When it comes to Star Trek, Laurence Luckinbill certainly lives up to his luck-filled name. The role he took on—that of Spock’s half-brother, Sybok—was originally intended for Sean Connery. However, Connery was tied up filming “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.” Luckinbill came on the scene completely unintentionally. He was discovered late one night, when William Shatner was unable to sleep and so was up channel surfing.
Luckinbill’s face popped on the screen and Shatner knew immediately he was the one for the part. What a way to be discovered! Luckenbill’s luck never really ran out as far as his career has been concerned. Since 1968, he has been writing, directing and starring in theater productions, including a good many one-man shows.
Robert Beltran as Commander Chakotay
Robert Beltran certainly did a sterling job, filling the boots of Commander Chakotay, the starship Voyager’s first officer. He was so loved in this role, in fact, that he was twice nominated for an ALMA award and was successful in taking out the award for “Outstanding Actor in a Television Series” from Golden Eagle.
What you may not know about Beltran is that he is a bit of a theater addict. The talented actor has appeared in almost as many stage productions as he has in films. Since Star Trek, he’s enjoyed roles in film, television and theater and, with his talent and unique features, is unlikely to ever be out of work.
DeForest Kelley as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy
When Star Trek hit, DeForest Kelley shot to almost instant fame as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. What many don’t know, however, is that Kelley actually had the opportunity to play Spock! He turned the role down, a move many Spock fans are probably thankful for as it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Nimoy in the role.
Kelley apparently turned the role down as he feared being typecast. Yet, as it turned out, he fell victim to the dreaded affliction anyway. As his acting career tapered off, Kelley developed a love for the written word, writing poetry and penning two books. These were supposed to be the first of a series, however, Kelley passed away in 1999 before he could complete the rest of his written works.
George Takei as Captain Hikaru Sulu
George Takei was cast to appear in the second Star Trek pilot and, with its success, went on to star in the resultant Star Trek series. Takei’s role was intended to get bigger quicker than it did. However, the actor’s attention was being taken up by another role. He was still performing in "The Green Berets" as Captain Nim.
Along with a string of film and television roles, George Takei completely mastered social media, his hilarious posts making him even more of an icon than his Star Trek days did. Takei now uses this platform to promote LGBT rights, along with a number of other causes he holds close to his heart. Takei is no “clicktivist,” he is the real deal and has won awards for his work on US-Japan relations in particular, and human rights in general.
Robert Duncan McNeill as Lieutenant Tom Paris
Robert Duncan McNeill is a Star Trek veteran, having taken on a couple of different roles while also directing several episodes. His most regular appearance on the show was as Lieutenant Tom Paris, in "Star Trek: Voyager." However, you can also spot him in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
McNeill did take on acting roles outside of Star Trek (including an appearance as himself in the documentary, "Trekkies") but his passion is most definitely with directing. He has an impressive CV, having taken the helm of shows like "Dawson’s Creek," "Medium," and "Desperate Housewives." McNeill also produced and directed "Chuck," for NBC.