For many, Kurtwood Smith’s face is far more synonymous with various refrains on the theme of his foot going into someone’s rear end—all thanks to his role as Red Foreman on the wildly popular series, “That 70s Show.” Yet, long before this role brought him international recognition, Kurtwood Smith was popping up in various roles within the Star Trek franchise.
A bit of a sci-fi fan, Smith has also made appearances in “The X-Files” and “Rick & Morty.” His CV is a mile long, featuring many major films and TV shows. To some of us though, he will always be the stern, cranky, and hilarious Red Foreman.
Ethan Phillips as Neelix
You probably instantly recognize Ethan Phillips as Neelix, since he played the lovable alien for the seven seasons of "Star Trek: Voyager." However, Phillips actually got his start in Star Trek back in 1990, taking the single-episode role of Dr. Farek in an episode of "The Next Generation," titled, "Menage a Troi." Phillips must’ve been overjoyed to go from this one-off role to taking on a regularly appearing character, and a popular one at that.
Since leaving Neelix behind, Phillips put a lot of his time into the theater, though he did dabble in films and a few other television roles. Phillips also popped back up in more one-off Star Trek roles, and his voice can be heard in both Star Trek and Star Wars video games (seems he’s happy to bat for both teams).
John Rhys-Davies as Leonardo da Vinci
John Rhys-Davies got to enjoy one of the quirkier roles in an already quirky series, playing a holodeck version of Leonardo da Vinci. The talented actor handled this epic role with panache, adding a touch of class to the "Voyager" episodes he appeared in.
Those of you with a keen eye will recognize Rhys-Davies as Gimli, from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He also played Sallah in the "Indiana Jones" films. The actor’s filmography is intimidating, with a ridiculously long list of film, TV, and video game credits to his name. With his distinctive vocal characteristics, Rhys-Davies is a natural at narration and voice work, a field he adores.
Rene Auberjonois as Constable Odo
Member of the shapeshifting race of Changelings, Odo was definitely one of our favorites from "Deep Space Nine." His unique characteristics allowed him to have startling insight into human values and ethics; something you don’t always expect to be enlightened with when watching TV. The actor who brought Odo to life for us, René Auberjonois, had an impressive career, both before and after his time with Star Trek.
He originated the character of Father Mulcahy, who was played by William Christopher in the TV series, "M*A*S*H." You may have seen Auberjonois in "NCIS," "The Good Wife," and "Sleepy Hollow." He also had a stack of voicing credits to his name, in films, games, and animated TV series. In late 2019, he sadly passed away.
Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher
While Gates McFadden has an impressive number of credits to her name, she is best known, and most loved, for her portrayal of Dr. Beverly Crusher in the Star Trek series and four of its films. When her time in the Star Trek universe was up, McFadden never wanted acting work, taking roles in a number of films and TV shows.
What you might find more surprising is, that she also turned her skills to teaching. McFadden has graced the halls of a number of prestigious academies and universities, including Harvard, Purdue and the University of Pittsburgh, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and Hamburg’s Stella Academy. She is one talented lady!