Camera Operator (61 episodes, 1966-1968)
• Jim Rugg – Supervisor of Special Effects
• Rolland M. Brooks – Art Director (34 episodes, 1965-1967)
• Fred B. Phillips – Make-up Artist
• Robert Dawn – Make-up Artist (second pilot)
• William Ware Theiss – Costume Designer
• Gregg Peters – First Assistant Director (Season 1), Unit Production Manager (Season 2-3), Associate Producer (Season 3)
• Claude Binyon, Jr. – Assistant Director (third season)

Episode list [ ]

• List of TOS episodes by airdate
• List of TOS remastered episodes by airdate

First pilot [ ]

Season 1 [ ].

TOS Season 1 , 29 episodes:

Season 2 [ ]

TOS Season 2 , 26 episodes:

Season 3 [ ]

TOS Season 3 , 24 episodes:

Behind the scenes [ ]

Concept [ ].

Star Trek was created by Gene Roddenberry, whose interest in science fiction dated back to the 1940s when he came into contact with Astounding Stories . Roddenberry's first produced science fiction story was The Secret Weapon of 117 , which aired in 1956 on the Chevron Theatre anthology show. By 1963 Roddenberry was producing his first television series, The Lieutenant , at MGM .

In 1963, MGM was of the opinion that "true-to-life" television dramas were becoming less popular and an action-adventure show would be more profitable (this prediction turned out to be right, and led to series such as The Man from U.N.C.L.E ). Roddenberry had already been working on a science fiction concept called Star Trek since 1960 , and when he told MGM about his ideas, they were willing to take a look at them. As the production of The Lieutenant came to an end, Roddenberry delivered his first Star Trek draft to MGM. The studio was, however, not enthusiastic about the concept, and a series was never produced.

Roddenberry tried to sell his " wagon train to the stars " format to several production studios afterward, but to no avail. In 1964 , it was rumored that Desilu was interested in buying a new television series. Desilu was a much smaller company than MGM, but Roddenberry took his chances, greatly aided with the help of Desilu Executive Herb Solow . This led to a three-year deal with Desilu in April 1964 .

The first attempt to sell the Star Trek format to broadcasting network CBS (Desilu had a first proposal deal with the network) failed. CBS chose another science fiction project, Irwin Allen 's more family-oriented Lost in Space instead of Roddenberry's more cerebral approach. But in May 1964 , NBC 's Vice-President of Programming Mort Werner agreed to give Roddenberry the chance to write three story outlines, one of which NBC would select to turn into a pilot.

One of the submitted story lines, dated 29 June 1964 , was an outline for " The Cage ", and this was the story picked up by NBC. Now, the daunting task that Roddenberry and his crew faced was to develop the Star Trek universe from scratch. Roddenberry recruited many people around him to help think up his version of the future. The RAND Corporation's Harvey P. Lynn acted as a scientific consultant, Pato Guzman was hired as art director, with Matt Jefferies as an assisting production designer. This phase of creativity and brainstorming lasted throughout the summer, until in the last week of September 1964 the final draft of the "The Cage" script was delivered to NBC, after which shooting of the pilot was approved.

The first pilot [ ]

In early October, preparations for shooting "The Cage" began. A few changes in the production crew were made: Roddenberry hired Morris Chapnick , who had worked with him on The Lieutenant , as his assistant. Pato Guzman left to return to Chile and was replaced by Franz Bachelin . Matt Jefferies finalized the design for the Enterprise and various props and interiors. By November 1964 , the sets were ready to be constructed on stages Culver Studios Stage 14 , 15 , and 16 . Roddenberry was not happy with the stages, since they had uneven floors and were not soundproof, as Culver Studios had been established in the silent movie era when soundproofing had not been an issue to consider. Eventually, in 1966 , the rest of the series was shot on Paramount stages 9 and 10 , which were in better shape.

Casting of the characters was not a problem, apart from the lead role of Captain Pike (still known as "Captain April " at this point, later renamed "Captain Winter" before finally choosing "Pike") who Roddenberry convinced Jeffrey Hunter to play. Leonard Nimoy ( Spock ) had worked with Roddenberry on The Lieutenant . Majel Barrett , also a familiar face from The Lieutenant , got the part of the ship's female first officer, Number One . Veteran character actor John Hoyt , who had worked on many science fiction and fantasy projects before, was chosen to play the role of Doctor Phil Boyce . Young Peter Duryea and Laurel Goodwin were hired as José Tyler and Yeoman J.M. Colt , respectively. The extras were cast from a diversity of ethnic groups, which was significant because integration was not a usual occurrence in 1960s television, and segregation was still a reality in the United States.

To produce the pilot episode, Robert H. Justman was hired as assistant director; he had worked on The Outer Limits shortly before. Makeup artist Fred Phillips was brought in as well, whose first job it was to create Spock's ears. Another veteran from The Outer Limits was producer-director Byron Haskin , who joined as associate producer. On 27 November 1964 , the first scenes of "The Cage" (or "The Menagerie," as it was briefly known), were shot. Filming was scheduled to be eleven days, however the production went highly over budget and over schedule, resulting in sixteen shooting days and US$164,248 plus expenses.

But there were still a lot of visual effects to be made. An eleven-foot filming model of the USS Enterprise , designed by Matt Jefferies, was built by Richard Datin , Mel Keys , and Vern Sion in Volmer Jensen 's model shop , and was delivered to the Howard Anderson Company on 29 December 1964 .

In February 1965 , the final version of "The Cage" was delivered at NBC and screened in New York City. NBC officials liked the first pilot. Desilu's Herb Solow says that NBC was surprised by how realistic it looked, and that it was "the most fantastic thing we've ever seen." The reason the pilot was rejected was because it was believed that it would attract only a small audience, and they wanted more action and adventure. They also had problems with the "satanic" Spock and the female first officer (Number One). However, NBC was convinced that Star Trek could be made into a television series, and that NBC itself had been at fault for choosing the "The Cage" script from the original three stories pitched. Also, after spending US$630,000 on "The Cage" (the most expensive TV pilot at the time), they didn't want to have their money wasted. NBC then made the unprecedented move to order a second pilot.

The second pilot [ ]

For the second pilot, NBC requested three story outlines again. These were " Where No Man Has Gone Before " by Samuel A. Peeples , and " Mudd's Women " and " The Omega Glory " by Roddenberry. Although it was the most expensive of the three, NBC chose " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", as it had the most action and most outer space spectacle. However, the other two premises were also made into episodes of the series later.

Filming the second pilot began in July 1965 , and took nine days to complete. The entire cast of " The Cage " was replaced except Spock. Jeffrey Hunter chose not to reprise his role as Captain Pike, mostly by the advice of his wife, who felt that "science fiction ruins her husband's career". Roddenberry wanted both Lloyd Bridges and Jack Lord for the role of the new captain, however both declined. Finally William Shatner , who had previous science fiction experience acting in episodes of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits , was chosen. The new captain was named James R. Kirk (later renamed James T. Kirk).

For the role of the chief medical officer, Roddenberry chose veteran actor Paul Fix . Canadian actor James Doohan got the role of chief engineer Scott , and young Japanese-American George Takei was featured as ship's physicist Sulu . The latter two reprised their roles in the upcoming series, though Sulu was a helmsman in the series. Other actors considered for being regulars were Lloyd Haynes as communications officer Alden and Andrea Dromm as Yeoman Smith , but neither of them were re-hired after the pilot.

Many of the production staff were replaced. Robert Dawn served as head make-up artist, however Fred Phillips returned to the position in the series itself. Academy Award winner cinematographer Ernest Haller came out of semi-retirement to work as the director of photography. Associate producer Byron Haskin was replaced by Robert H. Justman , who now shared double duties as producer and assistant director.

The Enterprise model was updated for the second pilot, and many new outer space effects shots were made, most of which were reused in the series itself. The sets were also updated a bit, most notably the main bridge and the transporter room. Most of the uniforms, props, and sets were reused from " The Cage ", however some new props (including the never-seen-again phaser rifle ) and a brand new matte painting (the planet Delta Vega ) were made specially for this episode.

" Where No Man Has Gone Before " was accepted by NBC and the first season of a regular series was ordered for broadcasting in the 1966-67 television season. History was made.

The series begins [ ]

Preparation for the first regular season began in early 1966 . All the Enterprise interior sets were updated, as well as the introduction of brand new uniforms. The look of the show became more colorful and more vivid. The Enterprise model was also updated once more. Also, the entire production was moved from Desilu's Culver City studios to the main Gower Street studio's Stage 9 and 10 ( Paramount Stage 31 and 32 from 1967 onward) in Hollywood.

Kirk (Shatner) and Spock (Nimoy) were kept as the series stars, with Grace Lee Whitney joining the two as Yeoman Janice Rand (replacing Andrea Dromm as Yeoman Smith). Whitney had worked with Roddenberry a year before on an unsold pilot titled Police Story . Publicity photos promoting the new series were made at this time, with the three of them, mostly using props left from the two pilots (most notably the aforementioned phaser rifle). Shatner and Nimoy wore their new uniforms on these photographs, while Whitney had to wear an old, pilot version.

Scott (Doohan) and Sulu (Takei) were also kept, the latter becoming the ship's helmsman instead of physicist. Two additions made the Enterprise main crew complete: DeForest Kelley was hired to play the new chief medical officer, Leonard McCoy , as Roddenberry had known him from previous projects, including the aforementioned Police Story . Actress Nichelle Nichols got the role of communications officer Uhura , who became a symbol of the racial and gender diversity of the show. Nichols was a last minute addition, weeks before filming began on the first regular episode.

Jerry Finnerman became the new director of photography, while Fred Phillips, Matt Jefferies, and Rolland M. Brooks returned to their former positions. Writer John D.F. Black was brought in as the second associate producer (next to Justman). While Roddenberry and Black handled the script and story issues, Justman was in charge of the physical aspects of production.

Filming of the first regular episode, " The Corbomite Maneuver " began on 24 May 1966 . Finally Star Trek debuted on NBC with a "Sneak Preview" episode at 8:30 pm (EST) on 8 September 1966 . NBC chose " The Man Trap " (the fifth episode in production order) to air first, mainly because they felt it was more of a "traditional monster story" and featured more action.

The first season [ ]

In August 1966 , several changes were made in the Star Trek production staff. Roddenberry stepped down as line producer and became the executive producer. His replacement was Gene L. Coon , who also regularly contributed to the series as a writer. While Black had also left the series, story editor Steven W. Carabatsos came in, sharing story duties with Roddenberry and Coon. To handle post-production, Edward K. Milkis was brought in by Justman. Carabatsos had left Star Trek near the end of the season, and was replaced by D.C. Fontana , formerly Roddenberry's secretary and a writer for the series.

Syndication [ ]

• See : Syndication

Due to the overall length of the episodes of The Original Series , several minutes of each episode are frequently cut during the show's reruns, notably on the Sci-Fi Channel . Starting in April 2006 , the G4 network began airing the full length episodes in "Uncut Marathons" on Saturdays. G4 stopped airing these full-length versions in November 2006, and has discontinued its run of Star Trek 2.0 , which was a trivia-oriented and interactive version of the show for the viewers.

For current airings see Where to watch .

Reception [ ]

The Original Series has been nominated for and won a number of awards over the years. Some of the awards include:

• The series was nominated for thirteen Emmy Awards during its run, but did not win any.
• It was nominated eight times for the "Best Dramatic Presentation" Hugo Award , sweeping the nominees in 1968. It won twice, and Roddenberry won a special award in 1968.
• The 2003 "Pop Culture Award" in the TV Land Awards .
• The 2005 Saturn Award for "Best DVD Retro Television Release."

Aaron Harberts and James Frain cited TOS as their favorite Star Trek series. ( AT : " O Discovery, Where Art Thou? ")

Remastered [ ]

On 31 August 2006 , CBS Paramount Television announced that, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Star Trek , the show would return to broadcast syndication for the first time in sixteen years. The series' 79 episodes were digitally remastered with all new visual effects and music. The refurbished episodes have been converted from the original film to high-definition video, making it on par with modern television formats.

Related topics [ ]

• TOS directors
• TOS performers
• TOS recurring characters
• TOS writers
• Character crossover appearances
• Undeveloped TOS episodes
• Desilu Stage 9
• Desilu Stage 10
• Star Trek Writers/Directors Guide
• Star Trek: The Original Series novels
• Star Trek: The Original Series comics (DC)
• Star Trek: The Original Series comics (IDW)
• Star Trek: The Original Series soundtracks
• Star Trek: The Original Series on VHS
• Star Trek: The Original Series on Betamax
• Star Trek: The Original Series on CED
• Star Trek: The Original Series on LaserDisc
• Star Trek: The Original Series on DVD
• Star Trek: The Original Series on Blu-ray

External links [ ]

• Star Trek: The Original Series at Wikipedia
• Star Trek: The Original Series at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Star Trek: The Original Series at StarTrek.com
• Star Trek: The Original Series at the Internet Movie Database
• Star Trek: The Original Series at the Movie and TV Wiki
• Public Radio Special: The Peace Message in Star Trek
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Calypso (episode)

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Star Trek Original Series Cast: Then and Now

As Spock himself would say, "Fascinating ..."

Talk about a first-class crew.

When the original Star Trek TV series premiered on NBC more than 50 years ago, it didn't just make stars of its actors, including William Shatner , Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley , it made icons -- icons who would help spawn a multi-media franchise that continues today via CBS All Access' Star Trek: Picard and Star Trek: Discovery .

PHOTOS: See the original Star Trek stars

Here's a look back at the historic cast -- and a look at how each fared after the 1966-1969 series ended its primetime run. We've included series regulars, such as Shatner, who starred as Captain Kirk, and key guest stars, such as Susan Oliver (pictured, left), who's seen as the Orion slave-girl dancer in Season 1's "The Mengerie, Part II," and France Nuyen (pictured, right), who tempts Kirk in Season 3's "Elaan of Troyius."

Click on the arrow to beam up the pics!

( Disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS Interactive, a division of ViacomCBS. )

William Shatner Then

William Shatner plays the USS Enterprise's brave (and frequently shirtless) Captain James T. Kirk in the 1966-1969 Star Trek series and the first seven Star Trek movies, from Star Trek The Motion Picture to Star Trek: Generations . Like several of his Trek castmates, Shatner went on to voice his character in various Star Trek video games, and in the 1970s' cartoon, Star Trek: The Animated Series .

William Shatner Now

Shatner claimed two Primetime Emmy awards for playing the same role, attorney Denny Crane, on a pair of ABC legal dramas, The Practice and Boston Legal . He's seen here in 2020 at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.

Leonard Nimoy Then

Leonard Nimoy plays the USS Enterprise 's beloved half-Vulcan, half-human science officer, Spock, on the original Star Trek series, and in eight big-screen Star Trek movies -- two of which he directed ( Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home ).

Leonard Nimoy Now

In addition to following his other creative passions -- photography, poetry and music -- Leonard Nimoy directed the hit movie, Three Men and a Baby .

Nimoy, who died in 2015 at age 83, made his last on-screen appearance -- as Spock, natch -- in 2013's Star Trek: Into Darkness . He also appeared in the first film from the Trek franchise's J.J. Abrams era, 2009's Star Trek .

DeForest Kelley Then

DeForest Kelley plays Leonard "Bones" McCoy, who is a Starfleet doctor -- and not anything else -- in the original Star Trek series.

DeForest Kelley Now

DeForest Kelley appeared in the first six Star Trek movies, with his last major on-screen appearance coming in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . He died in 1999 at age 79.

James Doohan Then

The Canadian-born James Doohan affects a Scottish accent to play Montgomery Scott, or Scotty, originally the USS Enterprise 's chief engineer. Doohan plays Scotty in the 1966-1969 Star Trek series, and in seven Star Trek movies. He also plays the character on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

James Doohan Now

Credited with helping develop the Vulcan and Klingon languages, Doohan was a regular on the Star Trek convention circuit until being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2004. He's seen here that same year at a ceremony honoring him with a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Doohan died in 2005. He was 85.

Nichelle Nichols Then

With her role as Lt. Uhura, the USS Enterprise 's communications officer on the original Star Trek , Nichelle Nichols made history as the first actress to play an African-American professional woman, per the Historical Dictionary of African American Television .

Nichelle Nichols Now

Nichelle Nichols played Uhura in the first six Star Trek movies. She's gone on to appear in NBC 's Heroes and the CBS daytime soap, The Young and the Restless . Seen here at a 2018 Star Trek convention, Nichols also worked with NASA to help recruit minorities and women for the astronaut program.

George Takei Then

George Takei plays Lt. Hikaru Sulu, the helmsman of the USS Enterprise on the 1966-1969 Star Trek series. He went on to play Sulu in the first six Star Trek movies -- a run in which his character was eventually promoted to captain of the USS Excelsior .

George Takei Now

Today, George Takei, seen at the 2019 Saturn Awards, is a vocal LGBTQ activist, and the co-author of the graphic-book memoir, They Called Us Enemy , about his experience in the U.S. internment camps that held Japanese-Americans during World War II. He appeared in the Broadway musical, Allegiance , which is also based on his life.

Walter Koenig Then

Walter Koenig joined the original Star Trek cast in Season 2 as Ensign Pavel Chekov, the Monkees- and Beatles-channeling navigator of the USS Enterprise . He plays the Russian-accented character in the first seven Star Trek movies.

Walter Koenig Now

Among his considerable post-Star Trek series credits, Walter Koenig was a star and consulting producer on Star Trek: Renegades , a partly crowd-funded pilot for a would-be new Trek series. In 2010, he endured the death of his actor son , Andrew Koening (Growing Pains).

Majel Barrett Then

Majel Barrett plays Number One (pictured, left) in the original Star Trek pilot, known as "The Cage." In the rejiggered version of the show that NBC picked up in 1966, Barrett plays the Spock-infatuated USS Enterprise nurse, Christine Chapel (pictured, right).

Majel Barrett Now

There really was no life after Star Trek for Majel Barrett: She married franchise creator Gene Roddenberry in 1969, and went on to play roles in numerous other Trek projects. She is heard as the voice of Starfleet computers in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise and the 2009 J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie.

Roddenberry died in 1991; Barrett, seen in 2006 with her son, Eugene Roddenberry, died 2008. She was 76.

Susan Oliver Then

In the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," Susan Oliver plays Vina, a shipwrecked woman on the planet Talos IV, who is used by the Talosian powers-that-be to tempt Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter). In one famous scene, Vina is seen as an Orion slave dancer. Oliver's Vina scenes are repurposed for the Star Trek Season 1 episodes, "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II."

Susan Oliver Now

Susan Oliver is seen in a paparazzi shot from 1986. She died in 1990 at age 58. Her post- Star Trek credits included guest spots on Murder, She Wrote and the original Magnum, P.I.

France Nuyen Then

France Nuyen stars as the strong-willed titular character of the Season 3 Star Trek episode, "Elaan of Troyius."

France Nuyen Now

Seen at a 2018 Motion Picture Academy screening of The Joy Luck Club , a movie in which she starred, France Nuyen's post- Star Trek credits include a stint as a series regular on the 1980s NBC medical drama, St. Elsewhere .

Grace Lee Whitney Then

Grace Lee Whitney plays the USS Enterprise's beehive-boasting Yeoman Rand on the original Star Trek series.

Grace Lee Whitney Now

Though Yeoman Rand was written out of Star Trek after Season 1, Grace Lee Whitney went to appear in Star Trek movies and several other franchise properties, including an episode of Star Trek: Voyager . Whitney died in 2015 at the age of 85.

Joan Collins Then

Joan Collins stars as the doomed social-worker Edith Keeler, one of the great loves of Captain Kirk's life, in the Season 1 episode, "The City on the Edge of Forever," TV Guide's pick for the best original-series Star Trek episode of all time .

Joan Collins Now

Joan Collins is arguably best known for playing the dastardly Alexis Carrington on the original Dynasty series. In 2018, she played two characters in FX's American Horror Story: Apocalypse .

Mariette Hartley Then

In the Season 3 Star Trek episode, "All Our Yesterdays," Mariette Hartley plays Zarabeth, an ice age-era woman who Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and McCoy (DeForest Kelley) encounter on the planet Sarpeidon.

Mariette Hartley Now

Of late, the Emmy-winning Mariette Hartley has had recurring roles on ABC's Grey's Anatomy , NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Fox's 9-1-1 (pictured), where she played the ailing mother of Connie Britton's character in Season 1.

Ricardo Montalban Then

Ricardo Montalban plays Khan Noonien Singh, the super-powered strongman who's found aboard the SS Botany Bay in the Season 1 Star Trek episode, "Space Seed." The installment would serve as the basis for the hit movie, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , in which he also starred.

Ricardo Montalban Now

From 1977-1984, Ricardo Montalban starred as the mysterious Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island . He went on to do voice work on Kim Possible , and appear as Grandfather in the Spy Kids movies. He died in 2009 at age 88.

Diana Muldaur Then

Diana Muldaur appears in two original-series Star Trek episodes: Season 2's "Return to Tomorrow," and Season 3's "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" Muldaur plays different characters in the episodes -- both are doctors.

Diana Muldaur Now

Diana Muldaur played yet another Star Trek M.D., Dr. Katherine Pulaski, in Season 2 of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Her more recent credits include a voice-over role in Batman: The Animated Series (pictured). Her character? Leslie Thompkins -- a doctor, of course.

Mark Lenard Then

Mark Lenard is another actor seen as multiple characters on multiple Star Trek episodes: In Season 1's "Balance of Terror," he plays a Romulan commander (pictured, left); and, in Season 2's "Journey to Babel," he is introduced as Sarek (pictured, right), Spock's Vulcan father.

Mark Lenard Now

In real life, Mark Lenard was less than seven years older than Leonard Nimoy. But on screen, he was the perfect Spock dad, and he would play the character in subsequent Star Trek series, and in three Star Trek movies, including Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (pictured). He also played a Klingon in 1979's Star Trek: The Motion Picture .

Lenard died in 1996 at the age of 72.

Teri Garr Then

Teri Garr appears in the Season 2 Star Trek episode, "Assignment: Earth" (where she's billed as Terri Garr). The episode is a modern-day tale (for, well, 1968) about a time-traveler, and his secretary (Garr). The episode was a backdoor pilot for a never-was TV series.

Teri Garr Now

Teri Garr's considerable post- Trek film credits include Young Frankenstein , Tootsie (for which she was nominated for an Oscar), Mr. Mom and, of late, Unaccompanied Minors (pictured). She had a recurring role on Friends as the mother of Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow).

Jeffrey Hunter Then

Jeffrey Hunter stars as the USS Enterpris e's Captain Christopher Pike in the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," which was presented to -- and rejected by -- NBC in 1965. His work as Captain Pike would finally make it to air in the Season 1 Star Trek episodes, "The Menagerie, Part I" and "The Menagerie, Part II."

Jeffrey Hunter Now

Best known for playing Jesus in the film, King of Kings , post- Star Trek , Jeffrey Hunter appeared in the 1968 Bob Hope comedy, The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (pictured). He died in 1969 at the age of 42.

Clint Howard Then

A young Clint Howard plays Balok, the commander of a starship who uses a scary-looking creature (played by The Addams Family's Ted Cassidy) as a front as he toys with the USS Enterprise in the Season 1 Star Trek episode, "The Corbomite Maneuver."

Clint Howard Now

Clint Howard, the younger brother of Ron Howard, is a familiar face from his sibling's movies, from Eat My Dust to Solo: A Star Wars Story . In addition to Star Trek , Howard has appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise , and a Season 1 installment of Star Trek: Discovery (pictured).

Sally Kellerman Then

Sally Kellerman appears as Dr. Elizabeth Dehner in "Where No Man Has Gone Before," the second crack at a Star Trek pilot, the one that sold the series -- and that aired as the show's third-ever episode in 1966.

Sally Kellerman Now

Sally Kellerman is seen at a Star Trek convention in Las Vegas in 2016. After Trek , Kellerman notched an Oscar nomination for the film version of MASH . Her latter-day credits include an episode of Hulu's Difficult People , and a recurring role on IFC's Maron .

The Only 3 Actors Still Alive From The Cast Of Star Trek: The Original Series

We're coming up at warp speed to the 60th anniversary of the "Star Trek" premiere, which aired on NBC on September 8, 1966. Though the original series only ran for three years, it spawned a media franchise that's still one of the biggest in the world today and which changed the face of science fiction forever. We might not have fandom in the way we do today if not for "Star Trek," as it's largely responsible for the modern style of fan fiction, shipping, and contemporary fanzines, among other things.

Sadly, since it's been so long since the series premiered, most of the actors who made it so special have passed away in the years since. Leonard Nimoy , the man behind the inimitable Spock, passed away in 2015. DeForest Kelley, who played Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, died in 1999, Scotty actor James Doohan passed away in 2005, and Nichelle Nichols, who played Nyota Uhura, died in 2022 at the age of 89. Many of the other supporting players from the show's three seasons have sadly also passed, but together, they leave a legacy that will continue to stand the test of time.

Not every original "Star Trek" actor has passed away , though. A few are still making their mark on the world and even acting in their old age. These are the only three actors still alive from the main cast of "Star Trek: The Original Series."

William Shatner: Captain James T. Kirk

Any level of "Star Trek" fan will know that William Shatner — Captain James Tiberius Kirk himself — is still thriving at the age of 92 at the time of writing. Not only that, but he's far from what anyone would call a retirement. His long and illustrious career includes "Star Trek: The Original Series," the later films in which he reprised his role as Kirk, other hit movies like "Miss Congeniality," a substantial stretch as a recording artist, and a number of science-fiction novels he either wrote or co-wrote, including the "TekWar" series.

One would think that after accomplishing so much, Shatner would be happy to live in peace and quiet in his 90s, but that's far from the case. He's continued to take on voice acting work, playing the role of Keldor on Netflix's "Masters of the Universe: Revolution," and his recent work out of character includes a 2022 turn on "The Masked Singer" and a role as host for the 2023 reality TV series "Stars on Mars." The latter was an appropriate job not only because of Shatner's "Star Trek" history but also his own highly publicized journey to space in 2021, which made him the oldest human to enter the cosmos.

Though Shatner is still incredibly active, he's also been pretty candid about his age in recent years. "The sad thing is that the older a person gets the wiser they become and then they die with all that knowledge," Shatner said in a 2023 interview with Variety . "But what does live on are good deeds. If you do a good deed, it reverberates to the end of time."

George Takei: Hikaru Sulu

Like his former co-star William Shatner, George Takei hasn't skipped a beat in his old age. After getting his start doing English-language voiceovers for some Toho kaiju movies in the late 1950s, along with a handful of other smaller roles, Takei climbed to fame playing Hikaru Sulu on "Star Trek: The Original Series." In the decades since the show ended, he's remained quite active as an actor and political activist.

Like Shatner and the other main actors of the original "Star Trek," Takei returned for the theatrical follow-up films that began in 1979. Most of his acting work in recent times has been in the realm of animation, however, making Takei's deep voice as iconic as his physical presence. He's played characters in everything from "Avatar: The Last Airbender" and "Star Wars: Visions" to "The Simpsons" and "BoJack Horseman." He even reprises his role as Sulu on the adult animated comedy "Star Trek: Lower Decks." In between these performances, Takei has made time for extensive political activism, frequently speaking out publicly on social issues like racial equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

At the age of 86, Takei is still balancing a lot of acting work and political spokesmanship. In 2022, he was given an honorary doctorate from the University of South Australia, and in 2023, he voiced major roles on both "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai" and the critically acclaimed "Blue Eye Samurai."

Walter Koenig: Pavel Chekov

The final actor still alive from the main cast of "Star Trek: The Original Series" is Walter Koenig, now 87 years old, who played Ensign Pavel Chekov on the show and in the ensuing theatrical films. His work prior to being cast on the show mainly consisted of various small parts on other TV series, including "General Hospital," "Mr. Novak," and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour." But after debuting as Chekov, Koenig's most notable work for the rest of his career has generally been in the realm of science fiction.

In addition to his many Trek appearances, Koenig played Alfred Bester on "Babylon 5." he hasn't been as active over the last decade, but he still works from time to time, like in the 2018 sci-fi movie "Diminuendo" or the 2017 animated series "Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters." In 2023, he briefly reprised his role as Chekov for "Star Trek: Picard" Season 3.

It was also announced in 2023 that Koenig was joining the "7th Rule" podcast to review episodes of "Star Trek: The Original Series." In an interview with Screen Rant promoting the show, Koenig spoke highly of his time on the series and mourned the death of Anton Yelchin, who played Chekov in the J. J. Abrams "Star Trek" films. "I met him," Koenig said. "Very bright, delightful young man. Very talented. My God, in the short time he had, he did several folds as many jobs as I ever had. So you've got to applaud his talent. Very, very sad."

The Only Major Actors Still Alive From Star Trek: The Original Series

Gene Roddenberry's celebrated sci-fi TV series "Star Trek" debuted on September 8, 1966, and it recently celebrated its 57th anniversary. Initially, "Trek" wasn't terribly popular, and it only managed to make a third season thanks to a coordinated letter-writing campaign (a campaign that Roddenberry was accused of orchestrating and encouraging himself). It wouldn't be until after "Star Trek" was canceled in 1969 that its popularity would significantly begin to grow. 

Thanks to a sweet infinite syndication deal, "Star Trek" reruns were common, and a cult began to form. By the early 1970s, the first "Trek" conventions began to appear. Naturally, conventions were a great place for the show's stars and creators to congregate and share production stories with a rising tide of obsessives. Fans were able to talk to and get autographs from William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Majel Barrett, Walter Koenig, George Takei, James Doohan, and Grace Lee Whitney, as well as many of the show's more supporting players. 

Many decades have passed, but the surviving "Star Trek" cast members, now in their 80s and 90s, still appear at conventions to share details of their now-long and storied careers. Over 57 years ago, they were at the start of a phenomenon; none of them could have likely predicted just what a massive impact "Star Trek" would have on the pop culture landscape. Three members of the original "Star Trek" cast appeared at Creation Entertainment's 57-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas, and one of them is already confirmed for the 2024 con  next August. 

If you're eager to get an autograph or merely to hear an amusing anecdote from across many decades of interaction with the "Trek" franchise at large, the following surviving actors will still happily oblige.

William Shatner

In March of 2023, Shatner, who played the resolute Captain Kirk on "Star Trek," turned 92, yet he still makes convention appearances. Stories have been told throughout Trekkie-dom that Shatner can occasionally be spiky at cons, but has clearly embraced them, even going so far as to say that fans are the future  of anything so deeply beloved as "Star Trek." Indeed, in many cases, fans care more about carrying on the legacy of a show than the studios; in many ways, Trekkies take the show more seriously than the people who make it.

Shatner has, of course, had a textured career. Some of his earlier films include adaptations of "The Brothers Karamozov" (in which he played Alexey) and "Oedipus the King" (in which he played a masked member of the chorus), as well as genre films like "The Intruder" and "Incubus." Although Shatner is best known for "Trek" — a common side-effect for most any actor who appeared on any "Star Trek" show — he forged an interesting acting career beyond ii. He appeared in the hit cop show "T.J. Hooker," and appeared in spoof films like "Airplane II: The Sequel" and "National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1." He released several notorious albums of speak-singing, and directed several documentaries about "Star Trek," including "The Captains" and "Chaos on the Bridge." 

Shatner also authored several "Star Trek" novels and even launched his own modestly successful sci-fi book series with "TekWar" (ghost-written by Ron Goulart) in 1989. He won two Emmys in 2004 and 2005 for his role as Denny Crane in "The Practice" and "Boston Legal." He's also an equestrian enthusiast and has won a few horseback riding awards. Shatner is spry for 92.

George Takei

In 2019, George Takei , who played the practical and intelligent Hikaru Sulu on "Star Trek," authored a graphic novel all about his childhood experiences of being rounded up and imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp during World War II. Takei was born in Los Angeles in 1937 (he's the only main cast member from the original show who is an L.A. native), and recalls being held against his will by the U.S. government as a child. It may have been that experience that made Takei as political as he is. In the early 1970s, after "Star Trek," Takei ran for a set on the Los Angeles City Council, and served as an alternate delegate at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. At conventions, Takei has spoken at length about his beliefs in civic infrastructure, encouraging L.A. to improve its long-beleaguered public transportation.

Takei came out as gay in 2005, revealing that he had been with his long-term partner, Brad Altman, for the last 18 years. He and Altman married in 2008, one of the first same-sex couples to be granted a marriage license in West Hollywood, California. Takei has been an outspoken queer rights activist ever since, raising money for charities and speaking at charity events regularly. He makes appearances at fan conventions on the regular. 

As an actor, Takei began reading English-language dubs for imported Toho monster movies prior to "Star Trek." He also starred in movies like "The Green Berets" and "Mulan." On TV, Takei guest-starred on many, many programs, including a notable regular role on the hit show "Heroes." His deep voice also afforded him an opportunity to regularly contribute to dozens of animated programs, most recently in Max's "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai."

Walter Koenig

There were rumors circulating through the Trekkie community for years that Walter Koenig was hired to appear on the second season of "Star Trek" because the then-30-year-old actor looked an awful lot like Davy Jones from "The Monkees." This wasn't the case, but Koenig provided a youthful, heartthrob quality with his character, Pavel Chekov. His character was Russian, a notable character decision to make in the mid-1960s as the U.S. was still embroiled deeply in the Cold War. Chekov was a symbol that peace would eventually come. Koenig was never anything less than 100% committed, and reacted to extreme sci-fi scenarios with fire and aplomb. 

In the early '60s, the actor worked his way through smaller roles in multiple well-known TV series like "Mr. Novak," "Gidget," and "I Spy" before joining "Star Trek" in its second season. After, he continued apace, working on TV regularly, eventually landing a recurring role on a second beloved sci-fi series  "Babylon 5." He has also stayed a part of "Star Trek" up until the present, having provided a voice cameo in the most recent season of "Star Trek: Picard," as well as reprising his role as Chekov in the semi-professional and well-respected fan series "Star Trek: New Voyages." He's also dabbled in many amusing B-movies like "Mad Cowgirl" and "Scream of the Bikini," as well as animated shows like "Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters."

Additionally, Koenig has served as an advocate for civil rights in Burma, having visited refugee camps there. Koenig still appears at conventions, happy to talk about his various projects and acting endeavors. Just please, whatever you do, don't ask him to say "nuclear wessels." The man just turned 87. He deserves a break from that. 

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Episode list

S1.E0 ∙ The Cage

S1.E1 ∙ The Man Trap

S1.E2 ∙ Charlie X

S1.E3 ∙ Where No Man Has Gone Before

S1.E4 ∙ The Naked Time

S1.E5 ∙ The Enemy Within

S1.E6 ∙ Mudd's Women

S1.E7 ∙ What Are Little Girls Made Of?

S1.E8 ∙ Miri

S1.E9 ∙ Dagger of the Mind

S1.E10 ∙ The Corbomite Maneuver

S1.E11 ∙ The Menagerie: Part I

S1.E12 ∙ The Menagerie: Part II

S1.E13 ∙ The Conscience of the King

S1.E14 ∙ Balance of Terror

S1.E15 ∙ Shore Leave

S1.E16 ∙ The Galileo Seven

S1.E17 ∙ The Squire of Gothos

S1.E18 ∙ Arena

S1.E19 ∙ Tomorrow Is Yesterday

S1.E20 ∙ Court Martial

S1.E21 ∙ The Return of the Archons

S1.E22 ∙ Space Seed

S1.E23 ∙ A Taste of Armageddon

S1.E24 ∙ This Side of Paradise

S1.E25 ∙ The Devil in the Dark

S1.E26 ∙ Errand of Mercy

S1.E27 ∙ The Alternative Factor

S1.E28 ∙ The City on the Edge of Forever

S1.E29 ∙ Operation -- Annihilate!

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Star Trek: The Original Series Cast List

Star Trek: The Original Series cast list, including photos of the actors when available. This list includes all of the Star Trek: The Original Series main actors and actresses , so if they are an integral part of the show you'll find them below. You can various bits of trivia about these Star Trek: The Original Series stars, such as where the actor was born and what their year of birth is. This cast list of actors from Star Trek: The Original Series focuses primarily on the main characters, but there may be a few actors who played smaller roles on Star Trek: The Original Series that are on here as well.

Everything from William Shatner to Julie Newmar is included on this list.

If you are wondering, "Who are the actors from Star Trek: The Original Series?" or "Who starred on Star Trek: The Original Series?" then this list will help you answer those questions.

DeForest Kelley

Eddie paskey.

George Takei

Leonard Nimoy

Majel Barrett

Nichelle Nichols

Frank da vinci.

Walter Koenig

Grace Lee Whitney

William Shatner

James Doohan

Julie Newmar

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Den of Geek

Star Trek The Original Series: 30 Interstellar Guest Stars

We rank Star Trek: The Original Series guest stars by their contributions to science fiction

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Star Trek:   The Original Series  only lasted three seasons, but it had a tremendous impact on both the science fiction genre and society in general. The show that started as a “ Wagon Train to space” helped the former frontier country make great strides in the fight for racial equality, emerging technology, and even in gathering funds and excitement for NASA’s nascent space program. Science fiction writers clamored to promote the show and the art. And, because the series was art and artfully done art at that, it also took in some of the top acting talent in the industry.

Many legendary actors appeared on Star Trek: The Original Series . Some of them, admittedly, became legends because of their appearance. Others, were already legends before beaming aboard. Some of the actors came with wonderful science fiction bona fides. Others, became bona fide science fiction players after their careers went into warp drive. There are so many guest stars to choose from, but Den of Geek would like to start with these magnificent thespians…

30. Vic Tayback

His role on star trek:.

Because I am the official Gangster Geek at Den of Geek , I would like to start with the most Damon Runyon-esque character on The Original Series : Jojo Krako, played by the gruffly great Vic Tayback in the episode “A Piece of the Action.”

One of the most fun episodes, “A Piece of the Action” reimagined Captain James Tiberius Koik as a post- post -modern Lucky Luciano, creating the Organization and setting up a capo di tutti capi. Krako ruled the empire he carved out from the Federation like a king in concrete golashes.

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William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and the rest of the regular cast are clearly having a more fun than fizbett sharps on Beta Antares IV and Tayback is mad enough to chew neutronium. Ultimately, the turf was split between Krako and Bela Oxmyx, played by Anthony Caruso, probably best known for his work in John Huston’s gangster classic The Asphalt Jungle .

Where else we know him from:

Tayback is best known for slinging hash as the owner of Mel’s diner, Mel Sharples. Tayback was the only actor to carry over from Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore . The series Alice , which starred Linda Lavin, ran from 1976 to 1985. Tayback directed the episode “Alice Faces the Music” and reprised his role as Mel in the spinoff series Flo .

Unsurprisingly, Tayback was born in Brooklyn, but he is well known in the borough of Queens when he played Joe Tucker, Archie Bunker’s old friend in the All in the Family episode “Et Tu, Archie?”

Tayack was a TV staple in the sixties and seventies, appearing on Hawaii Five-O , Rawhide , B ewitched , Columbo , three episodes of The Monkees (including “Son of a Gypsy”), and Get Smart   (in the episode “Appointment in Sahara,” as Jamal). He guest-starred as Bill Colton on the F Troop episode “Corporal Agarn’s Farewell To The Troops.”

He played in both comedies and dramas. In the seventies, he played Mr. Savocheck in the Barney Miller episode “Stakeout” and appeared on MacGyver , The Mary Tyler Moore Show , Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and most other shows you could think of.

Tayback appeared in the film With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), which might have been more interesting if eggroll came with sex. He was in two Steve McQueen film classics, Bullitt (1968) and Papillon (1973), and watched Ernest Borgnine kick the shit out of hoboes in Emperor of the North Pole (1973).  Taybak was a standout in the cult film The Big Bus (1976) and had broader shoulders than “Shoulders.” He also cooked up a comic criminal for Neil Simon’s loving noir sendup The Cheap Detective (1978).

With a voice like Tayback’s, cop movies are a natural and he was in two great ones: The Blue Knight (1973) and The Choirboys (1977), which was based on an even better book by Joseph Wambaugh. He played in the gangster films The Don Is Dead (1973) and Lepke (1975).  Tayback back-talked Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974). That voice also got him cast as Carface Caruthers in the animated feature All Dogs Go to Heaven .

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One of Tayback’s last roles was in the 1989 video music video for Ringo Starr and Buck Owens duo for the song “Act Naturally.” Tayback died in 1990.

Science fiction street cred:

Taybeck appeared on the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode: “A Man with a Problem.” He was featured on two Tales from the Darkside episodes. He played Alan Coombs in “The New Man” and Tippy Ryan in “Basher Malone.” He was also in the little known Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers from 1989.

Tayback was also in the cast of the pilot of the failed 1982 series Mysterious Two . It starred John Forsythe and Priscilla Pointer as He and She, extraterrestrial couple that come to Earth to recruit misfits and adventurers. It also starred Nightmare on Elm Street ’s Freddy, Robert Englund, as Boone.

And if all that means nothing, Tayback reunited with Koik as Lt. Pete Benedict on the T. J. Hooker episode “Hooker’s War.”

29. Roger C. Carmel

Roger C. Carmel played Harcourt Fenton Mudd in the “Mudd’s Women” and “I, Mudd” episodes. He was the only non-Enterprise crew actor to appear as the same character in more than one episode. Or is that a lie? Everything the guy said was a lie, even when he was telling the truth.

This guy could sell a mail-order bride to a mail man, whether they could clean a pot in a sand-storm or not. Carmel reprised the character for the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode “Mudd’s Passion.” Carmel died before he was able to bring back Harry Mudd for a season one episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Before Carmel made a mechanized tribute to his ever-loving spouse on Star Trek , he played Roger Buell, the henpecked husband on NBC’s 1967 sitcom The Mothers-in-Law . He also played Colonel Gumm on Batman.

Brooklyn-born Carmel brought his six-foot-four frame and mustache to almost every show on TV. He had guest roles on:  The Dick Van Dyke Show , The Patty Duke Show , I Spy , Blue Light , The Everglades , Hogan’s Heroes , Car 54, Where Are You?, Banacek , The Man from U.N.C.L.E ., The Munsters , Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea , Hawaii Five-O, The High Chaparral , All in the Family , Laverne and Shirley , Diff’rent Strokes , Three’s Company , All in the Family and Chico and the Man . He always had that mischievous glint in his eyes.

He appeared in the films Gambit , Myra Breckinridge , Breezy , Thunder and Lightning , and Jerry Lewis’ 1981 comeback film, Hardly Working . Carmel died in 1986.

Carmel played Judge Jones on The Invisible Man science fiction series that ran from 1975 through 1976. The series starred David McCallum as invisible scientist Dr. Daniel Westin, who could sometimes be seen giving ideas to a private thinktank. It was created by future TV institution Steven Bochco, along with Harve Bennett. Carmel voiced Decepticon deputy leader Cyclonus and the Quintesson Leader in the animated science fiction film The Transformers: The Movie .

28. William Campbell

William Campbell played two important characters on The Original Series : the preening and petulant Trelane in “The Squire of Gothos,” and the pompous and pet-hating Klingon Captain Koloth in both “The Trouble With Tribbles” and the “Blood Oath” episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Say what you want about Campbell, he knew how to rock a pair of sideburns.

Admiral, retired, just squire Trelane by the time the Enterprise crew beam down for a spot of tasteless tea and wooden-tasting chicken, engages Kirk in a very dangerous game, reminiscent of the classic 1932 film starring Fay Wray and Joel McCrea. He is kind of Charlie X’s spoiled cousin.

Koloth, of course, is the Klingon you most love to hate. Dripping with insinuation, he is the perfect diplomat spoiling for a fight. His first officer gets that honor, goading Scotty into throwing the first punch in an old-fashioned knock-down, drag-out fight reminiscent of the opening credits of F-Troop .

Campbell’s first film, The Breaking Point from 1950, starred the legendary tough guy actor John Garfield. Throughout the early fifties, he was a supporting player in films like Battle Circus , which starred Humphrey Bogart as a M*A*S*H army doctor who used humor and gin to anesthetize the pain of the war in Korea, The People Against O’Hara, and Holiday for Sinners .

His first starring role came in Frank Korvac William Wellman’s The High and the Mighty (1954). Campbell was the first person to sing onscreen with rock and roll legend Elvis Presley in the movie Love Me Tender (1956). On TV, Campbell was the co-star on the 1958 truck driver series Cannonball . He appeared on the series Perry Mason twice, once as a killer and once as a victim.

But Campbell is best known for his 1963 work with Roger Corman. He starred in car race picture The Young Racers in 1963 and then stuck around Ireland to star in what director Francis Ford Coppola promised to be the cheapest horror movie ever made:  Dementia 13 . The future Godfather director knew how to build suspense without cash. Campbell had an axe to grind in the movie that also starred Patrick Magee and Luana Anders.

Campbell made Corman’s horror movie Operacija Ticijan , which was finally released in heavily re-edited form ten years later on TV as Portrait in Terror . Reshot with additional footage, it was also edited into the film Blood Bath, which went on to become the cult favorite Track of the Vampire .

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William Campbell played Chad on the 1978 T he Next Step Beyond episode “Portrait of the Mind.”

27. Elisha Cook Jr.

Elisha Cook Jr. played Samuel T. Cogley in the “Court Martial” episode from season 1. Kirk’s defense attorney in the case of the missing crewman, Lt. Commander Ben Finney preferred books over computers. I don’t want to sound like some hindsight mystic, but this was probably the first time that now-clichéd joke was made, just one more example of Star Trek ’s power of predictive insight.

Today, you could fit The Bible , the Code of Hammurabi and of Justinian , the Magna Carta , the Constitution of the United States, and the Fundamental Declarations of the Martian Colonies on a zip drive, but when Cook Jr. said those words, computers still filled whole floors and sometimes buildings.

Elisha Cook Jr. is probably best known as Harry Jones, the good kid who got shot down in The Big Sleep or as Wilmer, the New York gunsel with the gaudy patter in The Maltese Falcon   — the two iconic Humphrey Bogart private detective movies. Cook was also only one who seemed to know what was going on in House on Haunted Hill .

Eugene O’Neill himself cast Cook for the Broadway run of Ah, Wilderness! as soon as the teen actor rode the vaudeville circuit to New York City. The actor then cut out his own niche in film — not to mention his own lifestyle, only coming down from his idyllic and remote home on Lake Sabrina in the Sierra Nevada mountains to shoot movies.

But which movies?  I, the Jury (1953), Shane (1953), and Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956) only begin to hint at the range of the actor most people think of as a patsy, or a fall guy. Cook was a natural at comedy, like his bit part in Hellzapoppin’ (1941) and drama, like Born to Kill (1947).

On TV, Cook played private detective Homer Garrity, “Semi-Private Eye,” on Adventures of Superman , the title role in “The Hermit” episode of The Real McCoys , and Gideon McCoy in an episode of The Wild Wild West (1966). He also appeared on The Dennis Day Show , The Rebel , The Fugitive and on The Bionic Woman episode, “Once a Thief” (1977). He also played Professor Isaacson on the Batman TV series.

Elisha Cook Jr. played Uncle Albert on the TV series ALF . Science fiction was not his forte. His horror credentials, however, aren’t bad. Cook was the nervous impromptu tour guide in William Castle’s classic B-movie horror flick House on Haunted Hill (1959), which also starred Vincent Price. He played Gordon “Weasel” Phillips in the miniseries Salem’s Lot . He also appeared in Roman Polanski’s satanic classic Rosemary’s Baby (1968).

26. Melvin Belli

Melvin Belli was the friendly angel in the 1968 episode “And the Children Shall Lead.” The newly orphaned space kids see Gorgan as their beneficent beneficiary until Kirk exposes him for what he is: the king of torts in a Day-Glo lime green muumuu. Rumors starting right now tell of how Belli tried to secure the rights to the “Hail, hail, fire and snow” and sell it to the Rolling Stones, with soundtrack right in the Albert and David Maysles documentary Gimme Shelter (1970).

Gorgan is the picture of fatherly reverence in his Star Trek turn, doting on the kids as if they were his own — but especially Caesar Belli, his real life son who appeared in the episode.

Belli wasn’t an actor, but he played one on TV — and that, perhaps, would have been the life for him… if he wasn’t such a good mouthpiece. Melvin Bellicose, as insurance companies called him after he fought the good fight with Ralph Nader, was known for his celebrity clients, like Muhammad Ali, Errol Flynn, Chuck Berry, Lana Turner, Tony Curtis, Zsa Zsa Gabor and Mae West.

And of course, The Rolling Stones, for whom Belli negotiated the relocation of the December 6, 1969, Altamont Free Concert. (That went pretty well, considering.) Belli’s first gig after he graduated law school, was to go undercover as a hobo for the Works Progress Administration and ride the rails. Belli worked on early consumer rights law cases in the 1940s and 1950s.

But Belli’s most infamous client is Jack Ruby, the guy who killed the guy who killed Kennedy, who the lawyer represented for free. Belli couldn’t prove Ruby was insane when he killed Lee Harvey Oswald, but got the conviction (and the death sentence that went with it) overturned in 1966. Ruby died of cancer before the retrial.

Belli also sat ringside in 1969 when the San Francisco Zodiac Killer said he’d do a morning radio interview if Belli or F. Lee Bailey were also on air. Belli appeared and the Zodiac killer called but kept hanging up and calling back before the cops could trace where the calls were coming from. Brian Cox played Belli in the 2007 film Zodiac .

Dow Corning killed Belli’s firm in December 1995 after they declared bankruptcy to get out of a breast implant class action suit.

As for acting, Belli played a criminal defense lawyer in an episode of the series  Hunter  and produced the first Hollywood picture to be shot entirely in Japan,  Tokyo File 212  (1951).

Belli represented Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.

25. Michael J. Pollard

Michael J. Pollard guest starred in the season one episode “Miri.” He was 27 when he played the teenager doomed to a future immune system breakdown. Pollard brought a sullen insolence to Jahn, the leader of the orphaned tribe of “onlies.” You just wanted to give him a bonk bonk on the head.

Pollard played the young gas-station-attendant-turned-getaway-car-driver C.W. Moss in the 1967 gangster classic Bonnie and Clyde . Pollard won a BAFTA Award and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Golden Globe Award for his role in Bonnie and Clyde .

Actors Studio-trained Pollard made his TV debut as a shoeshine boy in a 1959 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents . He played his first lead the same year when he played Homer McCauley in the TV adaptation of William Saroyan’s The Human Comedy .

Pollard kind of replaced the Maynard G. Krebs character on CBS’  The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis when Bob Denver got drafted. Pollard played Jerome Krebs, Maynard’s first cousin, but never appeared on screen with Denver, because you couldn’t have two beatniks onscreen at the same time. Jerome retreated to a distance coffee house when the future Gilligan was classified 4-F and came back to the series. He also appeared on the series Window on Main Street , The Andy Griffith Show , Channing , Going My Way with Gene Kelly, Gunsmoke , The Lucy Show , I Spy and Honey West .

Pollard originated the role of the jealous boyfriend Hugo Peabody in the original Broadway cast of Bye Bye Birdie in 1960, which also included Julie Newmar (who is also on this list). Antiseptic pop singer Bobby Rydell played Peabody in the 1963 movie.

On film, Pollard was featured in the movie Summer Magic , starring Hayley Mills. He played Stanley in Norman Jewison’s The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming and had a part in Carl Reiner’s 1967 comedy Enter Laughing . He played an escaped American POW in the 1969 World War II movie Hannibal Brooks . Pollard played one of the title roles in the 1970 film Little Fauss and Big Halsy with Robert Redford.

Pollard played Billy the Kid in Dirty Little Billy (1972), appeared in the 1980 cult film Melvin and Howard, and fought fires with Steve Martin in the Cyrano de Bergerac-inspired comedy Roxanne . He also played the homeless guy that Bill Murray thought was Richard Burton in the Christmas comedy Scrooged . Pollard appeared in in Tango & Cash , with Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone, played Bug Bailey in the Warren Beatty’s 1990 film Dick Tracy, and played Aeolus in The Odyssey (1997).

Michael J. Pollard put the J in Michael J. Fox.

Pollard had a recurring role as Mister Mxyzptlk, a trans-dimensional imp, in the Superboy television series in 1959. Pollard played an alien boy in the 1966 “The Magic Mirror” episode of Lost in Space . He played a mortician on the Ray Bradbury Theater season six episode “The Handler.” In 1993, Pollard was in the horror film Skeeter and played Stucky in Rob Zombie’s 2003 cult horror classic House of 1000 Corpses .

24. Sally Kellerman

Her role on star trek:.

I don’t know if I’d say Sally Kellerman was a goddess, but she was more powerful than a photon torpedo rifle in “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966), the second pilot for Star Trek . Psychiatrist Elizabeth Dehner thought she was keeping the universe safe from intergalactic cabin fever… until she learned to move mountains with her mind.

Where else we know her from:

After sixty years in the business, Kellerman is probably still best known as being part of Robert Altman’s repertory of actors. Kellerman originated the role of Major Margaret “Hot Lips” O’Houlihan in his 1970 anti-war comedy M*A*S*H . The role got her nominated for a Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar. She played in Altman’s films Brewster McCloud (1970), Welcome to L.A. (1976), The Player (1992) and Prêt-à-Porter (1994).

Kellerman was also unforgettable as Rodney Dangerfield’s professor cum tutor, whispering sweet crip notes in his ear in Back to School (1986). Kellerman was, after all, the Last of the Red Hot Lovers (1972).

Kellerman started out on the road to show business as a budding rock and roller. She was a teenager when she signed a contract with Verve Records founder and head Norman Granz, but didn’t record her first album until 1972. She’d go on to record quite a few albums covering different genres and even contributing music to the soundtracks of the movies she starred in. Kellerman once said the thing she most regretted about passing on Altman’s Nashville was that she would have had a chance to sing.

Kellerman made her film debut in Reform School Girl (1957) and debuted on stage in Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People . She continued to move around stage, screen and TV for her entire career. She played in Leslie Stevens’s The Marriage-Go-Round and Michael Shurtleff’s Call Me by My Rightful Name . Kellerman played Mag Wildwood in the original Broadway production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s , which closed during preview. She also appeared in productions of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues .

Kellerman put in appearances on TV’s The Outer Limits (1965), Bachelor Father , Bonanza (1966, 1970) Chemistry (2011), and the CW teen drama series 90210 . She played Marla, an aging Hollywood actress with dementia 90210 (2008) and Marc Maron’s mother in the “Dead Possum” episode of Maron (2013). She hosted Saturday Night Live on February 7, 1981.

On film, Kellerman acted in The Third Day (1965), The Rogues (1965) Boston Strangler (1968), The April Fools (1969), the slasher film A Reflection of Fear , Lost Horizon (1973), Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins (1975) the highly underrated screwball comedy The Big Bus (1975), Welcome to L.A. (1976), George Roy Hill’s A Little Romance (1979), Secret Weapons (1985), Moving Violations (1985), Blake Edwards’ That’s Life (1986), Boris and Natasha: The Movie (1992) and The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman (2006). She starred with Ernest Borgnine and Mickey Rooney in Night Club (2011).

Kellerman played Ingrid Larkin in “The Human Factor” episode of The Outer Limits from 1963. She returned to the series to play Judith Bellero, the wife of Richard Bellero (played by Martin Landau) in the 1964 “The Bellero Shield” episode.

She also played Laura Crowell in the “Labrynth” episode of the TV series The Invaders in 1967. In 1990s, Kellerman appeared on The Ray Bradbury Theatre TV Series as Clara Goodwater in the “Exorcism” episode. She voiced The Watchbird on the series Masters of Science Fiction in 2007.

23. BarBara Luna

BarBara Luna played Kirk’s Machiavellian mistress Lt. Marlena Moreau in the “Mirror, Mirror” episode (probably better known as the “Spock with a beard” episode). 

Moreau would be well suited for ancient Rome, a Cleopatra to Kirk’s Caesar. The good lieutenant was the only person, crew member or not, who knew about the Tantalus field, which Luna pronounces tantalizingly enough to make you want to scream like Chekhov moving up in rank in an agonizer.

The first time we see Marlena, she is splayed out on the captain’s bed, still picking up chem lab pieces from the Halkan storm after party. Luna also appeared in the fan-created Star Trek: New Voyage s internet show twice.

BarBara Luna was still in high school when she debuted on Broadway. She originated the role of Ezio Pinza in the original Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific and sang the opening song, “Dites-Moi.” Luna remained on Broadway because she didn’t want to drop out of school to go on the road, which she did as soon as she graduated, joining the touring company of Teahouse of the August Moon .

Her first film role was as Nico in Tank Battalion (1958), with Frank Gorshin and Edward G. Robinson Jr. She followed that up with parts in Cry Tough (1959), The Blue Angel (1959), and the classic Burt Lancaster movie Elmer Gantry (1960) before she was cast as Frank Sinatra’s blind love interest in director Mervyn LeRoy’s The Devil at 4 O’Clock.

Luna spent  Five Weeks in a Balloon . She also played in Women in Chains (1972), Gentle Savage (1973), The Gatling Gun (1973) and played Cat in the 1982 movie The Concrete Jungle .

Luna acted on more than 500 television shows, including Walt Disney’s Zorro , Perry Mason , The Wild Wild West , Gunsmoke , Bonanza, Mission: Impossible, Hawaii Five-O , Search for Tomorrow , One Life to Live, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Charlie’s Angels .

Through all the screen work, Luna never stopped appearing on stage. She played the role of Anita in five different companies of West Side Story . Luna’s last Broadway show was as Diana Morales in the 1976 cast of A Chorus Line . After that, she headlined her own cabaret show in New York City, the Catskills, Atlantic City and Los Angeles.

BarBara Luna played Gaby Christian, the girlfriend of a missing Southern California physics research center worker, in the “It Crawled Out Of The Woodwork” episode of the original The Outer Limits and Lisa on The Invaders . She played Koori on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century .

22. Michael Dunn

Retrospectives of “Plato’s Stepchildren” are so focused on Lt. Uhura and Kirk’s lips that they sometimes forget that the episode also featured Michael Dunn’s turn as court jester Alexander.

The Platonians were psychokinetic philosophers who believed knowledge reached its pinnacle during the time of Earth’s Greek empire, around 450 B.C. They should have paid more attention to Hippocrates because their mind games left them with Achilles’ anti-immune system. The diminutive and spiritually unarmed Alexander could lay the most powerful Platonian to waste with a hangnail, but his dignity will not allow it.

Dunn was an inspiration to shorter-statured performers. He was born with medical dwarfism that stunted cartilage production and grew to three feet, 10 inches by the time he was an adult. He also suffered from related health issues.

Reminiscent of the Platonians, Dunn’s gifts were intellectual. He was reading by the time he was three, won the 1947 Detroit News Spelling Bee, and taught himself to draw and play piano. He didn’t have a bad singing voice either. He wrote and ultimately became editor-in-chief of the University of Miami, College of Arts and Sciences’ magazine, Tempo .

Dunn was a hotel private detective, a nightclub performer, and almost joined a monastery before he started acting in New York’s off-Broadway circuit. Future Cornelius himself, Roddy McDowall, advised him to do a nightclub act with actress Phoebe Dorin called “Michael Dunn and Phoebe.” The producers of The Wild Wild West television series caught the act and immediately created the mad scientist character Dr. Miguelito Loveless, with Dorin taking on the role of the doctor’s assistant, Antoinette. They even got to sing together.

Dunn played the head of K.A.O.S., the gangster Mr. Big in the pilot episode of Get Smart , the James Bond takeoff from Mel Brooks and Buck Henry. Most of the shows of the period found room for the actor, who was featured on Bonanza , Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and other shows.

Dunn exceled on stage, winning the New York critics’ Circle Award for best supporting actor in 1963 and getting a 1964 Tony Award nomination. Dunn was nominated for a supporting actor Oscar for playing Karl Glocken in Stanley Kramer’s Ship of Fools (1965). He also played in the 1968 film No Way to Treat a Lady with Rod Steiger and George Segal.

Michael Dunn died in his sleep on August 30, 1973 while shooting the film The Abdication on location in London. He was 38.

Michael Dunn’s death was a real-life mystery. The New York Times reported that cause of death was undisclosed. Scotland Yard had to throw water on rumors that Dunn died of foul play and that his body was stolen. Some speculated that he committed suicide, others that he died of acute alcoholism or of the drugs he was reportedly given by a London doctor. St. George’s Hospital’s autopsy report said Dunn died because the “right side of the heart was widely dilated and hypertrophied to twice its normal thickness” and labeled the death as cor pulmonale.

21. Elinor Donahue

Elinor Donahue played the entitled-but-doomed commissioner Nancy Hedford in the second-season episode “Metamorphosis” (1967).

The USS Enterprise is hurtling through space on a mission of medical mercy for the terminally ill Hedford when it is blown off course by The Companion. The Companion has been taking care of starship captain and astronomical legend Zefram Cochrane (Glenn Corbett) who disappeared in space generations ago.

Donahue is especially effective as she allows her character to go through the ugliest emotional and needy demands. The audience can’t blame her — we know she knows she’s dying and is the only person on the planet with little time to spare. But Donahue really gives in to her most selfish core as an actress to pull this off. Of course, when she becomes The Companion and selflessly gives up her own immortality for the love of one man of flesh, this becomes doubly moving.

The Companion may very well have been all evil and ugly had Donahue not used all her voices, as Peter O’Toole once commanded, to bring the two unfinished characters into a whole and living being. It is a minor tour de force for the actress, even if she spends most of the episode covered in a blanket. This one character really gives an early clue to the diverse talent of the 1960s TV acting pool.

Elinor Donahue started in films when she was five, dancing in the chorus and taking ballet in the same class as Barrie Chase, who would go on to dance with Fred Astaire. Donahue toured the remains of the vaudeville circuit and played teen bits in films like in Three Daring Daughters in 1948 until she supported Elizabeth Taylor in the 1952 film Love Is Better Than Ever . This led to better and bigger roles like Girls Town in 1959.

Donahue judged the swingingest hits on ABC’s Jukebox Jury from 1953–54 and danced with the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz on The Ray Bolger Show . She started showing off her comic chops as one of “The Newlyweds” on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show . Donahue played pharmacist Ellie Walker, who was sweet on the sheriff for twelve episodes of The Andy Griffith Show . Donahue continued to thrive in comedy with parts on Dennis the Menace and as F.U.’s girlfriend Miriam Welby on ABC’s The Odd Couple .

Heavenly enough to play Sister Bertrille’s (Sally Field) sister on The Flying Nun , she also played Mrs. Broderick, whose teenaged kid was a junkie on the last season of Happy Days . An addict on Happy Days ? I’m as surprised as you are.

Her dramatic roles included appearances on the western series Redigo and Have Gun Will Travel , and the psychiatry medical drama The Eleventh Hour . Donahue played Felicia, Alex’s mother on One Day at a Time in 1974. She starred in the NBC sitcom Please Stand By in the eighties. Donahue had a recurring role as Rebecca Quinn on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman .

Donahue started the 1990s as Beverly Hills boutique manager Bridget, who dresses down Julia Roberts in P retty Woman . But Elinor Donahue will forever best be known as Betty, the eldest daughter to Robert Young’s title character on Father Knows Best . Her on-screen younger siblings included Billy, James “Bud” Anderson, Jr., and Lauren Chapin. Her mother was, of course, Jane Wyatt — aka Spock’s mom.

Elinor Donahue played an Orphanage Woman in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare (1991) and appeared on the science fiction comedy and Robin Williams vehicle  Mork & Mindy as Dr. Joni Lincoln in 1981.

20. Jane Wyatt

Jane Wyatt played Spock’s mom, Amanda Grayson. It might seem highly illogical, but the emotional terrestrial interrupted the mating cycle of the extraterrestrial ambassador from the hot planet Vulcan, Sarek, played by Mark Lenard.

Wyatt first badgered her son and husband to the brink of death in the 1967 episode “Journey to Babel.” Eternally emotionally distant, neither parent showed up at their son’s wedding in the episode “Amok Time.” (Wyatt did show up for one episode of Mark Lenard’s series Here Come the Brides . She snubbed him on that episode too.) Wyatt made up for missing the thwarted nuptials by reprising her role in the 1986 film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home .

Wyatt maintained that she got more fan mail for her Star Trek turns than she did for her the role that she is most known for, Stella Forrester, in the beautiful black and white mystical fantasy film Lost Horizon .

Wyatt became an icon of fifties TV by playing housewife and mother Margaret Anderson on Father Knows Best . Her own mom was a drama critic for Catholic World magazine and Wyatt was related to historical luminaries like Rufus King, one of the guys who signed the United States Constitution, and was a distant cousin of Eleanor Roosevelt. Wyatt let her own society light dim when she took an understudy gig on Broadway.

Universal Pictures signed her and put in her first movie in 1934, One More River . She co-starred in Frank Capra’s Lost Horizon in 1937 for Columbia Pictures. The Shiksa goddess also appeared in the Semitic social commentary film Gentleman’s Agreement with Gregory Peck as the journalist passing for Jewish and John Garfield as his Jewish friend just passing through.

Not content with containing her social concerns to film, Wyatt was an early critic of Senator Joseph McCarthy. The anti-Communist senator penalized her for hosting a Bolshoi Ballet performance during World War II, in spite of the fact that President FDR asked her to do it. Blacklisted from Hollywood film, she returned to the New York City stage, where communist empathizers like Lillian Hellman, laughed at the blacklist and put on plays like The Autumn Garden .

New York also had great TV studios and her comedic role as Margaret Anderson, which she played from 1954 to 1960, netted her three Emmy Awards. She also starred on the 1962 “The Heather Mahoney Story” episode on NBC’s Wagon Train , a Roddenberry favorite.

She did turns on the show Going My Way , guest-starred in an episode of Gibbsville and played Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary in The Nativity from 1978. Wyatt also played the recurring role of Katherine Auschlander on St. Elsewhere , the eighties medical soap.

Jane Wyatt died on October 20, 2006, aged 96.

Jane Wyatt played Anne White on the 1965 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode “The Monkey’s Paw – A Retelling” on CBS. She also guest starred on the TV series Starman . But her role as Stella Forrester in Lost Horizon did take place on the mythical secluded utopia of Shangri-La, where no one seems to ever get old.

19. Mark Lenard

The first thing Trekkies think of when they hear the name Mark Lenard is he was Spock’s father Sarek, but that wasn’t even the beginning. Lenard played the Romulan commander who played a deadly shadow game in the first season episode “Balance of Terror” (1966). “Balance of Terror” was inspired by the classic 1957 submarine movie The Enemy Below that starred Robert Mitchum and Curt Jürgens and was directed Dick Powell. That movie was an adaptation of the book by British Naval Officer Denys Rayne.

Lenard also played a Klingon Captain in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), making him the only star player to land a role three different alien race characters. He never played a human on Star Trek , thought he married one.

Lenard first played Sarek in “Journey to Babel” (1967) from season 3. But he also played the Vulcan patriarch in the Star Trek: The Animated Serie s episode “Yesteryear” (1973) and in the three of the Star Trek feature films: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991). Lenard played Sarek as a young man, when he voiced the character in a flashback in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989), and as an old man in the Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 episode “Sarek” (1990) and the season 5 episode “Unification: Part 1” (1991).

Lenard was born in Chicago. He began performing start on stage while he was in the Army. He hit New York in parts in classic plays Off Broadway. He made his Broadway debut in Carson McCullers’s Square Root of Wonderful   and played Conrad in the Sir John Gielgud production of Much Ado About Nothing .  He acted in Measure for Measure for the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Lenard followed a star west to play one of the Three Wise Men in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965). He was the Fort Grant prosecutor in Hang ‘Em High (1968), starring the Clint Eastwood. He appeared in the Woody Allen comedy Annie Hall, in the historical film The Radicals (1990), and played a lead role in the movie Noon Sunday.

Lenard was a regular as Aaron Stempel in Here Come the Brides . He had several roles in the western TV classic Gunsmoke and guest starred on Mission: Impossible a few times, once when Leonard Nimoy was playing Paris in the regular cast. He played Charles Ingalls’ older brother Peter on Little House on the Prairie in the episode “Journey in the Spring, Part I.” He also starred in The Power and the Glory with Laurence Olivier.

He returned to the stage in 1993 to play a middle-aged Huckleberry Finn against Walter Koenig’s grown up Tom Sawyer in The Boys in Autumn . Lenard died in 1996 at the age of 72.

Mark Lenard played the role of Urko, Chief of Security of the Ape Council on the 1974 television series, Planet of the Apes . He also appeared on Buck Rogers in the 25th Century , Otherworld , and the science fiction/western crossover, Cliffhangers: The Secret Empire .

18. William Windom

William Windom played Commodore Matt Decker, the sad commander of the USS Constellation, which was rendered inoperative by “The Doomsday Machine.” Decker blamed himself for his crew’s destruction and becomes almost catatonic with grief and the shock of self-recrimination. He did what he was trained to do. He went down with his ship. Or so he thought…

It is a triumphant moment when Decker is brought back to life in a vengeance-fueled showdown with Spock. Windom gives him a twinkle of madness and a sprinkle of charm. When Decker assumes command from Spock he also assumes the crablike defensive stance of a young Jake LaMotta. That is, until he has his fight scene, then Starfleet training kicks in and he does that clenched-fist karate chop thing.

Windom is best known as the dad on My World and Welcome to It , the James Thurberesque series that ran on NBC from 1969 through 1970, spanning two decades, in a kinda Simpsons way. He was also the father of The Farmer’s Daughter that traveling salesmen have been talking about since the days that Windom’s great-grandfather was the Treasury Secretary of the United States.

Windom would happily reprise the role of the sorrowful commander for Star Trek New Voyages 40 years after he rammed his ship down the throat of the planet munching machine.

Windom won the 1970 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Emmy for his turn as cartoonist John Monroe on My World and Welcome to It . When the show was canceled, Windom toured the country in a one-man James Thurber show that was ranked with Hal Holbrook’s Mark Twain, Leonard Nimoy’s Theo Van Gogh, and James Whitmore’s Will Rogers bioperformances.

New York City-born Windom was a former World War II paratrooper with Company B, 1st Battalion 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. He made his motion picture debut in the 1962 Academy Award-winning motion picture classic To Kill a Mockingbird . Windom played Mr. Gilmer, the prosecutor who went up against Gregory Peck’s Atticus Fitch, the legal defense for Tom Robinson.

Windom was in two movies that starred James Garner. The classic The Americanization of Emily (1964) written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Arthur Hiller, and Hour of the Gun (1967) a slow-moving but historical accurate character study of Wyatt Earp, played by Garner, and Doc Holliday after their 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. Jason Robards played Doc Holliday, who stuck a badge on Windom’s down-and-out gunfighter and cut him in on reward money. The movie was directed by John Sturges as a sequel to his Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , which starred Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas in 1957.

In 1968, Windom starred with Frank Sinatra in The Detective , playing a homophobic killer. Windom also appeared in the films Sommersby with Jodie Foster, Planes, Trains & Automobiles , a vehicle for vehicles and James Candy and Steve Martin; For Love or Money , Thurber I and II , and Ernie Pyle I and II and The Emperor of the Night . He also did the voice of Puppetino in Pinocchio .

Windom played the recurring character, Dr. Seth Hazlitt, on the CBS series Murder, She Wrote and starred on the short-lived series Is there a Doctor in the House?

Windom died on August 16, 2012, at the age of 88.

The actor who played a starship captain also skippered seven of his own civilian craft to sailing trophies starting in 1953. Windom appeared on two episodes of The Twilight Zone . He played the President of the United States in Escape from the Planet of the Apes . He played the character Randy Lane in the Night Gallery episode “They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar.”

17. Joan Collins

Joan Collins broke Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy’s hearts as Edith Keeler, the forward thinking do-gooder in the episode “The City on the Edge of Forever.” Possibly the best-written Star Trek episode, “The City on the Edge of Forever” has always been a point of contention for the original scriptwriter, Harlan Ellison. Ellison was a master writer and a major pain in the ass who got fired from Disney after suggesting they make cartoon porn on his first day on the job. I kid him, but because I am a huge fan. The guy is a beast who could scream love at the heart of the world.

Collins is probably best known for her role as Alexis Carrington Colby on the 1980s nighttime soap Dynasty and for playing the Siren on Batman . She also appeared on such series as The Virginian , Mission: Impossible , Police Woman , Roseanne , The Nanny , and Will & Grace .

Collins was nine when she made her stage debut in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House . After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, she made the British films Lady Godiva Rides Again (1951), The Woman’s Angle (1952), Judgment Deferred (1952), I Believe in You (1952) Cosh Boy (1953), Decameron Nights (1953), Turn the Key Softly (1953), The Square Ring (1953) and Our Girl Friday (1953) before she went to Hollywood to play Princess Nellifer in Land of the Pharaohs (1955). She appeared in movies like The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955) Rally Round the Flag, Boys! (1958) and Bing Crosby and Bob Hope’s last road movie The Road to Hong Kong (1962).

The sister of Jackie Collins, Joan published her first novel, Prime Time, in 1988. She wrote the bestselling novels Prime Time , Love & Desire & Hate , Infamous , Star Quality and The St. Tropez Lonely Hearts Club .

Collins also took Elizabeth Taylor’s role of  Wilma Flintstone’s mother Pearl Slaghoople in the Flintstones movie Viva Rock Vegas . She was also featured in Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism in 2015. The dame recently played herself in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie .

Collins appeared in Empire of the Ants (1977) directed and co-written by Bert I. Gordon, who was influenced by the short story by H.G. Wells. In 1975, she played Kara on the Space: 1999 episode “Mission of the Darians.” She also appeared on the short-lived NBC Bermuda Triangle series Fantastic Journey , which was written by Star Trek ’s D.C. Fontana, among others.

16. Lee Meriwether

Lee Meriwether played one of the most touching roles on the entirety of the original series: the ghostly Losira in the “That Which Survives” episode. She was so beautiful, but so, so evil that she almost makes you forget what an asshole Spock can be when he takes the com. Audiences half expected the pointy eared science officer to jettison Scotty into the icy depths of space along with the spent matter-antimatter fuel.

“That Which Survives” also saw the return of Dr. M’Benga, who explains Dr. Sanchez’s autopsy report on Ensign Wyatt showed that  every cell in man’s body was disrupted from the inside out. Why Sanchez couldn’t see that in his own charts makes you wonder about the old country doctors Starfleet hires.

Meriwether was one of the two Catwoman actresses from the original B atman TV series cast to play on Star Trek . She played the feline femme fatale in the movie version from 1966. Meriwether also played Bruce Wayne’s girlfriend Lisa Carson on the Batman TV series episodes “King Tut’s Coup” and “Batman’s Waterloo.”

Lee Meriwether won the 1955 Miss America pageant before she hit screens big and small, starting as the “Today Girl” on NBC’s The Today Show . Meriwether went to high school with breathy crooner Johnny Mathis and to college with future Hulk Bill Bixby. Famed columnist Walter Winchell started a rumor that Meriwether was engaged to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. She is probably best known for playing Buddy Ebsen’s secretary Betty Jones in Barnaby Jones , which got her an Emmy nomination in 1977.

The long list of TV credits for Meriwether runs from the Phil Silvers Show episode “Cyrano de Bilko” through Leave It To Beaver , Dr. Kildare , Route 66 , The Jack Benny Program , Perry Mason , 12 O’clock High , Hazel , The Fugitive , The Lloyd Bridges Show and Mannix . She played Dr. Egert on the Man from U.N.C.L.E. episode “The Mad, Mad Tea Party” in 1965 and the F Troop episode “O’Rourke vs. O’Reilly.”

Meriwether replaced Barbara Bain on Mission: Impossible in 1969. She also played Andy Griffith’s wife on The New Andy Griffith Show (1971) and played Ruth Martin on the soap opera All My Children . She played Lily Munster in the 1980s sitcom The Munsters Today . More recently, she was featured on the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place , Desperate Housewives , Hawaii Five-0 , The League and Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 .

Meriwether’s first movie was 1959’s 4D Man. She was also featured in John Wayne and Rock Hudson’s The Undefeated and starred with Andy Griffith in Angel in My Pocket , the TV movies True Grit: A Further Adventure with Warren Oates and Cruise Into Terror . She also appeared in Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt , The Ultimate Gift, The Ultimate Life (2013) and the short film Kitty .

In other medium, Meriwether voiced EVA in the video game Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots for the PlayStation 3.  She played President Winters in the video game Vanquish by Platinum Games. She appeared in the interactive comedy , Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral during its original off-Broadway run.

Meriwether played Linda Davis in 4D Man , the 1959 science fiction independent film written and produced by Jack H. Harris, who made The Blob in 1958. The film also featured Patty Duke. Davis co-starred as Dr. Ann MacGregor in The Time Tunnel from 1966 to 1967.

15. Julie Newmar

Julie Newmar played the Capellan princess Eleen, escort to the High Tier Akaar. She levels a paternity charge at Dr. “Bones” in the 1967 episode “Friday’s Child.” Eleen was a much less touchy part than the part of the other Catwoman on this list. As a matter of fact, touching the princess is a capital offense, which brings a lot of laughs to the medical examination scenes. It’s a real face-slapper.

Newmar is an icon. Best known for her purrfect take on Catwoman, when she first started out Eddie Cantor labeled her gams “the most beautiful legs” in the Ziegfeld Follies. Newmar’s moves slayed audiences in Slaves of Babylon (1953) and hypnotized Li’l Abner (1959) as Stupefyin’ Jones. She got whatever she wanted as Lola in Damn Yankees! (1961). She played herself in the loving movie tribute To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995). Is that too funky or what?

Julie Newmar’s spin as Katrin Sveg in the 1958 Broadway production of The Marriage-Go-Round won her the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She danced in gold paint as the “gilded girl” in Serpent of the Nile (1953), tempted Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954), individually and as a group and was one of the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954).  She was also a ballerina with the Los Angeles Opera.

Newmar was probably on every TV show in the sixties. She brightened The Phil Silvers Show , Route 66 , F Troop , Bewitched , The Beverly Hillbillies , The Monkees and Get Smart . She took wet work contracts on Robert Wagner in both It Takes a Thief and Hart to Hart and almost glamboozled Columbo . In the seventies she boarded The Love Boat , and gave rise to daydreams on Fantasy Island . She sublet an episode on Melrose Place in the 90s and let a leaf-blower push her into a role on Jim Belushi’s According to Jim .

Julie Newmar was the devil incarnate in The Twilight Zone episode “Of Late I Think of Cliffordville.” She played the title role as “Rhoda the Robot” in the TV series My Living Doll from 1964 to 1965. She appeared on The Bionic Woman and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century in the 1970s. But Newmar’s real bona fides come as an inventor. She has two patents for cheeky derriere pantyhose and one for a brassiere with a cloaking device.

14. Diana Muldaur

Diana Muldaur played three different characters on two different episodes of the original series. In 1968’s second season, she played Science Officer Dr. Ann Mulhall and the godlike astral projecting alien Thalassa in the episode “Return to Tomorrow.” In the season three episode, “Is There in Truth No Beauty?” she played Dr. Miranda Jones, the blind and telepathic translator for Medusan ambassador Kollos, a creature so ugly people go mad when they look at him.

Muldaur also played Chief Medical Officer Dr. Katherine Pulaski in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation but she was so mean to Data that she was beamed into the icy cold of space after the one season. That mean spirit would serve her well when she got served to play the ruthlessly ambitious attorney Rosalind Shays on L.A. Law . Muldaur was also the first woman to serve as president of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which she did from 1983 to 1985.

Muldaur started on soap operas, playing Ann Wicker on CBS’  The Secret Storm . She played the character Jeannie Orloff in NBC medical drama Dr. Kildare , which starred Richard Chamberlain. She appeared on Bonanza , I Spy , The Courtship of Eddie’s Father , before she first teamed with Burt Reynolds on the “An Act of Violence” episode of The F.B.I . episode in 1965. Muldaur and Reynolds continued their onscreen collaboration for the shows Hawk (1966) and Dan August (1971).

In 1967, Muldaur guest-starred on the Gunsmo ke episode “Fandango,” with James Arness, that was sampled on Pink Floyd’s The Wall . Muldaur got her first big break in 1969 when she was cast as Belle in the Lana Turner comeback series The Survivors from Harold Robbins. The show was cancelled after 15 episodes.

Muldaur went on to guest star in Alias Smith and Jones , Kung Fu in 1973, the pilot episode of Charlie’s Angels and a Hawaii 5-0 episode with Ricardo Montalban. She also played the title role in the “Mrs. Bannister” episode of The Rockford Files with James Garner. She also appeared on Police Woman , Quincy M.E., The Streets of San Francisco , Fantasy Island , The Love Boat , The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and Hart to Hart and Murder, She Wrote . She starred with Gary Collins in the NBC series Born Free about Elsa the Lioness.

In film, Muldaur appeared with Burt Lancaster in The Swimmer (1968), the psychological thriller The Other with Uta Hagen in 1972 and with John Wayne in the crime drama McQ (1974). She also played in the 1977 independent film Beyond Reason with Telly Savalas. She also appeared in Terror at Alcatraz (1982) with The Smothers Brothers, Murder in Three Acts (1986) with Peter Ustinov and Locked Up: A Mother’s Rage (1991) with Jean Smart and Angela Bassett.

She played Helen Keller’s mother in the 1979 made-for-television movie The Miracle Worker with Melissa Gilbert and Patty Duke Astin as well as the Black Beauty mini-series (1977 ), Pine Canyon is Burning (1977), The Word (1978), and Joseph Wambaugh’s Police Story: A Cry for Justice (1978) with Dennis Weaver and Larry Hagman.

Diana Muldaur is also a former sister-in-law to Maria Muldaur, the singer best known for spending “Midnight at the Oasis.”

Muldaur guest starred as Claire, one of the invaders on The Invaders . She finds some good in some earthlings on the episode “ The Life Seekers.” She also played Marg in Gene Roddenbury’s television movie Planet Earth (1974) with John Saxon. She was in the apocalypse thriller Chosen Survivors (1974) with Jackie Cooper. Muldaur also played Helen Banner, David Banner’s sister on The Incredible Hulk in 1979 and a nun on the series in 1981.

13. Michael Ansara

Michael Ansara originated the role of the Klingon warrior Commander Kang, in the “Day of the Dove” episode in 1968. “We have no devil, Kirk, but we know the ways of yours,” he cautioned.

Kang was the only man in the known universe who could get Klingons to “cease hostilities” with, well just those two words and then slap Kirk on the back so warmheartedly the captain had to stop holding in his gut. Such menace. Such humor. Completely unforgettable.  Ansara played Commander Kang on three versions of Star Trek and reprised the role on the Deep Space Nine episode “Blood Oath” in 1994 and the Voyager episode “Flashback” from 1996.

The actor, who died at the age of 91 just a few years ago, was married to a TV icon: Barbara Eden of I Dream of Jeannie from 1958 until 1974. Before Eden, Ansara was married to the mom on The Patty Duke Show , Jean Byron.

Ansara was born in Syria and came to the United States with his American parents at the age of 2. He went to Los Angeles City College with plans of becoming a doctor but put away his scrubs after he got a gig at Pasadena Playhouse where he studied with Charles Bronson, Aaron Spelling and Carolyn Jones, who played Morticia Addams on the original The Addams Family TV series.

Ansara is also known for his role as the Native American Cochise on the ABC series Broken Arrow and the Apache Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Buckhart on Law of the Plainsman . Ansara played Pindarus in the 1953 version of Julius Caesar , which starred Marlon Brando. He played Judas in The Robe and he was in the movie and TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea . He also appeared in Jupiter’s Darling from 1955, The Comancheros with John Wayne from 1961, The Greatest Story Ever Told from 1965, Guns of the Magnificent Seven from 1969, The Bears and I from 1974 and The Message from 1977.

On TV, Ansara played in The Untouchables, Perry Mason, I Dream of Jeannie with his wife, Hawaii 5-0, Murder, She Wrote, James Michener’s Centennial miniseries and played Sam Buckhart on two episodes of The Rifleman .

Ansara appeared on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, and The Outer Limits . On Lost in Space, he was the father to the alien boy Quano, played by Kurt Russell, who competes against Will Robinson in a battle of strength and courage. Ansara was also the voice of Mr. Freeze on the cartoon series Batman . It’s not science fiction, but you have to love his appearance in the 1974 low-budget horror classic It’s Alive .

12. William Marshall

Don’t be a dunsel, by the time Star Trek is set, whatever replaces the thing that replaces the app will make the M5 obsolete. William Marshall played Doctor Richard Daystrom, the genius who invented the title machine in the episode “The Ultimate Computer.”

Dr. Daystrom is, ultimately, a tech bubble victim. He models a computer on his brain, which means everything he is belongs to some corporate conglomerate in the military industrial complex. He programs it to put 430 people out of work but he blows it all during the beta phase. Today, Dr. Daystrom would be played by a teenager, most computer savants peak in their early 20s.

Daystrom went into the project with the loftiest of goals. He converted righteous indignation into FITS files so people would no longer need die in space, or on some alien world and go on to achieve greater things. In Marshall’s hands, universal problems become tragic Shakespearean soliloquys. He doesn’t hide the deep pain or the overriding, well, bypassed through auxiliary control ego, burning behind his remote intellect. Marshall also played on the “The Vulcan Affair” episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. entitled.

That Shakespearean quality was the product of a lifetime of training from the actor who redefined the role of Othello on stage. Marshall would be considered one of the great classical actors if he wasn’t so well known for a certain iconic horror exploitation role.

He studied theatre at the Actors Studio and with Sanford Meisner. He made his Broadway debut in 1944 in Carmen Jones the World War II-era reimaging of Bizet’s opera Carmen . He also understudied for the legendary Boris Karloff as Captain Hook in the 1950 Broadway run of Peter Pan. He played the lead role of De Lawd in the 1951 revival of The Green Pastures and played definitive versions of Paul Robeson and Frederick Douglass on stage and television.

Marshall’s first film role was as a Haitian leader in Lydia Bailey (1952). He played the gladiator Glycon in in the 1954 film Demetrius and the Gladiators with Victor Mature and lead a Mau-Mau in Something of Value (1957). He played Attorney General Edward Brooke in The Boston Strangler (1968).

For television, Marshall starred on the short-lived series Harlem Detective in the early fifties. He appeared on the British spy series Danger Man , played an opera singer on Bonanza , and was a consort to royalty on The Wild Wild West episode “The Night of the Egyptian Queen.” He would play the King of Cartoons on Pee-wee’s Playhouse in the 1980s.

Marshall was named as a communist in the anti-communist newsletter Counterattack in the early fifties, but kept working and began teaching acting, which he did throughout his career.

Besides Star Trek , Marshall didn’t have much science fiction fare, but that’s okay because he is a horror legend. He played the iconic role of African-prince-Mamuwalde-turned-vampire in the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream (1973). Blacula cleaned up Harlem in the first movie and got down with voodoo priestess Pam Grier in the sequel. 

11. Susan Oliver

Susan Oliver may be the most recognizable face from the original Star Trek series after the regular cast. Oliver’s Orion slave girl ended the credits of almost every episode, that green lady with the blue eyes searing itself into our consciousness. But the undulating Orion lava lamp was just one of the characters Oliver had to inhabit as Vina, the malformed survivor of a craft that crashed on remote planet a generation before the Enterprise got the distress call.

The first time the public saw Vina was in the first season two-part episode “The Menagerie” (1966), but Oliver’s performance predated everyone on the show except Mr. Spock. Vina was the seductive space hostage in the first Star Trek pilot episode, “The Cage,” which was shot in 1964. That’s when the interstellar savior Captain Christopher Pike commanded the Enterprise and was played by the actor Jeffrey Hunter.

No amount of color correction could stop Oliver from becoming so much of a Star Trek icon. A 2014 documentary about her life was called The Green Girl .

Oliver’s dad was a journalist and her mom was a famous astrologer and Oliver rode the stars to her television debut on the live drama series Goodyear TV Playhouse on July 31, 1955. She made her Broadway debut in Robert E. Sherwood’s 1957 comedy Small War on Murray Hill .

The Green Lady had her first and only starring role in The Green-Eyed Blonde in 1957. Oliver played the wife of country music legend Hank Williams, played by George Hamilton, in the 1964 biopic Your Cheatin’ Heart and starred opposite Jerry Lewis in The Disorderly Orderly .

She put in appearances on all the late fifties and sixties staples: Father Knows Best , The Americans , Johnny Staccato , Route 66 , Dr. Kildare, The Naked City , The Barbara Stanwyck Show , Burke’s Law , The Fugitive , Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. , I Spy , The Virginian , and The Name of the Game . Oliver played a spoiled runaway in “The Maggie Hamilton Story” on NBC’s Wagon Train , Gene Rodenberry’s earthly inspiration for Star Trek .

Oliver turned to directing by the late 1970s. She was one of the original 19 women admitted to the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women. She wrote and directed the short film Cowboysan in 1977. Oliver directed two TV episodes of M*A*S*H and one of its sequel series, Trapper John, M.D.

Oliver put in her requisite appearance in The Twilight Zone . She made her last onscreen appearance in the November 6, 1988 episode of Freddy’s Nightmares but it was a nightmare experience of her own that earns her the biggest bona fide of all: Oliver was an actual aviator. She had a horrific air experience on February 3, 1959, the same day Buddy Holly died in an airplane crash.

Oliver was on a transatlantic flight on a Pan Am Boeing 707 when it dropped from 35,000 feet to 6,000 feet. She could’t fly for a year after the experience until she was hypnotized to deal with it. She decided that if she had to fly, which she did often because she was an actor, she was going to do it herself and took an impromptu lesson from pilot Hal Fishman and then got a private pilot certificate. She even survived a crash when a Piper J-3 Cub, with her as second chair in the cockpit, ran into telephone wires.

She was the fourth woman to fly a single-engine aircraft solo across the Atlantic Ocean and the second to do it from New York City in 1967. She was on her way to Moscow but had to land in Denmark. She did it in her own Aero Commander 200.

In 1970, Oliver was named Pilot of the Year. Captain Pike was never named Pilot of the Year.

10. Yvonne Craig

The other Orion slave girl on Star Trek was Marta, played by Batgirl herself, Yvonne Craig, in the episode “Whom Gods Destroy” from 1969. Marta was only green on the outside. Inside, she was an experienced lover who had an interesting way of keeping men faithful. After she slept with them, she stabbed them, to death, happily, manically. Oh, did I mention that this was on a planetary penal colony for the craziest kids in the galaxy?

That crazy kid played Commissioner Gordon’s studious librarian daughter Barbara Gordon starting in September 1967, the third and last season of the ABC TV series Batman . Gordon learned those Batgirl moves when was the youngest dancer to study under ballerina Alexandra Danilova at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, a decade before.

Craig first teamed up with the actor who played her commissioner father, Neil Hamilton, when he played her stepfather in the 1958 episode of Perry Mason , “The Case of the Lazy Lover.” She followed that up with the films The Young Land , The Gene Krupa Story , which also featured Susan Oliver, and Gidget and a guest-starring part in the TV series Mr. Lucky in 1959.

Two years later, she would act against the Joker, Cesar Romero, in the film Seven Women from Hell . Craig was in two Elvis movies It Happened at the World’s Fair (1963) and Kissin’ Cousins (1964), which was not the story of Jerry Lee Lewis. Craig also put her ballet chops to good use in the film In Like Flint (1967) which starred James Coburn.

On TV, Craig was five of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis from 1959 and 1962.  She saved the world from brain drain on The Man from U.N.C.L.E ., was an exotic dancing assassin on Wild Wild West, and an Arabian dancing nurse on McHale’s Navy as well as starring in the first episode of Love, American Style . She also taught Robert Wagner a few tricks in It Takes a Thief and played on The Mod Squad , Kojak and The Six Million Dollar Man .

Craig called her autobiography From Ballet to the Batcave and Beyond in 2000. She died on August 17, 2015, at age 78.

Yvonne Craig starred as Dr. Marjorie Bolen, an expert on space genetics in the hypnotizing 1966 cult sci-fi film Mars Needs Women , which also starred Bruce Dern and an actor named Tommy Kirk. How weird is that? She guest starred on the 1970 Land of the Giants episode “Wild Journey.” She put the past on rewind for series stars Gary Conway and Don Marshall, who also both played on original series classics.

9. Don Marshall

Don Marshall played the emotional quasar analyst Lt. Boma in the season one episode “The Galileo Seven” (1967). Boma was one of the first characters to get hostile towards Mr. Spock. He gets sick and tired of the machinelike first officer and his logic. Marshall turns what could have been an example of interspecies prejudice into a debate over the essence of humanity.

It is fascinating, or at least interesting, how the sands of righteousness shift during the episode. At one point, Boma and the other terrestrials outvote the officer in his first command over how to deal with the natives of the planet. Spock adheres to his belief that indigenous life should remain unmolested and certainly not killed. The others would attack to save themselves.

Boma is actually insubordinate, in the military sense, when he insists on a decent burial for crewmember Lattimer. He even makes Bones and Scotty gasp when he says he’d stick to that insistence even Mr. Spock’s body was back there.

Marshall brings a reality to his acting in the role in little mannerisms like the way he breaks off from a report to thank Dr. McCoy for a tissue for his bleeding nose. His eyes are constantly focused and measuring, searching for more than what he sees on the surface. You can actually see him looking for reasons to hate Spock and to rationalize the damage that was overlooked when they put the Vulcan’s  head together.

Don Marshall got the acting bug while he was studying engineering in the army in the late fifties and studied Theatre Arts at Los Angeles City College. His first onscreen role was in the movie The Interns (1961). As Chris Logan, he helped his wife, played by Nichelle Nichols, get their kids get ready for their first day of school in a newly racially integrating south in the TV production Great Gettin’ Up Mornin’ (1964).

Nichols’ communications officer Uhura, Greg Morris’ tech geek Barney Collier on Mission: Impossible, and Marshall’s characters changed the face of black characters on television. They were cast as competent, confident experts whose reliability is beyond doubt.

Marshall was in the 1965 pilot for the series Braddock . He played Luke in three 1966 episodes of Daktari and appeared in episodes of Tarzan , Dragnet and Ironside . Marshall had a recurring role as Ted Neumann, Julia Baker’s sometime boyfriend, on the 1968 series Julia . Marshall played Captain Colter in a 1976 episode of The Bionic Woman . He performed a C-section on Little House on the Prairie in 1976.   

Marshall played an FBI man in the 1978 TV special Rescue from Gilligan’s Island and guest starred on such series as Finder of Lost Loves , Capitol and the 1992 drama Highway Heartbreaker . Warren Oates’ bigoted Cpl. Leroy Sprague sprayed racial abuse on Marshall’s Pvt. Carver LeMoyne in Robert Day’s suspenseful Korean War film The Reluctant Heroes (1971).

Traveling backward and forward in time, Don Marshall played Julio in the two-part “Planet of the Slave Girls” episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century in 1979. He played Dr. Fred Williams The Thing with Two Heads (1972). Directed by Lee Frost, the sci fi-horror-exploitation movie starred Ray Milland, the man with the X-Ray eyes himself, as a rich racist white guy who gets his head handed to  him by Rosey Grier. Marshall’s doctor sews Milland’s head onto Grier’s body with the help of future special effects legend Rick Baker.

But this is that you’ve been waiting for: Marshall played Dan Erickson on Land of the Giants . Coming from Irwin Allen, who brought us the classic science fiction series Lost in Space and The Time Tunnel , Land of the Giants was a kind of Gilligan’s Island in space. Seven people thought they were on a routine trip that should have taken about three hours. They get blown off course by a storm and cast away in a remote environment. They even had an eccentric millionaire, Alexander Fitzhugh, played by Kurt Kasznar. The series also starred Gary Conway as Spindrift Captain Steve Burton, Don Matheson, Stefan Arngrim and Heather Young. Deanna Lund, who played Valerie Ames Scott, turned down the chance to play Mia Farrow’s friend in Rosemary’s Baby to be on the show.

Land of the Giants was made with a kind of breathless excitement. This was evident from the very first seconds of the theme song, which was written by John Williams. Marshall went beyond the call for the series, learning to box and play trumpet when he acted against Sugar Ray Robinson in one episode, and injuring himself several times while doing his own stunts. 

8. Ricardo Montalbán

Ricardo Montalbán’s Khan Noonien Singh is such a big part of Star Trek ’s lore and allure, you almost don’t want to think of him as a guest star. He’s just too big, and we’re not just talking about the actor’s physique, which some people think was fabricated muscle. It wasn’t. That was pure Montalbán.

Khan was first rescued from his interstellar penal star ship in the episode “Space Seed” and reprised the role Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) where he put things in Chekhov’s ears. Khan recognized the ensign’s face, even though Walter Koenig wasn’t on the original episode.

Montalban brought enough macho sensuality to the role of the genetically altered superman to make Captain Kirk holler his name to the heavens. The only other time we heard William Shatner scream so passionately was in the coda to his interpretation of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.”

In a career that spanned seven decades, the Mexican actor’s talents were richer than Corinthian leather. Montalbán is best known as Mr. Roarke, the ever-charming host to rich adventurers on the television series Fantasy Island from 1977 until 1984.  He and Hervé Villechaize, who spotted planes as his sidekick Tattoo became cultural icons.

Montalbán’s first role was in the play Her Cardboard Lover , staged in New York City in 1940. He started in the chorus line of forties jukebox movies and got his first starring role as a singer-guitarist in the He’s a Latin from Staten Island (1941). Montalbán’s first Hollywood lead came in Border Incident , a film noir movie made in 1949.

He went on to be cast in diverse roles like his New England cop in the film noir Mystery Street (1950) and his role as the Japanese national Nakamura in the film version of James A. Michener’s Sayonara (1957). Montalbán played in dramas like Across the Wide Missouri (1951), musicals like The Singing Nun (1966) and in such comedies as Love Is a Ball (1963), The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988). Robert Rodriguez created the role of the grandfather in the movies Spy Kids 2 and Spy Kids 3 for Montalbán, who needed a wheelchair after spinal surgery left him paralyzed from waist down in 1993.

The busy actor appeared on most of the shows that have been listed here. He played a Japanese character named Tokura in the Hawaii Five-O episode “Samurai” from (1968).  Montalbán guest-starred as a genetically engineered cow in the Family Guy episode “McStroke.” He played Guitierrez on the animated series Freakazoid and did the voice of Señor Senior, Sr., in five Kim Possible television episodes from 2002–2007.

Montalbán graced the stage regularly in between film and TV roles including a run of the Lena Horne Broadway musical Jamaica that lasted from 1957 to 1959. Montalbán also starred the weekly 30-minute radio program Lobo del Mar ( Seawolf ) that aired Spanish-speaking countries from the late sixties until the early 1970s.

Montalbán co-founded the Screen Actors Guild Ethnic Minority Committee with actors Carmen Zapata, Henry Darrow and Edith Diaz in 1972. He won an Emmy Award for his role in the miniseries How the West Was Won (1978) and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 1993. Montalbán’s last role was in an episode of American Dad! from 2009. It was aired posthumously.

Ricardo Montalbán played the kindly circus owner Señor Armando who saves Zira and Cornelius’s baby Milo in Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) the third of the five original Planet of the Apes movies. It starred Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter and Sal Mineo as the primate space travelers.

7. Kim Darby

Kim Darby played the title role in the first season episode “Miri,” which debuted on October 27, 1966. Set on a planet that is almost identical to earth, the teenaged Miri is one of the “onlies” who survived a virus that wiped out all the grups, or grownups. As soon as one of the children passes adolescence, the virus kicks in, and eats their sanity — and their lives.

Darby and Michael John Pollack, brought the fresh energy of the new generation to the original series. They were the same age as a lot of the viewers and brought an instant empathy. “Miri” is one of the best acted episodes on the series. But the generational gap between Grace Lee Whitney’s melodramatic Yeoman Janice Rand and Shatner’s over-attentive parental skipper, and the young actors is evident.

Even the kid who cries over his bike brings a new acting method. Most of the “onlies” were played by children of the series crew. William Shatner’s daughter Lisabeth, Grace Lee Whitney’s two sons, and Gene Roddenberry’s daughters joined Greg Morris’ ( Mission: Impossible ) kids Phil and Iona and John Megna, who also played Charles Baker “Dill” Harris in To Kill a Mockingbird in 1962 and would go on to play a young Hiram Roth in The Godfather: Part II , to fill in the town.

Kim Darby is best known for her role as Mattie Ross in the classic western True Grit (1969), which also starred movie legend John Wayne and future rhinestone cowboy Glenn Campbell. If you ever read the Mad magazine spoof “True Fat,” you know that Darby was able get through the whole picture without using contractions. A contraction is a convenient way to shorten a group of full words – which as you can see – I have not done in six possible spots in this clumsy paragraph you are reading. Now seven.

Darby was the daughter of the “Dancing Zerbies,” Inga and Jon, who nicknamed their daughter Derby. Darby danced and sang under the name Derby Zerby until she took the name Kim from the book by Rudyard Kipling and changed Derby to Darby and started acting. She made her screen debut as a dancer in Bye Bye Birdie (1963).

Darby also saddled up for the TV series Gunsmoke , Bonanza and The Road West , all in 1967. Her first TV role was on an episode of the NBC series Mr. Novak in 1963. She went on to guest star on The Eleventh Hour , The Fugitive , The Donna Reed Show , Ironside and The John Forsythe Show . In the seventies she appeared on Crazy Like a Fox , Family , The Love Boat , The Streets of San Francisco , Riptide , and Becker . She played the blind crime witness Stacia Clairborne in a 2014 episode of the series Perception .

Darby co-starred in the first television miniseries, Rich Man, Poor Man . She played Virginia Calderwood who wrote the dirtiest love letters in high society. Darby starred as Sally Farnham in the made-for-TV movie Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (1973). She also appeared in the feature motion pictures The One and Only (1978), Better Off Dead (1985), and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995).

Kim Darby and William Shatner starred in the January 22, 1972 ABC Movie of the Week The People . The film was based on Zenna Henderson’s science fiction novella “Pottage,” with snippets of her stories “Ararat,” “Gilead,” and “Captivity.” Darby played Melodye Amerson, who teaches a bunch of telepathic aliens at a school in an isolated community. Darby also appeared on the “Sein und Zeit” episode of The X-Files in 1999. She played Kathy Lee Tencate who falsely cops to the murder of her son, who is one of several children who disappeared mysteriously.

6. Nancy Kovack

Nancy Kovack played the magical, mesmerizing Kahn-ut-tu woman Nona in the 1968 second season episode “A Private Little War.” Nona saves Kirk’s life after he is attacked by a mugato monster and all she asks in return is his soul.

Of all the seductions of the star fleet skipper, hers is my favorite. A combination or mysticism and herbal psychedelics, she really gets under the skin. Who cares if she’s Tyree’s woman, Nona bleeds for her conquests. Too bad she can’t use that magic to ward off the overly interested. Anyone else ever wonder if one of her attackers was Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees when you were a kid?

Nancy Kovak is probably best known for her role as Medea in the 1963 classic start-stop-motion picture adaptation of Jason and the Argonauts . She started out as one of the Glea Girls on The Jackie Gleason Show in the 1950s. She worked on all the major programming of the decade, including Perry Mason , I Dream of Jeannie , Batman , I Spy , Bewitched , Get Smart , and Hawaii Five-O . She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her turn in the title role on the Mannix episode “The Girl Who Came in with the Tide.”

Kovak is a good example of how small the guest acting troupe of the 1960s could be and how often Star Trek guests, and stars, overlapped. She appeared in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour that also featured Frank Gorshin and Richard Hale and an episode of Twelve O’Clock High that guest starred Gary Lockwood. She also appeared on Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea , concurrently with James Doohan, and Family Affair , which starred Brian Keith, who would guest star on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

Kovak was featured in two episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E . one that featured Yvonne Craig and another that starred Ricardo Montalban. She was in the 1964 “Parties to the Crime” episode of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater with Jeffrey Hunter and Sally Kellerman and the 1969 It Takes a Thief episode “38-23-26” with Malachi Throne. She was featured in the films Sylvia (1965) with Majel Barrett; Enter Laughing (1967) with Michael J. Pollard and the 1966 spy thriller The Silencers with Roger C. Carmel and James Gregory.

Kovack starred in the films Strangers When We Meet (1960), The Wild Westerners (1962) and the horror flick Diary of a Madman (1963). She was in the 1966 Elvis Presley movie Frankie and Johnny . She lightened it up with the 1965 Three Stooges comedy The Outlaws Is Coming .

Kovack married conductor Zubin Mehta. Interesting side note that may only be interesting to me, when the master orchestra leader conducted Frank Zappa’s classical pieces for the London Symphony Orchestra, Zappa cues him in by saying “Hit it Zube.”

Nancy Kovack played Teresa Stone, the wife of astronaut Clayton Stone, played by James Franciscus, in the science fiction masterpiece Marooned from 1969. The movie was directed by John Sturges and also starred Gregory Peck, Richard Crenna, David Janssen, Gene Hackman and fellow Star Trek guest actress Mariette Hartley. The film was based on the 1964 novel by Martin Caidin that told the story of three Gemini astronauts who can’t get back to earth and are suffocating in space.

The film updated it to the Apollo program and came out four months after the moon landing. It remains one of the most realistic science fiction films ever made. If you haven’t seen it, find it and remedy that.

5. Frank Gorshin

Frank Gorshin was the face of prejudice in the 1969 episode “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield.” Well, half of it anyway. He and Lou Antonio, probably best known as Koko in Cool Hand Luke , faced down the Enterprise command while they faced off against each other in an allegorical battlefield on race.

Gorshin brings a kind of imperial madness to Bele. Fighting a battle that ended in the mutual destruction of each of their races, he learns nothing. Bele is ever the aggressor as he brushes aside petty distractions like extinction. Gorshin’s Bele grieves for a heartbeat and then he’s back at his prisoner’s throat. He holds nothing back. Most actors want some part of their character to be liked, but Gorshin brings enough glee to his venom that you can tell he doesn’t care how much you hate him.

Gorshin is a fearless actor. He got that way doing standup and facing every kind of crowd. He was the comedian who went on The Ed Sullivan Show the night The Beatles premiered. That takes balls.

Gorshin is best known as the manic super-criminal The Riddler who terrorized Gotham City with cryptic clues on the original Batman TV series, although the affable John Astin quizzed the caped crusaders for one episode. Gorshin based The Riddler on Richard Widmark’s gleefully threatening Tommy Udo from the film noir classic Kiss of Death (1947).

Gorshin could barely speak English when he started doing impressions of the movie stars he watched while he was a teenaged usher at a Pittsburgh movie theater. He mimicked his way through nightclubs and the United States Army Special Services unit until he landed himself on screen.

Gorshin never stopped performing live. Gorshin’s made his big screen debut in Between Heaven and Hell and then made some B-movies like Hot Rod Girl (1956) and Dragstrip Girl (1957). He played the bass player Basil in the Connie Francis movie Where the Boys Are (1960). He snatched Hayley Mills’ kitty in That Darn Cat ! (1965). Gorshin played a mob boss behind bars in Otto Preminger’s Skidoo (1968).

On TV, he brought menace to The Untouchables , false valor to COMBAT! and comedy to all the variety shows. He also appeared on The Name of the Game (1969) Ironside (1974), Hawaii Five-O (1974), Get Christie Love! (1975), Charlie’s Angels (1977) and Wonder Woman (1977). The Edge of Night (1981–82), The Fall Guy (1984), Murder, She Wrote (1988) and Monsters (1989).

Gorshin’s last television appearance was in “Grave Danger,” an episode of the CBS series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation which aired two days after his death. The episode, which was directed by Quentin Tarantino, was dedicated to his memory. While he was known for his impressions, his role on CSI was as himself.

Gorshin appeared on Broadway in Jimmy (1969) and Guys and Dolls (1971). His role as George Burns in the hit one-man Broadway show Say Goodnight, Gracie (2002) was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award for best play

Like many comedians, Gorshin lived and died on the road. Early in his career he got into a car accident between gigs and lost the role of Petty Officer Ruby in Run Silent, Run Deep to Don Rickles. On April 25, 2005, Gorshin finished a Memphis road performance of Say Goodnight, Gracie and had difficulty breathing on the plane back to Los Angeles. Gorshin died on May 17, 2005, at age 72.

Gorshin played the drunken hustler Joe Gruen who stashes aliens bodies after a UFO crash in Saucer Men (1957). He also put his Tommy Udo in space when he played interplanetary assassin Seton Kellogg on the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode “Plot to Kill a City.” Gorshin played Dr. Owen Fletcher, who kept Madeleine Stowe’s psychiatrist Kathryn real in Terry Gilliam’s science fiction noir masterpiece 12 Monkeys (1995).

4. Teri Garr

Terri Garr played Roberta Lincoln, the harried, day-gig secretary to Gary Seven in the 1968 episode “Assignment: Earth.” The episode was made as a way to sneak a Gary Seven series onto TV without a pilot. Oh, they couldn’t say that, of course, but what the logical command exec could say was that Mr. Seven and Ms. Lincoln had some interesting experiences in store for them.

What can we say about Miss Lincoln that wasn’t put so eloquently on her computer files? Employed by Garys 347 and 201. She was 20 years old and wondered if she’d make thirty. She was five feet, seven inches and 120 pounds. Her hair was tinted honey-blonde for the Gary gig. Although her behavior appears erratic, she really has a high I.Q. She had interesting birthmarks.

Terri Garr is a more than just a roll in the hay with a young Frankenstein, she is a treasure who brings deeply kooky characters humanity and perception. We liked her in Tootsie no matter how big her teeth were. She knew when to say when to mashed potatoes in Close Encounters of the Third Kind . She really brought home the pressures of computing sales tax in a beehive bun in Martin Scorsese’s After Hours . The scene where she suddenly changed music from the Monkee’s “Last Train to Clarksville” to Joni Mitchell’s “Chelsea Morning” is a minor comic miracle. It was also possibly a nod to her first speaking role in a feature, in the Monkees film Head (1968), which was written by Jack Nicholson.

Garr started out as a dancer like her mom, who was a Rockette. Her father performed on the vaudeville circuit. Terri’s hips swiveled near Elvis in nine movies including Viva Las Vegas. She danced on rock and roll shows like the T.A.M.I. Show , Shindig! and Hullabaloo . She had an uncredited role on Batman, appeared on The Andy Griffith Show , Mayberry R.F.D. , It Takes a Thief , McCloud , M*A*S*H , The Bob Newhart Show , The Odd Couple , Maude , Barnaby Jones , and played Phoebe Abbott, the estranged birth mother of Phoebe Buffay, in three episodes of Friends .

In film, she was nominated for the Supporting Actress Oscar for Tootsie (1982) and also starred in Oh, God! (1977), The Black Stallion (1979), Mr. Mom  (1983), The Sting II (1983), and Let It Ride (1989). Garr is National Ambassador for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and National Chair for the Society’s Women Against MS program (WAMS). She disclosed that she suffered from the disease in October 2002.

Terri Garr was Richard Dreyfus’s short-suffering wife in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Written and directed by Steven Spielberg, the film reinvigorated science fiction movies with the most positive vision of extraterrestrial relations since Star Trek itself. Garr was more scientifically fictional as the lab assistant Inga in Young Frankenstein (1974), a timeless classic of science fiction horror comedy. Mel Brooks’ lab raised the standard of cinematic biomedical accoutrements.

3. Ted Cassidy

Ted Cassidy is full of surprises. He lent his deep voice to several great characters on Star Trek . He provided the voice for the false face Balok presented in “The Corbomite Maneuver” before it turned out to be the kid from Gentle Ben , Opie Cunningham’s little brother. He played the android Ruk in the episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” He was also the voice of the Gorn in the episode “Arena.”

Three classic characters, as deep and rich as the actor’s dulcet tones. We can still hear him promising to be “merciful and quick” or determining an equation while pushing Kirk’s head through a rock ceiling. Cassidy’s presence is undeniable. But the Star Trek references continue. He was a goon on the very first episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. It was called “The Vulcan Affair.”

Cassidy is best known for playing Lurch on The Addams Family , who he also played on the Batman episode “The Penguin’s Nest” and on The New Scooby-Doo Movies (1972). He is only slightly less known for also lending his hand to the role of Thing. While it is pretty much common knowledge that he only mimed playing the harpsichord on the show, he was actually a very good keyboardist.

You probably also didn’t know he was regularly voicing Hanna-Barbera cartoons while he was doing The Addams Family or that he recorded a dance tune, called “The Lurch,” that he got to perform on the same Shindig! that Boris Karloff did the “Monster Mash.” And it might surprise you that Cassidy was a child genius who was in third grade by the time he was six and hit high school and 6 feet 1 inch by the time he was 11.

Cassidy started as a disc jockey on WFAA in Dallas and was broadcasting when President Kennedy was assassinated. Cassidy got some of the earliest eye witness reports when he interviewed W.E. Newman, Jr. and Gayle Newman.

Cassidy’s first TV role was the lowest of budget science fiction. He played an outer space creature named Creech on WFAA-TV’s “Dialing for Dollars” segments that ran between the afternoon movies. He went on to appear as Injun Joe on The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Gentle Sam on Daniel Boone and Mr. Ted, the muscular flower gardener on The Beverly Hillbillies . Cassidy also played Jeannie’s cousin and her sister’s master on two different episodes of I Dream of Jeannie . He also narrated the opening and assorted grunts and growls on The Incredible Hulk .

Cassidy was in the movies Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), the first pair-up between Paul Newman and Robert Redford, Mackenna’s Gold (1969), The Limit (1972), Charcoal Black (1972), The Slams (1973), Thunder County (1974), Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976), The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977) – an underrated and very silly Marty Feldman movie – and Goin’ Coconuts (1978).

Cassisdy co-wrote the script to the 1973 college orgy movie The Harrad Experiment with Michael Werner. Cassidy died on January 16, 1979 at age 46.

It probably isn’t surprising that Cassidy did more than his share of science fiction. He appeared in the Lost in Space episode “The Thief from Outer Space” with Malachi Throne, who usually starred in It Takes a Thief and who appeared in Star Trek ’s “The Menagerie.”

Cassidy appeared in the pilots for Gene Roddenberry’s Genesis II and Planet Earth as Isiah. He replaced André the Giant as The Six Million Dollar Man ’s resident Bigfoot in “The Return of Bigfoot” (1976), and “Bigfoot V” (1977). Cassidy voiced Meteor Man in Birdman and the Galaxy Trio , and Ben Grimm, the other Thing in The New Fantastic Four . He did temporary voice tracks for the TV movie pilot for Battlestar Galactica .

Cassidy also did the voice of Godzilla, the king of all monsters, in the 1979 Hanna Barbera/Toho cartoon series Godzilla .

2. Gary Lockwood

Gary Lockwood played the helmsman Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell in the second pilot episode “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (1966) which also co-starred Sally Kellerman. The pair thought they were god-like after shiny space junk triggered extreme abilities like telekinesis and telepathy. Star Trek incorporated paranormal activities that can be activated in mortals and explored inner and outer space and found that the depths of each were boundless. Star Trek ’s first episode promised great things.

Gary Lockwood started out as a stuntman before he got a bit part in Warlock (1959), a western, not a horror movie. He got his first real credit in the Elvis Presley movie Wild in the Country from 1961. He would also turn up in Elvis’ 1963 musical-comedy It Happened at the World’s Fair . He first got noticed for his supporting role in Splendor in the Grass (1961).

Lockwood’s first two TV series, Follow the Sun and Bus Stop , each only last a season in 1961. Lockwood also played a soldier with a crush on Mary Stone (Shelley Fabares) on The Donna Reed Show . All three shows were on ABC. For CBS he starred in an episode of the anthology series The Lloyd Bridges Show and in the “The Case of the Playboy Pugilist” episode of Perry Mason in 1963.

Lockwood first worked with Gene Roddenberry when he played Lieutenant William T. Rice in the NBC series The Lieutenant , which co-starred The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ’s Robert Vaughn as Captain Raymond Rambridge. It ran from 1963-1964 and was cancelled after 29 episodes.

He also appeared on 12 O’Clock High in three episodes including “V For Vendetta,” The Kraft Mystery Theater , The Legend of Jesse James , The Long Hot Summer and Gunsmoke with James Arness. Lockwood co-starred with his then-wife Stefanie Powers on an episode of Love, American Style and guest starred with her and Robert Wagner on the “Emily by Hart” episode of the series Hart to Hart .

Gary Lockwood played Dr. Frank Poole, one of the two astronauts in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Stanley Kubrick’s science fiction masterpiece based on Arthur C. Clarke’s short story “The Sentinel.” 2001 might be the only film more influential on the development of science fiction than Star Trek itself. Without 2001, there would be no Star Wars, no Close Encounters of the Third Kind , Alien , Blade Runner , Contact nor The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension . There might not even be a Steven Spielberg or a George Lucas. Well, they would have been born, but may never have taken to space.

Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey was truly groundbreaking. It rendered everything that came before it in science fiction obsolete. The man who some believe faked the moon landing didn’t just change movies, he changed technology. The HAL 9000, one letter removed from IBM, invented Siri. The astronauts went to the space station and the spaceship Discovery on a space shuttle that looked astonishingly like the one that would one day be invented and developed for exactly that reason. They even had the first iPads.

2001: A Space Odyssey could be a silent film. It opens and closes with almost half-hour long sequences without any dialogue and the dialogue that is in the film is so sanitized it is almost insipidly unnecessary. Also, the movie trusted itself so much they never had to show an alien, they just had to let the audience know that the possibility existed.

1. James Gregory

James Gregory played Tantalus director Tristan Adams in the season 1 episode “Dagger of the Mind,” which first aired November 3, 1966. Developing a machine called the neutralizer at a rehabilitation facility for the criminally insane, Dr. Adams is one of the best mad scientists on sixties television. He brainwashes his assistant Van Elder until he can’t get through his own name and then makes the captain worship him as a god and weep over a neglected Noel at a Christmas party. The power-mad psychiatrist ultimately loses his mind to the neutralizer. The episode also showed Spock doing the Vulcan mind meld for the first time.

Gregory is a no-nonsense professional artist who never lost his Bronx accent. He spent 83 days in Okinawa during his three-year stint in the Navy and Marine Corps during WWII. Gregory made his Broadway debut with acting legends Paul Muni and Jose Ferrar in a 1939 production of Key Largo . That play would be brought to the screen with Humphrey Bogart and Edward G. Robison in the roles.

Gregory was also in the original cast of The Desperate Hours that prompted Bogart to bring Paul Newman’s then-signature stage role to life on film. He also acted in All My Sons , played Biff in Death of a Salesman on Broadway through five different actors playing Willy Loman, including Lee J. Cobb.

Starting in 1939, Gregory worked in over 25 Broadway productions over sixteen years. He made his motion picture debut in Naked City in 1948. Gregory acted with everyone. He held his own with screen icons from Sinatra, Presley, Barbara Streisand and John Wayne, as well as acting legends like Claude Raines, Vincent Price, Barbara Stanwyck, Angela Lansbury, Andy Griffith, Kim Hunter, Robert Montgomery and Lillian Gish.

Gregory shocked audiences when his Morgan Hastings character cold-bloodedly killed his own son in The Sons of Katie Elder . He also played Sgt. Schaeffer in the sixties gangster classic Al Capone , starring Rod Steiger. Gregory starred as Cmdr. C.R. Ritchie, John F. Kennedy’s commanding officer in the film PT 109 (1963) with Cliff Robertson. He was Dean Martin’s spy boss MacDonald, in the Matt Helm detective film series.

Starting in the mid-fifties, Gregory put in appearances on almost every major live TV production on both coasts. He set a record for acting in five live productions in 10 days. He also did radio work, including a starring role as Captain Vincent J. Cronin on 21st Precinct. Gregory was the lead Det. Barney Ruditsky in the 1959-61 television series The Lawless Years .

Gregory brought the same work ethic to taped television, being featured or guest starring in Twilight Zone , Columbo , McCloud , The Big Valley, Gunsmoke , Bonanza , The Virginian and Playhouse 90 . He played the comic Major Duncan on F Troop, President Ulysses S. Grant on The Wild, Wild West and would go on to play Iron Guts Kelley, a five-star general with a lucky gun, on M*A*S*H .

He based his most known character on Barney Ruditsky, a famous New York City rackets detective from the 1920s. Gregory played the brusque but wildly sentimental Inspector Luger for eight seasons on Barney Miller . The perennial bachelor spent Thanksgivings eating heated up leftovers, forged credentials on mail-order bride orders and almost took one in the head from the same sniper that Wojo ducked. He loved those guys.

James Gregory paid his science fiction dues on Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents , but he became SciFi legend when General Ursus proclaimed “the only good human is a dead human” in Beneath the Planet of the Apes . Gregory tosses off a grandiose tour de force from the top of a horse. His eyes under the gorilla makeup are a wonder in the scene where Dr. Zaius steals his glory by bravely confronting the bleeding Lawgiver. All the actors in the original Planet of the Apes movies managed to bring humanity to their primates, but Gregory mined his primal urges to celebrate the animal. He is feral. He is an ape among apes.

The Manchurian Candidate , directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey, is one of the greatest films of all times. Remembered as a taut political thriller it has the heart of a science fiction classic. The film explores the science of brainwashing. The mechanics of breaking down all the men under Sergeant Marco’s command is told with astonishing accuracy because it was based on extremely well-researched source material.

The 1959 book by Richard Condon is even more shocking than the movie. The film is a wonder of psychological traps laid bare by some of the best camerawork in motion picture history. Gregory’s Sen. John Iselin is despicable. One of the worst creatures to ever crawl out of the swamp that is Washington DC and the actor goes to town with it. He is as real as the headlines of the day. 

Tony Sokol | @tsokol

Culture Editor Tony Sokol is a writer, playwright and musician. He contributed to Altvariety, Chiseler, Smashpipe, and other magazines. He is the TV Editor at Entertainment…

George Takei

Japanese American actor George Takei played Lieutenant Sulu in the original 'Star Trek' television series and movies and is a popular social-media presence.

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Early Years

Stage and screen, public service and private revelations, quick facts:, who is george takei.

George Takei overcame the racial barriers of his time to launch a successful acting career. He starred as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu during the three-year television run of Star Trek , and later reprised the role for six movies. Prominently involved with gay rights and Japanese American groups, Takei has become a highly popular social-media presence.

George Hosato Takei was born on April 20, 1937, in Los Angeles, California. At the age of 5, he and his family were uprooted from their home and forced to live at Japanese internment camps in Arkansas and northern California. They returned to Los Angeles after World War II, and Takei enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley to study architecture.

While in college, Takei responded to a newspaper ad looking for Asian voiceover actors for the English version of the Japanese monster movie Rodan (1956). That led to more voiceover work, as well as small parts in television programs such as Perry Mason and the film Ice Palace (1960). Deciding to focus on acting full time, Takei transferred to the University of California Los Angeles, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in theater.

In 1966, Takei became one of the few Asian Americans to be featured prominently on TV when he starred as Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu on the science-fiction series Star Trek. He returned after taking time off during the second season to film The Green Berets (1968), but his role as Sulu was temporarily shelved when Star Trek was canceled in 1969.

Takei continued to make regular TV appearances in the 1970s, on such programs as The Six Million Dollar Man and Hawaii Five-O , while providing the voice of Sulu for the Star Trek animated series. Momentum gathered for the making of the movie, and Takei reunited with the rest of his old castmates for Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) and five sequels over the next dozen years.

The 1990s brought a steady stream of voiceover gigs, with Takei's signature baritone surfacing in the Disney animated feature Mulan (1998) and episodes of The Simpsons . The veteran actor also became a semi-regular guest on the Howard Stern Show , and in 2006, he was named Stern's official announcer following the shock-jock's move to Sirius XM Radio.

Takei was involved in a project close to his heart when he took on a starring role in Allegiance , a production about the World War II internment of Japanese Americans. The play premiered at San Diego's Old Globe Theater in September 2012.

Takei has remained a busy man away from show business. After narrowly losing his bid for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council in 1973, he joined the board of directors for the Southern California Transit District from 1973 to 1984.

Takei served on the board of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission for President Bill Clinton and was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette by His Majesty the Emperor of Japan in 2004. He is also chairman emeritus of the Japanese American National Museum's board of trustees and serves as chair of the council of governors of East West Players, a renowned Asian-American theater organization.

In 2005, Takei publicly announced his homosexuality to Frontiers magazine. He married his longtime partner, Brad Altman, in September 2008.

In recent years, Takei has earned a following from a new generation of fans with his funny, incisive posts on Facebook. His expansive social-media presence, along with the 2013 release of Star Trek Into Darkness , has helped keep this accomplished actor and activist in the public eye.

FULL NAME: George Takei, born Hosato Takei BORN: April 20, 1937 BIRTHPLACE:Los Angeles, California

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55 Years Ago: Star Trek Final Episode Airs, Relationship with NASA Endures

Johnson space center.

The voyages of the Starship Enterprise came to a sudden and premature end on June 3, 1969, with the airing of the final episode of the Star Trek original television series. Ironically, the show’s cancellation came just six weeks before humanity embarked on its first voyage to land on another celestial body. Although the show ran for only three seasons, it generated a devoted fan base disappointed by the cancellation despite their write-in campaign to keep it on the air. But as things turned out, over the decades Star Trek evolved into a global phenomenon, first with the original episodes replayed in syndication, followed by a series of full-length motion pictures, and eventually a multitude of spin-off series. With its primary focus on space exploration, along with themes of diversity, inclusion, and innovation, the Star Trek fictional universe formed a natural association with NASA’s real life activities.

Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first had the idea for a science fiction television series in 1964. He presented his idea, a show set in the 23 rd century aboard a starship with a crew dedicated to exploring the galaxy, to Desilu Productions, an independent television production company headed by Lucille Ball. They produced a pilot titled “The Cage,” selling it to the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) network that then bought a second pilot titled “Where No Man Has Gone Before.” NBC introduced the show to its fall 1966 lineup, with the first episode “The Man Trap” airing on Sep. 8. To put that date in perspective, NASA launched Gemini XI four days later, one of the missions that helped the agency achieve the Moon landing nearly three years later. Meanwhile, Star Trek’s Starship Enterprise continued its fictional five-year mission through the galaxy to “seek out new life and new civilizations.” The makeup of the Enterprise’s crew made the show particularly attractive to late 1960s television audiences. The major characters included an African American woman communications officer, an Asian American helmsman, and a half-human half-Vulcan science officer, later joined by a Russian-born ensign. While the show enjoyed good ratings during its first two seasons, cuts to its production budget resulted in lower quality episodes during its third season leading to lower ratings and, despite a concerted letter-writing campaign from its dedicated fans, eventual cancellation.

Despite the show’s cancellation, Star Trek lived on and prospered in syndication and attracted an ever-growing fan base, turning into a worldwide sensation. Often dubbed “trekkies,” these fans held the first of many Star Trek conventions in 1972. When in 1976 NASA announced that it would name its first space shuttle orbiter Constitution, in honor of its unveiling on the anniversary of the U. S. Constitution’s ratification, trekkies engaged in a dedicated letter writing campaign to have the orbiter named Enterprise, after the starship in the television series. This time the fans’ letter writing campaign succeeded. President Gerald R. Ford agreed with the trekkies and directed NASA to rechristen the first space shuttle. When on Sept. 17, 1976 , it rolled out of its manufacturing plant in Palmdale, California, appropriately accompanied by a band playing the show’s theme song, it bore the name Enterprise. Many of the original cast members of the show as well as its creator Rodenberry participated in the rollout ceremony, hosted by NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher . Thus began a lengthy relationship between the space agency and the Star Trek brand.

During the development of the space shuttle in the 1970s, the need arose to recruit a new group of astronauts to fly the vehicle, deploy the satellites, and perform the science experiments. When NASA released the call for the new astronaut selection on July 8, 1976, it specifically encouraged women and minorities to apply. To encourage those applicants, NASA chose Nichelle Nichols, who played communications officer Lt. Uhura on the Starship Enterprise, to record a recruiting video and speak to audiences nationwide. She came to NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston in March 1977, and accompanied by Apollo 12 and Skylab 3 astronaut Alan L. Bean , toured the center and filmed scenes for the video in Mission Control and other facilities. NASA hoped that her stature and popularity would encourage women and minorities to apply, and indeed they did. In January 1978, when NASA announced the selection of 35 new astronauts from more than 8,000 applicants, for the first time the astronaut class included women and minorities. All distinguished themselves as NASA astronauts and paved the way for others in subsequent astronaut selections. Nichols returned to JSC in September 2010 with the Traveling Space Museum, an organization that partners with schools to promote space studies. She toured Mission Control and the International Space Station trainer accompanied by NASA astronaut B. Alvin Drew . She also flew aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) airborne telescope aircraft managed by NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, in September 2015.

Meanwhile, the Star Trek brand renewed itself in 1979 as a full-length motion picture with the original TV series cast members reprising their roles. Over the years, several sequels followed this first film. And on the small screen, a reboot of sorts occurred in 1987 with the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a new series set in the 24 th century aboard the Enterprise-D, a next generation starship with a new crew. That series lasted seven seasons, followed by a near-bewildering array of spin-off series, all built on the Star Trek brand, that continue to this day.

James Doohan, the actor who played Lt. Cmdr. Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, the Starship Enterprise’s chief engineer, had early associations with NASA. In April 1967, Doohan visited NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in California, spending time with NASA test pilot Bruce A. Peterson. A month later, Peterson barely survived a horrific crash of the experimental M2-F2 lifting body aircraft. He inspired the 1970s TV series The Six-Million Dollar Man, and the show’s opening credits include film of the crash. Doohan narrated a documentary film about the space shuttle released shortly before Columbia made its first flight in April 1981. In January 1991, Doohan visited JSC and with NASA astronaut Mario Runco (who sometimes went by the nickname “Spock”) toured the shuttle trainers, Mission Control, and tried his hand at operating the shuttle’s robotic arm in the Manipulator Development Facility. In a unique tribute, astronaut Neil A. Armstrong , the first person to step on the lunar surface , spoke at Doohan’s retirement in 2004, addressing him as “one old engineer to another.”

George Takei, who played Enterprise helmsman Lt. Hikaru Sulu, and his husband Brad, visited JSC in May 2012. Invited by both Asian American and LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Groups, Takei spoke of leadership and inclusiveness, including overcoming challenges while in Japanese American internment camps during World War II and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. He noted that Star Trek remained ahead of its time in creating a future when all members of society could equally participate in great undertakings, at a time when the country struggled through the Civil Rights movement and the conflict in Southeast Asia. The inclusiveness that is part of NASA’s culture greatly inspired him. JSC Director Michael L. Coats presented Takei with a plaque including a U.S. flag flown aboard space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-135 mission. He also visited Mission Control and spent some time with Robonaut.

Leonard Nimoy played the science officer aboard the Starship Enterprise, the half-human, half-Vulcan Mr. Spock. The actor watched in September 2012 when space shuttle Enterprise arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, on the last leg of its journey to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, where it currently resides. “This is a reunion for me,” observed Nimoy. “Thirty-five years ago, I met the Enterprise for the first time.” As noted earlier, the Star Trek cast attended the first space shuttle’s rollout in 1976. Following his death in 2015, European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti paid tribute to Nimoy aboard the International Space Station by wearing a Star Trek science officer uniform, giving the Vulcan greeting, and proclaiming, “Of all the souls I have encountered … his was the most human.”

Captain James T. Kirk, played by actor William Shatner, a life-long advocate of science and space exploration, served at the helm of the Starship Enterprise. His relationship with NASA began during the original series, with references to the space agency incorporated into several story lines. In 2011, Shatner hosted and narrated a NASA documentary celebrating the 30 th anniversary of the Space Shuttle program , and gave his time and voice to other NASA documentaries. NASA recognized Shatner’s contributions in 2014 with a Distinguished Public Service Medal , the highest award NASA bestows on non-government individuals. NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Communications Robert “Bob” N. Jacobs presented the medal to Shatner. The award’s citation read, “For outstanding generosity and dedication to inspiring new generations of explorers around the world, and for unwavering support for NASA and its missions of discovery.” In 2019, Shatner narrated the NASA video We Are Going , about NASA’s plans to return astronauts to the Moon. He has spoken at numerous NASA-themed events and moderated panels about NASA’s future plans. On Oct. 13, 2021, at the age of 90, Shatner reached the edge of space during the NS-18 suborbital flight of Blue Origin’s New Shepard vehicle, experiencing three minutes of weightlessness.

Elements of the Star Trek universe have made their way not only into popular culture but also into NASA culture. As noted above, Star Trek fans had a hand in naming the first space shuttle Enterprise. NASA’s Earth observation facility aboard the space station that makes use of its optical quality window bears the name the Window Observational Research Facility (WORF). The connection between that acronym and the name of a Klingon officer aboard the Enterprise in the Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series seemed like an opportunity not to be missed – the facility’s official patch bears its name in English and in Klingon. Several astronaut crews have embraced Star Trek themes for their unofficial photographs. The STS-54 crew dressed in the uniforms of Starship Enterprise officers from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn, the second full-length feature motion picture of the series. Space shuttle and space station crews created Space Flight Awareness (SFA) posters for their missions, and more than one embraced Star Trek themes. The Expedition 21 crew dressed in uniforms from the original series, while the STS-134 crew chose as their motif the 2009 reboot motion picture Star Trek.

As much as Star Trek has influenced NASA, in turn the agency has left its mark on the franchise, from episodes referencing actual and future spaceflight events to NASA astronauts making cameo appearances on the show. The first-season episode “Court Martial” that aired in February 1967 featured a photograph of the December 1965 Gemini VI launch adorning a wall aboard a star base. In the second-season episode “Return to Tomorrow,” airing in February 1968, Captain Kirk in a dialogue about risk-taking remarks, “Do you wish that the first Apollo mission hadn’t reached the Moon?” a prescient reference to the first Apollo mission to reach the Moon more than 10 months after the episode aired. Astronaut Mae C. Jemison , who credits Nichelle Nichols as her inspiration to become an astronaut, appeared in the 1993 episode “Second Chances” of Star Trek: The Next Generation , eight months after her actual spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour. In May 2005, two other NASA astronauts, Terry W. Virts and E. Michael Fincke , appeared in “These are the Voyages…,” the final episode of the series Star Trek: Enterprise.

In the 2016 documentary “ NASA on the Edge of Forever: Science in Space ,” host NASA astronaut Victor J. Glover states, “Science and Star Trek go hand-in-hand.” The film explores how for 50 years, Star Trek influenced scientists, engineers, and even astronauts to reach beyond their potential. While the space station doesn’t speed through the galaxy like the Starship Enterprise, much of the research conducted aboard the orbiting facility can make the fiction of Star Trek come a little closer to reality. Several of the cast members from the original TV series share their viewpoints in the documentary, along with those of NASA managers and scientists. Over the years, NASA has created several videos highlighting the relationship between the agency and the Star Trek franchise. In 2016, NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden led a video tribute to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the first Star Trek episode.

In 2021, on the 100 th anniversary of Gene Roddenberry’s birth, his son Rod hosted a virtual panel discussion , introduced by NASA Administrator C. William “Bill” Nelson , about diversity and inspiration, two ideals the Star Trek creator infused into the series. Panelists included Star Trek actor Takei, Tracy D. Drain, flight systems engineer for the Europa Clipper spacecraft at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, NASA astronaut Jonny Kim , Swati Mohan, guidance and operations lead for the Mars 2020 rover at JPL, and Hortense B. Diggs, Director of the Office of Communication and Public Engagement at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mutual attraction between NASA and Star Trek stems from, to paraphrase the opening voiceover from the TV series, that both seek to explore and discover new worlds, and to boldly go where no one has gone before. The diversity, inclusion, and inspiration involved in these endeavors ensure that they will live long and prosper.

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J.J. Abrams Revived ‘Star Trek’ Creator’s Controversial Idea That Was Initially Rejected By Cast of The Original Series

S everal key parts of the Star Trek universe have become ingrained into the core of the franchise and have existed since the original series. None, however, have been as iconic as the IDIC. Over the years, it has turned into an iconic piece of merchandise for hardcore fans, and it holds great significance within the story.

However, many fans may not know the backstory behind the piece of jewelry or another place where it appears. It would seem that the idea of the necklace can be traced back to the beloved writer of the series, Gene Roddenberry.

Surprisingly enough, he got a lot of pushback from the cast and had to work very hard to get it integrated into the series.

Gene Roddenberry Had a Vision

The concept of the IDIC was headed by Gene Roddenberry in a manner that would almost be too extreme for some. The symbol had quite an interesting philosophy behind it, representing themes of infinity. However, it would seem that its main intentions were more focused on profit than meaning.

In a letter sent to Fred Freiberger in 1968, via Star Trek Fact Check, Roddenberry detailed how he wanted to use the symbol to sell merchandise for fans. Calling it Spock’s Medallion, parts of the series were rewritten so that he could fit this element in.

David Cronenberg Didn’t Even Know Why the Big Kovich Twist in Star Trek: Discovery Finale Was Such a Big Deal: “Once we walked him through it, he thought it was really, really cool”

Once the episode would air, Roddenberry would use his own mailing company, Lincoln Enterprises, to sell products with similar themes to fans of the story. Although the perspective was certainly an impressive one on Roddenberry’s part, it would seem that not everyone was happy with what he was trying to do.

The Cast of Star Trek: The Original Series Put Their Foot Down

The cast of Star Trek: The Original Series  was quite hesitant about agreeing to Gene Roddenberry’s idea. It was not the risk or the creative aspect that made them uninterested in doing it. It was the fact that Gene Roddenberry wanted to use his own mail-order business to sell the merchandise and make a profit.

After asking Will Shatner through several meetings and getting rejected, Roddenberry moved his attention toward Leonard Nimoy . He wanted to make the IDIC central to Spock’s character and tried very hard to get his idea launched. However, as Nimoy revealed in his book, I Am Spock , he was seriously hesitant.

Certainly, I was all in favor of the philosophy behind the IDIC– but not the fact that Gene wanted me to wear the medallion because he wanted to sell them through his mail-order business, Lincoln Enterprises. Where the scene had been problematic creatively for me, it was now problematic ethically. While I wouldn’t argue with the IDIC concept, I was troubled that I had opened the door and let in a new kind of animal while trying to get rid of another.

“The fact that they’re stand-alone episodes”: Jonathan Frakes Knows Why Star Trek: Discovery May Never Achieve What Strange New Worlds Has Accomplished

While he was on board with the vision that was trying to be translated onto the screen, he did not like the capitalistic approach to it. He did not like that something that was supposed to be a project with a bigger vision was being used as an advertisement for Roddenberry’s personal business. He constantly refused to be a part of it and let his character be used like this. So much so, that the idea was postponed for some other time.

Although I didn’t appreciate Spock being turned into a billboard, I at least felt that the IDIC idea had more value than the content of the original scene. We filmed the scene as Gene had rewritten it. But the whole incident was rather unpleasant.

After many years, the concept was brought up again but with a different vision, and this time, Nimoy was unable to refuse. However, he still did not agree with selfish desires clouding the vision of the series as a whole and stood by it for decades.

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Published Jun 3, 2024

Time Agent Provocateur: The Greatest Hits of Crewman Daniels

The man with a plan to save all the entire timeline is back. Or maybe he never left?

This article contains story details and plot points for Star Trek: Discovery's series finale, "Life, Itself."

StarTrek.com

As much as serious Star Trek fans might worry about keeping the intricacies of the various chronologies well-ordered in our brains, there are characters within Star Trek striving to do the exact same thing. While Trek has given us our fair share of time agents — from Gary Seven in The Original Series , to Captain Braxton in Voyager , and even recently, La'An Noonien-Singh in Strange New Worlds — there is another, undercover temporally-concerned individual who had a big impact on all of Star Trek . We're talking about Agent Daniels, who first appeared in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode " Cold Front ," way back in 2001.

And now, sneakily, Agent Daniels is back . When Captain Michael Burnham completes her mission in the Discovery series finale, " Life, Itself ," she decides it's time to get some answers from the mysterious Kovich, as played cryptically, and charmingly by legendary director David Cronenberg, starting with Discovery 's third season. When Burnham deduces that Kovich is a "codename," she reintroduces herself, which prompts Kovich to reveal that his real name, yes, is Daniels, and that he'd served on the Enterprise and "other places."

"Life, Itself"

But just how many "other places" has Kovich/Daniels really been? While we may not know the full breadth of the timey-wimey adventures of Daniels, we are aware of his greatest hits to date. Here are the essential Daniels moments, all of which have kept the Star Trek timeline intact. Mostly.  

Daniels Saves the Day… and Then Dies?

"Cold Front"

From the very start of Enterprise , Captain Archer had hints that the villainous Suliban were just one part of a paradoxical Temporal Cold War . But, it wasn't until Episode 11, "Cold Front," that we learned that there were some future-tense allies in this conflict. When Silik sneaks aboard the Enterprise , Daniels reveals himself to Archer as being an agent from the 31st Century, sent back in time to prevent enemy forces from messing with the 22nd Century. Although this is the first appearance of Daniels in any Star Trek episode, ever, Matt Winston's performance convinces us that he's sort of been there all along; an innocuous crewmember that Archer might not notice.

And so, when Daniels reveals to his captain that he has a lot more information about the larger conflict, a seemingly meek character is transformed into a formidable one. That said, Daniels does get zapped, seemingly, to death in this episode, which makes his ability to keep popping up all the more interesting.

Daniels Takes Archer Back to the Beginning

"Shockwave, Part I"

In the Enterprise Season 1 finale, " Shockwave, Part I ," the crew, briefly, believe they are responsible for destroying an entire colony due to a random shuttle plasma accident. This disaster threatens to shut down the entire mission of the NX-01, and Archer, Trip, and everyone involved are understandably depressed. But, just as Archer climbs into bed to cuddle with his dog and feel sorry for himself, he wakes up in his old apartment on Earth, 10 months prior, and exactly one day before his mission began.

As Archer walks around shirtless, trying to figure out what’s going on, Daniels appears, explaining to Archer that nothing about the disaster on Paraagan II was his fault. Turns out, the Temporal Cold War is heating up, and somebody is trying to change the past to frame Starfleet and Enterprise . Daniels is here to help Archer set the record straight. Though, strangely, he doesn't offer to help Archer find his shirt.

Daniels Recruits Archer and T'Pol

"Carpenter Street"

Throughout Enterprise , we learn that Daniels is from the 31st Century, and that his organization deals with a lot of complex rules. He alludes to the "temporal accords," from time to time, which is something his future self, Kovich, has mentioned on Discovery, too. But, in the third-season episode, "Carpenter Street," Daniels can't get involved with the timeline changes directly, and so, he recruits Archer to do some time travel dirty work for him.

In this gritty time travel episode, T'Pol and Archer have to go back to Chicago in the year 2004, and prevent Xindi from using human blood to create a biological weapon in the future. With Daniels as their temporary boss, "Carpenter Street" remains the closest thing a Star Trek episode has done that feels like The Terminator — a shadowy battle in the present to prevent a worse future.

But, in addition to the new revelation that Kovich and Daniels are one in the same, "Carpenter Street" has also influenced contemporary Star Trek shows in other ways. In Picard Season 2, La Sirena 's mission to fix the timeline is similar in tone and style to "Carpenter Street," even if the specifics differ. And, in the Strange New Worlds Season 2 episode, " Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow ," La’An is recruited to fix the timeline in a way that's not entirely dissimilar to what Daniels does with Archer and T'Pol.

A Glimpse at the Enterprise -J

"Azati Prime"

In the Season 3 episode, " Azati Prime ," Daniels once again whisks Archer to a different time period, but this time, to prove a point. In this episode, Daniels wants to convince Archer that figuring out some kind of truce with the Xindi is likely the best route to victory. Why? Well, turns out in the 26th Century, the Xindi are members of the Federation, and some of them even serve in Starfleet.

To make this point very clear, Daniels brings Archer to the deck of the Enterprise -J, a 26th Century incarnation of the beloved ship, that plays a huge part in the Battle of Procyon V. But, If Archer doesn't make nice with the Xindi in the 22nd Century, then the Enterprise -J can't do its thing in the 26th. While this one-and-only glimpse of the Enterprise -J was a wonderful Easter egg for fans when the episode aired in 2004, it also connects to the recent Kovich reveal on Discovery .

In "Life, Itself," when Kovich says he served on the U.S.S. Enterprise , he could have been referring to the Enterprise -J, since the NX-01 Enterprise wasn't initially given the prefix of "U.S.S." Then again, if Kovich survived dying in the 22nd Century, lived in the 31st Century, and settled into the 32nd Century as "Dr. Kovich," then who knows — maybe there are several other Enterprise he's lived on.

Kovich Explains the Multiverse

"Terra Firma, Part 1"

Now that we know that Kovich is Daniels, so much of what he's done — and elucidated — on Discovery makes a lot more sense. In Enterprise , we were made aware that time travel was common in the 31st Century. But, in Discovery , in the 32nd Century, time travel has been outlawed, by the "Temporal Accords." Surely Daniels was behind making this happen, since he probably got sick of all the time paradoxes earlier in his career, which constantly required him to grab Captain Archer in the middle of the night.

In the Discovery Season 3 episode " Terra Firma, Part 1 ," Kovich says to Dr. Culber, "Consider yourself lucky to have skipped the Temporal Wars. Amongst the many horrible things we discovered when weaponizing time — temporal travel can make you pretty sick."

What this ends up meaning is that some time travel within the same reality is okay, but if you time travel and cross parallel dimensions, like Georgoiu did, the results can be fatal. Because we now know that Kovich was Daniels all along, it makes sense that he would have all sorts of knowledge that spanned the era of The Original Series, The Next Generation , and even, the Kelvin Universe. But, as Discovery concludes, what remains so interesting about Kovich is that in a world in which time travel is outlawed, he seems like the last of an extinct breed, the last of the Star Trek time lords, at the edge of the universe.

"Red Directive"

Luckily though, just like everyone else in the Star Trek family, Kovich (or Daniels) is never really on his own. And so, when he recruits Burnham to help with those pesky " Red Directives ," it seems he's carrying on the same tradition he started back in the 22nd Century, when he enlisted the help of the first captain of the Enterprise .

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Ryan Britt is the author of the nonfiction books Phasers on Stun! How the Making and Remaking of Star Trek Changed the World (2022), The Spice Must Flow: The Journey of Dune from Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies (2023), and the essay collection Luke Skywalker Can’t Read (2015). He is a longtime contributor to Star Trek.com and his writing regularly appears with Inverse, Den of Geek!, Esquire and elsewhere. He lives in Portland, Maine with his family.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

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Star trek: discovery’s ending beautifully showed saru changed for the better.

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Why Discovery Is Ending With Season 5 & What It Means For Star Trek

One star trek actor was “shattered” to miss discovery’s finale epilogue but his character was still there, star trek: discovery’s epilogue had 2 clever callbacks to the series premiere.

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery's finale, "Life, Itself"

• Saru's triumph over Primarch Tahal in Star Trek: Discovery's finale showcased immense character growth.
• Saru's intimidation of Tahal highlighted his evolution from fear to strength.
• Saru's potential return to the franchise in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is likely, given his popularity.

Star Trek: Discovery 's ending beautifully illustrated just how much Saru (Doug Jones) had changed for the better since season 1. Saru has been part of Discovery 's cast of characters since the beginning, making his debut in the series premiere episode, "The Vulcan Hello." As the first Kelpian to join Starfleet, Saru introduced the race to Star Trek canon and helped make them one of the most popular and interesting races of any new franchise show to date.

As a main character on Discovery , Saru saw some massive shifts in terms of his arc throughout the show's five seasons. By Discovery season 5's ending , every member of Discovery 's main crew showed immense growth and change when compared to their original incarnation in season 1. However, Saru arguably experienced the biggest transformation for a variety of reasons , and a particular scene in Discovery 's series finale, "Life, Itself" demonstrated the character's shift well.

Star Trek: Discovery ending with season 5 came as a surprise. Here's what we know about why the flagship Star Trek series is wrapping up.

Saru’s Star Trek: Discovery Transformation Was Beautifully Demonstrated By His Series Finale Triumph

Saru became a completely different person by discovery's final episode.

Saru's triumph over Breen Primarch Tahal (Patricia Summersett) in Discovery 's finale was the perfect illustration of his complete character transformation, especially when compared to a similar scene in the show's pilot. One of the most memorable moments in "Life, Itself" was Saru successfully forcing Tahal away from the Progenitor's technology, including his brutal intimidation of the Primarch when he stated that he'd analyzed her as a predator analyzes prey . Saru's refusal to back down saved the lives of Discovery 's crew, but his speech was also a reminder of just how much he had learned about himself and his species.

Season 1 Saru would never have been able to accomplish the intimidation of Tahal, but the scene in Discovery 's finale brought home just how much he had transformed from someone who was nearly constantly frightened to someone who could stare down a Breen Primarch and not blink.

When Kelpians were first introduced in Discovery season 1, Saru told Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) that they were like Earth's " livestock of old ," bred only to " sense the coming of death ." The reveal that Kelpians were actually the predators of their home planet Kaminar in Discovery season 2 resulted in one of Saru's biggest character shifts. Season 1 Saru would never have been able to accomplish the intimidation of Tahal, but the scene in Discovery 's finale brought home just how much he had transformed from someone who was nearly constantly frightened to someone who could stare down a Breen Primarch and not blink.

What’s Next For Saru After Star Trek: Discovery’s Ending?

Where and when will saru appear next in the star trek franchise.

Luckily, there are many possibilities for Saru's return to the Star Trek franchise now that Discovery has ended. Of course, if Discovery ever gets a movie or season 6 somewhere down the line, Saru will undoubtedly return to the main cast, as the series would not be the same without him. However, the most likely place for the franchise to use Saru next is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy , the upcoming series that will focus on cadets at the Academy in the 32nd century.

Given that Starfleet Academy is looking more and more like a Discovery spin-off, Saru's inclusion in the series only makes sense. As of Discovery 's finale, Saru was not only a Federation Ambassador but also an Admiral in Starfleet . Saru's distinguished position, popularity as a character, and potential for storylines like exploring his married life with President T'Rina (Tara Rosling) make him an ideal candidate to return in Starfleet Academy , alongside other Star Trek: Discovery characters like Slyvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman).

All episodes of Star Trek: Discovery are now available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

New ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel Movie, Based on Suzanne Collins’ Next Novel, Set for 2026

By Rebecca Rubin

Rebecca Rubin

Senior Film and Media Reporter

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A new “Hunger Games” prequel film will be released in theaters in 2026.

After last November’s “Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” charmed its way to $337 million at the box office, Lionsgate teased that moviegoers may not have seen the last of Panem, the dystopia where the story is set — even though the spinoff story covered the entirety of author Suzanne Collins’ 2020 novel of the same name.

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Like the forthcoming novel, “ The Hunger Games : Sunrise on the Reaping” will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of the “Hunger Games” saga (anchored by thee Katniss Everdeen) and four decades after “The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.” It will start on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell — in which Haymitch Abernathy, portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original series, competed. Haymitch Abernathy later mentors Katniss and Peeta in the 74th Hunger Games.

“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star,” Fogelson said in a statement. “We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later.”

Meredith Wieck and Scott O’Brien will oversee the production on behalf of the studio. Patricia Laucella and Phil Strina oversaw the rights for the book for Lionsgate.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” took place 64 years before Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute. Tom Blyth played a young Coriolanus Snow, who later becomes the tyrannical leader of Panem, while Rachel Zegler portrayed impoverished District 12 tribute Lucy Gray Baird, whom he mentors and develops feelings for during the 10th annual battle royale. By the end of “Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Lucy Gray Baird’s fate remains ambiguous and Snow begins his ruthless rise to power.

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