Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Guest Stars of "Star Trek"

A couple of people noted to me the stellar guest cast in these "Star Trek" feature films I've been reviewing the last two weeks, so I decided to post a run-down of the notable actors from each movie.

"Star Trek: The Motion Picture"
Stephen Collins - Collins would later co-star with Catherine Hicks on "7th Heaven"
Persis Khambatta - Persis was most famous in her native India as an actress.

"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"
Ricardo Montalban - Montalban was a well-known actor, having guest starred in many TV series, and famous for roles in "Fantasy Island" and later "The Naked Gun"
Merritt Butrick - Butrick would later guest star in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation"
Kirstie Alley - Alley would later join hit TV sitcom "Cheers," and star in the series of "Look Who's Talking" films, more sitcoms and eventually a series of reality shows.
Paul Winfield - Winfield is a recognizable character actor, guest starring in a number of films such as "The Terminator" and also an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

"Star Trek III: The Search for Spock"
Christopher Lloyd - Lloyd has a made a long career playing crazy characters on TV shows like "Taxi," and starred as Doc Brown in "Back to the Future."
Phil Morris - Morris has made a career out of guest roles on TV series like "Seinfeld" and "Smallville."
John Larroquette - Larroquette starred in the popular 80s sitcom "Night Court."
Miguel Ferrer - Ferrer's career mostly consists of playing sketchy characters, but he also had an important role in Paul Verhoeven's excellent "Robocop" with Kurtwood Smith.

"Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home"
Catherine Hicks - Hicks, as I mentioned, would later co-star with Stephen Collins in "7th Heaven."
Brock Peters - Most famously, Peters starred in "To Kill A Mockingbird" as well as a lifetime of guest starring in popular TV shows, and a recurring role on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier"
David Warner - Warner has an extensive filmography of voiceover work (notably for "Batman: The Animated Series" as Ras al Ghul) and would appear in the next film, "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country" as Chancellor Gorkon.
George Murdock - Murdock has also made extensive TV guest appearances, including "The X-Files," "Law and Order," "ER," "Batman: The Animated Series," and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

"Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country"
Christopher Plummer -  Plummer is probably most famous for his role as Captain Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music," and also recently appeared in Pixar's excellent "Up."
Kim Cattrall - Cattrall had previously starred in "Police Academy" and "Big Trouble in Little China." These days, she gets her rocks off playing a cougar on "Sex and the City."
Kurtwood Smith - Smith starred with Miguel Ferrer in "Robocop" and later, famously as Red Forman in "That 70's Show."  He also appeared in "24," "House," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager."
Michael Dorn - Dorn starred as Lt. Worf in seven seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," four seasons of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and four "Star Trek" feature films.
W. Morgan Sheppard - Sheppard has guest starred in a number of TV shows and films, including "Star Trek" (2009), "Star Trek: Voyager," "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and extensive voiceover work.
Christian Slater - Slater gained a reputation as a heartthrob and eventually starred in a number of popular films and guest starred on TV series such as "Alias" and "The West Wing."
Iman - Iman is mostly known for her modeling, but has done some acting work.
Rene Auberjonois - Auberjonois starred as Odo for seven seasons of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

"Star Trek: Generations"
Alan Ruck - Ruck's most famous role is as Ferris' pal Cameron in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," and also appeared in blockbusters like "Speed" and "Twister."
Malcolm McDowell - McDowell's made a career out of playing creeps and weirdos like in "A Clockwork Orange."  He's also done extensive voiceover work.
Brian Thompson - His size and intriguing facial structure often typecasts Thompson in villainous thug roles, such as the pilot episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "The Terminator," "The X-Files" and "Star Trek: Enterprise."
Whoopi Goldberg - A comedienne who has starred in many films and TV series, including "The Color Purple," "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze, and "Sister Act."  She also had a recurring role on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
Tim Russ - Russ had guest roles on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and starred for seven seasons as Tuvok on "Star Trek: Voyager."  He has also had brief appearances in Mel Brooks' "Spaceballs" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."

"Star Trek: First Contact"
Alfre Woodard - Woodard has guest starred in a number of TV series and films, including "Desperate Housewives," "Scrooged," "LA Law" and recently, HBO's "True Blood."
James Cromwell - Famously played a farmer in that talking pig movie, "Babe," and has guest starred in a number of films in TV series including "ER," "The Sum of All Fears," "I, Robot," "24" and appeared on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Enterprise."
Neal McDonough - Has guest starred in many TV shows and films, including HBO's "Band of Brothers," "Desperate Housewives," and "Tin Man."
Robert Picardo - Picardo starred for seven seasons as The Doctor "Star Trek: Voyager" and guest starred on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and in TV series such as "The Wonder Years" and "Stargate: SG-1" and "Stargate: Atlantis."
Dwight Schulz - Schulz had a recurring role on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Voyager" and starred as 'Howlin Mad' Murdock in "The A-Team."
Don Stark - Stark co-starred with Kurtwood Smith in "That 70s Show."
Ethan Phillips - Phillips starred as Neelix for seven seasons of "Star Trek: Voyager."

"Star Trek: Insurrection"
F. Murray Abraham - Abraham won the Oscar for Best Actor in "Amadeus," a role he lampooned in Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Last Action Hero."
Donna Murphy - Donna Murphy apparently grew up in my hometown.  My sister goes to church with her mother.  She has also appeared in films such as "Spider-Man 2" and "World Trade Center."
Anthony Zerbe - Zerbe has done lots of guest roles, and also took on James Bond 007 in "License to Kill."
Gregg Henry - Henry's done a TON of guest work on TV series and films like "Gilmore Girls," "Firefly," "Star Trek: Enterprise" and "Slither" (with "Firefly" star Nathan Fillion).

"Star Trek: Nemesis"
Tom Hardy - Also had a role with Neal McDonough in "Band of Brothers," and recently garnered acclaim for "Bronson."
Ron Perlman - Perlman has an extensive filmography playing badasses and characters requiring lots of makeup, including "Beauty and the Beast" and "Hellboy."
Dina Meyer - Meyer rose to prominence with roles on "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Starship Troopers."
Jude Ciccolella - Guest starred in numerous TV shows and movies such as "Daredevil," "The Shawshank Redemption" and had a recurring role for several years on "24."
Alan Dale - Dale recently wrapped a recurring role on JJ Abrams' "Lost."  He's had extensive guest work on shows like "The OC" and "24" (with Jude Cicolella).
Bryan Singer - Singer is famous for directing movies like "The Usual Suspects," "X-Men" and "Superman Returns."

"Star Trek" (2009)
Rachel Nichols - Nichols had a starring role in the final season of JJ Abrams' "Alias," and as Scarlett in "GI Joe: Rise of Cobra."
Faran Tahir - Guest starred in shows like "24," JJ Abrams' "Lost," "Chuck" and "Grey's Anatomy."
Tyler Perry - Perry is an accomplished writer and actor, most famous for his role as Madea.
Majel Barrett - Wife of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, Barrett played the voice of the computers in every "Star Trek" TV series and many of the movies.
Wil Wheaton - Wheaton starred as Wesley Crusher on "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

1 comment:

  1. Rene Auberjonois - probably best known for playing Father John "Dago Red" Mulcahy in Robert Altman's 1970 film version of "MASH."

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