How MICHAEL DORN’s Ability to Embrace Being an Outsider Helped Him on STAR TREK

[@dailyqwikbytes]

"Captain! I protest! I am NOT a Merry Man!"

[@bigjay4164]

The voice was perfect. Best klingon ever.

[@KairuHakubi]

I want to know what voice he auditioned with

[@BrianMax]

Especially when he used the same voice for I.M. Weasel

[@KairuHakubi]

@@BrianMax yeah Weasel was just Worf with a little added suaveness.

[@sleepinggorilla]

I loved his character in TED. Patrick Warbuton and he were a macho couple that bullied everybody. They went to a comic convention dressed in budget version of Worf and The Tick and made fun of all the nerds.

[@helifanodobezanozi7689]

Michael Dorn and Christopher Lloyd both created the "modern" Klingon, with Dorn doing by far, the majority of the heavy lifting!

[@whatk2]

"An Earth drink. It's called 'prune juice'". sip sip gulpppp! "AAH, a warrior's drink!!"

[@kurtb8474]

I could never understand how a Klingon who spent his whole life being raised by humans wouldn't know what prune juice was.

[@vic5015]

​@kurtb8474 they were older too. His adoptive father was nearing retirement when he took Worf in.

[@digitaljanus]

I'm the son of immigrants who grew up listening to my parents talk about how wonderful the old country was, and then later learned the old country wasn't preserved in amber, it moved along with the rest of the world and had its own problems and didn't resemble my parents' rose-coloured memories of it (and probably never did). So I found Worf and his relationship with his heritage very relatable. Great work from Michael to get that across!

[@Sgt_Glory]

About the opposite for me lol. My parents raised me telling me how awful and horrible the old country was, and these days it's turned out alright.

[@panathatube]

I have relatives in Australia. When their children came to Greece from Sidney for first time they were shocked to find out Athens is a 4 million people megalopolis with every comfort subway and traffic and all that stuff. I mean they should have used Google search; life saver

[@KairuHakubi]

One can also draw a lot of parallels between him and Hank Hill. Realizing that the other people within "your group" aren't up to your standards, but still choosing to live up to those standards, is the definition of a real man.

[@DoloresJNurss]

Yes! Worf's human-filtered, romanticized version of Klingon culture really made the character. I can also relate, being half-Native, raised by the White half of the family and desperate to find the rest of my roots. I got into science fiction by fantasizing a world where I belonged.

[@sockbat25]

Whenever I read Worf, in my mind I say to myself, Son of Mogh!

[@terrylong8894]

Worf, Son of Mogh, Son of Sergey, House of Rozhenko, House of Martok, Slayer of Gowron, Bane of the Duras sisters.

[@reptongeek]

I've made some Camomile tea, do you take sugar?

[@leeeastwood6368]

same!😁

[@yew2oob954]

@@terrylong8894 Drinker of Prune Juice!!

[@remaguire]

Hard core! Nice.

[@alexpetrovich85]

71 years old... Mr. Worf looks damn good for his age!

[@vinceprice4089]

He does not look a day over 45! Maybe there are aliens living among us posing as misunderstood Canadians.

[@ericpode6095]

It's the Klingon genes....

[@DoloresJNurss]

Have you seen Avery Brooks? He really does look like he's spent the past few decades in a wormhole outside of time.

[@vinceprice4089]

@@DoloresJNurss Dolores, after reading your comment, I looked Avery up. You are right. He seems ageless as well as his beautiful wife Vicki. Great observation on your part.

[@karmicbreath]

that's the plant-based diet for ya

[@marscaleb]

I often forget how very little character Worf had at the start of the show. Tasha was the head of security and Worf was just a guy who was there, standing around and looking tough. It's mind-boggling to think that such an important character was practically a background extra, just sitting off to the side doing nothing for so long.

[@The-Cosmic-Hobo]

And if Denise didn't decide to leave...

[@toddfraser3353]

​@@The-Cosmic-HoboI think if she stayed, I expect Wesley Crusher would be pushed further as a background character, and Worf would be at the Helm after Geordy went to engineering. Worf is too much of a unique character to be left on the sidelines.

[@jimmyryan5880]

Colm Meaney had less

[@marscaleb]

@@jimmyryan5880 Yes but Colm Meaney wasn't playing a race that had ALWAYS been at war with the federation until that point. That alone makes Worf a HUGE character, but in the early episodes he doesn't seem to have a place on the ship.

[@johnny5805]

I had no idea he had a Worf voice, I just assumed it was his natural voice ! 😀

[@warlockpaladin2261]

He has a long page at IMDb.

[@Roboprogs]

I m weasel!

[@joerivas9847]

same here.

[@merickful]

People never recognize you? No. Is that good? Perfect (classic Worf)

[@juleswinnfield616]

Picard and Worf were my favorites on the show. Great characters played by phenomenal actors.

[@user443]

"If you were any other man I would KILL you where you stand." "Get off my bridge."

[@196cupcake]

Yeah, watching the whole series puts a lot of context around the line from First Contact "if you were any other man I'd kill you where you stand."

[@kerry-j4m]

@@196cupcake That's exactly what my ex-wife said to me as I blocked her from using the front door to leave me.

[@NoOne-gc5ot]

Everything I have ever seen about Michael Dorn tells me that he is just the nicest person. I hope to meet him one day.

[@theoutcastplays6635]

As a kid who grew up watching STNG, Mr Dorns character Worf has a more recognizable voice than he thinks and just listening to this, I can hear the similarities. Some of my most favorite episodes were the ones where the story was more focused on Worf, I think I'd be able to recognize Mr Dorns voice in public if I wasn't expecting it. Thank you for making the character your own, it really stood out to me and was often the reason for why I fought for my 1 hour of tv time vs my mother and sister! lol.

[@garavin]

One of my favorite episodes with Worf was on DS9 where he and Dr. Bashir are captured and Worf is forced to compete in gladiatorial games. I don't recall the episode but I remember thinking how truly badass Worf was for enduring some pretty torturous circumstances and not giving up.

[@diallo1347]

Same. My mom and I loved the episodes with Worf and his son. Seeing Worf be a single father was comedic gold.

[@adamlonsdale2191]

​@@garavinLol "I cannot defeat this Klingon" yep one of the best DS9's!

[@dishmanw]

“I am Weasel!”

[@mkgunnells2987]

I remember watching The Next Generation with my dad when I was a child. The show was one of the main reasons I was so interested in space when I was growing up. I really appreciate that the actors are still willing to talk so much about a show from so long ago.

[@edc1451]

Never realized he was the same person until some of these interviews. He was a regular character on CHiPs, Officer Jedediah Turner.

[@Raymanta82]

With Chris Pines dad

[@thegray5730]

After Dana Scully and Samantha Carter, Worf is the longest continual running character in American Sci-Fi....and my favorite.

[@PhoenixBlack_741]

Whoa! Now that’s a list, I can’t even choose… Umm…. Nope! 😅

[@froggybug]

What about Te’alk? He was on every episode of SGT-SG1.

[@PhoenixBlack_741]

@@froggybug Colonel O’Neil, Daniel & the Gate! (The last one is a joke, obvs!) 😁

[@thegray5730]

@@froggybug Samantha Carter was on season 4 of Stargate Atlantis

[@ericpode6095]

​​@@froggybug Te'alk also had guest appearances in SG: Atlantis

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

Michael ended up being the king of the bloopers on that show. But anyway, I like the Worf that he became later on in the show when his backstory really started to unfold.

[@196cupcake]

play with toys

[@BinkyTheElf1]

A wonderful character & actor. 💫

[@sungkim742]

He hasn't aged a day. They should do a Worf spin off series.

[@kerry-j4m]

I highly doubt that will ever happen with the new show runners around.

[@jamesroseii]

Michael has expressed interested in doing a Captain Worf show. I would love that.

[@kerry-j4m]

@@jamesroseii It's up to the show runners tho and they have already green lit Section 31 and Starfleet Academy tv shows.

[@JoezBro]

Didn't they kind of do that already with DS9 (seasons 4 through 7)🤔

[@Kinsfire]

My favorite line he ever delivered as Worf was "I am NOT a Merry Man!"

[@jimmyryan5880]

Worfs story can not end until he is emperor. Hes the perfect klingon because he was raised to their ideals not their corrupt reality.

[@cfjruth]

I think he technically was briefly the Chancellor at least, in DS9 S7 E22, when he defeated Gowron in a duel. By Klingon law, that made Worf the Chancellor. But he refused the robe of office, instead giving it to Martok.

[@sburns3814]

Mr. Dorn reminds me of a good friend. Full of respect and admiration for both men

[@kamuelalee]

Worf was the reason to watch that show. Long live Worf.

[@lindamawdsley6130]

Great clip showing that Michael is very self assured which helps him fit into his new role with ease🙂

[@waxedearth5425]

Prepare for Ramming Speed!

[@vinceprice4089]

If I was in a life and death situation and needed someone to have my back it would be Commander Worf,. Major Kira, Commander Dax. This would be the ultimate kick-ass team. Mission accomplished.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

When Star Trek TNG made its TV debut on german Television in late 1990 (i too watched it of course), my Mother instantly loved Worf and he became one of her favorite characters.

[@banyanstudio]

One of my favorite Star Trek actors of all time. Kapla!

[@zshark365]

Micheal Dorn for the Win. Simply the best.

[@Sly88Frye]

Michael Dorn did a terrific job as a Wharf

[@robertfindley921]

My three favorite characters on Next Gen were Data, Geordi and Worf. I was always happy to see an episode focused on one of them.

[@arctan2010]

I love the fact he loves cosplaying as Worf at Comic-Cons wearing not so great looking makeup. He would make a great “The Most Interesting Man in the World” commercials.

[@xenbo100]

Michael Dorn became a hero to me, over TOS's Captain Kirk. Data and Worf are by far the 2 best characters. As i got older for TOS it became Scotty, not because he was an engineer, but would confidently take command in battle situations. I would have loved to have seen Scotty as a Captain one day, but he just always wanted to be an engineer

[@lyarrastark6254]

Worf became the best character on TNG and DS9.

[@Androsynth75]

Absolutely. I loved that they leaned into his cranky curmudgeonly side on ds9 too. He’s a fantastic straight man whenever comedy is to be had as well. He’s got impeccable timing. That’s not easy to do.

[@kerry-j4m]

I actually liked the secondary characters more than Worf: Nogg,Gul-Dukat and his daughter,etc,etc,.

[@Androsynth75]

@@kerry-j4m DS9 had great side characters. Dukat was by FAR the most interesting and nuanced villain trek has ever seen too.

[@kerry-j4m]

@@Androsynth75 AGREED.And Dukat saw himself as the savior of Bajor,not it's oppressor,which he was.

[@lyarrastark6254]

To this day, DS9 is my favorite Star Trek series. It has so many fantastic characters, actors, and storylines, especially in the later seasons.

[@jedsithor]

Worf's Klingon saga in TNG was one of the best parts of the show and having it be expanded and grow in DS9 was glorious (still kinda miffed at what they did with Alexander but you can't win them all). "I am not a merry man!!!" - Worf.

[@WolfHeathen]

For some reason, the only two Worf quotes I can recall are "how does one swim in moonlight?", and "Klingons do not swim! It is too much like bathing."

[@dominique9187]

Interpreting a role is a difficult work , il liked listening to Michael Dorn, especially about his voice and that he can play in his own way ❤❤ Another amazing IOU 💙💙 !!

[@jeffbentley4829]

It doesn't matter how Michael Dorn got to the point, he's definitely one of my favorite Star Trek actors he nailed that role. Truly a king of The Craft of acting!

[@almanuel6140]

what a great actor - worf is one the best characters on ST

[@Graystaff]

He is not a merry man.

[@sblsbl7600]

Mr Dorn is a very good actor. His character had chemistry with Riker, Picard, Data and Jordie. No other character had that. He made the Klingon mold. Then he did it again on Deep Space Nine and then again on Picard. I enjoy his acting.

[@seaninness334]

Worf became a wonderfully defined character. That first season was rough in so many ways. I could see him in a role like that of J.T. Walsh in A Few Good Men. He could play the entire spectrum of shady intelligence operatives. Just reading his IMDB trivia. I see that he owns his own F-86 which was a plane my Dad flew in the USAF. I wonder if he still has it.

[@rustyspurproductions]

Brilliant acting choices.

[@JordanElliottMcClure]

Love! So Much Love! ❤❤❤

[@kebsis]

Dude looks great. I know he was interested in doing a Worf show like ten years ago, I think he probably still has it in him

[@mgraemem]

I remember hearing that Michael Dorn got into acting to pay for his flying hobby. Too cool.

[@justinpontarelli4368]

I expected his voice to be deeper. Loved his character.

[@RodCornholio]

Helluva actor.

[@IN-tm8mw]

Worf and Odo bonding over being outsiders was the golden point of that outcome. HAHAHAHA

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

Michael's vocal performance was nearly as outstanding as the makeup provided by the (obviously awesome) crew on TNG.

[@SoleaGalilei]

Amazing how he disappears into the role, not just physically but in his whole personality and way of being. It's obvious that he's nothing like Worf. Great actor.

[@jamesenloe2791]

IMO Warf was the MVP of STNG. Everytime the team dismissed his ideas, his facial expressions were awesome.

[@Pnanasnoic]

TNG has some of the best television characters ever, I mean, maybe a whole handful of the very best tv characters of all time were all on one show. AMAZING.

[@marklechman2225]

Michael Dorn rules.👍

[@thegoodgeneral]

while playing baseball on DS9: "DEATH TO THE OPPOSITION."

[@yoyo5069]

Worf is.one of the best TV characters ever.

[@raymondyu412]

Michael Dorn played Georgi La Forge on Star Trek TNG.

[@davebathgate]

Right so levar burton played reg Barclay?

[@raymondyu412]

@@davebathgate No. He played Data.

[@jeffbentley4829]

I particularly like Worf in command of the Enterprise in the episode with the Klingons who were in suspended animation. If I'm correct Lance legault played the Klingon captain and I love the line, then die in ignorance I can waste No More Time On You

[@jamesroseii]

Good tea. Nice house.

[@yeoremuthare677]

This man was the ultimate enemy in Fallout 2, the one man you could not avoid fighting, no amount of convincing changed his conviction in destroying you. Michael Dorn voiced Frank Horrigan perfectly

[@davebathgate]

Funny he was a standup guy in new vegas .

[@vic5015]

When TNG came back for S2, they had to make a new head prosthetic for Worf because the one used in S1 had "disappeared". I like to think Michael Dorn took it as a souvenir, believing that the show would be canceled, and has it sitting somewhere in his place.

[@martinithechobit]

He still looking great.

[@Eowyn3Pride]

🥰Worf is my favorite! Next to Aragorn, son of Arathorn, is Worf, son of Mogh...honorable warriors to the last!😁🍻

[@wiscopyro]

TNG Worf: Plays poker with the crew DS9 Worf: "I do not play games" O'Brian: "Think of it more like target practice."

[@neondemon5137]

I am a merry man watching this video.

[@jwyh4162]

So not only did Dorn canonized Worf with his own interpretation, but he inadvertently helped canonized the entire Klingon race based on that interpretation. That's pretty cool

[@davidrobertson5700]

Prune juice was his funniest line

[@jackhydrazine1376]

Worf really was the best character on ST:TNG.

[@kurtb8474]

What I thought was missing from the newer Trek shows was the lack of dramatic acting. The kind I grew up watching in the 60s. It seems to me that trading ''overacting'' for underacting sapped a lot of the interest out of a show. Even as a grade-schooler, I always appreciated a strong performance. When I saw the first few episodes of TNG, the big budget visuals were great for the time, but it seemed to me that something was missing that TOS had. It took a couple of seasons to figure out what it was. Storylines that were not at the same level as TOS and the lack if drama.

[@paulkevinkoehler9490]

"Good tea. Nice house."

[@obsever97]

I would know Michael Dorns voice from a mile away.

[@DonEdward]

If I saw Michael Dorn on the street... I would never know it was him.

[@missouriboy2463]

Luv Worf

[@honkeykong9563]

During the interview did he ever mention that He Is A Warrior so he could talk about what Warriors do and shouldn't do?

[@JIMBO8472]

He was great as I am weasel.

[@ShallowSedai]

Our cat is Worf Son of Meowgh

[@Derpy1969]

Michael Dorm was great… on Chips.

[@georgehenderson7783]

I can't believe that's Worf. 😂

[@196cupcake]

By the end of TNG they did a good job of humanizing the "scary aggressive black man" trope, and Michael Dorn did a good job playing it. Yes, Worf is a Klingon, but let's be real. "Darmok" is one where they did it in one episode. Worf's ideas get shot down two or three times, but at the end Riker listens to him, and Worf's bias to see the worst in people turns out to be right.

[@DoloresJNurss]

I always liked that Worf never quite fit anywhere. He was raised by humans trying to imitate a Klingon upbringing and he never quite fit either identity. Back in the day that's the sort of background most science fiction fans had--something that made them not quite fit--and it made him relatable. And it made him a perfect match eventually for Deep Space Nine, where everybody else had something that made them not quite fit, too, that drove them to wind up in a remote station.

[@ferrarriohh]

Honestly if the Star Trek 4 movie gets made, there should be a Klingon role carved out for Michael Dorn's return. He was is V or VI (not as Worf).

[@tcschenks]

I loved his Worf character in TNG and DS9. Unfortunately, the Next Gen movies treated him like a joke.

[@GenesisGunn]

His eyes still twinkle, would recognize him anywhere

[@LuciFeric137]

I love Dorn in CHiPs

[@tyso921]

Coldstone brought to life

[@DeadEyeJedi]

Worf was kind of like our generations 'Drax the Destroyer', but not dialled up to 11. He was very literal, he had no visible sense of humour and came across as confident to the point of arrogance as far as his abilities were concerned, when in truth there was far more to him.

[@KesselRunner606]

He was meant to be just a background character, not really of any consequence. He ended up being Star Trek's most prolific character.

[@bornahyard1]

Does anyone know if Mr. Dorn still fly?

[@veloway]

I had heard the expenses of his personal jet fighters got too high. But I can not swear to it. I assume he would still fly but I can’t say about the fighter jet.

[@KennyGee]

Bro sometimes I wish you had a sidekick to ask the questions that you don't. What did the other voices sound like? What was his inspiration for them? Which was HIS favorite?

[@badbot4ever566]

Worf was the true embodiment of a Klingon . Kahless himself would guide Worf to the halls of Sto-vo-Kor.

[@daveb4446]

I never understood why that used him as an angry alien when his natural personality is very similar to a captain. Go look at his old interviews and he had exactly the personality that would have made a perfect captain. His natural personality is surprisingly similar to Picard.

[@Zontar82]

The best klingon

[@CalledTurnAGundam]

To me it always sounded like he said "Gaptain." instead of "Captain"

[@grahamturner1290]

🖖

[@grumpy2.0]

But what did he do to the enterprise E

[@torpedo8384]

In the early weeks of TNG didn’t the crew recognize him as the “guy from Chips”?

[@Pisti846]

Makeup is amazing, he doesn't look anything like Worf.

[@xotem]

when your an actual actor who's been in actual film and television production and still only has 215k subs

[@Knightboomer_559]

"Assimilate this!" 🔥🔥🔥🫡

[@SpiritOfBagheera]

DS9 Worf > TNG Worf

[@Illphaqup]

THE BEST KLINGON EVER!!!!!