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The 8 greatest Star Trek cameos ever
On the occasion of today's DVD/Blu-ray release of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movie, it's a good time to review the many luminaries from science and entertainment who revealed their inner Trekkies by taking on small roles in the new and past incarnations of the beloved franchise.
Abrams' rebooted Trek, of course, is loaded with winking cameos, including appearances by Chris Doohan, son of Trek's original Scotty, the late James Doohan, as a transporter tech. (Fans recall that Chris and his twin brother, Montgomery, also cameoed in Star Trek: The Motion Picture.) There's also the voice cameo by Heroes' Greg Grunberg, Abrams' longtime pal, who is heard on the Corvette radio phone as young James T. Kirk steals the car.
Here are some other notable cameos from Abrams' Trek and other Star Trek shows and movies. (Click on the small images for larger versions.)
Randy Pausch
Pausch was the Carnegie Mellon computer-science professor who gained fame for his "last lecture," which became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book. He turns up in Abrams' Star Trek reboot, sharing a scene with Faran Tahir, who played Capt. Robau, on the bridge of the ill-fated U.S.S. Kelvin. Pausch, sadly, didn't live to see the film released; he succumbed to pancreatic cancer on July 25, 2008.
Wil Wheaton
As he revealed earlier this month on his personal blog, the former Wesley Crusher of Star Trek: The Next Generation had a voice cameo in Abrams' Trek (listen carefully or you'll miss it, above). Wheaton provides the voices for all the Romulans on Nero's ship and even got the memorable line: "It's time."
Wheaton had earlier shot a scene reprising his TNG character for Star Trek Nemesis, but that scene hit the cutting-room floor.
(Fans can also see more of Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson on the new DVD/Blu-ray. Oh, and in the extras, that's Abrams' Alias star Victor Garber playing a Klingon interrogator.)
John Tesh
Today, Tesh is the king of radio who provides "intelligence for your life"—not to mention a punchline for his super-mellow New Age music—but once upon a time he hosted Entertainment Tonight, which shot a tribble's throw away from Star Trek: The Next Generation on the Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood. Tesh turned up on ST:TNG as a holographic Klingon in "The Icarus Factor."
James Worthy
So what's a Hall of Fame basketball star doing on Star Trek: The Next Generation? Turns out he was a big Trekker—literally and figuratively—and met Robert "Gowron" O'Reilly on an airplane. The Laker and the actor got to talking, which led to a meeting with the producers, which led to Worthy's cameo in "Gambit, Part II," as a Klingon smuggler named Koral.
Stephen Hawking
This one happens to be brilliant, a cameo above and beyond most cameos. In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Descent," the android Data is glimpsed playing poker with hologram versions of Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. Hawking, of course, played himself. A longtime Star Trek aficionado, he'd once sat in the captain's chair while on the lot at Paramount for business, and he also let it be known that he'd like to appear on the show if possible. Sure enough, the producers heard and heeded Hawking's request.
Seth MacFarlane
We all know that Family Guy creator MacFarlane is an uber-Trekker who's been sure to include Star Trek characters, references and actors on his numerous shows, including American Dad. So it was no surprise to see him turn up briefly on Enterprise. Actually, he did so twice, appearing as a character named Rivers in the episodes "The Forgotten" and "Affliction."
Mick Fleetwood
What to do when a tall, gangly rock-and-roll drummer wants to appear on your show? Well, if you're the producers of Star Trek: The Next Generation and that rock star is Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood, you write him a role in the episode "Manhunt" as a no-name, fish-headed Antedean dignitary who turns out to be a would-be terrorist. (He's the one on the right, above. We think.)
Christian Slater
OK, this one is probably our favorite. Slater, a major star back in the late '80s and early '90s, loved Star Trek. His mom knew all about her son's affection for all things Trek and made certain he got a few moments of screen time in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as the Excelsior communications officer who wakes up Capt. Sulu. Slater's mama, it should be noted, is veteran casting director Mary Jo Slater, who just happened to be overseeing the choice of actors for Undiscovered Country.
Other appearances
Now you're probably sitting there going, "Hey, what about The Rock? He was on Voyager." Yes, he was, and he was pretty good battling Jeri Ryan in "Tsunkatse." But let's be clear here: The Rock's appearance wasn't a cameo but a full-on guest shot; same with Jason Alexander in the Voyager outing "Think Tank."
Can you point out other cameos we may have missed?
(Ed. Note: Ian Spelling, who wrote this story, has also had small walk-on parts. Having covered Star Trek for more than 25 years, he asked Trek producer Rick Berman if he could be an extra for a story about such an experience. Berman agreed and let Spelling play a Bajoran in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Emissary." He basically stood behind Colm Meaney. Later, when Voyager rolled around, Spelling returned to action, portraying a Drayan soldier lurking near a shuttlecraft in the episode "Innocence.")
By GAVAL at 9:10 AM ON 11/17/09
Wasn't there a story about Ben Vareen shedding tears when he realized a life long wish and put on a Starfleet uniform for a role in DS9? I don't think it was a cameo tho...think he played an actual co-starring role.
By sentaison at 9:26 AM ON 11/17/09
Didn't wrestler The Big Show show up on Enterprise as an Orion slaver?
By Paul at 9:27 AM ON 11/17/09
Ben Vereen (sp?) did a cameo as Geordi LaForge's father in the episode where the Hera (and Geordi's mother) has vanished.
By Michael Sacal at 9:39 AM ON 11/17/09
By corwinamber at 9:50 AM ON 11/17/09
Gaval -
It was a TNG episode and he played Geordi's father
By Obi Window Washer at 9:56 AM ON 11/17/09
Where's Tyler Perry in Star Trek 2009?
By rj472 at 10:06 AM ON 11/17/09
Yes, you missed "Madea goes to Starfleet" where Tyler Perry was in charge of Starfleet Academy.
By jibblescribbits at 10:13 AM ON 11/17/09
Not sure if it qualifies as a Cameo, because it was before she was well-known, but Kirsten Dunst was in an Episode of TNG.
By Bones at 10:14 AM ON 11/17/09
I would consider DeForest Kelly's scene in the 1st episide of TNG as the best cameo ever, but that's just me.
By Teabag at 10:22 AM ON 11/17/09
Didn't James Cawley of Star Trek: Phase II make a cameo in the new film?
By LeftHandedMatt at 10:24 AM ON 11/17/09
You forgot Iggy Pop was in a later episode of DS9. He played a Vorta.
By Hellking at 10:31 AM ON 11/17/09
They missed many cameos here. One of my favourite guest spots was was Iggy Pop as the Vorta, Yelgrin, on DS9. Lots of fun to watch him!
By Gabriel Bell at 10:38 AM ON 11/17/09
Great list! One addition: Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine and other stellar bands) in a Voyager episode called "Good Shepherd." He is a security guard on Deck 15 that gives some directions to Captain Janeway. He also played a Son'a in "Insurrection."
By darthbono at 10:47 AM ON 11/17/09
they also forgot that teri hatcher from desperate housewives had been in an episode wich also had bill cambell of 4400 fame
By cykotron at 10:56 AM ON 11/17/09
Also, Ashley Judd was in 2, I believe, episodes of ST:TNG. She was a young engineer Wesley Crusher hooked up with for a bit.
By gxknight at 10:56 AM ON 11/17/09
I'm adding Kelsey Grammar who was the brightspot in the never ending episode CAUSE AND EFFECT on TNG as Captain Bateson of the BOZEMAN.
By BlakOpal at 10:59 AM ON 11/17/09
I don't know if this would be considered a cameo or a full on guest appearance, but Ashley Judd as Robin Lefler on TNG
By Linnemir at 11:00 AM ON 11/17/09
What's the diff between a cameo and a guest appearance? John Rhys-Davies appeared as DaVinci several times on Voyager however it's counted!
By the fixer at 11:12 AM ON 11/17/09
david gerrold appeared in the ds9 episode Trials and tribbleations.
By blackpool9 at 11:43 AM ON 11/17/09
Many of the appearances mentioned in these comments are guest appearances, not cameos. But I agree with Bones. When I saw the headline to this article the first thing I thought of was De Kelley's appearance as McCoy in the first episode of Next Generation
By Rialtus at 11:43 AM ON 11/17/09
Tom Bergeron, host of Hollywood Squares and Dancing with the Stars.
By Capt. Crunchie at 11:51 AM ON 11/17/09
A Guest Star is someone who plays a somewhat major part in the particular episode (a la Ashley Judd as Ensign Lefler).
A Cameo role would be a brief appearance (Kelsey Grammer as Capt. Bateson or Ben Vereen as Geordi's Dad).
I wouldn't say Ashley was a cameo, but I did really like her character. DeForrest Kelly's cameo as Dr. Macoy at the start of episode 1 of TNG is probably my personal favorite cameo tho. Loved that little tie-in.
By Paul at 12:16 PM ON 11/17/09
D'ohhh! How could I forget Captain Bateson!!
By James at 12:20 PM ON 11/17/09
Even though she was a guest star, not a cameo, I really like Sarah Silverman in the 3rd season Voy eps Future's End parts 1 & 2.
By ObeyMyBrain at 12:29 PM ON 11/17/09
Another way to tell is that cameos wouldn't appear in the opening credits. "Guest starring:"
By Crusade2267 at 12:38 PM ON 11/17/09
In one Voyager there was a Jordanian prince who had a nonspeaking cameo. I think he's the king of Jordan now.
By Scoutone at 12:49 PM ON 11/17/09
The Current King of Jordan when he was a prince he studied in the US was a huge Trek Fan and had brief cameo on Voyager.
By sprdav5150 at 12:50 PM ON 11/17/09
Hey, there are allot of duplicates here...
By teknodave at 1:01 PM ON 11/17/09
ObeyMyBrian - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson had a guest starring nod in the opening credits of his episode, as did Professor Hawking. Yet, their appearance was brief.
But I concur, I thought Kelsey Grammar's brief screen time should have made the list. Perhaps a Top 10 instead of 8, and he'd be on there.
By RockmSockm at 1:06 PM ON 11/17/09
Andy Dick as a hologram on Voyager.
By Ray Radlein at 1:10 PM ON 11/17/09
Astronaut Mae Jemison appeared as a transporter technician on the NextGen episode "Second Chances," directed by LeVar Burton.
By SciFiFan at 1:42 PM ON 11/17/09
How about John Colicos (aka Baltar from the original Battlestar Galactica. He made several appearances in TNG and DS9.
By lostandconfused at 1:53 PM ON 11/17/09
john colicos does not really count (good catch though) as he was a GUEST star not a cameo and he was recurring as he was replaying the role he orginated in TOS episode errand of mercy, the infamous Kor
By MSgt at 2:01 PM ON 11/17/09
"Didn't James Cawley of Star Trek: Phase II make a cameo in the new film?" -- Teabag
Yes he did.
"How about John Colicos..." -- ScFiFan
He also guest starred as Kor in the TOS episode "Errand of Mercy".
By SGAgal at 2:34 PM ON 11/17/09
How about Stargate: Atlantis actor Paul McGillion's cameo on JJ Abram's Trek? He was the guy assigning fighter pilots to certain ships.
By JordRS at 2:54 PM ON 11/17/09
Brian Singer had a cameo in Nemesis.
By Basara549 at 3:34 PM ON 11/17/09
Going sorta in the opposite direction, wasn't there an episode of Magnum PI where I think at least 4 ST actors appeared - at least 2 of them before their Trek series ever existed? I remember seeing this episode on syndication a few years ago and going WTF?
By Paul at 3:45 PM ON 11/17/09
Everyone's forgotten about Corbin Bernsen's cameo as a fellow Q on TNG, when Q was stripped of his powers.
By dirtytribble at 4:06 PM ON 11/17/09
The writters later said that Chris Doohan played the part of Kyle.
By SomeCoolName at 4:22 PM ON 11/17/09
Oh man.. how could you guys forget Waldo from the “Where's Waldo” fam? He is in Redemption part 2 (Star Trek: The Next Generation). You can find him between the two Romulans, and the Klingon Security Officer. Yup that’s him with the red and white hat! Almost missed him myself
By slider at 5:21 PM ON 11/17/09
Bebe Neuworth (Lillith on Cheers) was on TNG. " I always wanted to make love to an alien."
By smegforbrain at 5:44 PM ON 11/17/09
I vote for Mark Allen Shepherd.
He plays Morn, the silent alien always at Quark's Bar, uncredited for 90 episodes... and then they let him be among the patrons, as himself out of makeup, in the series finale.
Hell, that entire scene in Vic's Lounge is a who's who of the cast, all allowed to just be themselves: Jeffrey Combs (Weyoun), Casey Biggs (Damar), Aron Eisenberg (Nog), J. G. Hertzler (Martok), all the writers and producers.
By archangel at 6:23 PM ON 11/17/09
John Larroquette played a Klingon Officer in Star Trek 3. He was the only Klingon left on the ship after Kirk and crew took it over. He played in Night Court and Boston Legal...Boston Legal starred and guest starred many Trek Alums and Night Court was one of Brent Spiners first gigs.
By AndyS at 6:27 PM ON 11/17/09
Jane Wiedlin, guitarist for the Go-Gos (and such a huge ST fan she named a band she was in 'froSTed' ) appeared briefly in ST:IV as a comm officer in Starfleet HQ.
By lfhlaw at 6:30 PM ON 11/17/09
Matthew Frewer(I always enjoy his work) was in an episode i believe with WW, I believe it might have been with that big alien craft. Not sure if it was a ST:TNG or ST:Voyager ep but methinks it was Voyager, with both Frewer and Wheaton Guest starring.
By Odayakaki at 7:05 PM ON 11/17/09
One that could have been. I heard that Tom Hanks was a major TNG fan but could never swing a guest spot/cameo.
By Redwalker at 7:05 PM ON 11/17/09
Celebrity lawyer Melvin Belli in the original series "And the Children Shall Lead"
By LM at 2:13 AM ON 11/18/09
How about these?
- Lisa Vidal (Third Watch, ER, The Division) in Trek 2009
- Bob Picardo in First Contact ("I' m a doctor, not a doorstop.")
- Ethan Philips in First Contact as well
- Harvey Bennett, exec. producer in Final Frontier (as Admiral Bennett)
- the late Majel Barrett - she was there in every single ST productions
By EJP at 10:54 AM ON 11/18/09
I agree that Kelsey Grammer should have made the list. There was minimal hype, so it was a fun surprise...on top of one of best TNG episodes ever.
By MT at 12:25 PM ON 11/18/09
OK, this may be an obscure one if you don't have any background in Yiddish, but Theodor Bikel appeared briefly as Worf's (adopted) father in a couple TNG episodes.
BTW, he also showed up on Babylon5 as Ivanova's uncle.
By lordanubis82 at 10:08 PM ON 11/18/09
what about George Takei in Star Trek Voyager's "Flashback" reprising his role as Sulu?
By lordanubis82 at 10:09 PM ON 11/18/09
what about George Takei in Star Trek Voyager's "Flashback" reprising his role as Sulu? why isn't he on there?
By Vegaserik at 10:20 PM ON 11/18/09
Nikki Cox was in an episode when she was young, where Data broke the Prime Directive and was a penpal to her while her world was dying.
By Tzhaarmejjar at 4:30 PM ON 11/20/09
I remember the episode "Descent" very well and applaude the producers for giving Stephen Hawking his rightful place among this series as he is among the 20th century's most brilliant minds. It is only logical that the fictional most intelligent being, Mr. Data, would be seen interacting with history's greatest minds, including Mr. Hawking. Bravo Paramount!
By Houston at 2:45 PM ON 11/22/09
Kelsey Grammer!
By Cheapshot at 5:19 PM ON 11/22/09
Christopher Lloyd in ST3
By unicron27 at 5:16 AM ON 11/23/09
good shepard voyager episode theres two the guy who played chip in Not Quite human and Tom Morelo sorry about the spelling
By Cpt.Madoxx at 9:36 AM ON 11/23/09
What about Ronny Cox for his role as Cpt.Jellico in TNG:Chain of Command ?
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