Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy

 

When watching Star Trek: The Original Series it is a mistake to underestimate the power of the iconic Trek Triumvirate – Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Their chemistry together was dynamite that would combust across the screen. 

This trio set the tone for what what would follow – establishing the standard for a starship captain, the first officer, and ship's doctor. All those who followed them knew to tread carefully in their footsteps. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy! They are a tough act to follow. 

So now, let's take a look at The Big Three and how important they have been to the Star Trek universe – they set the framework for every series to follow to some degree.

Captain James Tiberius Kirk

Despite all the bluster about Shatner's acting style – and there are plenty of actors and comedians who love to attempt imitations – there is only one William Shatner, and only he could pull off the Kirk we know and love in TOS.

Shatner Head Shot 1958

Shatner had starred in many different TV shows in his career before getting cast in the lead role of the TV drama For the People playing an assistant district attorney. It was cancelled after 13 episodes, and that was fortuitous for Trek fans because, if the show had been successful, Shatner wouldn't have been available to play Kirk.   

Actor Jeffery Hunter had played Captain Christopher Pike in the first pilot "The Cage." There are different explanations as to why he turned down the chance to come back as captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, among them that his wife felt a TV series would not be worthy of his talents as a film actor. 

Actor Jack Lord – who would go on to Hawaii Five-O fame – auditioned for the part, and Gene Roddenberry offered the role to him, but Lord wanted 50% ownership of the show, so Gene turned back to Shatner, whom he wanted as first choice, and now he was available because his TV show was cancelled. 

Roddenberry wanted Kirk to be "A swashbuckler in space" and felt that Shatner had the personality for the part. Gene envisioned Kirk to be like his favorite literary hero Horatio Hornblower, and he believed Shatner had the talent and physical ability to handle the part. 

Everything worked out for Trek fans because Shatner was the perfect Captain Kirk. One of the reasons he's so often imitated is because of how well he nailed the part. I firmly believe that no one else could have brought to the character what Shatner did, and that is why he is so beloved.

Kirk could be strong when he had to be, and yet he tried to understand his crew with compassion when it was needed. Shatner gave Kirk a good sense of humor, and he interacted with the crew as a leader who set a fine example for everyone.

Of course, there were Kirk's romantic encounters that as a kid I felt were not necessary, but looking back now it is Kirk's attraction to the ladies that made his character well rounded. He was not just all business – he also knew how to have a good time. 

Kirk was brave, honest, and dedicated to his crew's safety and the safety of his ship. Kirk would always say "My ship" in a variety of situations, and he would have done anything for the Enterprise, including give up his life to save her. 

The thought of the TOS without William Shatner as Captain Kirk would be like thinking about the Batman TV series without Adam West. Both men were heart of their respective shows and they wouldn't have worked without them. 

Please check out Kirk's kisses – the one with Uhura was due to them being forced to kiss by the psychically powerful Paltonians, and the one with Yeoman Rand was Evil Kirk. 

Mr. Spock

Sitting back and looking at Star Trek: The Original Series objectively, there was no more important character living and working on the U.S.S. Enterprise than Mr. Spock. His importance as part of the triumvirate of Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy is the stuff of legends, and he did act as a kind of stabilizing force between Kirk (the heart) and McCoy (the soul) of the show.

When looking for someone to play Spock – remember his casting goes back to the first pilot "The Cage" – series creator Gene Roddenberry was looking for someone who could portray an alien convincingly. Roddenberry wanted a diverse crew, and what could be more diverse than having an alien as one of the crew members? 

Nimoy was not his first choice for the role. Roddenberry considered George Lindsay (Goober on The Andy Griffith Show) and Martin Landau (a respected TV actor). In a conversation with Gary Lockwood (who would go on to play Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell in the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before") about the role of Spock, Lockwood suggested Leonard Nimoy.

Nimoy in 'The Lieutenant' 1963

Roddenberry was familiar with Nimoy from working with him on the TV show The Lieutenant, and brought him in for an audition. Roddenberry saw Nimoy as having the right demeanor for Spock – he was a dramatic actor with a seriousness that impressed Gene. Nimoy also had a sense of being a bit detached and unemotional – this would work well with a character that was forced to suppress his own emotions. 

As portrayed by Nimoy throughout the series, Spock is a walking contradiction. Being half-Vulcan, Spock is not emotional out of necessity and reacts to other people's emotions with a slightly raised eyebrow. Still, he is half-human, and Roddenberry's genius was to set up Spock for internal conflict that made his character constantly checking himself, holding back, and hiding his struggle with duality.

Spock's frequent sarcastic exchanges with the overly emotional Dr. McCoy are legendary and amusing, but Spock never raises more than an eyebrow as McCoy criticizes him for being green-blooded and pointy-eared. 

Nimoy at first pushed back on wearing the pointy ears – they bothered him in fact; however, Gene insisted on it because he wanted Spock to represent the other – the person on the outside looking in at the way the human crew operated, almost in a way evaluating human interactions with all his logic and intelligence. 

The audience was attracted to Spock's appearance on the show and their approval happened almost immediately – resulting in a sort of Spockmania. People were fascinated by Spock as being someone totally different coming across their TV screens every week.

Nimoy came up with Spock's split-fingered salute – from his Jewish faith – and the slogan "Live long and prosper" as well as the idea for the mind meld and the famous nerve pinch to disable an opponent. Nimoy helped create Spock as he portrayed him, imbuing the character with some of his own stoic reactions to the world.

Spock was like an anchor – holding steadfast in a storm of emotions that blew around the Enterprise. I think that is the appeal of the character, for he provided a symbol of calm no matter how bad the tempest might be. Leonard Nimoy's Spock is an iconic figure and one of the richest and most memorable TV characters of all time. 

Please check out some of Spock's best moments in TOS. 

Dr. McCoy

Adding the last part of the Trek Triumvirate, Gene Roddenberry had to find the perfect person to play the ship's doctor. This would be a key decision for the Big Three had to get along well enough off screen to make it seem real on screen.

Kelley in 'Fear in the Night'

Before being chosen to play Dr. Leonard McCoy, DeForest Kelley had a lot of movie and TV experience. His first film was the low budget movie Fear in the Night. It did well at the box office but did not lead to the big film career he expected. He went to New York City where he worked in theater and on some TV shows. He came across Gene's radar when they worked on 333 Montgomery, a failed pilot for a TV series.

When Roddenberry was making the first Trek pilot, he thought of Kelley for the role of ship's doctor, and he also wanted him for the second pilot's doctor, but both times he was overruled by the directors. When the series was approved to start filming, Gene insisted on bringing Kelley on as Dr. McCoy  – thank goodness that he prevailed because it was another casting triumph.

Kelley had been in a number of cowboy films, and he brought that air of cockiness and bravado to Dr. McCoy. There was also sense of empathy and passion in Dr. Mr.Coy, who would often refer to himself as "an old country doctor," in a slight Southern drawl. 

McCoy was known for several catch phrases throughout the series. One was his penchant for telling the Kirk the status of a crew member. His very dry "He's dead, Jim" is legendary. He would also complain about the use of the transporter as "Spreading a man's molecules." And, McCoy had a penchant for telling off the captain when he felt Kirk was asking too much of him. McCoy would say, "I'm a doctor, not a mechanic" or some other hysterical nonsensical role that fit the moment. 

McCoy was the soul of the ship, Kirk the heart, and Spock the mind. This is what made their Triumvirate work so well together. The rapport was obvious and grew stronger over the show's three seasons.

An episode would usually end with the Big Three bantering about the transpired events. McCoy would give Spock some remark, causing Spock to raise a disapproving eyebrow, but Kirk would chuckle and let us all know they were good friends after all. 

Please check out some of the best Dr. McCoy moments.

A Perfect Trio 

Whatever you call them - The Triumvirate or The Big Three – Kirk, Spock, and McCoy had great chemistry, and they brought that out in almost every scene they were in together. Please check out some of their best scenes together.

What's Next? 

In my next and last post in this series of posts, I will take a look at the importance of Star Trek and its legacy. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Main Cast Members

 

The main cast members of Star Trek: The Original Series are beloved by Trek fans of all ages. They have an indelible place in pop culture. For example, I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say "Beam me up, Scotty." They helped make the show endearing  to fans, and they led the way for all of the iterations of the Star Trek universe to come.

I feel like saying this cast was "beloved" doesn't truly capture the totality of the impact these characters had on the lives of fans. For those of us who first watched the show as a kid like I did, they were idolized as heroes who were brave and followed a code – the Prime Directive! Gene Roddenberry well understood that policy set parameters for a starship that controlled its tremendous power and capabilities. We kids understood this innately because our parents set rules we had to follow, so it just made sense.

All these years later as I watch the show over again, I feel such a deep and abiding love for it, and much of this has to do with the characters played by the main cast members. So now, let's take a look at the people who made the show worth watching again and again because of their talent, good will, and welcome sense of humor. 

1. Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott

James Doohan's portrayal of this character is iconic, but he almost didn't make it past appearing in the second pilot – "Where No Man Has Gone Before."  It is hard to imagine the U.S.S. Enterprise without its stalwart engineer, but after the pilot was approved by NBC, series creator Gene Roddenberry was second guessing a need for an engineer. He even sent a letter to Doohan saying as much, but Doohan's agent lobbied for him to be in the show, and it all worked out.

Doohan decided on the first name of the character – Montgomery – in honor of his maternal grandfather. He also believed that Scotty should have a Scottish accent based on his notion that the Scots made the best engineers. Scotty was also second officer, and when he was in the command chair he wouldn't let anyone mess with the ship. 

Scotty was affable enough with his crewmates, but he also took his job seriously. The Enterprise was his baby, and he loved her. His technical know how and innate skills made him something of a wizard when it came to repairing the ship. Sometimes Captain Kirk (William Shatner) would expect miracles from Scotty, which he somehow was able to accomplish – many times under severe time restraints. 

It was often implied that Scotty was an accomplished drinker, and in "The Trouble with Tribbles" (Season 2, Episode 15) he was responsible for starting a barroom brawl with the Klingons. When one Klingon was trying to goad him into a fight, he resisted even when the Klingon insulted his captain but, when he insulted the Enterprise, Scotty went ballistic. It is also in this episode when Scotty had his funniest line of dialogue. When Kirk asks what happened to all the tribbles, Scotty says that he beamed them all onto the Klingon ship, where he said, "They will be no tribble at all."

Doohan appeared in 66 of the show's 79 episodes.

Please watch this best moment of Scotty video.

2. Lt. Nyota Uhura

Nichelle Nichols played the communications officer of the Enterprise with grace and style. When Roddenberry sought to have a multiracial cast plus one alien, Uhura was purposely placed on the bridge behind the captain's chair. Uhura comes from the Swahili "uhuru," which translates to "freedom" in English. Nichols had the book Uhuru by Robert Ruark with her on the day she auditioned, and it inspired Gene to name her character this when he learned what the word meant. 

Uhura is depicted as a highly efficient communications officer who frequently multitasks in the background when she is not directly in the scene. When needed, Uhura would be able to take the control of the helm, navigation, or Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) science station with ease. When a situation arises, she is handy and can take down a panel and make repairs to her station. She also handles a phaser with the best of them. Uhura always speaks her mind, and she will even question the captain if she is concerned about something. 

One of my favorite Uhura moments takes place in "The Savage Curtain" (Season 3, Episode 22). The likeness of Abraham Lincoln – created by an alien race from all available data in the Enterprise's files – is beamed onto the ship. Kirk is giving him a tour of the decks, and when they come onto the bridge Lincoln encounters her and says, "The Charming Negress." He then promptly apologizes, but Uhura responds eloquently, telling him "In our century, we have learned not to fear words." Uhura shines brightly here, and it is a powerful moment that reminds viewers that in the future world depicted in Star Trek race will not matter at all. 

It's frightening to think that Nichols almost quit Star Trek because there had been some negativity about her role in fan mail, and she did want to get back to musical theater which she loved, but a meeting with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed her mind. He told her about how his children loved the show and her in it, but she told him that she was leaving the show. Dr. King insisted that she change her mind. He said, "You don't have a Black role. You have an equal role." Thankfully, Nichols changed her mind. 

Nichols went on to appear in 69 of the show's 79 episodes. 

Please watch this amazing moment with Lt. Uhura. 

3. Lt. Hiraku Sulu

In keeping with his vision for a multiracial cast, Roddenberry was looking to add an Asian character, but he didn't want to be too specific. According to George Takei, who would go on to play Sulu, he wanted the character to represent all of Asia. Despite the Vietnam War and tensions with Communist China, Roddenberry wanted to show that in the future we would all be at peace. Takei said Gene looked at a map of Asia and saw the Sulu Sea in the Philippines, and that is how he came up with the name.

Sulu's backstory is that he was born in San Francisco and is of Japanese descent. In the second pilot he was named Physicist Sulu and is head of the Astro Science Department. During the rest of the series, Sulu was third officer and the helmsman on the bridge. His interests included fencing and botany, and he was fascinated with old weapons – like the revolver he discovered in "Shore Leave" (Season 1, Episode 15).

Sulu would take the command chair when he had to, and he was a dependable officer. His work as helmsman got the Enterprise through the many challenges that space has to offer. And, when needed, he could play a convincing villain as he did in "The Enemy Within" (Season 1, Episode 5) when he played the evil version of his character.

Takei would appear in 52 episodes, missing a number of episodes during the second season because he was away filming the movie The Green Berets with John Wayne.

Please check out one of Sulu's iconic Trek moments when crew members start acting strangely.

4. Ensign Pavel Andreievich Chekov

Walter Koenig came on board in the second season. Gene wanted to add a younger cast member to appeal to a younger audience – like the kids watching the Monkees TV show. There was also a story – never corroborated – that the Soviet newspaper Pravda had criticized Star Trek for not having a Russian character. Chekov's youth and hairstyle lend credence to the Monkees story more than the Pravda one.

Gene crafted Chekov's back story as being born in Russia and that he was an honor student at Space Academy. He is brilliant in the field of science, and he would on occasion take over for Spock as science officer when needed. Slight in stature, Chekov will not back away from a fight, but in a number of episodes he is seen as losing to a bigger opponent – like in the bar brawl in "The Trouble with Tribbles" (Season 2, Episode 15).

There were moments too when Chekov had chances for romantic scenes, and this played into Gene's motive to attract younger viewers. Overall, Chekov is a highly likeable character, and his insistence that Russia invented things first or accomplished more than other countries is a running gag. He even insists that the Garden of Eden was located just outside of Moscow.

Koenig appeared in 36 of the show's 79 episodes.

Please check out this video featuring classic Chekov moments. 

What's Next?

In my next post, I will be focusing on what I like to call the Trek Triumvirate – Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy. Until then, Live Long and Prosper!  

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – My Favorite Guest Stars (Part Two)

 

In my last post I shared a very subjective list of my favorite guest stars that appeared during the three season run of Star Trek: The Original Series. In this post I will share another list of my favorites in random order, except for the first one. He is my favorite one in this batch.

As I know many of you will have other favorites, I apologize in advance if your favorites do not appear here.

1. Ricardo Montalban

I greatly admire the actor who played Khan Noonien Singh in "Space Seed" (Season 1, Episode 22) for his impact not just on this series but also in the second movie Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. He looms above all the guest stars as the most memorable villain with a compelling and relatable back story. 

In "Space Seed" his charisma and physical power were obvious in every second he is on screen. He is a genetically enhanced super being, and Kirk (William Shatner) at times seems intimidated by him. 

They find him on a penal colony ship in stasis, but he thaws out quickly and cuts an impressive path across the episode. In the end Kirk barely defeats him and leaves Khan and his group on an uninhabited planet where he will stay until appearing in one of the greatest movies – not just Trek movie – you will be lucky enough to watch.

2. Diana Muldaur

Muldaur appeared in two episodes and played three characters. In "Return to Tomorrow" (Season 2, Episode 20) she played Science Officer Dr. Ann Mulhall and also the godlike Thalassa. The Enterprise goes to a planet where beings have no bodies, and they want to inhabit Kirk, Spock, and Mulhall's bodies so that they can exist again. 

In "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" (Season 3, Episode 5) Muldaur plays Dr. Miranda Jones, a blind telepath for Ambassador Kollos of Medusa. It works out for her because Kollos' appearance is so hideous that the sight of him drives people insane. 

Fun Fact: Star Trek: The Next Generation fans will also recognize Muldaur for playing Dr. Katherine Pulaski during season two. 

3. Frank Gorshin

Just like Yvonne Craig, Gorshin who famously played The Riddler on Batman, popped over to appear in one of the most amazing episodes of Trek. In "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" (Season 3, Episode 15) Gorshin is Bele, a prejudiced pursuer of supposed justice going after Lokai (Lou Antonio) because his black and white face is different than Bele's. 

Gorshin holds nothing back here as the trajectory of his abilities is unleashed. One moment he is mourning the extinction of his race, and in the next he goes into homicidal mode and tries to kill his prey. As I've noted before, Gene Roddenberry liked to send messages with his show, and this one rings true about the insanity of prejudice and the toll it takes is a heavy one, and in this case it involves the loss of a civilization.

4. Ted Cassidy

Cassidy's looming presence as Ruk in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (Season 1, Episode 7) scared me as a kid – even though I knew he was the giant, kind hearted Lurch from The Addams Family TV show (where he also played the role of Thing). In this episode he is an android doing the bidding of crazy Dr. Corby (Michael Strong) who happens to be the former love of Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett). Corby wants to replace all humans with androids, and Kirk and Chapel are first on his list. 

The menace Cassidy brings to the role notwithstanding, Ruk eventually reveals a softer side as he describes what his creators did to his kind. This is another one of my favorite episodes, and although it was broadcast 60 years ago, it touches upon things that are currently causing concerns about AI and the sentience factor that is key to this episode.

Fun Fact: Cassidy also provided the voice of the scary Balok in "The Corbomite Maneuver" (Season 1, Episode 10) and the Gorn captain in "Arena"  (Season 1, Episode 18).

5. James Gregory

In "Dagger of the Mind" (Season 1, Episode 9) Gregory plays Dr. Tristan Adams as the director of a psychiatric unit that is well renowned. When one of his supposed patients escapes the facility, Kirk and company become suspicious, causing the captain and ship psychiatrist Dr. Helen Noel (Marianna Hill) to beam down to investigate.

They discover Adams is using a device called a "neural neutralizer" that he uses to help patients, but Kirk quickly discovers the device is actually a mind wiping device, and Adams is intent on using it on Kirk. Gregory delivers a creepy performance because he is so convinced what he is doing is right. That always makes maniacs all the more scary. 

6. Terri Garr

When I watched Terri Garr in "Assignment: Earth" (Season 2, Episode 26) as a kid, I fell in love with her. Watching the show again as an adult, I can understand why. She plays secretary Roberta Lincoln as a pretty, frazzled, and a little overwhelmed by her work for Gary Seven (Robert Lansing) who is not just some executive but a being from the future concerned with a launch of a NASA spacecraft.

Kirk and Spock beam down and interact with Roberta (Spock has his ears covered with another ridiculous hat), but Garr shines in the role and makes it one of the most memorable performances in Trek's three seasons. 

Fun Fact: This episode was meant to be an attempt to be a pilot within the series for a "Gary Seven" TV series, but the network did not pick it up. That's a shame because with Lansing and Garr involved it would have been a great show!

7. Don Marshall

Appearing as Lt. Boma in the amazing "The Galileo Seven" (Season 1, Episode 16), Marshall stands out as the most excited and worried of the stranded passengers on a hostile planet. The way he pushes back on Spock's stoic handling of what is a dangerous situation with large, violent aliens outside the crippled shuttle craft is very impressive.

Marshall's performance is outstanding. He not only questions Spock's authority but encourages the other passengers to rebel. When one of the crew is killed by the aliens, Boma demands that he get the dignity of a burial, but Spock feels that it's too dangerous. The conflict between Boma and Spock is so interesting to watch.

It's just a terrific episode, and Marshall shines as a person who maybe a little prejudiced toward alien Spock, but the layers in his performance also show his belief in humanity and the preciousness of life.  

Fun fact: This is the first appearance of a shuttle craft designed by Matt Jeffries (who also designed the U.S.S. Enterprise) in the series. 

8. Julie Newmar

Newmar – whom I loved as Catwoman on Batman – plays Eleen in "Friday's Child: (Season 2, Episode 11). Eleen is the pregnant wife of leader Akkar (Ben Gage) who wants the Capellans to side with the Federation, but he is murdered by rival Maab who favors a Klingon alliance. This causes Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to take Eleen and run away in fear that Maab will kill her because she's pregnant with the rightful leader of Capella.

There is such a difference in how Newmar plays this role, making her totally opposite of how we know her on Batman. Yet her beauty shines through as well as her maternal instinct, making this one of the more memorable guest appearances in Trek. In the end everything works out. Eleen gives birth to a son, and she will act as his Regent – which means she will rule until he comes of age. 

Fun Fact: Eleen names her child Leonard James Akaar. Spock's reaction to this is priceless. 

9. Vic Tayback 

In "A Piece of the Action" (Season 2, Episode 17) Tayback takes his Brooklyn born accent to new heights, playing gruff gangster Jojo Krako. Set on a planet run by 1920s style gangs – where a Federation vessel was reported missing 100 years ago. The Enterprise gets a message from a rival gangster and requests help. 

Before we know it, Kirk and Spock are thrown into the middle of a gang war. Seeing Spock and Kirk in suits and spats is hilarious, and despite Spock's worries about the Prime Directive, Kirk barrels ahead and breaks the rules. Tayback's performance is brilliant, chewing the scenery along with his cigar. 

It seems everyone was having a blast making this episode, and Tayback's Krako makes this a memorable one indeed. 

10. Michael J. Pollard

Pollard plays teenager Jahn in "Miri" (Season 1, Episode 8) and immediately makes an impression. He leads a group of children who live in an abandoned city that looks like it is 1960s Earth. Kirk and company (including Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand) discover young Miri (played by a terrific Kim Darby) and she tells them that all the "grups" (grownups) have died from a disease. McCoy notices that the kids have lesions and are dying too. Soon the crew has signs of the disease forcing McCoy to find a cure.

Pollard is outstanding as the leader – he's menacing, determined, and dangerous – but it's also obvious that he didn't want the leadership that was thrust upon him as the oldest of the kids – who are really 300 years old!  While this episode is not usually mentioned in lists of favorites, I really liked it. When I first saw it as a kid, I identified with Miri and her friends. As an adult, I empathize with the adults as they struggle to save the kids from this deadly illness.

Fun Facts: Pollard was 27 years old when filming this episode playing a teenager. Sadly, this was also Whitney's last Trek episode.  

What's Next?

In my next post, I will taking a look at the main cast members. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Please check out this scene from "Space Seed" to see Khan in action!

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – My Favorite Guest Stars (Part One)

 

Like the great Batman series – please check out my posts from earlier this year celebrating its 60th anniversary – Star Trek: The Original Series had many of the top and some legendary actors chomping at the bit to have a guest appearance on the show.

Since there are too many to explore them all, I'm going to go with the ones who are my personal favorites. So, if I miss someone that you liked, I apologize in advance for not including them. 

Here is my list (Part One) in no apparent order, but I am starting with my favorite guest star from this group. 

1. Roger C. Carmel

Roger C. Carmel played Harcourt Fenton Mudd in two episodes – "Mudd's Women" (Season 1, Episode 6) and "I, Mudd" (Season 2, Episode 8). At six foot four inches tall and sporting a rather distinctive mustache, Harry Mudd was all bluster and full of lies, but oh what fun it was to watch him chew the scenery all the while he's on screen. 

I enjoyed his episodes because he was having a grand time playing the part, and even Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) seemed to be in on the joke, so these two episodes are probably the funniest – except for maybe "The Trouble with Tribbles" (Season 2, Episode 15) giving them a challenge.

Fun facts: Carmel is the only guest actor who played the same character in more than one episode. He also played Colonel Gumm on Batman. 

2. William Campbell

Campbell played two roles to perfection in the series, and they couldn't be more opposite. In "The Squire of Gothos" (Season 1, Episode 17) he played the spoiled, seemingly all powerful Trelane. For those fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation, he is similar to Q (John de Lancie) in his childish nature and petulance.     

Campbell also played the Klingon Koloth in "The Trouble With Tribbles." While this episode is a bit lighthearted due to our furry friends, Koloth is vicious in his pursuit of taking control of the planet below the space station where the Tribbles are first found. In both episodes Campbell comes off as likeable despite his actions that are more annoying than dangerous. 

Fun Fact: This episode is also notable for the bar brawl between the Klingons and the Enterprise's crew started by Scotty (James Doohan), who was defending the ship's honor. 

3. Sally Kellerman

Playing Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (a psychiatrist) in the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before" that becomes (Season 1, Episode 3), Kellerman brought elegance and grace to the role. While she genuinely wants to help the crew stay mentally healthy, she gets sucked into a morass of trying to save Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) who has been injured along with herself by a strange space barrier that attacks the ship.

Kellerman brought a sense of credibility and decency to the role, and as Gary gets powers and his eyes turn silver, she tries her best to do the right thing, but she also starts getting powers and her eyes change too. The episode is famous for its climax on an alien planet where Dehner has to choose between helping Kirk or starting a new world with Gary's god-like character. 

4. Michael Dunn

Dunn plays court jester Alexander in "Plato's Stepchildren" (Season 3, Episode 10), an episode more famous because of the interracial kiss between Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and Kirk – they were forced to kiss by the Platonians with their powerful psychic abilities. 

Alexander plays it like he goes along with his masters, but he is more powerful than they are. His good humored portrayal makes an impact on the plot, but the kiss seems to always overshadow everything else about this one.  

5. Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt

Lenard is probably most famous for playing Spock's father Sarek, but in the first season he played a Romulan commander in one of the best Trek episodes ever. "Balance of Terror" (Season 1, Episode 14) features a battle of wits between the Romulan and Kirk that was inspired by the classic The Enemy Below, a movie about a battle between submarine captains. 

He first played Sarek in "Journey to Babel" (Season 2, Episode 10) where he is on a diplomatic mission with his wife Amanda (the legendary Jane Wyatt). This is one of my favorite episodes because we really get to know about Spock's origins in how he interacts with his parents. Lenard's performance is powerful, but Wyatt's subdued portrayal makes us understand the internal battle Spock faces every day.   

6. William Windom 

Windom plays Commodore Matt Decker like a train wreck that tries to undo itself in "The Doomsday Machine" (Season 2, Episode 6). As the commander of the U.S.S. Constitution that has been disabled by the titular alien device that killed his crew, to call Decker troubled is an understatement. 

As a kid I got ticked off when Decker took command of the Enterprise from Spock, who has more things to worry about because the device could destroy the ship with Decker in command like an out of control Ahab, and Kirk is stuck on the disabled Constitution. Windom's acting is amazing, but it's Nimoy's quiet determination as Spock countering him that makes this one of my favorite episodes. 

7. Joan Collins

Joan Collins portrayed Edith Keeler in "City on the Edge of Forever" (Season 1, Episode 28) with so much warmth and passion, that Kirk couldn't help falling in love with her (and so did we). 

Kirk and Spock are forced to go back in time through a portal on an alien world because a drugged McCoy has gone through the portal first and changed history. They find themselves in Depression era New York City, and Keeler runs a soup kitchen there. 

This is often cited as fans' favorite episode, and it is certainly one of my favorites. The love story that develops between Kirk and Keeler is unforced and beautiful to watch, but the truth of what has to happen to set history right is a heartbreaker.  

8. Michael Ansara

Ansara's portrayal as Klingon Commander Kang "Day of the Dove" (Season 3, Episode 7) is memorable because he leads his men and interacts with Kirk and his crew on a planet where an unseen entity has lured them. The creature feeds on hatred, so Kang and Kirk have to forget about fighting one another in order to survive. 

I like this episode because Ansara took a Klingon in a different direction instead of just being another wild-eyed warrior. There was a lot to fear in this one but also a thin line of humor that even leads to Kang playfully slapping Kirk on the back like an old buddy. 

9. William Marshall

Theater legend Marshall's Dr. Richard Daystrom appears in "The Ultimate Computer" (Season 2, Episode 24) as the brilliant inventor of M-5. As the title tells us, Daystrom believes his computer will make human space explorers unnecessary. Of course, this makes Kirk and company a little uneasy. 

After Daystrom installs M-5 on the Enterprise, what we suspect will happen does, and then Daystom is challenged – like a Dr. Frankenstein of the future – by his own creation. Marshall was a Shakespearean actor who played Othello on stage and many other roles, so it makes all of this seem exceedingly tragic, and his performance is worthy of watching this one more than once. 

Series creator Gene Roddenberry – who liked to send messages with his show – made this episode a warning about being careful what you wish for in regards to relying on technology. 60 years later with us living in a tech crazy world, the message still is valid even if you are reading this on a phone held in your hand.   

10. Yvonne Craig 

As she was busy playing Batgirl in Batman over on that other channel, Yvonne Craig took out time to play Marta, an Orion slave girl in "Whom Gods Destroy" (Season 3, Episode 14). Her image will make true Trek fans recall Susan Oliver who played an Orion slave girl in one of Captain Christopher Pike's (Jeffrey Hunter) fantasy sequences in the first pilot "The Cage." 

In keeping with that tradition, Marta performs a risqué dance for Kirk and others present, but her goal is more pernicious. She desires to not only dance for Kirk but to get into bed with him too. Certainly I didn't understand this as a kid, but now, when I looked at the episode again, I realized she was trying to lure Kirk to sleep with her because – as with all her conquests –she wants to stab him to death. 

Craig gave this part her all and comes off as fragile, enticing, and dangerous. I hope she got off all that green paint before she went back to the Batman set. 

What's Next?

So, what did you think of my favorite guest stars list? In my next post, I will take a look at my ten more of my favorites. I hope they will be some of your favorites too.

Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Please check out this video of Marta's dance in "Whom Gods Destroy."

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Recurring Crew Members

 

If you were a true fan of Star Trek: The Original Series, you know all of the main crew members well; however, the U.S.S. Enterprise had many crew members – 430 to be precise – and they helped run the ship in every department from engineering to sick bay.  

While some of them made more of an impression than others, the key thing was that the ship needed to be run by more people than the main characters. These were crew members you saw sitting on the bridge, in the background in the lounge, and includes the Redshirts who beamed down on away missions, and many of them never returned to the ship. 

Most Numerous Appearances Recurring Crew Members

1. Hadley 

William Blackburn appeared in 60 episodes – that's more than Chekov (Walter Koenig - 36) and Sulu (George Takei - 52). He was the most frequently recurring crew member. Hadley was often seen as a helmsman or bridge officer. I can recall scenes where Chekov is sitting at the control panel, but in the next moment Hadley is seen sitting there from a different angle. Maybe Koenig needed a bathroom break!

2. Lt. Leslie

Played by Eddie Paskey, Leslie appeared in 57 episodes. While mostly seen in the background in these episodes, he was killed off in "Obsession" (Season 2, Episode 13). However, the actor continued to appear throughout the rest of the series. Did Leslie have a twin?

3. Brent 

Frank da Vinci's Brent appeared in 39 episodes, and can be seen in various parts of the ship presumably playing more than one character in different departments. 

4. Roger Lemli 

As played by Roger Holloway, Lemli appeared in 33 episodes as a security officer (AKA as a Red Shirt or disposable personnel).   

5. Harrison/Thule

Ron Veto appeared as Harrison/Thule in 21 episodes playing a crewman in various roles throughout the ship. 

Notable Recurring Crew Members

1. Nurse Christine Chapel

Appearing in 25 episodes, Majel Barrett's Chapel was head nurse and worked with Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) in Sick Bay. It was also commonly known that Chapel had an affection for Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) that was unrequited. Barrett would go on to appear in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 

2. Lt. Kyle

As played by John Winston, Lt. Kyle was transport chief in 11 episodes. His most memorable scene was when he gave a captured Earth officer a bowl of chicken soup from the food synthesizer. 

3. Yeoman Janice Rand

Memorably played by Grace Lee Whitney, Rand was Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) personal assistant in 8 episodes early in season one. She was written off the show without explanation, but one of the most popular ideas is that the producers didn't want Kirk to be in a relationship and free to be a swinger travelling across the galaxy. 

4. Lt. Galloway

Galloway (David Ross) was a security officer (AKA Red Shirt or disposable personnel) for 8 episodes. Like Lieutenant Leslie before him, he "died" but then returned for other episodes. 

5. Lt. DeSalle

As played by Michael Barrier in three episodes, LaSalle is most notable for a scene when he opposed Captain Kirk's handling of an alien incident.  

6. Lt. Angela Martine

As played by Barbara Baldavin in three episodes, she is notable for getting married in "Balance of Terror" (Season 1, Episode 14) as the Romulans attacked the ship, stopping the ceremony and killing her fiancé. 

7. Lt. Kelowitz

Grant Woods played Lt. Kelowitz in three episodes. He is memorable because he was the only character who was not one of the main characters who survived in the landing party in "Arena" (Season 1, Episode 19).   

8. Lt. Farrell

Lt. Farrell was played by Jim Goodwin in three episodes. He is notable because he appeared in "The Enemy Within" and was put in the command chair by Spock as he had to handle the Evil Kirk in that episode.  

9. Lt. Palmer

Elizabeth Rogers played Lt. Palmer for two episodes. She is notable because she filled in for Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) as communications officer.

10. Yeoman Mears

Yeoman Mears was played by Phyllis Douglas in two episodes. She is notable for appearing in the memorable episode "The Galileo Seven."

11. Lt. Kevin Riley

As played by Bruce Hyde, Riley is fondly remember for being in 2 episodes. In "The Naked Time" Riley succumbs to an alien substance that makes him seem drunk. He barricades himself in engineering and sings "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" to a captive audience over the ship's intercom.  

12. Dr. M'Benga

Booker Bradshaw played Dr. M'Benga who ran the Sick Bay for two episodes when Dr. McCoy was not there (who apparently was attending a doctor's convention somewhere). He was noted as a specialist in Vulcan Medicine. The character is prominently featured as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer in the series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.  

The Strength of Recurring Crew Members

Looking back at these recurring characters played by faces that became familiar across three seasons, there was a sense of stability of a crew that supported the main characters in running of the Enterprise. The was the strength of casting with a subtle but successful purpose.

While we didn't get to know them deeply, their presence gave a semblance of a family on board the ship. When we look back on watching the show, these recurring characters provided someone to stop in the hallways as Kirk made an announcement or to fall onto the floor when the ship got hit by enemy weapons. 

They also became Redshirts for landing parties, and what would Gene Roddenberry have done if he didn't have these expendables to add to the body count on away missions? 

What's Next?

In my next post, I will be looking at some of the my favorite guest stars that appeared on the series over three seasons. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!