star trek actors who played multiple roles

Star Trek: 25 Actors Who Played Multiple Roles

From Nana Visitor to Vaughn Armstrong, here are the prolific actors who played between two and 12 characters on Star Trek.

The entertainment industry is filled with actors who excel in playing very diverse roles . Some of them have even embodied two very different characters in the same movie or series, such as a good twin/bad twin situation, or a character’s ancestor , or their alternate version in another universe. It takes a special kind of talent to deliver such diverging performances in a credible and believable manner.

In a sci-fi franchise as popular as Star Trek , with its plethora of series, films, and games, recasting someone in various human and alien roles isn’t all that hard, given the artistic make-up and special effects that can render anyone unrecognizable. While some of the performers have donned different looks across the films and shows , others have taken their talent further by doing it not just in the same series, but sometimes in the span of one episode.

From Nana Vistor, to Jeffrey Combs, to Vaughn Armstrong, here are the versatile actors who played between two and 12 different characters in the Star Trek universe.

25 Nana Visitor: Two

"She's such a handy actress with fight scenes." - Stunt Coordinator Dennis Madalone (Star Trek Magazine, issue 127)

Nana Visitor was so convincing in her role as the Bajoran Major (and eventually Colonel) Kira Nerys on DS9 , that she won the OFTA Television Award for Best Actress in a Syndicated Series, as well as a Universe Reader’s Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Genre TV Series. More recently, she also voiced her character on Lower Decks . This Nerys was compassionate, selfless, capable, courageous, and very much against the Cardassians. The Intendant Nerys that Visitor portrayed in the Mirror Universe, however, was a different story; she was a promiscuous, narcissistic, power-hungry, black leather-clad femme fatale who was a prominent member of the Klingon-Cardassian alliance. "A spoiled brat with an ego gone awry," as the actress puts it in the reference book Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion.

24 Jonathan Frakes: Two

Producer, director, and actor Jonathan Frakes is mostly known for playing the honorable, self-assured, and charming William T. Riker on TNG , DS9 , Voyager , Enterprise , Lower Decks , and Picard , as well as the movies Generations , First Contact , Nemesis , and Insurrection . But he also portrayed his bitter and less confident doppelgänger in TNG and DS9 , an accidental clone who was created in a transporter malfunction, and was stranded alone on planet Nervala before joining Starfleet, and then the Maquis rebels.

Fun fact: Frakes also voiced William Riker on 2 episodes in the adult animated series Family Guy .

Related: 10 Star Trek: The Next Generation Characters Who Deserved Better

23 Robert Knepper: Two

Robert Knepper , whose best-known role is the sadistic T-Bag on Prison Break , is credited with two roles on the shows: on TNG as Wyatt Miller, Deanna Troi’s (Marina Sirtis) gentle but reluctant betrothed; and on Voyager as Gaul, a selfish, double-crossing Vaadwaur who spent years in stasis.

22 Paul Winfield: Two

Paul Edward Winfield , who appeared in over 120 movies and shows, namely Terminator , Dennis the Menace , and Mars Attacks! ), played Captain Clark Terrell in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , who, because his mind was invaded by controlling slugs, chose to shoot himself instead of Admiral Kirk (William Shatner). Winfield was also cast on TNG as the Tamarian Captain Darmok, who had wise metaphoric exchanges with Captain Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart).

21 Tony Todd: Three

You might remember Tony Todd from the horror franchise Candyman , but he also embodied several Star Trek characters: the Klingon Worf’s impetuous brother Kurn, on both TNG and DS9 ; an older, wiser version of Jake Sisko, the Captain’s teenage son on DS9 ; and Karon, an Alpha-Hirogen hunter on Voyager .

20 Majel Barrett Rodenberry: At Least Four

Dubbed The First Lady of Star Trek because she was married to creator Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett Rodenberry was the only one to have been featured one way or another in all the earlier TV shows. Besides voicing the main Federation computers, her three main roles are Number One in The Original Series pilot, Nurse/Dr. Christine Chapel in TOS , and the Betazoid ambassador Lwaxana Troi on both TNG and DS9 . Troi was particularly memorable for her extravagant sense of fashion, and unhinged, controlling attitude, mixed with empathy and kindness.

19 Armin Shimerman: Four

Audiences only started viewing the alien Ferengi in a more favorable light since DS9 , because the latter provided more information on their customs and planet, and presented interesting, complex characters, such as Quark, played by Armin Shimerman . The station’s greedy but witty bar owner Quark had already made a brief appearance on Voyager , but Shimerman’s first roles in the franchise were on TNG , as two other Ferengis: Letek and DaiMon Bractor. He also played the irascible Human sci-fi writer Herbert Rossoff in DS9 ’s acclaimed episode Far Beyond the Stars, set in the 1950s.

18 Diana Muldaur: Four

Diana Muldaur ’s most famous role is the headstrong, blunt, and dependable Chief of Medical Dr. Katherine Pulaski on TNG . But before that, she played three characters on TOS : the skeptical Starfleet astrobiologist Ann Mulhall; Dr. Miranda Jones, a blind telepath with a sensor web (the device that inspired Geordi La Forge’s visor) who studied on Vulcan; and Thalassa, a kind 500,000-year-old Arretan, whose consciousness borrowed Ann’s body.

17 Casey Biggs: Four

Casey Biggs ’ most recognizable role is DS9 ’s Legate Damar, the Cardassian officer under Gul Dukat who eventually became Leader of the Cardassian Liberation Front, and teamed up with Kira the Dominion. Biggs also played Dr. Wykoff in Sisko’s vision, a holosuite guest, and an Illyrian Captain on Enterprise .

16 Carolyn Seymour: Four

British actress Carolyn Seymour played the suspicious Romulan Sub-Commander Taris on TNG ; Mirasta Yale, a Malcorian astronomer desperate for alien contact, who chose to leave her planet aboard the Enterprise; the Romulan Commander Torth; and Voyager ’s holodeck period drama character Mrs. Templeton.

15 Tim Russ: Five

Actor and director Tim Russ may have first coveted the role of La Forge (which went to LeVar Burton), but he was very convincing as the Human mercenary Devor on TNG , the Klingon mercenary T’Kar on DS9 , and a lieutenant on the bridge of the starship Enterprise-B in the movie Generations .

"The Empire is governed by doddering fools and frightened old women who aren't worthy of the name Klingon." - T’Kar

Russ’ most cherished portrayal, though, is the Vulcan Lieutenant Commander Tuvok in Voyager , who served as chief of security and tactical, and uttered lines like, “We often fear what we don't understand. Our best defense is knowledge.”

The actor also played his Mirror counterpart in DS9 . While the brave and loyal prime Tuvok was a complex person, whose interests spanned meditation, the lute, martial arts, and puzzle games, Mirror Tuvok was a rather cold and bland faction leader.

14 James Cromwell: Five

The multi-award winner James Oliver Cromwell portrayed the iconic warp-drive creator Zefram Cochrane in Star Trek: First Contact , as well as his Mirror version on Enterprise ; the hypocritical Angosian Prime Minister Nayrok and the Yridian information dealer Shrek on TNG ; and the Karemman Commerce Minister Hanok on DS9 .

13 Gregory Itzin: Five

24 antagonist Gregory Itzin played two villains on DS9 as well: Ilon Tandro, the vengeful Klaestron who kidnapped the beloved Trill Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), and the thief Hain, who plotted to steal bar regular Morn’s fortune. On Enterprise , Itzin was the arrogant Vulcan captain Sopek, and Starfleet Admiral Black in the Mirror Universe. And on Voyager , he portrayed the Dinaali Doctor Dysek, who was forced into only giving treatment to select citizens.

12 John Fleck: Six

“I made a nice living playing non-human beings. I called it “torture pay,” sitting in the makeup chair for hours, getting glued and painted, and then hours taking it off.” - John Fleck to Broadway World

John Fleck ( Babylon 5 , Carnivàle , Murder One ) made brief appearances on TNG as the Romulan officer Taibak; on DS9 as a Cardassian overseer, the Karamman trader Ornithar, and the Romulan Tal Shiar Chairman Koval; and on Voyager as Abaddon, a Delta Quadrant junkyard owner. Fleck’s only recurring role was on Enterprise as Silik, a genetically enhanced Suliban who was first seen infiltrating the starship to steal a Temporal Observatory.

11 J. Paul Boehmer: Six

Besides voicing two Star Trek video games, J. Paul Boehmer ( The Thomas Crown Affair , The Good German ) has six acting credits in the series. In Voyager , he appeared as the holographic Nazi officer Kapitan and as the Borg drone One; in DS9 , as the Cardassian officer Vornar and the pro-human Vulcan explorer Mestral; and in Enterprise , as two unnamed Nazi officials. Clearly, the casting directors found his sharp features, firm voice, and piercing eyes very fitting.

"Perhaps if you spent more time observing human behavior, you might not have such a pessimistic view of them." - Mestral

10 Paul S. Eckstein: Six

Although sometimes uncredited, writer, actor, and producer Paul S. Eckstein played 6 characters on Star Trek . In DS9 , he was the rebellious Jem'Hadar soldier Limara'Son and a Jem'Hadar guard on Cardassia Prime 2. And in Voyager , he portrayed the renovation supervisor Yost, a young Hirogen in a hunting party, a lineant Beta-Hirogen, and the Klingon warrior Morak.

9 John Kenton Shull: Six

The number of actors who played 6 different roles in the franchise is significant, and John Kenton Shull ( Bates Motel , Dallas , Pump Up the Volume ) is also worth mentioning. You might have spotted him on DS9 as a Bajoran security officer and the Klingon captain K'Temang. Or on Voyager as the Klingon ghost Brok'tan, the mining commander Nocona, and a Hanonian herbal healer. He also played a Klingon opera Thespian on TNG .

“There are things here worse than death.” - Brok’tan

8 Marc Alaimo: At Least Six

The fan-favorite Mark Alaimo ( Tango & Cash , Total Recall , Hill Street Blues ) played the very first Cardassian and Romulan on TV, when he appeared on TNG as the rigid Gul Macet and the witty Commander Tebok, respectively. He also portrayed the mischievous 19-century French-speaking poker player Frederick LaRouque. Additionally, though uncredited, Alaimo also played Badar N’D’D, an Antican (a canine-looking alien).

Fun fact: The actor’s prominent neck is what inspired makeup supervisor Michael Westmore to create the iconic Cardassian ridges.

Nevertheless, Alaimo’s most memorable role is the Cardassian Gul Dukat, a charismatic villain who appeared in 33 DS9 episodes, taunting both Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Kira Nerys.

“The thing I love about Dukat is that you never know what he’s going to do next. He never does anything that’s truly unredeemable or completely black. Dukat doesn’t eat children; you know what I mean? Cardassians have a pretty dominating presence. They’re great, and incidentally, they’re the best-looking aliens.” - Marc Alaimo, StarTrek.com

He also played the racist 1950s human cop Burt Ryan, in addition to the cunning Bajoran Anjohl Tennan, but the latter was actually Dukat in disguise, so it doesn’t technically count as a different character.

Another fun fact: The actor patented a 3D chess set in 2002.

7 Joseph Ruskin: Six

The renowned performer with the distinctive voice Joseph Ruskin played the ruthless slaver Galt on TOS ; the Klingon Tumek and a mysterious Cardassian informant on DS9 ; a villainous Son’a officer in the movie Insurrection ; a Vulcan master on Voyager ; and a Suliban doctor on Enterprise .

6 Randy Oglesby: Seven

Thomas Randall Oglesby ’s ( L.A. Law , The X Files , ER ) most notable role is the chilling Xindi-Primate Degra on Enterprise . His other appearance on the show is Trena'L, the captain of a Xyrillian ship.

Oglesby was also seen on Voyager as the Brenari refugee Kir; on TNG as an insightful Ramatisian scholar; and on DS9 as Miradorn twin thieves Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel, as well as the vengeful Cardassian servant Silaran Prin.

Star Trek: 10 Actors You Didn’t Realize Played Multiple Roles

No matter which part of the franchise, there’s something the  Star Trek   production teams were always great at: bringing back actors they’d already worked with for different roles. Merritt Butrick was Kirk’s son David and T’Jon on  The Next Generation,  Marc Alaimo was a Romulan on  TNG  before becoming Gul Dukat on  Deep Space Nine,  Suzie Plakson was Worf’s lover K’Ehlayr as well as a Vulcan, a Q, and an Andorian. The list goes on, and it’s a lot longer than you’d imagine.

For the purposes of keeping the list surprising, we’re leaving out all the main cast members who appeared as different characters in other series or movies. We’ve made one exception for someone who was a regular cast member for one season, but already had a history with the original series. Feel free to guess before scrolling down!

Some of these are no-brainers and some will hopefully give you that “who knew?” sense of discovery. And speaking of  Discovery , let’s hope we get to see of these actors there, too! Here are  10 Actors Who Played Multiple Roles on  Star Trek .

10. Michael Dorn

9. mark lenard, 8. tim russ, 7. malachi throne, 6. diana muldaur, 5. majel barret, 4. james sloyan, 3. jeffrey combs, 2. tony todd, 1. vaughn armstrong, share this:.

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Performers with multiple roles

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A list of performers who appeared in multiple roles.

• Unnamed holographic guest
• Badar N'D'D
• Frederick La Rouque
• Pah-wraith (possessing Dukat)
• Kirk double
• Female Ajilon Prime guard
• Vulcan baseball player
• Cardassian civilian
• Taresian woman
• Starfleet security officer
• Salvage alien
• Bareil Antos
• Telek R'Mor
• Vidiian captain
• Alpha Hirogen
• Maxwell Forrest
• Klingon captain
• Kreetassan captain
• Maximilian Forrest
• Enterprise crewmember
• Romulan crewman
• Curzon Dax (possessing Odo)
• Douglas Pabst
• Odo ( hologram )
• Bolian ensign
• Trelane's mother (voice)
• Beta 5 computer (voice)
• Zetarian (voice)
• Jonathan Archer
• Starfleet ensign
• Federation President's assistant
• Una Chin-Riley
• Christine Chapel
• Amanda Grayson
• Cosmic cloud
• Queen of Hearts
• Randi Bryce
• Aquan Female #1
• Aquan Female #2
• Slaver weapon
• USS Huron operations lieutenant
• Lwaxana Troi
• Suspiria (voice)
• USS Enterprise 's computer voice
• USS Enterprise -D 's computer voice
• USS Enterprise -E 's computer voice
• USS Saratoga 's computer voice
• Runabout 's computer voice
• USS Defiant (NX-74205) 's computer voice
• USS Defiant (NCC-1764) 's computer voice
• USS Voyager 's computer voice
• Federation computer voice
• Chekov's guard
• Klingon soldier
• Engineer/security guard
• Black Knight
• First Trooper
• Patrol Leader
• 892-IV native policeman
• Feeder of Vaal
• Kyrian recreation of Chakotay
• Biomimetic lifeform (posing as Chakotay)
• The Doctor (posing as Chakotay)
• five hologram versions of Chakotay
• Voice of flight recorder
• Bob (Admiral Robert Bennett)
• Starbase Montgomery technician
• Gabriel Bell
• Klingon Order of the Bat'leth inductee
• Arkenite Starfleet officer
• Enterprise -E guard
• Pathfinder security guard
• Flight controller
• Illyrian captain
• Son'a doctor
• Rene Picard
• Jean-Luc Picard
• White Rabbit
• Gorn captain
• Starbase 11 orderly
• Organian villager
• Android body created for Thalassa
• McKinley Rocket Base technician
• Holographic Human Nazi Kapitän
• Human Nazi officer
• Human Nazi SS agent
• Benjamin Sisko
• Hippocrates Noah
• Benny Russell
• Illusion of Benjamin Sisko
• Two hologram versions of Benjamin Sisko
• Engineering cadet
• Klingon translator
• Krako's gun moll
• Geordi La Forge
• Seven hologram versions of Geordi La Forge
• David Marcus
• Mister Hospitality
• Cristóbal Rios
• Vulcan adviser
• Antican delegate
• Edo spectator
• Q's musket-wielding alien
• Q's post-atomic horror trial spectator
• Balok's puppet (voice)
• Gorn captain (voice)
• Denevan man
• Keiko O'Brien
• Beta III townsperson
• Vidiian surgeon
• Shipyard worker
• Markalian assistant
• Gorn Captain
• Klingon Soldier
• Body double for William Shatner
• Kevin Mulkahey
• Thy'lek Shran
• Romulan technical officer
• Federation Archaeology Council member
• Enterprise -D officer
• Science division officer
• Sam Rutherford
• Winger Bingston, Jr.
• Gralik Durr
• Klingon brawler
• Andorian drill thrall
• Jaglom Shrek
• Zefram Cochrane
• Natasha Yar
• Martin Madden
• Eminian guard
• Vulcan litter bearer
• Sarek's Vulcan aide
• Ekosian Gestapo official
• Vic Fontaine
• Bolian Tactical officer
• B'Elanna Torres
• Chakotay (possessing B'Elanna Torres)
• Human B'Elanna Torres
• Klingon B'Elanna Torres
• Dreadnought (voice)
• Biomimetic lifeform (posing as B'Elanna Torres)
• The Doctor (posing as B'Elanna Torres)
• Automated repair station (voice)
• Five hologram versions of B'Elanna Torres
• Alien slave trader
• Axum /Five of Twelve
• Romulan pilot
• Reman officer
• Breen prisoner
• Starfleet officer
• Klingon auction bidder
• Thomas Picard
• Henry Burleigh
• Titus Rikka
• Isaac Newton
• Night Alien
• Carmen Davila
• Vulcan priest
• Montgomery Scott
• Oracle of the People
• ancient insectoid
• magnetic organism
• Guardian of Forever
• Vulcan healer
• Romulan commander
• Stavos Keniclius 5
• master computer
• Ursinoid miner on Motherlode
• Human miner on Motherlode
• Chuft-Captain
• Kzinti Telepath
• Orion captain
• Orion ensign
• Dramen Supreme Prefect
• Walking Bear
• Robert April
• Iotian announcer
• Sciences division officer
• Security officer
• Willie Hawkins
• Seven hologram versions of Worf
• Sevrin's girl
• Ben Childress
• Vulcan crewmember
• young Hirogen
• Jem'Hadar guard
• Beta Hirogen
• Balok (voice)
• Eminiar VII security voice
• SS Dierdre voice
• Vulcan Space Central voice
• Provider 2 (voice)
• News vendor
• Tantalus colony guard
• 1st Technician
• Malon engineer
• Takarian bard
• Dathan Alaris
• Proka Migdal
• Airlock technician
• Prison guard
• Yang Scholar
• Darlene Kursky
• Illusion of Jadzia Dax
• Hologram version of Jadzia Dax
• Enina Tandro
• Juliana Tainer
• Cardassian overseer
• William T. Riker
• Thomas Riker
• Odan (hosted by Riker)
• Six hologram versions of Riker
• Sabin Genestra
• Ocampa Doctor
• Son'a officer
• Vulcan Elder
• Vulcan Captain
• Simon Tarses
• Andorian inmate
• Security guard
• Enterprise security lieutenant
• Leah Brahms
• Leah Brahms ( hologram )
• Enterprise -B science officer
• Enterprise computer
• Cardassian legate
• Fred Noonan
• Kathryn Janeway (in the body of Dal R'El)
• Human passerby
• Khata'n Zshaar
• Rigelian kidnapper
• Trill ensign
• First Learner
• Jem'Hadar First
• Rishon Uxbridge
• Holographic masseuse
• Pelian DS9 resident
• Ten Forward alien
• Voyager ops officer
• Beatrice Burleigh
• Enterprise -E security Lieutenant
• Nadia Larkin
• Kahless the Unforgettable
• Vulcan captain
• Changeling posing as Martok
• Roy Ritterhouse
• Hirogen fighter
• Drookmani captain
• Martok (program)
• Automated Unit 6263
• Prototype Unit 0001
• Morgan Earp
• Ekosian SS field marshal
• Roger Lemli
• Roger Lemi illusory
• The Doctor (posing as Dala)
• Humanoid Figure
• Kellerun scientist
• Holographic Vulcan
• Vulcan delegate
• Sh'Raan crewman
• Vulcan wedding guest
• Klingon prisoner
• Nazi soldier
• Vulcan High Command aide
• Ceremony attendee
• Creepy Orion
• Buck Martinez
• Tommy Starnes
• Ilon Tandro
• Ressik administrator
• Chalan Aroya
• Ancient humanoid
• Female Changeling
• Odo (posing as the Female Changeling)
• Kasidy Yates
• Pitcairn (voice)
• First Talosian (voice)
• Provider 3 (voice)
• Starfleet voice
• Saru (mirror)
• Enterprise crewman
• Klingon crewman
• Gideon guard
• Ardanan Troglyte
• Martin Wells
• Leonard McCoy
• M-113 creature (posing as Leonard McCoy)
• Vendorian (posing as Leonard McCoy)
• Christopher Pike
• Wyatt Miller
• Carter Winston
• Andorian civilian
• Andorian Lal
• Pavel Chekov
• Anton Chekov
• William Patrick Samuels
• Talaxian prisoner
• Trelane's father (voice)
• Guardian Voice
• Provider 1 (voice)
• Yarnek (voice)
• George Primmin
• Lydia Anderson
• Alien Tsunkatse spectator
• Starfleet Academy instructor
• Shazad Latif
• Ash Tyler (Klingon)
• Voq (mirror)
• Ferengi bidder
• Post-atomic trial spectator
• Renegade Ferengi
• Tilonian inmate
• Sisko's Creole Kitchen waiter
• Transport passenger
• Vic's Lounge patron
• Mercy Hospital physician
• Starfleet Command admiral
• El-Aurian survivor
• Pah-wraith (possessing Jake Sisko)
• Theodore Haskins
• Marlena Moreau
• Enterprise yeoman
• Tantalus inmate
• Eminian woman
• Slave woman
• Alien delegate
• Enterprise nurse
• Neural native woman
• Ekosian woman
• Woman passerby
• Fabrini servant
• Elias Giger
• Ekosian SS lieutenant
• Command division crewman
• Sheliak director
• Romulan Commander
• Boy creature
• " First Trooper "
• Tantalus colony inmate
• Beverly Crusher
• Four hologram versions of Beverly Crusher
• Nicholas Locarno
• Bobby Davis
• Steth (posing as Tom Paris)
• Kathryn Janeway (in the body of Tom Paris)
• Kyrian recreation of Tom Paris
• Biomimetic lifeform (posing as Tom Paris)
• Photons Be Free narrator
• Five hologram versions of Tom Paris
• Miles O'Brien
• Ux-Mal criminal (in the body of Miles O'Brien)
• Tobin Dax (in the body of Miles O'Brien)
• Changeling (posing as Miles O'Brien)
• Albert Macklin
• Three hologram versions of Miles O'Brien
• Diana Giddings
• Enterprise -B crewman
• Kamran Gant
• Remata'Klan
• Henry Archer
• Joe Tormolen
• Carlton Dennis
• Ann Mulhall
• Thalassa (in the body of Ann Mulhall)
• Miranda Jones
• Katherine Pulaski
• Kathryn Janeway
• Shannon O'Donnel
• Klingon warrior
• Biomimetic lifeform (posing as Kathryn Janeway)
• Steth (posing as Kathryn Janeway)
• Chakotay (possessing Kathryn Janeway)
• The Doctor (posing as Kathryn Janeway)
• Kyrian recreation of Kathryn Janeway
• Seven hologram versions of Kathryn Janeway
• Hologram Janeway
• Dal R'El (in the body of Kathryn Janeway)
• J.P. Hanson
• Menk assistant
• Shuttle officer
• Nyota Uhura
• Female Ursinoid miner
• USS Enterprise -A computer voice
• Delta Theta III entity
• Sarah April
• Henoch (in Spock's body)
• Kollos (melded with Spock)
• Garth of Izar (posing as Spock)
• Computer voice of the USS Excelsior
• Spock One hologram
• Wraith in Human form
• USS Vengeance Bridge Officer 1
• Scholar/Artist in Riva's Chorus
• Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel
• Silaran Prin
• Rachel Garrett
• Nezu Ambassador
• Enterprise engineering technician
• Klingon brawler #3
• Roman policeman #3
• Neuralese patrol villager
• Tombstone cowboy
• Alien DS9 resident
• Trill surgeon
• Human DS9 resident
• Ekosian resistance member
• Metron (voice)
• Nomad (voice)
• Joseph Sisko
• Human preacher
• Holographic maitre'D
• Chakotay (possessing Neelix)
• Kyrian recreation of Neelix
• Biomimetic lifeform (posing as Neelix)
• Seven hologram versions of Neelix
• Lewis Zimmerman
• Emergency Command Hologram
• Emergency Medical Android
• Jupiter Station Diagnostic Program Alpha-11
• Troglyte prisoner
• Ekosian SS trooper
• Humanoid bird
• Anthropoid ape
• Mother Horta
• Human journalist
• Cardassian Officer
• Phillip Green
• Cloud Guard #1
• Shakaar Edon
• Enrique Muniz
• Vissian chief engineer
• An illusion of Chakotay's grandfather
• Starfleet Duck Blind crewman
• Mokra Order soldier
• John Evansville
• Mazarite captain
• Cardassian informant
• Son'a bridge officer
• Vulcan Master
• Suliban doctor
• Enterprise -B bridge officer
• Seven of Nine
• Three of Eight
• Two of Three
• Trainee Enterprise crewmember
• Dramen guard
• Klingon Ambassador
• Chorus member
• Mirasta Yale
• James T. Kirk
• James T. Kirk's evil persona
• George Samuel Kirk
• Sargon (in James Kirk's body)
• Garth of Izar (posing as James Kirk)
• Janice Lester (in James Kirk's body)
• a Vendorian (posing as James Kirk)
• Martia (posing as James Kirk)
• Betazoid gift box
• Audrid Dax (in the body of Quark)
• Herbert Rossoff
• Various hologram versions of Quark
• Klingon actor
• Bajoran security officer
• Hanonian medicine man
• Julian Bashir
• Prototype Long-term Medical Holographic program
• Julius Eaton
• Rao Vantika (in the body of Julian Bashir)
• Torias Dax (in the body of Julian Bashir)
• Krajensky (posing as Julian Bashir)
• Deanna Troi
• Ardra (posing as Deanna Troi)
• Paxan (in the body of Deanna Troi)
• Ux-Mal criminal (in the body of Deanna Troi)
• Four hologram versions of Deanna Troi
• Illusion of Deanna Troi
• Alidar Jarok
• Ma'Bor Jetrel
• Krenim commandant
• Xindi-Primate councilor
• Efrosian Federation President
• Sobras bar dancer
• Starfleet communications officer
• Melkotian voice
• Noonien Soong
• Hologram of Noonien Soong
• Altan Soong
• Daystrom Android M-5-10
• Ira Graves (in the body of Data)
• Ux-Mal criminal (in the body of Data)
• Eli Hollander
• Frank Hollander
• Masaka (in the body of Data)
• Ihat (in the body of Data)
• D'Arsay boy (in the body of Data)
• Masaka's devotee (in the body of Data)
• Masaka's father (in the body of Data)
• Illusion of Data
• Three hologram versions of Data
• Nicky the Nose
• Locutus of Borg
• Michael Williams
• Replica of Jean-Luc Picard
• Three hologram versions of Picard
• Hikaru Sulu
• Megan (voice)
• USS Huron command lieutenant
• Enterprise -D crewman
• Alien in Romulan form
• Defiant weapons officer
• Klingon helm officer
• Toman'torax
• The Keeper (voice)
• José I. Mendez
• José I. Mendez (illusion)
• Cyrus Redblock
• Regent of Palamar
• Ray Tsing Tao
• Jake Sisko (adult)
• Voice of The Keeper
• The Man in grey flannel suit
• Bolian waiter
• Silver tube amazette alien dignitary
• Literary reception guest
• ISS Enterprise crewman
• Humanoid thrall
• Darien Wallace
• Holographic passerby
• Klingon officer
• Klingon High Council member
• Klingon helmsman
• Romulan centurion
• Romulan officer
• Andrus Hagan
• Walter Baxter
• Quarren supervisor
• Iliana Ghemor
• Female Changeling (posing as Kira Nerys)
• Lela Dax (in the body of Kira Nerys)
• Anastasia Komananov
• Lola Chrystal
• Prophet (in the body of Kira Nerys)
• Hologram version of Kira Nerys
• St. John Talbot
• Train passenger
• Science division crewman
• Jem'Hadar officer
• Trajis Lo-Tarik
• Reittan Grax
• Bolian Starfleet Academy commandant
• Clark Terrell
• ISS Enterprise computer voice
• Two replicant versions of Atoz
• Aged crewmember
• Elaine Johnson
• Nausicaan prisoner
• Simon Van Gelder
• Ronald Tracey
• Alexander Rozhenko
• Forra Gegen
• Automated Unit 3947
• Automated Commander 122
• Elloran officer 001
• Noah Lessing
• Cetacean Institute tourist
• Hannah Bates

See also [ ]

• Roles with multiple performers
• 3 Star Trek: Discovery

Which Star Trek Actor Has Played the Most Characters? The Answer Is Complex

Star Trek famously uses the same actor for multiple roles. However, the actor who has played the most characters depends on the definition.

Star Trek has built its success around its casting, which resulted in talented ensembles who work exceptionally well together. That tendency applies across the board, from cameos to large roles. Actors are often asked back, sometimes to play different characters. The franchise’s copious use of make-up makes disguising the same performer very easy. Some actors have played numerous roles spread out across decades, which begs the question of who has played the most different characters.

That question is surprisingly tricky to answer. While a few lead contenders present themselves, the question of what constitutes a “different” character makes the issue hazy in a universe where possession, cloning and parallel timelines are present. Depending on the definition of "different," the answer lies somewhere among four specific  Star Trek performers.

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Vaughn Armstrong

Of the four actors on the list, Armstrong is the least-known, despite being a television veteran, with 99 credits to his name and work stretching back to the 1970s. He’s played 12 distinct characters across The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Enterprise , notably in the latter as Maxwell Forrest. Forrest has a Mirror Universe counterpart, which -- depending on how “different characters” is defined -- drops his count to 11. That’s still enough to provide a good baseline for comparison. No one else played as many distinctive and clearly separate characters. Three other actors have raised that count higher, but only if certain qualifiers are added.

Jeffrey Combs

Officially, Combs has made 14 Star Trek appearances , most notably as the Andorian Shran in Star Trek: Enterprise , and various incarnations of Weyoun in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . The latter role is what complicates his placement on this list: Weyoun is a Vorta, a genetically engineered servant race of the Changelings who are replaced by clones when one of them dies. By that count, he played five different Weyoun clones and a Mirror Universe version of the Ferengi Brunt, whom he also portrayed in the Prime Universe. Assuming those duplicates don’t qualify as unique characters, it drops his final count to nine. However, if they do, then he's at 14, which puts him above Armstrong.

Majel Barrett

Barrett appeared in the original Star Trek pilot, “The Cage,” and remained a Star Trek  staple for decades afterward. Her live-action appearances were limited to three: Number One in “The Cage,” Christine Chapel in The Original Series  and Lwaxana Troi in The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine . She also provided the computer voice for multiple Trek series, which could conceivably qualify as a character as well.

Normally, that would put her out of the running for the most distinct characters. However, Star Trek: The Animated Series  featured her as Nurse Chapel, Lt. M’Ress, Amanda Grayson, and -- as is typical for animated series -- numerous minor characters. In total, these figures add 14 to her count, giving her a total of 18. It's higher than both Combs and Armstrong. Although some might argue that those animated "roles" were likely recorded as part of her Christine Chapel sessions and required no costume or appearance changes from the actor.

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Brent Spiner

Spiner, of course, is best known for playing Lt. Commander Data. He also played Dr. Noonian Soong, his evil twin Lore, his late-arriving brother B-4 and various other members of the Soong family. That number totals six, far below the top count. However, Data has been possessed by a number of additional characters, notably in The Next Generation, Season 7, Episode 17, “Masks,” where he played five different consciousnesses occupying the android’s body.

Other episodes entail similar possessions, though never nearly so many as “Masks.” In addition, The Next Generation , Season 6, Episode 8, “A Fistful of Datas,” saw Spiner appearing as five Western pulp characters after a glitch in the holodeck. Adding those together gives Spiner a total of 24 distinct characters he’s played on one Star Trek show or another. The qualifier here is the number of roles played more or less as Data: personalities possessing his body rather than any distinct figure separate from the android. Without them, he drops down below Armstrong for the most.

James Doohan

James Doohan will forever be Montgomery Scott to Star Trek fans, and the template for Starfleet engineers in every series and film that followed. He hasn't played any live-action characters in the franchise besides that, and as a signature crewman from the beginning, he hasn't had to. But like Barrett, he performed the voices for a number of machines and artificial beings on The Original Series -- four in total -- and the count leaps up when we include ancillary figures for Star Trek: The Animated Series . Like Barrett, Doohan voiced a huge number of one-off characters like guards and random aliens, sparing producers the expense of having to hire another actor. His count here is staggering -- 50 in total, plus Mr. Scott -- and assuming they factor into the calculation, they put him on top.

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10 Actors with the Most Star Trek Roles

😲 Comment below (without indignation, if possible), or post your personal list. Many actors have appeared in multiple roles in Star Trek, sometimes across multiple series. Here are the ten with the most roles as of 2023. Not included are clones/twins, dream/fake/alternate versions and multiple personalities. Uncredited roles and voice acting are only taken into account as secondary criteria.

10 John Fleck

5+ credits: Taibak (TNG: "The Mind's Eye"), Cardassian overseer, uncredited but with dialogue (DS9: "The Homecoming"), Ornithar (DS9: "The Search I"), Koval (DS9: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"), Abaddon (VOY: "Alice"), Silik (ENT).

John Fleck could be seen in increasingly important roles, culminating in the recurring character of Silik in Enterprise.

9 John Kenton Shull

6 credits: Klingon actor (TNG: "Firstborn"), Bajoran security deputy (DS9: "Shakaar"), Hanonian medicine man (VOY: "Basics II"), K'Temang (DS9: "Return to Grace"), Brok'tan (VOY: "Barge of the Dead"), Nocona (VOY: "Homestead").

John Kenton Shull can be seen in six credited roles altogether.

8 Paul S. Eckstein

6 credits: Limara'Son (DS9: "Rocks and Shoals"), Young Hirogen (VOY: "The Killing Game I+II"), Supervisor Yost (VOY: "Gravity"), Jem'Hadar guard (DS9: "The Dogs of War"), New Alpha Hirogen (VOY: "Flesh and Blood"), Morak (VOY: "Prophecy).

Paul S. Eckstein too is credited in all six of his Trek roles but remains unnamed in some of them.

7 Joseph Ruskin

6 credits: Galt (TOS: "The Gamesters of Triskelion"), Tumek (DS9: "The House of Quark", "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places"), Cardassian informant (DS9: "Improbable Cause"), Son'a officer ("Star Trek: Insurrection"), Vulcan master (VOY: "Gravity"), Suliban doctor (ENT: "Broken Bow").

Joseph Ruskin (1924-2013) is one of the few veteran actors who appeared both in TOS and in the second generation of Trek, and the one with the most different characters (ahead of Clint Howard).

6 Thomas Kopache

6 credits: Mirok (TNG: "The Next Phase"), Train engineer (TNG: "Emergence"), Viorsa (VOY: "The Thaw"), Kira Taban (DS9: "Ties of Blood and Water", "Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"), Tos (ENT: "Broken Bow"), unnamed alien (ENT: "Harbinger"). Honorable mention: Kopache could be seen on the bridge of the Enterprise-B in "Generations" in an uncredited small role.

Thomas Kopache is not such a well-known name in the fandom, but the mere fact that he appeared six times on Star Trek is impressive. Yet, there are still four other actors with six roles that were more notable.

5 Paul Boehmer

6 credits: Nazi officer "Kapitan" (VOY: "The Killing Game I+II"), One (VOY: "Drone"), Vornar (DS9: "Tacking Into the Wind"), Mestral (ENT: "Carbon Creek"), Nazi officer (ENT: "Zero Hour"), Nazi SS officer (ENT: "Storm Front").

Paul Boehmer appeared as six different characters, among whom at least One from VOY: "Drone" is very memorable, but he also has the questionable honor of playing the most Nazi roles on Trek.

4 Randy Oglesby

6 credits: Scholar/Artist in Riva's chorus (TNG: "Loud as a Whisper"), Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel (DS9: "Vortex"), Silaran Prin (DS9: "The Darkness and the Light"), Kir (VOY: "Counterpoint"), Trena'L (ENT: "Unexpected"), Degra (ENT).

Randy Oglesby played five guest characters until he got his first recurring role on Star Trek as the Xindi-Primate Degra, which earns him the overall fourth place and the third place among the actors with six roles.

3 J.G. Hertzler

6 credits: Vulcan captain (DS9: "Emissary"), Martok (DS9), Laas (DS9: "Chimera"), Hirogen fighter (VOY: "Tsunkatse"), Kolos (ENT: "Judgment"), Klingon captain (ENT: "Borderland"). Hertzler also voiced the Drookmani captain in LOW: "Terminal Provocations" and "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption".

Among the various actors with six different parts on this list, J.G. Hertzler is the runner-up. He has an additional voice acting credit and he played General Martok after all!

2 Jeffrey Combs

6 credits: Tiron (DS9: "Meridian"), Brunt (DS9), Weyoun (DS9), Penk (VOY: "Tsunkatse"), Thy'lek Shran (ENT), Krem (ENT: "Acquisition"). Honorable mention: His voice for the evil computer AGIMUS in LOW: "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie" and "A Mathematically Perfect Redemption".

Jeffrey Combs, like J.G. Hertzler, appeared in six different roles and voiced one animated character. I put Combs ahead of Hertzler because he had three recurring parts and appeared in overall more episodes.

1 Vaughn Armstrong

11 credits: Captain Korris (TNG: "Heart of Glory"), Gul Danar (DS9: "Past Prologue"), Telek R'Mor (VOY: "Eye of the Needle"), Seskal (DS9: "When It Rains...", "The Dogs of War"), Two of Nine aka Lansor (VOY: "Survival Instinct"), Vidiian captain (VOY: "Fury"), Alpha Hirogen (VOY: "Flesh and Blood"), Korath (VOY: "Endgame"), Admiral Forrest (ENT), Klingon captain (ENT: "Sleeping Dogs"), Kreetassan captain (ENT: "Vox Sola", "A Night in Sickbay").

Wow. Now that is impressive! With 11 appearances, Vaughn Armstrong easily (and not unexpectedly) tops the list of the actors with the most different Trek parts. An unsurpassable record?

Annotations

Other actors with appearances as 5 different characters:

• Clint Howard (spanning three Trek generations and five series): Balok (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver"), Grady (DS9: "Past Tense II"), Muk (ENT: "Acquisition"), Orion (DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?"), Buck Martinez (SNW: "Under the Cloak of War")
• Rick Worthy: Automated Unit 3947 and Automated Commander 122, two distinct aliens that are much like twins though (VOY: "Prototype"), Kornan (DS9: "Soldiers of the Empire"), Ellora officer ("Star Trek: Insurrection"), Crewman Lessing (VOY: "Equinox I+II"), Jannar (ENT)
• Steven Dennis: Night Alien, technically even 2 of them (VOY: "Night"), Fennim (VOY: "Think Tank"), Onquanii (VOY: "Warhead"), Crewman Thompson (VOY: "Equinox I+II"), Tholos (ENT: "The Andorian Incident", "Shadows of P'Jem")
• Gregory Itzin: Ilon Tandro (DS9: "Dax"), Hain (DS9: "Who Mourns for Morn?"), Dr. Dysek (VOY: "Critical Care"), Sopek (ENT: "Shadows of P'Jem"), Admiral Black (ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly II")
• Lee Arenberg: Gral (DS9: "The Nagus"), Prak (TNG: "Force of Nature"), Bok (TNG: "Bloodlines"), Pelk (VOY: "Juggernaut"), Gral (ENT: "Babel One", "United"), notably with three Ferengi parts and as two distinct characters both named "Gral"
• Eric Pierpoint: Voval (TNG: "Liaisons"), Captain Sanders (DS9: "For the Uniform"), Kortar (VOY: "Barge of the Dead"), Shiraht (ENT: "Rogue Planet"), Harris (ENT: "Affliction", "Divergence", "Demons", "Terra Prime")
• Marc Alaimo: Selay delegate, uncredited but with dialogue (TNG: "Lonely Among Us"), Tebok (TNG: "The Neutral Zone"), Macet (TNG: "The Wounded"), Frederick La Rouque (TNG: "Time's Arrow I"), Gul Dukat (DS9)
• Brian Thompson: Lieutenant Klag (TNG: "A Matter Of Honor"), Inglatu (DS9: "Rules of Acquisition"), Toman'torax (DS9: "To the Death"), Admiral Valdore (ENT: "Babel One", "United", "The Aenar"), also uncredited as a Klingon helm officer ("Star Trek Generations")
• Brent Spiner (if we are generous): Data/Lore/B-4/M-5-10 plus four Soongs, and counting

More honorable mentions:

• Actors with appearances as 4 different characters (finally including some women): Armin Shimerman, James Sloyan, James Horan, Suzie Plakson, James Cromwell, Kurtwood Smith, Carolyn Seymour, Peter Slutsker, Phil Morris, John Schuck, Bruce French, Christopher Shea, Steve Rankin, Michael Ensign, Leland Orser, Christopher Collins, Tim de Zarn, Alexander Enberg
• TOS stand-ins and stunt performers with many (usually uncredited) roles: Frank da Vinci, Paul Baxley, William Blackburn, Vince Deadrick, Jay Jones, Jeannie Malone
• TNG/DS9/VOY/ENT background actors with many (usually uncredited) roles: Patricia Tallman, Elle Alexander, Dieter Hornemann, Cathy DeBuono, David B. Levinson, Shepard Ross, Guy Vardaman
• Actors who voiced countless characters (animated or computers): Majel Barrett, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols

I consulted many sources and other people's listings of recurring actors, but only Memory Alpha provided reliable data.

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Last modified: 27 Jul 2023

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Fleet Yards

10 Star Trek Characters Who Appeared On Multiple Series

Well, Q IS basically omnipresent...

Since Star Trek first hit the airwaves on CBS in 1966, there have been seven TV series. Well, nine if you also count the 1970s animated series and the more recent Short Treks set in the world of Discovery. Over the course of those seven series, that gave fans approximately 742 episodes of Star Trek TV spread across more than 50 years to enjoy.

With those kind of numbers, it's not hard to imagine that more than a few characters have appeared on multiple series.

As they built the Star Trek universe, stories inevitably intersected. This was especially prevalent in the era of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. These three series happened during the same era and overlapped when they were on the air. Despite the fact that Voyager was happening thousands of light years away, characters from other series still made appearances.

While this happened more frequently than some viewers might think, there are a few characters that really stood out. This was due to a combination of how often they appeared in other series as well as how important they are to the Star Trek lexicon.

10. Reginald Barclay

Many of Star Trek's most interesting characters are not members of the main cast. Often, some of the best characters are the recurring ones that pop up once in awhile and add in something special. Q was such a character, bringing chaos to whatever story he was in. Though he wasn't as chaotic, Reginald Barclay was a similarly beloved character.

Barclay was first introduced on The Next Generation. An engineer working under Geordi LaForge, he was quiet, nervous and anxious, using the holodeck to avoid life. But once he came out of his shell, Barclay proved to be a brilliant engineer who just needed self confidence. He became an important member of the Enterprise-D team.

But while he played the part of comic relief on TNG, he became a critical part of Voyager by the end of the series.

Working on the Pathfinder Project for Starfleet after the destruction of the Enterprise, Barclay figured out how to contact the Voyager in the Gamma Quadrant with the help of Deanna Troi. He established a permanent means of communication with the stranded ship and became an integral part of bringing Voyager home.

Ian Goodwillie is a freelance writer based out of Saskatoon, SK, Canada. He has a BA in English Literature from the University of Saskatchewan and completed the Writing Program at Vancouver Film School. More importantly, Ian is also a wrestling fan, comic book reader, video game player and photographer. He loves to write and writes about what he loves. Ian's also an unrepentant, unapologetic Cougar Town fan, a show he will defend until the day he dies.

Screen Rant

Callum keith rennie’s 10 best acting roles (including star trek: discovery).

Callum Keith Rennie stars as Captain Rayner in Star Trek: Discovery but has also enjoyed standout roles in Battlestar Galactica & Californication.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5

• Callum Keith Rennie has a diverse acting history with impressive roles in movies and TV shows.
• Rennie excels at portraying complex characters with depth and nuance.
• His latest role as Captain Rayner in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 showcases his bold and promising acting skills.

Callum Keith Rennie, who plays the Kellerun Captain Rayner in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, has a distinguished and impressive acting career, and here are Rennie's 10 best movie and television roles. Born in Tyne and Wear, NE England, UK, Rennie moved to Canada with his family at a young age. Rennie successfully launched his acting career with appearances in several critically acclaimed films, including Hard Core Logo - a rock band mockumentary, and several notable television guest roles, including appearances on The X-Files, Highlander, and Outer Limits.

Rennie's international big break came from his casting in Due South , leading to multiple support, guest-star, and leading roles in a number of movies and television series. A keen painter and creative, Callum Keith Rennie's acting style and character choices reveal a preference for unexpected and complex roles - portraying multiple levels of personality and understanding through various mediums and genres. Rennie has established a name in science fiction, in particular, starring in Battlestar Galactica, Marvel's Jessica Jones, The Umbrella Academy , and, more recently, joining the Star Trek: Discovery season 5 cast as Captain Rayner.

Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

10 memento (2000), callum keith rennie as dodd.

Memento , a psychological neo-noir thriller released in 2000, delves into the intricate nature of memory and perspective through the eyes of its lead character, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce). Directed by Christopher Nolan , Memento cleverly portrays Leonard's struggle with anterograde amnesia by presenting scenes in reverse order in color and chronological sequences in black and white. Alongside Pearce, Callum Keith Rennie shines as Dodd , a drug dealer entangled in Leonard's quest to find his wife's killer.

Memento 's exploration of deception within a criminal environment adds complexity to the narrative as Leonard navigates a world where trust is scarce. Leonard grapples with his condition by relying on tattoos, polaroid photographs, and Post-it notes to piece together his fragmented memories. Memento 's unique storytelling approach has garnered a dedicated following among fans of the genre. Rennie's portrayal of Dodd, a character wrestling with morality and deception adds depth to the film's narrative , making Memento a memorable and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

9 Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) & Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

Callum keith renne plays ray steele.

In Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Freed , the feature film adaptations of E.L. James' erotic novels, Callum Keith Rennie stars as Ray Steele , the stepfather of Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson). Separated from Anastasia's mother, Carla May Wilks (Jennifer Ehle), Ray takes on the parental role and meets love interest Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan) in the first Fifty Shades movie . Considered by Anastasia to be her 'real father,' Ray shares the technical term of stepfather with Carla's new husband.

Sharing a practical and down-to-earth selection of interests with Dornan's Christian Grey, Ray Steele is a warm and caring family character who plays a significant role in the heroine's life. Callum Keith Rennie's portrayal of the character is natural and easy , revealing a comfortable warmth and consistency throughout both movies. While not a leading role here, Rennie's performance is rich and appropriately understated.

8 The Firm (2012)

Callum keith rennie as ray mcdeere.

A high-quality and captivating legal-thriller drama series, AXN's The Firm is based on John Grisham's novel of the same name - picking up where the book (1991) and Tom Cruise movie (1993) ended. Following the experiences of lead character Mitchell McDeere (Josh Lucas) and his family as they emerge from witness protection ten years later and face the realities of that change, continuing danger, and their own troubling past experiences. In The Firm, Callum Keith Rennie plays Ray McDeere, Mitch's brother. Ray is a detective working for Mitch's new law firm with his girlfriend Tammy (Juliette Lewis), operating from a small former travel agency. It's an exciting and varied role showcasing Rennie's easy adaptability and creative flair.

7 Impulse (2018)

Callum keith rennie plays nikolai.

In the YouTube Premium series Impulse , Callum Keith Rennie delivers a captivating performance as Nikolai , a troubled yet gifted individual of Romanian descent with supernatural abilities. Originally a recurring character in Impulse season one, Rennie's portrayal of Nikolai became a central role in season two. Nikolai's traumatic childhood and subsequent actions, such as killing his abusive uncle and kidnapping Henrietta "Henry" Cole's father (Maddie Hasson), reveal a complex and deeply flawed character.

Despite his acts of violence, Nikolai is loyal and compassionate and later becomes a mentor to Henry, assisting her in controlling her own powers before meeting a tragic end at her hands. Rennie's portrayal of Nikolai underscores his versatility as an actor , bringing depth and subtlety to the character's conflicted nature. Nikolai's commitment and empathy are juxtaposed against his darker impulses and the consequences of his actions, resulting in a compelling portrayal of a morally ambiguous figure.

6 The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)

Callum keith renne plays lester pocket / harlan cooper.

Callum Keith Rennie plays the enigmatic Lester Pocket in The Umbrella Academy season 3 - a character shrouded in mystery and possessing immense power that he struggles to control. To cope with his overwhelming abilities, Lester travels with a suitcase filled with cassette tapes playing white noise to drown out his surroundings and contain his deadly bursts of power. Pocket's true identity as Harlan Cooper is later unveiled, with other revelations also surfacing through the twisting narrative.

Rennie's portrayal of Lester Pocket/Harlan Cooper delves into themes of power, emotional turmoil, and the consequences of lacking control.

As Harlan strives to control and rid himself of his powers , he forms a bond with Viktor (Elliot Page), only to meet a tragic end at the hands of Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman). Rennie's portrayal of Lester Pocket/Harlan Cooper delves into themes of power, emotional turmoil, and the consequences of lacking control. The Umbrella Academy season 3 promises a gripping narrative as the characters navigate their complex relationships and confront their inner demons.

5 Marvel's Jessica Jones (2018)

Callum keith rennei plays dr. karl malus.

In Marvel's Jessica Jones season 2 , Callum Keith Rennie portrays the enigmatic Dr. Karl Malus , a brilliant yet unethical and morally questionable scientist. Malus delves into illegal human testing to research superhuman abilities, saving Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter) with a genetic experimentation procedure following a tragic car crash in her youth. Malus also saved Alisa Jones (Janet McTeer), Jessica's mother, from the same crash - but the more severe injuries and treatment resulted in an uncontrollable, murderous rage that required seclusion.

Dr. Malus is later kidnapped by Jessica's adopted sister, Trish Walker (Rachael Taylor) , and forced to perform a similar procedure to bestow her with superhuman ability, but the operation is interrupted and leads to medical difficulties. Ultimately, Malus meets his demise after destroying his lab, believing his experiment failed. Callum Keith Rennie's portrayal of the troubled character is nuanced yet subtle , with Dr. Malus emerging as a complex and multifaceted antagonist who accomplishes great things but with, at best, mixed results.

4 Due South (1997-1999)

Callum keith rennie plays detective stanley raymond kowalski.

Joining the Canadian crime comedy-drama series Due South for seasons 3 and 4, Callum Keith Rennie played Polish-American Detective Stanley Raymond "Ray" Kowalski . Serving with the Chicago Police Department's 27th Precinct, Kowalski partnered with Canadian Mountie Benton Fraser (Paul Gross) and Fraser's pet wolf, Diefenbaker, to solve crimes and lead the much-loved series. Brought in to replace Dr. Raymond Vecchio (David Marciano) when the character is assigned to work deep undercover, Kowalski loosely impersonates Vecchio to protect his identity until his return.

Callum Keith Rennie's performance as Detective Kowalski is dramatic, fond, and persuasive.

Marking Callum Keith Rennie's first international recognition , his role as the easy-going and amicable police detective Kowalski showcased an accomplished performance and an accessible charisma that blended well with an interesting ensemble and subject matter. Subtly highlighting a charming range of sentimental personality quirks, Callum Keith Rennie's performance as Detective Kowalski is dramatic, fond, and persuasive.

3 Californication (2008-2013)

Callum keith rennie as lew ashby.

As Californication 's Lew Ashby, Callum Keith Rennie plays a main character from the show's second season and a recurring character in seasons five and six. A record producer who asks Hank Moody (David Duchovny) to write his biography after spending time together in jail, Lew forms a close friendship with Moody and reflects many of the lead character's traits. A hedonistic chauvinist, Lew is impulsive, destructive, uncontained, and occasionally morally reprehensible . He enjoys hosting wild parties at his mansion home in Laurel Canyon, and like many of Rennie's other characters, Lew Ashby's character doesn't survive the show.

Rennie's performance intelligently balances Ashby's louder depravities and attitudes with quiet vulnerability, loneliness, and (generally) genuine good intent.

At the end of Californication season 2, Lew accidentally snorts heroin instead of cocaine and dies , but his character often appears to Hank through dreams and imaginary sequences after his demise. This unusual shift in reality and perspective casts a new light on the character. Rennie's performance intelligently balances Ashby's louder depravities and attitudes with quiet vulnerability, loneliness, and (generally) genuine good intent.

2 Star Trek: Discovery (2024)

Callum keith rennie as captain rayner.

Callum Keith Rennie joins the cast of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 as Captain Rayner, the formidable Kellerun officer . Commanding Starfleet's USS Antares, Rayner is portrayed as disciplined and resolute, with a gruff and intelligent demeanor . Demoted for insubordination in Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons," Rayner becomes Captain Michael Burnham's (Sonequa Martin-Green) First Officer on the USS Discovery, enhancing the compelling yet challenging dynamic between the two characters.

Star Trek: Discovery' s fans have already drawn parallels between Captain Rayner and Star Trek: Picard 's Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick), recognizing the characters' shared initially standoffish and unlikeable yet ultimately lovable similarities. Rennie's portrayal of Rayner is bold, impactful, and promising , offering a fresh, memorable character that hints at exciting future developments.

1 Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009)

Callum keith rennie as leoben conoy.

In Syfy's acclaimed Battlestar Galactica , created by Ronald D. Moore, Callum Keith Rennie played the enigmatic, deceptive, and pivotal character Leoben Conoy, also known as Cylon Number Two . Initially introduced as an arms dealer in the 2003 Battlestar Galactica miniseries, Rennie's portrayal of Conoy set a dark and foreboding tone that evolved as he became a prominent series regular over Battlestar Galactica 's four seasons. His complex depiction of multiple versions of the Cylon model added a philosophical depth to the character.

Ronald D. Moore was an acclaimed writer-producer of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , and Star Trek: Voyager before he rebooted Battlestar Galactica.

Rennie skillfully explored themes of identity, morality, and spirituality, imbuing Leoben with a manipulative nature that made him a formidable and dangerous adversary and showcased the character's obsessions and profound insights. Rennie's portrayal of Leoben added intricate layers to Battlestar Galactica 's underlying themes , highlighting an impressive acting prowess and an exceptional ability to bring multilayered complexities to his characters, just as Callum Keith Rennie now brings to Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek: Discovery is available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: 5 Actors Who Almost Played Spock Instead Of Leonard Nimoy

Even to the uninitiated, Leonard Nimoy's Spock has long served as the face of the "Star Trek" franchise. Reflecting on the iconic character while speaking with  Variety  about  "Strange New Worlds," the most recent Spock actor, Ethan Peck , recalled his own experience flashing the Vulcan's signature hand sign on his grade school playground as a kid. "When I thought of 'Star Trek,' I thought of Spock. And now I'm him," the actor mused. "It's crazy."

Like Zachary Quinto before him, Peck landed the gig in part because of his passable resemblance to Nimoy's O.G. Vulcan. Despite creator Gene Roddenberry's conviction that the actor would be perfect for the role, he was one of a handful of aspiring Vulcans in the running. According to William Shatner's account in the memoir "Star Trek Memories,"  NBC required Roddenberry to consider a handful of other actors for the role before landing on Nimoy. And judging by the lineup, Captain Kirk's favorite bromance could have looked a lot different.

Actors who were seriously considered for — or even offered — the role include character actor Rex Holman ("Escape to Witch Mountain"), Victor Lundin (Gene from "The Theory of Everything"), Michael Dunn ("The Wild, Wild West" TV series),  Martin Landau, whose many well-known roles include Bela Lugosi in "Ed Wood,"  and even DeForest Kelley, who ended up playing the ship's doctor, Leonard "Bones" McCoy. 

Roddenberry wanted Nimoy, but NBC wanted someone else

As recounted in  Marc Cushman's book, "These Are the Voyages: TOS, Season One," Spock had been on Gene Roddenberry's mind early in the "Star Trek" pilot creation process. For suggestions on casting the ship's first officer, he had turned to Gary Lockwood, who played the lead in Roddenberry's 1963 TV military drama series "The Lieutenant." When the actor recommended Roddenberry cast someone "who was really good, but ... had kind of a strange face," Majel Barrett — Roddenberry's wife and then-future Trek legend — immediately reminded him of Nimoy. 

But NBC had their own guy in mind to play the Vulcan — namely, Martin Landau. By the time he was offered the role of Spock, Landau had racked up a number of TV and film roles, including appearances on "The Twilight Zone," "Wagon Train," "Gunsmoke," and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour." Around the same time the actor was offered the role of Spock, he had been up for a role in the spy series "Mission Impossible" as master of disguise Rollin Hand.

For Landau, turning down the space series was a no-brainer. In 1986, the actor told  Starlog,  "I can't play wooden. It's the antithesis of why I became an actor," adding that "newscasters are more emotional than Spock." Instead, he went for the spy gig — a role that earned him a Golden Globe in 1968.

DeForest Kelley turned down the role

Dishing in Allan Asherman's  "The Star Trek Interview Book,"  Roddenberry said Michael Dunn, a 3' 10" actor whose best-known role was as Dr. Miguelito Loveless on "The Wild, Wild West," was also considered for the part. "I wanted Spock to look different and be different, and yes, to make a statement about being an outsider looking in," Roddenberry explained. Ultimately, the franchise creator felt the role needed someone more conventionally attractive to a weekly TV audience, concluding, "It was the right choice for the time." Dunn did, however, end up making an appearance on "Star Trek" in one of the series' most notorious episodes, "Plato's Stepchildren."

Victor Lundin, who played one of the first Klingons in "Star Trek" in "Errand of Mercy," also auditioned for Spock. In 2001, he told the  Chicago Reader,  "If you look at my ears you can see why. I would've saved them millions in makeup." According to Lundin, he was just too much of a beefcake to play the Vulcan at the time, noting, "I was very buff in those days." Also considered for the role was Rex Holman, who would finally get his turn with the franchise in "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier."

But for many Trekkies, the most surprising Spock revelation is that DeForest Kelley read for the role as the Enterprise's Vulcan science officer. Kelley detailed his near-Spock experience in  "From Sawdust to Stardust: The Biography of DeForest Kelley, Star Trek's Dr. McCoy."  Recalling a lunch meeting with Roddenberry, Kelley recounted, "He described this character, this alien with the ears, and he asked me how I felt about playing it." However , the idea of playing a Vulcan didn't sit well with him. "No, Gene, really, I don't want to do it," he recalled, answering in a tone similar to that of his  sarcastic Enterprise doctor, Bones .

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Kenneth Mitchell, Star Trek and Captain Marvel actor, dies aged 49

Canadian actor who played several Star Trek characters died after complications from ALS, according to a statement on Instagram

The Canadian actor Kenneth Mitchell, known for roles in Star Trek: Discovery and the Marvel film Captain Marvel , has died following complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

Mitchell, who was 49 years old, died on Saturday, according to a statement released by his verified Instagram account.

“With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend to many,” the statement said .

“For five and a half years Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in truest Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment,” it added.

“He lived by the principles that each day is a gift and that we never walk alone. His life is a shining example of how full one can be when you live with love, compassion, humour, inclusion, and community,” it continued.

In a statement on the official Star Trek website, the franchise also mourned the death of the actor who played multiple roles in Star Trek: Discovery including Klingons Kol, Kol-Sha, and Tenavik, as well as Aurellio.

“The entire Star Trek family sends their condolences to Mitchell’s family, friends, loved ones, and fans around the world,” it added.

In addition to his Star Trek roles, Mitchell also starred in the Marvel film Captain Marvel, as well as the post-apocalyptic television series Jericho, among other projects.

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Susan May Pratt, and their two children, and has requested any gifts be directed towards ALS research or in support of his children, the Instagram statement said.

With an average of 5,000 people diagnosed every year in the US, ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include difficulty walking, slurred speech as well as muscle weakness which eventually impacts chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.

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Star Trek’s Doug Jones Confirms Post-Discovery Plans After Donning Prosthetics To Play Saru

What's next for the acclaimed actor?

For five seasons, Doug Jones has played Star Trek 's first Kelpien, Saru, and done a bang-up job with the role. I'd rank the character my favorite of the new era of shows, and he's definitely in the conversation of one of the best Star Trek characters of all time . This is thanks, no doubt, to Jones' long history of acclaimed work as a character actor and someone who has spent most of his career in prosthetics. As the actor ages, though, what are his plans for these roles going forward?

I had the great opportunity to speak to Doug Jones about his plans post-Saru, ahead of the premiere of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5. The actor has hinted before that after the role was done, he'd be potentially retiring or stepping away from doing roles that involve heavy prosthetic work. So, when I asked him if that was still the case, he said the following:

You are very intuitive. Yes. I'm pursuing more human characters now and they've been coming. So I'm really tickled about that. You know, you come to a certain point where it's like, I think I've played every species, every hybrid known to man. And yeah, I'd like to play this guy. I wonder what he can do on film.

It looks like after Star Trek: Discovery , we can expect to see Doug Jones prioritize roles using his actual face and not one that requires hours of makeup to achieve. Readers who have watched What We Do In The Shadows actor might've seen this already, as he played the vampire Baron Afanas, who we've seen revert back to his normal form. It appears we will see more of Jones in those roles going forward rather than some of the iconic characters he's played over the years.

She's a great role model.

It's big news, to be sure, considering the legacy Jones has as a creature actor. As Saru, fans watched him transform his character , leaving behind his anxious feelings and becoming a strong and capable captain in later seasons. He was so beloved as Abe Sapien in Hellboy that he almost had a cameo in the reboot , and who can forget his role as Amphibian Man in the Oscar-winning movie The Shape Of Water ?

Those who don't have a Paramount+ subscription ahead of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 better get one because it might be one of Doug Jones' last performances in prosthesis. Many might also want to see the crew's final adventure, which I likened a lot to Voyager . I'm also very interested in the ending, which Jones said gave him closure over the series' unexpected cancellation. Hopefully other fans feel the same way and it gives us all a reason to be excited about upcoming Star Trek shows .

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 kicks off on Paramount+ with a two-episode premiere on Thursday, April 4th. Tune in to see the possible last ride with the crew, and to potentially get a glimpse of what's in store for the future.

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

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The 10 Most Underrated Horror Movie Actors

These actors proved that they are

Numerous actors have starred in horror movies, from the scream queens and kings who have built their careers on the genre to award-winning stars who got their start there but ultimately moved on. And while horror is sometimes overlooked compared to other genres, an actor's performance in a horror movie can make it or break it—the difference between a forgettable film and a classic can sometimes come down to its acting.

But for every scream queen or king whose name is practically synonymous with horror, there are also plenty of actors in horror whose performances haven't gotten the recognition they deserve. For some, their horror films aren't as well-known or highly regarded as their work in other genres, while others simply aren't as famous or beloved as the genre's recognizable icons, and still others turned out memorable performances but have only appeared in the genre once.

10 Bradley Cooper

'the midnight meat train' (2008).

Bradley Cooper has become an A-list actor thanks to his box-office success, but like many actors, his early work was in horror. His work in the genre is limited, but it includes The Midnight Meat Train , based on Clive Barker’s short story of the same name, and more recently, the star-studded Nightmare Alley . Cooper has been nominated for a number of awards, including 12 Academy Awards , six Golden Globe Awards, and a Tony Award.

Although Cooper is known for his work in comedies and, more recently, dramas, he stood out in gory slasher The Midnight Meat Train as a photographer who sought to take a picture of a man lurking in the subway with apparent ties to a string of disappearances. Cooper returned to horror for Nightmare Alley , in which he delivered a great performance in the starring role of a charming yet mysterious carnival worker.

Midnight Meat Train

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9 Tony Todd

'candyman' (1992).

Tony Todd has had an extensive career playing memorable characters, both on television and in movies. Among his best-known roles is Kurn from Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . He’s best known for Candyman and its two sequels, and he returned for the 2021 Candyman remake. He also appeared in The Crow , the Final Destination franchise and the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead .

Todd’s height and deep voice make him a commanding presence even in minor roles , as well as a menacing villain in Candyman , even though the character isn’t as famous as some other horror villains. Still, Todd played him wonderfully and is underrated in horror. Todd was also a great choice to play Ben in the remake of Night of the Living Dead , and it allowed him to step out of the villain role he was known for in Candyman .

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8 Sam Neill

'possession' (1981), 'the omen iii' (1981).

Sam Neill is best known for his role as Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park franchise, and he has also appeared in Marvel’s Thor movies as Odin. He has also done television work, including drama The Tudors , as well as voiceover work, notably for animated sci-fi comedy Rick & Morty . His horror roles include The Omen III, Possession and more. He also released a book, the memoir Did I Ever Tell You This .

While it’s understandable that Neill is best known for a franchise as successful and beloved as Jurassic Park , it means his contributions to horror are sometimes overlooked , although some might consider Jurassic Park scary in its own right. In one of his best roles in another famous franchise, The Omen , Neill played a grown-up version of one of the most iconic kids in horror—Damien, the antichrist. He also impressed in Possession .

Possession (1981)

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7 Kathy Bates

'misery' (1990).

Kathy Bates has an extensive film résumé, from starring roles to memorable minor characters. Her work in horror is limited but memorable—she starred in Stephen King adaptation Misery as Annie, the obsessed fan of a writer she rescued after a car accident near her home, and more recently, she appeared in anthology series American Horror Story . Bates’ work has earned her an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.

Bates entertains no matter the role or genre, but her turn in Misery in particular was unforgettable as Annie went from caring and concerned to violent and menacing. Horror films don’t often receive recognition from major awards, but Bates won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Annie . Although the role and movie have received plenty of praise, Bates is often overlooked when it comes to great horror performances.

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6 Justin Long

'jeepers creepers,' 'drag me to hell,' 'tusk' and 'barbarian'.

One of Justin Long ’s first roles was in Jeepers Creepers , in which his character was attacked by a demonic presence, and he also returned for a small role in the sequel. He’s starred in a number of horror films since, as well as comedies. His early films credits also include Crossroads with Britney Spears , while his more recent and well-known work includes a co-starring role in Live Free or Die Hard .

Long is typically known for playing charming, likable characters , and although he got his start in horror and has plenty of horror credits to his name , he’s not often associated with the genre. He delivered impressive performances in movies like Drag Me to Hell , Tusk and Barbarian , and he often brings his experience in comedy to his horror roles, striking the perfect balance between the two genres and hitting just the right tone.

5 Doug Bradley

'hellraiser' (1987).

Doug Bradley has built his career on horror movies and is best-known for playing the iconic Cenobite Pinhead in the Hellraiser series, based on Clive Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart . He appeared as Pinhead a total of eight times , the final one being 2005’s Hellraiser: Revelations . Bradley has also done some voiceover work, and most recently, he has taken to YouTube to perform readings of famous horror short stories.

Despite playing one of the most famous monsters in horror, Bradley remains underrated as an actor . He is one of only a few horror actors to have played the same character in six or more consecutive films—and it’s difficult to imagine any other actor in the role. Bradley has also appeared in a number of other horror films, but Pinhead remains his most iconic role thanks to his unforgettable appearance and cold, menacing demeanor.

Hellraiser (1987)

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4 Ethan Hawke

'the purge' (2013), 'sinister' (2012), 'the black phone' (2022).

Ethan Hawke made his film debut in Explorers and is known for such movies as Richard Linklater ’s Before trilogy, which includes the films Before Sunrise , Before Sunset and Before Midnight , and Boyhood , and he has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards. More recently, he’s appeared in horror movies such as dystopian thriller The Purge, as well as Sinister and The Black Phone , both of which were directed by Scott Derrickson. The Black Phone saw Hawke play a villain for the first time.

While Hawke is largely known for his work in dramas, he has been increasingly impressive in horror films , and his work in the genre has proven his range. His role in The Black Phone as the menacing villain known only as The Grabber is particularly memorable, as well as unnerving. As he increases his horror repertoire, he’s beginning to build a reputation as a scream king but is still somewhat underrated.

The Black Phone

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3 Toni Collette

'the sixth sense' (1999) and 'hereditary' (2018).

Australian actor Toni Collette has decades of work behind her, with films across genres , from dramas like Little Miss Sunshine to comedies like Muriel’s Wedding . When it comes to horror movies, she often plays mothers, and the films she’s been in are among the most acclaimed in the genre, including The Sixth Sense and Hereditary . In addition to her film roles, she also starred in The United States of Tara .

Collette finally got some of the recognition she deserves thanks to Hereditary , but she still remains underrated overall for her work in horror. Hereditary showed her range—as well as a memorable but accurate portrayal of grief—and her outburst at the dinner table is among one of her best moments in the film, showcasing just what she’s capable of. Her work in The Sixth Sense was also memorable, as she played the role of Cole’s concerned mother.

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2 Tom Atkins

'the fog' (1980), 'creepshow' (1982), and 'halloween iii: season of the witch' (1982).

Tom Atkins has dozens of credits to his name, and many of his roles have been cops. Much of his work has also been in the horror genre, including classics like The Fog and more recent films like My Bloody Valentine . He has also made some television appearances, including Law & Order: Criminal Intent , Oz , Walker, Texas Ranger and more, and is best known for his role in The Rockford Files .

No one plays cops in horror films quite like Atkins —although that’s not all he’s done. His numerous roles mean he has worked in the genre consistently and with some of the biggest names in horror, including John Carpenter , George A. Romero and more, but he’s not typically as recognized as some of his fellow horror actors. His most famous horror roles are those he played in the ‘80s, most notably The Fog , Creepshow and Halloween III: Season of the Witch .

Halloween III: Season of the Witch

1 jeffrey combs, 're-animator' (1985).

Jeffrey Combs is best known for playing numerous characters in the Star Trek universe—a total of nine characters across four different series. Combs has also been in a number of horror movies, most notably the memorable role of Herbert West in Reanimator , as well as its two sequels. And while it’s his most well-known horror role, it’s far from his only one, as his extensive horror credits include eight films with Reanimator director Stuart Gordon .

Although horror fans love Combs and he has worked extensively in horror, he hasn’t received the widespread credit he deserves and isn’t as recognized as other names and faces in the genre. The fact that Combs played so many different characters within the same franchise is a testament to his talent on its own, but on top of that, he’s delivered some fantastic horror performances, as well, never failing to entertain.

Re-Animator

NEXT: The 25 Best Horror Performances That Should've Been Nominated for an Oscar