# Spotting Star Trek actors in other programs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** tv-shows-scripted, star-trek-paramount\ **Created:** [August 29, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982 "2017-08-29T00:49:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 84
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1661 "2025-01-30T00:27:04Z")
Just watched an old made-for-TV movie from 1977 called “Ants”. Among the cast were Robert Foxworth and Bernie Casey. The former portrayed Admiral Leyton, the latter Calvin Hudson, both former comrades of Benjamin Sisko, both of whom betrayed Starfleet. Also in the cast was Barry VanDyke, who later had his own space adventures on Galactica 1980. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1662 "2025-01-30T14:31:36Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Also, I got a DVD compilation of 4 westerns, one of which was _Comanche Blanco_, wherein Shatner plays two chacacters (I am not recommending it). I’ve seen that, it is pretty bad. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1663 "2025-03-01T18:45:05Z")
I’ve mentioned watching _Dr. Kildare_ episodes from the early 60s and upthread I cited one with Nimoy in it. Last night we [started](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0565232/) a 5-parter (each a half hour, from the last season). It has Shatner in it as a “heartless” doctor. But he actually gets easily angered so not doing Spock. Listed as a special guest star. As a bonus it also has the great Martin Balsam as a GP/patient. Balsam’s wife is portrayed by Diana Muldaur. She appeared twice in _TOS_ in different roles. The episode _Return to Tomorrow_ has her as a doctor who gets possessed by an ancient alien so sort of a double role. She was also a different doctor as a regular on the 2nd season of _TNG_. She’s still alive at 86. But wait, there’s more. There’s a lazy intern character played by Bruce Hyde who was in two first season episodes of _TOS_ as “Riley”. He sang an Irish [song](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/I%27ll_Take_You_Home_Again,_Kathleen) in one episode. Unlike the above, his career was quite short. Appeared in only 8 things. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2025, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1664 "2025-03-01T20:20:19Z")
Possibly Diana Muldaur’s most famous line is “_Can Lorca ride?_” which is from _Gunsmoke_ episode _Fandango_. Most of the people who hear it will not actually recognize her voice: it is in interstitial background chatter on Pink Floyd’s _The Wall_. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2025, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1665 "2025-03-30T03:24:18Z")
Just saw Erick Avari in an old _West Wing_, playing the Pakistani ambassador to the U.S.; he played three different _ST_ roles. > **[Erick Avari](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Erick_Avari)** > > Erick Avari (born 13 April 1952; age 72) is an actor who appeared as B'iJik in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fifth season episode "Unification I", Yarka in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine third season episode "Destiny", and Jamin in the Star... ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2025, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1666 "2025-04-04T18:11:27Z")
Michael McKean appears as an ambitious Customs and Immigration agent in _Coneheads_ (1993), of which I just saw a little. > **[Michael McKean](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Michael_McKean)** > > Michael McKean (born 17 October 1947; age 77) is the American actor, comedian, composer, musician and director who played The Clown in the Star Trek: Voyager second season episode "The Thaw". He is perhaps best known for playing Leonard "Lenny"... ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1667 "2025-04-10T01:27:57Z")
Watched _Novocaine_ starring Jack Quaid. Pretty stupid overall. > **[Novocaine (2025 film)](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novocaine_(2025_film))** > > Novocaine (known as Novocaine No Pain in some regions) is a 2025 American action comedy film directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen and written by Lars Jacobson. The film stars Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, and Jacob Batalon. Its plot follows Nathan Caine (Quaid), a bank employee with the inability to feel pain who goes out to rescue his co-worker (Midthunder) after she is taken hostage by a group of bank robbers. > Novocaine was released in the United S... ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1668 "2025-04-10T01:40:23Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > He sang an Irish [song](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/I%27ll_Take_You_Home_Again,_Kathleen) in one episode. Unlike the above, his career was quite short. Appeared in only 8 things. He left show business to become a hippie, tho he soon went back into conventional society as a teacher and fine arts director. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1669 "2025-04-14T02:48:03Z")
Just saw Paul Winfield in the courtroom drama _Presumed Innocent_ (1990), as a no-nonsense judge. > **[Paul Winfield](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Winfield)** > > Paul Winfield (22 May 1939–7 March 2004; age 64) was an actor who played Clark Terrell in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Dathon in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fifth season episode "Darmok". Winfield filmed his scenes for "Darmok" between... Tucker Smallwood also had a small role as a homicide detective. > **[Tucker Smallwood](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Tucker_Smallwood)** > > Tucker Smallwood (born 22 February 1944; age 81) is the actor who played Admiral Bullock in the Star Trek: Voyager fifth season episode "In the Flesh". He is best known in Star Trek for his recurring portrayal of the Xindi-Primate councilor in the... ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1670 "2025-04-14T03:17:06Z")
I saw Brent Spiner in the 1997 Broadway revival of _ **1776** _, playing the lead role, John Adams. He was much more forceful and full-voiced than I expected. Here’s a clip of the opening number; Spiner delivers the opening lines around 2:00 and sings around 3:15: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVrQrm3Pznw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVrQrm3Pznw) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1671 "2025-04-14T03:23:08Z")
Likely mentioned upthread (and years ago), but we were watching some season 1 episodes of _Leverage_ on Ovation this afternoon, and the episode “[The Juror #6 Job](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300991/)” featured Brent Spiner as the CEO of an herbal-supplement company who is on trial for the death of someone who took his supplements, and Armin Shimerman as a doctor who is brought in to testify as a witness in his defense. In addition, the episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1672 "2025-04-21T01:30:42Z")
Just saw Marina Sirtis in a 1986 episode of Granada TV’s _Sherlock Holmes_ series, starring Jeremy Brett; she plays a London Mafia don’s daughter. That was just a year before _ST:TNG_ premiered. The whole episode (“The Six Napoleons”) is worth watching, but you can see her at 1:29, 5:32 and 49:07 here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IYBuV9Q5Bs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IYBuV9Q5Bs) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1673 "2025-04-23T15:32:49Z")
Wil Wheaton appears as “Chaos” the mad hacker in at least two episodes of _Leverage_, and Jeri Ryan subs for one of the main characters in several episodes when that character goes home for a while. But, in the sequel series _Leverage: Redemption_, possibly the most memorable episode features Levar Burton. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1674 "2025-04-23T16:49:25Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Jeri Ryan subs for one of the main characters in several episodes when that character goes home for a while. I had forgotten about that! Ryan is in the second half of Season 2; the in-character explanation was that Sophie (Gina Bellman) had taken a leave from the team, and had recommended a friend of hers, Tara (Ryan) to fill in for her. The out-of-character explanation was that Bellman was pregnant. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1675 "2025-05-12T20:01:25Z")
Just saw the 1962 Frank Sinatra political thriller _The Manchurian Candidate_ over the weekend. Whit Bissell plays a senior Army officer, and James Gregory plays a blowhard, McCarthyesque U.S. senator. > **[Whit Bissell](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Whit_Bissell)** > > New York-born actor Whit Bissell (25 October 1909–5 March 1996; age 86) is best known to Star Trek fans for playing Lurry on the Star Trek: The Original Series second season episode "The Trouble with Tribbles". Footage of his scenes were later... > **[James Gregory](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/James_Gregory)** > > James Gregory (23 December 1911–16 September 2002; age 90) was the actor who played Tristan Adams in the Star Trek: The Original Series first season episode "Dagger of the Mind". He filmed his scenes between Monday 15 August 1966 and Wednesday 17... ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1676 "2025-05-18T18:40:51Z")
Whit Bissell again in the 1948 thriller _ **He Walked by Night** _. His voice is unmistakable, but it took me a second to recognize his face. Also in the cast were Richard Basehart, Jack Webb, John Dehner, Kenneth Tobey, and Frank Cady. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1677 "2025-05-22T09:07:23Z")
I was watching _ **Columbo** _’s “Publish or Perish” tonight when I spotted James B Sikking as a cop at the scene of the crime. He was in it so briefly that he’s listed as “Uncredited,” but he’s another actor whose voice is unmistakable. Mariette Hartley is in this episode too, the first of the pair in which she guest starred. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2025, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1678 "2025-05-22T14:18:54Z")
James Gregory _is_ Ursus in **Beneath The Planet of the Apes**. “The only good human… is a dead human!” ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1679 "2025-06-01T03:48:29Z")
Recently saw Sam Anderson as a bad guy on _NCIS_. > **[Sam Anderson](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Sam_Anderson)** > > Sam Anderson (born 13 May 1945; age 80) played the assistant manager of the hotel in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "The Royale". Between 1986 and 1991, Anderson recurred as Principal Willis Dewitt on Growing Pains,... ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982/1680 "2025-06-09T20:56:06Z")
A future _ST:TNG_ actor and actress appeared in the same 1984 Granada TV adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes tale “The Speckled Band,” playing an abusive country squire and his frightened stepdaughter. I just watched it last night. > **[Jeremy Kemp](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Jeremy_Kemp)** > > Jeremy Kemp (3 January 1935–19 July 2019; age 84) was an English actor who portrayed Robert Picard in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fourth season episode "Family". He was born Edmund Jeremy James Walker in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, the son of an... > **[Rosalyn Landor](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Rosalyn_Landor)** > > Rosalyn Landor (born 7 October 1958; age 66) is an actress who played Brenna Odell in the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "Up The Long Ladder". Footage from this episode was later reused in the episode "Shades of Gray". Born in... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982.md?page=83) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spotting-star-trek-actors-in-other-programs/794982.md?page=85)