Star Trek/Doctor Who R.I.P. 2021

 

The first impression of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country as the nearly perfect way for the original crew to end their adventures has only been strengthened in the years since.  Part of that film’s success is due to a strong supporting cast, especially David Warner and Christopher Plummer. 

 Plummer began as a classical actor in Canada.  He was already a star at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 1956 when he was stricken with a sudden illness, and his understudy—a young actor named William Shatner-- had to replace him in performing the lead role in Henry V.  It was the beginning of Shatner’s career as a leading actor.

 But Christopher Plummer didn’t exactly fade away.  He maintained an astonishingly long and varied career, both as a stage actor (classical and otherwise) in England and North America (including Broadway), and in supporting and lead roles in Hollywood movies.  He won an Oscar, several Tonys and Golden Globes, as well as the British academy award. 

 Plummer had been acting all around the world for almost 40 years when he reunited with his Canadian understudy in Star Trek VI, in between Harold Pinter’s stage play No Man’s Land with Jason Robards, Jr. and Spike Lee’s movie of Malcolm X.  His portrayal of a smirking Klingon villain, General Chang, was a perfect stylistic match to Shatner’s Captain Kirk.  Plummer’s career continued unabated well into the 21^st century, and he won his Oscar at age 82.  His last (award-winning) film was in 2019. 

Norman Lloyd was another well-known actor (especially for St. Elsewhere) who had a memorable appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation, playing Dr. Galen in the key episode “The Chase.” 

 

Veteran actor Dean Stockwell appeared in one episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, reuniting him with his Quantum Leap co-star Scott Bacula, captain of the first Enterprise.

 

Clarence Williams III, known forever for The Mod Squad, appeared in the Deep Space 9 episode “To The Death.” 

Eddie Paskey was at the opposite end of the stardom continuum from Christopher Plummer.  But his appearances in original series Star Trek (mostly uncredited) were unique.  He was the ultimate Redshirt, appearing in 62 episodes—more than George Takei (51.).  His one named role was honored in an episode of the independent series New Voyages when he played Admiral Leslie.

 

Distinguished television actor and acting teacher Joanne Linville made a memorable appearance as a Romulan commander attracted to Mr. Spock in the TOS episode “The Enterprise Incident.” 

Writer-producer Jeffrey Hayes helped develop Star Trek: The Next Generation.  Douglas Cramer was a producer on TOS third season.

 Though I’d been a Star Trek fan since the beginning, my enthusiasm went into warp drive when the original series was first in syndication, especially after seeing a little noted but favorite episode “The Empath.”  John Erman was its director. 

Science fiction novelist Margaret Wander Bonanno’s Star Trek novel Stranger From the Sky reached the New York Times Best Seller list in 1994.  Her other Star Trek fiction includes Saturn’s Child, co-written with Nichelle Nichols.

 Reuben Klamer designed an early TOS phaser.  Robert Fletcher (Wycoff) designed costumes for the first four Trek features.  Chuck Hicks was a stunt player for TNG and two movies, but got his acting moment as the drugged soldier in TNG’s debut episode, “Encounter at Farpoint.” Gil Mosko was a makeup artist for three series and three features.  Robert Herrion and Anthony Sillia were stunt players on the first Star Trek pilot, “The Cage.” 

Fran Bennett

Other deaths in the Star Trek family this past year include: researchers Kellam de Forest (TOS) and Richard Arnold (TNG), special effects artist (TNG) Peter Greenwood, stunt players Ralph Garrett (TOS) and Danny Rogers (3 movies), and actors Mimi Cozzens (TNG), Nathan Jung (TOS), Gregory Sierra (DS9), Peter Mark Richman (TNG), Camille Savida (DS9), Walker Boone (TNG), Ron Arrants (TNG, VOY), Henry Darrow (TNG, VOY),  John Paragon (DS9), Mary Linda Rapelye (TOS), Byron Bealine (TNG). Tom Le Garde (TOS), Fran Bennett (TNG), Willie Garson (VOY), Gavan O’Herlihy, Richard Evans (TOS), Patrick Hagan (TOS), Jan Shutan (TOS), Mario Roccuzzo (TNG), William Lucking (DS9,ENT.) 

 

Among 2021 deaths in the Doctor Who family were Bob Baker (writer and creator of K-9), directors Michael Ferguson and Frank Cox, and actors Tony Selby, Damaris Hayman, Jackie Lane, Arthur Cox, David Baillie, Myra Francis, Harry Fieder, Alan Curtis, David de Keyser, Ken Sedd, Bernard Holley and Clifford Rose.

 

Apologies for omissions and misspellings.  May they rest in peace—their work lives on.