10 Background Actors In Star Trek Who Got Themselves Noticed

Sometimes an actor may have been brought in for one thing and would end up becoming something else!
Read the article here: whatculture.com/tv/10-backgro...
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[@moseshorowitz4345]

Colm Meaney deserves the #1 slot, going from non-speaking extra in TNG to starring in DS9. That's ten or eleven seasons of Trek, more than anyone else.

[@spaceace1006]

Colm has been a supporting villain in a few films!!!

[@guytakeda8258]

A little disappointed the video didn't mention that O'Brien would be considered one of the most important people in Federation history as of Lower Decks

[@brianknapp6215]

@@spaceace1006 Most notably (in my opinion) would be the role of the mercenary Daumer in the Steven Segal vehicle _Under Siege_- even if that character was ultimately shot by "Miss July '89" Jordan Tate (Erica Eleniak😍)!

[@alexxbaudwhyn7572]

Agreed Imo, O'Brien is the top engineer in all of Trek aired to date. By far. Not just because of the most screentime of any Trek engineer to date.

[@kennethcook9406]

And crossing over to Stargate Atlantis as the military commander of the Genai.

[@muchopreguntas]

Not gonna lie. Deforest Kelley getting Grace Lee Whitney a job after finding out she was Unemployed brought a smile to me face. Bones was truly the real McCoy.

[@ashemgold]

Ooooh. I see what you did there.

[@ELFLIFE-zw3hv]

He was a gentleman

[@TheWinezen]

Drum roll. Clash!

[@trevormiles5852]

yes, that was nice. Not sure if he lived in my town but saw him a few times driving around with lic. plate that said Doc. From La jolla Calif.

[@muchopreguntas]

@@trevormiles5852That's pretty cool. These old school actors just seem more human than our current crop.

[@talyar04]

Majel Barrett was also the voice for the computer most of the time. And here’s a cool tidbit: for the KZbin series Star Trek Continues (which I highly recommend,) they actually got Marina Sirtis to be the voice of the computer which I think is fitting as she was kind of Majels daughter in away. Also Majel Barrett was Gene Roddenberry‘s wife.

[@markperry222]

Yes, not mentioning the computer voice, and being Roddenberry's wife were huge factual omissions. This video could almost have been made by AI.

[@caroltomko9261]

The KZbin series must not count as actual Star Trek because they actually recorded Majel saying all the phonetic sounds so they could always use her voice for the computer. They type in the words and the computer uses the sounds to speak them. They must have been unable to get the studio’s permission to use her voice.

[@823Labs]

2023 - seeing this vid for the first time and came here to say all of this... but noticed the date of the vid and knew it would be well covered by now :)

[@notseb]

@@823Labs Me too! As Rodenberry's wife, did she really qualify as a "background" actor? ;)

[@robwebnoid5763]

And with AI software these days, you are not going to need the real actor's voices anymore. And the software will keep getting better & better to the point the AI & the real person's voice timbres will be very exact. It will be like Deepfake, but for audio. The only thing that may be a teeny-tiny bit harder to copy would be the real person's mannerisms in their voice. However, there could be legal ramifications that have yet to be covered (or are already covered) if this type of forged impressionism gets too overused by way too many people, especially when money & clout are involved.

[@igoddard1]

Susie Plakson has played, with speaking parts, Dr Selar a Vulcan, Q's bit of stuff as a female Q, K'ehleyr, a Klingon and the mother of Work's son Alexander, all in Star Trek - TNG, as well as Tarar an Andorian on Star Trek - Enterprise.

[@JoBar71377]

I am sorry to say, you missed Casey Biggs , who was just a background character but ended up becoming one of the most pivot characters of the series. Damar. A tragic character who went from hated to having his own redeption arc.

[@markhoffart622]

My second most fav cardassian! Garak is #1.

[@jacksonheathen2092]

@@markhoffart622 I agree with that. Garack was my favorite Cardassian. But Damar grew on me. They worked well together at the end of the series.

[@ohjeanlucwtfisgoingon599]

Damar was an excellent character.. he was married to Roxanne dawson aka B'Elanna for a while

[@jacksonheathen2092]

@@ohjeanlucwtfisgoingon599 Cool. I didn't know that. I think Kira & Bashir were also married in real life too. 😁

[@ohjeanlucwtfisgoingon599]

@@jacksonheathen2092 they were indeed.. not anymore thou but they're still friends.. think they may have a child ..

[@kymnarkmar1]

Diana Muldaur played in 2 original series episodes as a doctor both times, then returned in TNG as Dr. Pulaski.

[@Durwood71]

And she was a looker in those two original series episodes.

[@klntym]

I never liked her character as Pulaski. They could have killed off her part, and I’d never have missed it. Diana herself played the part well, maybe to well, and as it was written it did not work for me.

[@Durwood71]

@@klntym The show creators were trying for a female version of Dr. McCoy, but while McCoy was cantankerous but lovable, Pulaski just came across as callous and unlikable. Not sure if it was how the character was written, or if Muldaur simply didn't have the chops to pull it off like DeForest Kelly.

[@aimeeinkling]

I liked Pulaski better than Dr. Crusher. She was capable, intelligent, and didn't have awkward sexy time with ghosts.

[@caknapp7793]

Maybe not exactly background because he had plenty of lines but Jeffrey Combs was in a lot of stuff in DS9 as Brunt and Weyoun and Enterprise as Shran. In fact he played both in at least 1 episode of DS9. That must have been a makeup nightmare.

[@odesseus]

If anything, Combs is a recurring character in many series, although he did play some other less-memorable background characters. He's a fan favorite

[@garyasselstine9186]

Has Mr. Combs ever been a Romulan or Vulcan?

[@paulbabcock2428]

In the TOS episode Balance of Terror we see Spock responding dramatically when he sees the Captain of the Romulan ship. Initially, most of us in the audience and such thought his reaction was due to him being surprised at how much the Romulans looked like Vulcans. But no, Vulcans were already well aware of their shared history. And actually his response was more, "Damn, that Romulan captain sure does look a lot like my father."

[@chrismanley1701]

You didn’t bring up Majel Barrett is also the voice for nearly every computer!!

[@AnArchyRulzz]

I think that is fairly obvious at this point. And she was never a background character, she was Nurse Chapel in TOS for crying out loud.

[@nedmarc]

And Gene Rodenberry's wife

[@davesteller6301]

@@nedmarc seriously! You think that might have something to do with her being able to "work her way back into Star Trek"?

[@theblacksp1derman]

I noticed that also 🤔

[@andrewtaylor940]

@@nedmarc Well she was eventually his wife. During TOS she was the then married Roddenberry’s mistress. Which is the actual reason the network demanded the Number One character be cut. It had nothing to do with sexist Network Executives. That was the BS Roddenberry said to cover over the real reason. The Network saw an extreme potential for scandal and liability in giving the show runners side squeeze a leading role in the show.

[@sarahcatherine9441]

Majel Barrett is great, but I think there was another very special reason they kept bringing her back... something to do with her full last name being Barrett-Roddenberry... Gene had a bit of a soft spot for her 🤣

[@JD5DAD]

And a hard one Phaser set to impregnate LMAO

[@troyrichet1586]

Married to the creator definitely helps lol

[@0311Mushroom]

They did not get married until after the series ended. However, both she and Nichelle Nichols were his mistresses at the time. He was married to somebody else.

[@CieJe.Alexander]

@@0311Mushroom Right she was not his 1st wife, but she was his widow. * And The Federation's default computer voice throughout the fleet!

[@kdrapertrucker]

Roddenberry said that after the first pilot was rejected by the network they'd made it a condition for a second pilot that he had to get rid of either the alien (spock), or the woman first officer. Roddenberry joked that he kept the alien and married the woman as it would not have been legal to do the opposite.

[@snarlz]

Colm Meaney stole every scene he was in, in The Commitments, as the Dad. He was "bloody brilliant" in that role.

[@brismike56]

He played a very believeable Don Revie in the movie "The Damned United" too.

[@Scyllax]

He burnt up nicely in “Die Hard II: Dare To Be Stupid“.

[@ken.f.c.1977]

Georgie "FUCKIN" Burgess

[@johnbarnes5237]

"Elvis IS God!"

[@seanjoseph8637]

On a fucking Suzuki!

[@emeraldaly7646]

Tracee Lee Cocco! I always notice Jae, she was in 63 episodes of TNG and the first 3 TNG films. She was friendly with the big boys too - she sat next to the Captain during Commander Riker's play in "Schisms" and Riker actually put his arm around her during the string concert in "Inheritance" (a MADLY underrated episode). She just had a look that made her stand out and be noticed too, while never stealing attention from the leads.

[@likeaboss1104]

Completely agree, I always though she would at some point get a bit more to work with.

[@jenniferbaldini3527]

I always loved Majel's computer voice in the delivery of these two lines from 'The Doctors' daydreams in Star Trek Voyager's 'Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy': "Warning! Warp core breach alot sooner than you think!" *and* "Warning! Last chance to be a hero Doctor. *Get going!"* Dead pan and absolutely hilarious!

[@blazechicken6822]

And what about Tim Russ who at the very least I know was in Generations on the Enterprise B, Starship Mine from TNG and Invasive Procedures from DS9 before he became Tuvok

[@jackdiesel96]

Absolutely! Russ played numerous background characters in TNG, and if I'm not mistaken, he was in a TOS movie or two.

[@LKLifestyles]

True. I think he was in Star Trek VI, good catch!

[@NeverDoneEver]

I think the scene in Starship Mine where Picard does the Vulcan nerve pinch on Tim Russ's character has to be one of the funniest things in Trek.

[@nathanmichael167]

I for shore thought he'd be on this list

[@0311Mushroom]

He was also the "We ain't found shit" guy in Spaceballs.

[@n0trk]

I love Eddie Paskey! His eyeroll as Spock quotes how many tribbles there are is easily my favorite moment in the series!

[@felixklinkhammer2411]

Don't forget Vaughn Armstrong, who played 11 different characters in at least 4 Trek series. He'd deserve a mention in another of those videos :)

[@davidlong1349]

Majel barret was also the wife of gene roddenberry... so that's also why she kept popping up pretty regularly

[@manuelg8050]

And the voice of the computer on the enterprise D

[@shawnmctaggart8807]

Yeah, these two points are near unforgivable for a Trek-dedicated channel to miss.....

[@michaelk151]

Majel Barrett (a.k.a. M. Lee Hudec / Majel Leigh Hudec) was his mistress first, before becoming his wife. He was still married while dating her. Sadly he cheated on her too during their marriage.

[@cs12382]

@@shawnmctaggart8807 I don’t think Marcus is even a Trek fan

[@johngaltline9933]

@@cs12382 Kid: I want to watch a Trek channel Mom: We have a trek channel at home. Trek channel at home: Trek Culture This channel routinely misses the mark, forgetting key information or ignoring clearly established canon. It's written by people that don't know any more than a quick google search about the topic for people that don't know anything about trek. All in all they'd be a good improvement over the production staff of Discovery, being simply clueless, as opposed to the willful disregard of established cannon from the show runners there.

[@marcusmanchester7095]

I mourn for Morn's exclusion from this list.

[@redapol5678]

Who Mourns For Morn?

[@SuperMikeKaos]

He's way more than a background character... :)

[@marcusnosko644]

Me too

[@marcusmanchester7095]

@@SuperMikeKaos I'd argue he's the definition of a background character. Always somewhere in every episode, never has any lines, referenced by other characters, is never the focus. Even the episode named for him barely has him in it.

[@AstralMarmot]

@@marcusmanchester7095 Couldn't agree mor(n). He was the unspeaking heart of Quark's bar and arguably of DS9 itself.

[@LRTrack]

Patricia Tallman has done numerous stunt and background characters in Star Trek, often while working on Babylon 5!

[@jamesoblivion]

Patty Tallman is a legend.

[@fartkerson]

Hell yes, Babylon 5/Star Trek crossover between actors, writers, and production staff was indeed a thing. Tallman is the queen, but Andreas Katsulas had a good share of Star Trek roles, as well. Love that pair. If you go back and rewatch B5 you'll also see major Star Trek players Majel Barrett and writer D.C. Fontana credited. The two shows also both feature iconic creep out roles by Brad Dourif (The serial killer Betazoid from Voyager, the mind-wiped serial killer in B5, as well as Wormtongue in Lord of the Rings, voice of Chucky, and award winning role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Dwight Schultz (Howling Mad Murdock from the A-Team, the crazy guy who could feel the demon alien on B5, and, of course, Barclay in TNG), and Jeffrey Combs (A Psy Cop in B5, Shran, Brunt, and Weyoun in Trek, and of course his iconic H.P. Lovecraft movie roles). I don't really need to mention that other Psy Cop jerk face though, do I? Way more crossovers than can be mentioned in one comment tbh.

[@vahi37]

@@fartkerson Don't forget about Billy Mumy.

[@fartkerson]

@@vahi37 Danger, Will Robinson!

[@HungryForTastyFoodAndComicArt]

Patricia Tallman rocked in the remake of NoTLD!

[@dominikstarck5340]

The first background actor that came to my mind was Tracee Cocco, the women with the very short black hair in TNG. She started as a stunt player and became the mostly uncredited Ensign Jae. I even made a "Yes!!" sound when she appeared in GENERATIONS. She also played numerous roles on DS9, VOY and reprised her role in multiple video games.

[@nigelwalker6103]

She even became a Lt j.g.

[@Deathmonkey7]

According to Memory Alpha, she was in 63 episodes of TNG and was in Generations, First Contact, and Insurrection. A real shame she didn't make this list.

[@iamvindell]

Ya, shee was the first one that came to when I saw this list and she's not even on it....😢😡

[@RemmyCromwell]

I am really glad Colm was recognized in Next Generations. He is easily one of my favourite characters in all of Star Trek

[@redapol5678]

“Invisible” Wheel Guy definitely is turning something with his hands. It’s either silver/grey or clear as it blends in with the colour of the walls. Thanks to large screen TVs and the pause button, we can stop vilifying this poor unnamed actor 🤣

[@willmfrank]

It's some kind of wrench or screwdriver, with an extended wing-like T-handle, possibly made of transparent acrylic

[@davidteer80]

Put it on .25 speed and pause. You can definitely see a clear handle he is turning

[@marshallbanana281]

I have laughed at this poor bastard for I don't know how long. Thank you HD for showing me the error of my ways.

[@james5460]

The girl who played the human form of Isis the cat in "Assignment: Earth" also made a huge impact despite only spending a few seconds on screen. You may think I'm overstating this, but fans spent literally decades trying to figure out who she was until just a couple of years ago someone dug up old Desilu call sheets and found out it was April Tatro. She was beautiful and... well... cat-like.

[@peterfuller7534]

How about Bill Blackburn? He was in almost every episode of TOS, always filling for Sulu or Chekhov when they were out of the picture. He never had any lines, and he also played various aliens when needed, i.e. one of the natives in the episode, "The Apple." He is also remembered for his behind the scenes 8mm films.

[@maeve4686]

I was going to mention Billy. Fun fact, did you know he was a dancer as well? These KZbin vlogers just don't know the real stories, do they? ....Cheers, stay safe..

[@jyesucevitz]

I've never seen or even heard of "invisible wheel guy" before. so, thank you.

[@roninonion3222]

It's a clear tool...

[@danielHL824]

@@roninonion3222 Must be transparent aluminum...

[@mikefarrington7141]

I can see a tool in his hand. @TrekCulture authors need to use a decent-sized computer monitor or TV, not a cell phone, when they come up with these things.

[@roninonion3222]

@@mikefarrington7141 lol I watched it on a cellphone

[@stephanb2006]

Yeah, Dude definitely has some sort of a tool that he’s using both hands to turn.

[@sonicantz]

Half of these were Reoccurring named characters rather than background. I wouldn't consider Janice Rand, Nurse Chapel, or Lwuxana Troi background characters.

[@SphincterOfDoom]

The idea is that they started out as background, but we noticed either for memes(invisible wheel guy) or the actor was brought back for more stuff.

[@everybuddy5924]

Janice Rand kept coming back for Kirk. She was his love toy, sex doll, or what ever wish to call it.

[@0311Mushroom]

Actually, Grace Whitney was only in 8 episodes. She was barely there actually.

[@AWriterWandering]

@@SphincterOfDoom Rand actually went in reverse. Initially she was part of the main cast, even being featured alongside Kirk and Spock in early marketing material. Though she was quickly demoted, in no small part because McCoy had proven more popular. (eg the show was fundamentally written around the idea of its main star, Kirk, be surrounded by two conflicting characters, one representing logic (Spock), the other emotion (Rand/McCoy).)

[@Marky11694]

They were all Background Character's “ A background character-also called a secondary or supporting character-includes anything from prominent sidekicks to unnamed minor characters”

[@waltermc3906]

James Doohan lost that finger on D-Day storming Juno Beach Normandy

[@steveosborne2297]

Yeah and unfortunately it was blue on blue

[@mdd1963]

he lost it to friendly fire from a sentry one evening after the invasion; not quite the same thing as 'storming Normandy beach', eh what?

[@krane15]

Colm Meany (O'brien) appeared in more episode that any other Star Trek actor second to Michael Dorn's Worf, who both did the crossover from TNG to DS-9.

[@mattlawler8794]

Mark Leonard played Sarek, a Romulan Commander, and a Klingon Captain.

[@walterlyzohub8112]

All can be justified because with the Romulan commander since in cannon Romulans are a branch race from the Vulcans. Always wanted to say that.

[@JasonT1273]

He also portrayed Ambassador Duvoe in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century in the episode 'Journey To Oasis'

[@barey97]

Mark Leonard also played various roles on Mission Impossible along with other Star Trek guest stars as Mission Impossible, like Star Trek, was produced by Desilu.

[@Leslie58]

I just loved him. He played both parts so well. I felt so much for him as the Romulan commander and also when Sarek’s mind started to go.

[@barey97]

BTW, if anyone wants to watch Mission Impossible to see Mark Leonard and other Star Trek guest stars, you can find it on Pluto Tv (the Mission Impossible channel) running 24/7.

[@johnavoloch9055]

You forgot to mention that Majel Barrett wad the voice of all the Federation starships computers

[@justariflefromjordan]

Agreed

[@AnArchyRulzz]

But this is about background characters. She was in TOS as nurse chapel

[@nedmarc]

And Gene Rodenberry's wife

[@t.jackson1039]

Exactly. Its worth mentioning because in fact the comouter is a background character .

[@alfredemerson1139]

That was how I reconnected her. Lol

[@matthiasbecker5064]

Colm Meany: Oh what would all these DS9 'O'Brian must suffer' episodes be without that actor 😂 Then one in which he was imprisoned for life only in his mind is one of the best DS9 episodes in my opinion.

[@timcollum5015]

I never saw that one, but that is definitely a steal from an old science fiction story. 25 minutes in real life, life time in the prisoner's mind.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

without him, I'm guessing they wouldn't exist, or they would just make some other character suffer and not be as good.

[@danmulligan9818]

You actually showed a clip that featured a yet unknown actress named Teri Garr, but didn’t mention her. She became far more famous than anyone else on this list.

[@kukalakana]

Wasn't really background though. There were many bit actors who later became famous.

[@whitto316]

She also didn't become a recurring ST character...

[@danmulligan9818]

@@whitto316 This video isn’t about recurring characters, it is about “background actors” who got noticed. She certainly got noticed.

[@zohlandt]

Never heard of her

[@Dannyvegas1701]

Only other one I'd add would be John Winston as lieutenant Kyle from TOS. Probably the closest thing to a Transporter Chief in the original series, before coming back as a Commander on the USS Reliant in Wrath of Khan.

[@TheRealCobraBurnout]

True

[@peppermintspacecapsule9898]

Yes! Kyle was back in the Transporter Room for the Animated Series too, albeit voiced by Jimmy Doohan instead. A great additional character!

[@MHLegacy]

Yes, I had thought of him too. He was very much like Chief O'Brien's character; perhaps when they brought Colm Meaney back as the transporter chief, they patterned him after Kyle.

[@iconbearer]

How could i have missed that one! hehe

[@maeve4686]

That's the guy with the blonde hair, right? Michelle Forbes or Denise Crosby, who cut her own acting throat by leaving on her own.

[@markhuber8105]

Many were not background actors but you nailed Eddie Paskey’s contribution.

[@armorer94]

Re: Majel Barrett. It's usually less difficult to get cast when you're sleeping with Gene Roddenberry.

[@RupertFoulmouth]

My thoughts exactly

[@lazlong9645]

Married to Gene.

[@jasonpeacock9735]

@@lazlong9645 eventually. They were having an affair during the filming of TOS

[@cwaldrip]

Barrett was also the voice of the the computer. They have her voice captured so it can be used today if needed.

[@caitlinomalley80]

and it's still used in star trek online iirc

[@KryDragonFyre]

Brock Peters aka Sisko's Dad also played Starfleet Admiral Cartwright in ST IV and VI.

[@jacksonheathen2092]

Yep. Startrek recycled a lot of actors.

[@ToddProductions1925]

I used to be an extra, been on several shows and a few films. Got asked twice on three shows to return, Saving Hope and Rayne. Toronto area. 11.22.63 twice as well, all three shows I was happy to be on them. Long days. I still have my vouchers. Now that was after I had roles in eight horror films most were as a lead star, now I make my own films.

[@jyesucevitz]

that is by far my favorite King book. sorry horror fans.

[@juliemanarin4127]

Congrats on a great career

[@jroar123]

My uncle had walk on roles “Star Trek TNG”. He was also a choreographer and actor in the movie “Grease”. He was in several movies after that. He also was a walk-on for the series “Touched By An Angle”. Unfortunately he passed away a few years back.

[@lindaconstantineau1358]

I'm sorry about your uncle passing away.

[@rafacasima]

You forgot one of the main features of Majel Barrett: she is the voice of almost all Federation computers in the Berman Era

[@ascii7085]

She was the computer voice on The Original Series too.

[@nystrm3641]

Not sure you know what background actors are.... Majel Barrett was a supporting actor and special guest star, far from a background actor. Not to mention appearing in more Star Trek episodes than any other actor ever.

[@daverhoden445]

And the voice of the computer.

[@0311Mushroom]

She was also Gene Roddenberry's mistress, so it is not like she had to work for the roll. He had 2 mistresses when Star Trek debuted, and both of them got parts on it.

[@damonmosier3651]

@@0311Mushroom She was his wife. Her full name was literally Majel Barrett Roddenberry

[@0311Mushroom]

@@damonmosier3651 yes, in 1969. After the original series went off the air. They were not married when she was in TOS.

[@HoldenNY22]

@@0311Mushroom - Who was the other MIstress?

[@rehetbutler]

Half of those are not background actors.

[@chadkase7580]

They don't know shit

[@I-Vaux-I]

Lol init

[@julianaylor4351]

Majel Barrett was Gene Roddenberry's wife, she was the voice of the computer and did voices on the animated series. As well as helping to develop two of her late husband's ideas into two other series, Invasion Earth and Andromeda. 😎❤️

[@Suspended4thYT]

Colm Meaney is one of the best examples of "a lucky break". He ended up being the actor with the 2nd highest number of appearances in Star Trek (272 episodes of TNG and DS9). Not bad, eh? Pop quiz ... who has the highest?

[@the1truebakasama]

John Winston, Lt. Kyle. Appears sporadically in Season 1 of TOS, including "Space Seed." He reprised the role of Kyle in Wrath of Khan, as the Reliant's communications officer, now ranked at Commander.

[@BlonderthanIlook]

Lt. Jae needs a mention. She had the coolest hair and was hella cross trained on Next Gen.

[@joelellis7035]

"Tracee!"

[@billybilodeau1991]

Yeah totally missed her. I remember waiting to see if she made to “Generations” and a bit cheerful that she did.

[@Zach-ls9xc]

I came to the comments to specifically say that!

[@misterbox3950]

Yes! I learned something from your comment. Thank you!

[@DarrenSMusic]

No Tracee Lee Cocco? You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[@NineWorldsFromDrew]

5:53 - You kind-of forgot about Barrett being cast in the far more ubiquitous and famous role of the computer voice, in three different series. Omitting to mention that is, like, a cardinal sin among Trekkies, isn’t it?

[@TimeTheory2099]

Trekkies was so seventies. true modern fans would rather be known as Trekers

[@NineWorldsFromDrew]

@@TimeTheory2099 Well, Mr Pedantic, *MOST* modern fans still refer to themselves as Trekkies. In fact, I don’t even know any Trek fan I’ve spoken to in the last year who refers to themselves as a “trekker”, so…. 🤷🏼

[@TimeTheory2099]

@@NineWorldsFromDrew Ok boomer

[@PmmGarak]

I'll never get that thing about "Screen actors guild", it seems so ridiculous from an outside perspective. I mean, what hurt would it cause to let the prince of Jordan say "aye, sir" in a Voyager cameo?

[@Cydonia2020]

One background character you missed from Voyager. A crewman Harry Kim is talking to is only on the screen for a moment and has no lines. His name was Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, but today his is known as King Abdullah ll of Jordan. The prince (as he was titled at the time of filming) Was a big fan of Star Trek and was able to get a non-speaking part in the episode. A friend of mine whose family is from Jordan has told me he even wants to build a Star Trek themed park in the southern city of Aqaba.

[@yvonneyvonne2513]

I had heard about this but never knew the episode or part which was played. Frankly I thought he might have been a heavily prostheticed alien. Thanks for the verification!

[@fartkerson]

Now that's cool. I had the pleasure of riding the Star Trek Experience (?) ride in Las Vegas during the 1990s, but it looks like I potentially might have to travel to Jordan for the next experience. I keep hoping for a Trek World in San Fran...

[@jupamoers]

The dude in the skirt running down the hall in Episode 1 of TNG :P

[@TheJimtanker]

You forgot THE most important person who ever played a background character in Star Trek. Johnathan Goldsmith, AKA The Most Interesting Man in the World, played a red shirt in The Corbomite Maneuver and survived the episode.

[@samuelchamp9899]

Majel Barrett "found a way" to come back? Yeah she was married to the shows creator, wow!

[@WatchMeWatchStuff]

Lol, seriously. That line made me laugh.

[@CarlosPerez-hm7gf]

"Christy Chapel"? Do you even Trek, dude?

[@brianterrill9587]

"Colin" Meany who? Oy!!!

[@redapol5678]

Christy Chapel was the one in love with the elf, Commander Spike 🤣

[@deepspire]

No. Just like “nuclear war vessels.” In one of these videos the guy called “Spock” “Spoke.”

[@mrw-wc3qo]

Also Encounter of Farpoint. Does no one edit these scripts?

[@jimmynorris919]

I noticed this too. I think this channel.just gets so called "cool" people to act like fans.

[@thebullet7874]

Good stuff. But if Madeline Barrett and Colm Meany are in the list I was surprised not to see Jeffrey Combs.

[@somethingwaggingthiswaycom3425]

Or Casey Biggs. He started out with a single line.

[@darinsingleton3553]

I was always partial to the fact that Jonathan Goldsmith - "The Most Interesting Man in the World" - had a brief stint as a background security crew member in the original series ("I may not always play a redshirt crew member; but when I do, I survive the entire episode.")

[@randallwong7196]

I see that meme about Goldsmith; some people believe it isn't true. ( I have no idea what's true or not )

[@teg24601]

"Invisible Wheel Guy" is "The Most Interesting Man in the World" from the Dos Equis beer ads.

[@mikedusold7274]

GTFO!

[@bigbrotherbash2401]

Actually it’s not. Though he does have an extra role as a red shirt in The Corbomite Maneuver.

[@acentaur010]

Good list. Could have easily added Armin Shimerman (Quark) and Penny Johnson (Kasidy Yates) to this list for both of their appearances on TNG to their later roles on DS9 and more.

[@dmna7609]

The doctor on The Orville

[@gustavefrankfurter6462]

What about Michael Braveheart? He was a nurse in sick bay in almost every episode of TNG, and can be seen in First Contact helping people into the air duct when the Borg are busting the door to sick bay down? He was mentioned once as Rodriguez by Crusher, yet never had a single word of dialogue! I met him and became his friend. He was pissed off that Paramount didn't put him on Voyager. The excuse given to him was that fans would recognize him and spoil the continuity of the franchise, yet Tim Russ was in several other episodes of the shows and films. He got even. He kept all of his costumes and props!

[@Megaredronin]

good for him!! We love seeing the same back ground guys!! I actually look out tor them they are like old friends come on paramount people dont be dicks!!!

[@arnoldbowling7904]

@@Megaredronin PARAMOUNT= GIANT CCP DICKS

[@arnoldbowling7904]

@@Megaredronin CHINA OWNS 80% of PEDOWOOD. Wonder how? lmao

[@greenmachine949]

I can't believe you guys forgot about that chick with the short black hair who was in practically every episode and movie of TNG Dunno her name but she was always on the bridge or in Ten-Forward or the hallways. She helped drive the damn ship most of the time. I don't think she ever spoke but she reacted a hell of a lot.

[@electronron1]

The last time I watched Die Hard 2 I was thinking "Don't do it Miles their going to make you crash".

[@TonyP9279]

Yes, I remember that! He should've known better to cross-check his instruments!

[@daRiddler32]

It helps when you are the show's Creator's girlfriend and then wife when it comes to Majel Barrett

[@bradkrekelberg8624]

I appreciated that when they kept the same background people around on Voyager. No one was transferring on or off in their situation. I feel like there were a BUNCH of people from the first couple of episodes though that were doing important things like manning the helm that we never saw again though. I don't mean the Starfleet people who died either.

[@TheFiddleFaddle]

What about Tracee Lee Cocco? Her distinctive hairstyle was hard to miss every time she showed up as an extra in TNG. She never spoke, but she was there in a lot of pivotal scenes, appeared in over 60 episodes, 3 TNG movies, and worked as a stand-in for Alice Krige on First Contact. She also played various aliens in DS9 and Voyager.

[@toysmostwanted]

My sister and I was really into Voyager when it came out and she had a huge crush on Lt. Ayala. She'd even read lower decks fanfiction about him in the Lower Decks message boards.

[@alexbergstrom393]

Tracee Lee Cocco would have been my suggestion for the list. She was in a lot of TNG and hopped around divisions frequently

[@BezosAutomaticEye]

And Cameron

[@Bubbles99718]

Thought she'd be no.1 To not be there at all is crazy. Especially when 3 or 4 were actually cast actors and not bg.

[@1voiceofstl]

was that dr. crushers nurse?

[@jeffreyallen3461]

You left out Lieutenant Kevin Riley from the orginal series.

[@heymcgurk]

Surprised there's no mention of Lt Jae. I used to love trying to spot her in TNG. She even made it into the movies.

[@Josh_D78]

I have to say I find it rather interesting that layla sarakalo got a SAG membership for her first and only acting role. With her looks she could have easily turned that into an acting career if she wanted to

[@Aezetyr]

Miles O'Brien: the most important man in Starfleet history. Gods, I loved Lower Decks.

[@NotaVampyre111]

Loved? It's second season has started and it's even funnierI think.

[@JamesRichardson3rd]

I think he is talking about thr TNG episode called "Lower Deck". It is the one where Ensign Sito dies.

[@AntonioPizza]

Majel Barrett was also the computer voice in every Trek iteration from TOS to the Star Trek movie reboot in 2009.

[@TheMrAlien]

And Roddenberry's wife of 22 years.

[@andrewhayes88]

They also have phonetic recordings of her voice so they can always use her voice for any future computer voices

[@bazzokzwattom2655]

@@andrewhayes88 Yes, I remember hearing that they made a series of recordings that would allow a computer to speak any English phrase in her voice. But, I don't think they ever used it. I have no idea why not.

[@mr.rainbowlovescoffee]

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was an American actress and producer. She was best known for her roles as various characters in the Star Trek franchise: Nurse Christine Chapel, Number One, Lwaxana Troi, and the voice of most onboard computer interfaces throughout the series from 1966 to 2009. Wikipedia

[@Samuleish]

Putting Grace Lee Whitney in a list of background characters is a massive inslult to the woman she was a main part of the cast until she was forced to leave

[@Durwood71]

I found that odd as well. She wasn't one of stars, but she was still a main character who was featured prominently in several episodes and was obviously being set up as a love interest for Kirk. It's sad what happened to her (the short version is that she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed executive, and then shortly after, her character was unceremoniously written out of the series, likely as an act of revenge by that same executive).

[@deepskymike767]

The invisible wheel guy has actually got something in his hands.

[@kanedaku]

I thought that too, like a someone opaque green spanner

[@deepskymike767]

@@kanedaku i slowed the video down and while I’ve no idea what he’s holding he has definitely something in his hands.

[@redapol5678]

@@deepskymike767 Even at normal speed it looked to me like he had something in his hand. I had to pause it to confirm it, so not sure why anyone would think he was pretending to turn an invisible wheel (especially when the video thanks High Definition technology for revealing this ‘fact’ 🤣)

[@lauranolastnamegiven3385]

becoming a doctor, after being a nurse, isn't a "promotion," it's another profession (one has to go to medical school), it's not a rank

[@rameaseshaw3245]

You missed Majel's most extensive part and how she was on the show even after passing... the voice of the ships computer.

[@wonderlee8861]

Met Majel, at D.C.s Star Trek gallery, volunteers closing party, she was a Dish!

[@ericmgarrison]

Grace Lee Whitney had an appearance in ST3, when she stood up in shock as the damaged Enterprise pulled into space dock.

[@MichaelDavis-mg4uo]

Wasn’t Majel Barrett also the voice of the computer for TNG, VOY, and the parts of DS9 inside starfleet vessels?

[@ascii7085]

and TOS. Her voice was also on the last episode of Enterprise as it took place on the Enterprise-D

[@p.j.w7564]

I love Lt Ayala, one of my favourite voyager crew members!!😎🖖🏻

[@jroar123]

You missed my uncle who played in the Next Generation. He also was in the movie Grease, Grease 2, Sargent Peppers lonely Harts Club Band, and more. His name was John (Johnny Garrett) and once was a roommate with John Travolta and John Belushi. Unfortunately he passed away a few years ago.

[@Gloria-ro4vn]

I'm sure it helped Majel Barrett career on Star Trek, being she was married to Gene Rodenbury.

[@kanoebarros5727]

I don’t know why Colm Meany wasn’t #1 it sounds like he had the jump. From “no name” to staring series regular

[@keepinmeuppodcast76]

O'Brien should've been top on this list. Hands down. But to put Rand, who was intended to be a primary supporting character is stupid. Tracee Lee Cocco deserves a spot on this list as does Lieutenant then Commander Kyle.

[@joermnyc]

John WInston, he was also the computer voice in the mirror universe ISS Enterprise.

[@acerumble4991]

Well O'Brien did get a statue at Starfleet Academy so at least they know his worth

[@C.R.W]

Congratulations, you are the 385th person to comment on Majel Barret's relationship to Roddenberry and/or the ship's computer.

[@sailure1]

you forgot to mention who Gene Roddenberry married... Majel Barrett was the driving force behind all Star Treks after his passing.

[@kjamison5951]

Colm has only one syllable, Marcus, like the word ‘calm’.

[@kerutlj]

I’m pretty sure I heard an interview that it is two syllables, almost rhyming with golem

[@redapol5678]

@@kerutlj so “column” then?

[@blazerocker1734]

MatchstalkMan - Correct. I've never heard it with more than one syllable and I've heard it plenty.

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

What about the actress Cameron, who played Ensign Kellogg on TNG (47 episodes), as well as a Klingon and a Cardassian - and also turned up in a couple of episodes of Voyager? I'm sure that she was also one of Gates McFadden's stand-ins, too!

[@danward1106]

lol

[@InformantNet]

Marcus, I'm not sure you understand what a "background actor" is. Most of these are not BG.

[@jacksonheathen2092]

Good point.

[@nuno.picado]

Jeffrey Combs? The guy played so many parts he surely deserved a spot on the top 10. ;)

[@jacksonheathen2092]

Well said. Vaughn Armstrong (best known for Admiral Forrest on Enterprise) also played at least a dozen different characters across the various startrek series.

[@DawnDavidson]

I agree entirely! I remember him most as Weyoun. Once I’d seen him in that role, I found his voice unmistakable and spotted him more easily everywhere else, including in non-Trek roles. :)

[@janetalksreel]

Ayala is my absolute favourite random background person. I really wish he got more lines but he's awesome :)

[@dupersuper1938]

Don't forget that Majel Barrett also voiced the computer.

[@CarlosArturoVelarde]

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was most definitely NOT EVER a background actor who managed to get herself noticed. Plus you also missed mentioning that she was the ships computer voice for the entirety of STTOS and STTNG

[@raven4k998]

hey it's a talking cat quick pet it give it love before it kills the guy in the red shirt

[@galliadivisa]

I missed Dwight Schultz aka. Reginald Endicott „Reg“ Barclay III. Every vessel should contain its "Howling Mad" Murdock :)

[@LTBudd]

Barret didn't get herself noticed; she was Gene Roddenberry's mistress before being his wife in 1969. She also appeared in a prior series from Gene Roddenberry, The Lieutenant. In fact, it was her relationship that incensed NBC executives causing her to lose her prominent role.

[@specificwalnut9235]

Not to mention Majel Barrett was Gene Roddenberry's wife and was the voice of the Enterprise D's computer voice.

[@ronaldfinkelstein6335]

She was the voice of every Federation computer.

[@specificwalnut9235]

@@ronaldfinkelstein6335 I thought that may have been the case but I wasn't sure, so I played it safe. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but I don't care.

[@kyropter]

I am disappointed there is no mention of Jonathan Goldsmith. Goldsmith played a red shirt security guard in TOS "The Carbonite Maneuver" but then went on to play The Most Interesting Man in the World in all those Dos Equis commercials.

[@MinisterofArt-Decor]

Tarik Ergin, that is a great silent acting behind and a great performance.

[@Freddles279]

Was the guy inside the Morn suit on DS9 the same guy all the time? If so, he might qualify.

[@LucyLynette]

Same guy. Also, the Bajoran bystander who was invited to sit on Morn's stool during his wake in 'Who Mourns for Morn?' was the same guy.

[@ascii7085]

@@LucyLynette Didn't know that. That's awesome!

[@danward1106]

Norm! Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name.

[@randyjp4894]

Yes, he was. Mark Allen Shepherd.

[@Freddles279]

@@randyjp4894 The ONLY time I've ever seen the name Pflug was on actress Joanne Pflug. Any relation?

[@crystaljamerson8854]

You forgot to mention that Majel Barrett was the computer's voice for the whole franchise.

[@SH1KAKAA]

I'm surprised they didn't mention that Majel Barrett also voiced the Enterprise D computer. I used to find it strange when Lwaxana Troi spoke to the computer, as she was effectively conversing with herself

[@johnconiglio1955]

Tim McCormack was an extra onTNG the first 6 0f 7 seasons mostly as bridge crew but was also Brent Spinners stand in and or in episodes with Lore when Data and Lore were in the same scene speaking to each other seeing ones face and the back of the others head in the same camera shot.