bones in star trek actor

DeForest Kelley Made A Change To Star Trek's Dr. McCoy In The Voyage Home

It's unlikely that any of the actors who appeared on "Star Trek" in 1966 would assume they would be playing the same roles 18 years later, but "Star Trek" has had a curious habit of longevity. Each time the franchise dies out, the landscape shifts and the series is revived. That's certainly what happened in 1979 with the release of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (which isn't boring, despite its reputation) . After the original series was canceled in 1969, it was put into eternal syndication, allowing new audiences to find it for years thereafter. Trek conventions began in earnest in the mid-1970s, interest was renewed, and, lo, "Star Trek" returned. Sequel movies were put into production, and by 1986, the franchise released Leonard Nimoy's "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home," the biggest hit in all of "Star Trek" until the release of J.J. Abrams' film in 2009. 

Also by 1986, the characters had aged from their mid-30s to their mid-50s, and the cast had to consider the long careers of Starfleet officers. They were clearly eager to keep serving together but were now sporting higher ranks and were perhaps even aging out of the space adventure game. If you ask me, "The Voyage Home" still should have ended with the heroes all being drummed out of Starfleet for their many transgressions. 

Back in 2014,  StarTrek.com unearthed a 1986 audio interview with DeForest Kelley , who had played Dr. McCoy on and off for essentially two decades at that point. In the interview, the actor commented on the progress Dr. McCoy had made since the early days, and how large character developments had to be made from film to film, as opposed to the incremental character development he worked on during a weekly TV series. Notably, he said, Dr. McCoy had mellowed out a lot.

McCoy and Spock

Kelley talked about the timeline of four feature films vs. the timeline of the 79 episodes of the original series, and how character arcs must be condensed for the latter. On a weekly show, a character isn't necessarily going to change in two weeks, but with a year or more between movies, new changes must be considered. Most notably, McCoy had to develop a new relationship with the Vulcan Spock (Nimoy). On the series, McCoy was openly annoyed by Spock's cold logic. After working with Spock for 20 years, though, that relationship had to evolve. Kelley said: 

"It's very difficult to expand or flesh a character out in a motion picture, so to speak. When we're doing them, it takes a couple of years to get one out. If we were still doing the series, why, it would be a lot of fun to see how these characters change during the aging process. So what I tried to do in ['The Voyage Home'] is kind of ... not soften McCoy, but he's become a little more attuned to Spock and he's looking at him more or less with a bit of amusement, as opposed to becoming so irritated with him."

This made sense, especially after the events of "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." In that film, McCoy carried Spock's consciousness inside his brain so that it could be salvaged and placed back in an empty body late in the movie. He also committed a brazen act of mutiny, helping Kirk (William Shatner) and his other crewmates hijack the U.S.S. Enterprise for entirely selfish ends. The hijacking would eventually lead to the destruction of the Enterprise. After so much sacrifice, McCoy would necessarily have to be warmer and more peaceful about working with Spock.

Being likeable

Kelley also noted that a TV schedule allowed for more creative opportunities, specifically the opportunity to get things wrong every once in a while. When one is making 20-odd episodes a season and shooting on a tight, weekly schedule, there are bound to be stories that are a little rushed, and perhaps half-baked. Audiences would be forgiving, however, as there would be a new episode seven days later to "reset" any ill feelings. Kelley knew that a movie had to get everything right the first time, as they were released as major, infrequent events. He also continued elaborating on McCoy's relationship to Spock, saying: 

"Not that he doesn't become irritated with Spock, but McCoy has mellowed a little bit during this timeframe. As I say, if we were doing even six 90-minute shows a year we could expand on that, but when you shoot one motion picture every two years, it's rather a problem because it's very difficult to satisfy everyone. We only did 79 episodes, but during those episodes, there was bound to be one episode that perhaps everybody would like. You can't do that with a motion picture because there's going to be somebody who's not going to like something about it." 

Kelley went on to admit in the 1986 interview that he was a lazy actor, and that he would have been content with the "Star Trek" gig, even if it didn't lead to a prolonged film franchise. He, like several other Trek actors , didn't think the show would last very long and that a sci-fi series might even eat into some co-stars' professional credibility. "[W]hen I saw Leonard with his makeup with the ears," Kelley said. "I thought 'Well, he's had it.'"

DeForest Kelley, Actor Beloved as Dr. McCoy on ‘Star Trek,’ Dies at 79

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DeForest Kelley, who played the irascible but wise Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the “Star Trek” television series and movies, died Friday at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Woodland Hills. He was 79.

Kelley entered the convalescent home three months ago and died after a lingering illness, said A.C. Lyles, a longtime producer at Paramount Studios, where the original series was shot. Kelley’s wife of 55 years, Carolyn, who was recuperating from a broken leg in the home, was by his side when he died.

For the record:

12:00 a.m. June 18, 1999 For the Record Los Angeles Times Friday June 18, 1999 Home Edition Part A Page 30 Metro Desk 4 inches; 123 words Type of Material: Correction Kelley movies--In Saturday’s Times, the obituary of DeForest Kelley, the actor who played Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the “Star Trek” television series and movies, incorrectly stated that Kelley appeared in all of the first seven “Star Trek” movies. He did not appear in the 1994 release “Star Trek: Generations.” Also, the story stated that the original series was produced at Paramount. The production originated at the old Desilu studio, shifting to Paramount after Gulf & Western, then the parent company of Paramount, bought Desilu in 1967. Of the first seven “Star Trek” movies, the most successful was the first, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” which grossed $138.8 million worldwide, according to Exhibitor Relations Co., which tracks box-office receipts. The story also gave an incorrect year for the film “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral,” which was released in 1957.

Kelley was a supporting actor on film, stage and television for 20 years before landing his distinctive role on what would become a cult science fiction series.

“Star Trek,” which aired on NBC from 1966 to 1969, was director Gene Roddenberry’s saga of the star ship Enterprise, a 23rd century spacecraft with a mission to study unexplored worlds and transport supplies to Earth colonies in space.

On the Enterprise’s motley crew, Kelley was the resident surgeon, diagnostician and humanist, the perfect foil for the coldly logical Mr. Spock played by Leonard Nimoy and the macho Capt. James Kirk played by William Shatner.

“He was one of a kind, a great friend and a very important part of a collection of personalities,” Nimoy said Friday. “He had the humanist point of view in the show. It fit him very well. He brought a decency and sensibility that made you want to have him around.”

The son of a Baptist minister, Kelley was born in 1920 in Atlanta, where he sang in the church choir. He left Atlanta after high school to visit an uncle in Long Beach, and joined a theater group.

In the mid-1940s he was discovered by a Paramount talent scout who saw him in a Navy training film. The scout offered him a screen test and later a contract. He made his film debut as a man who may have committed murder while under hypnosis in a 1947 film noir called “Fear in the Night,” which showcased Kelley’s distinctive arched eyebrows and occasional wild-eyed expressions.

He appeared in several more films before moving to New York, where he worked in theater and in early television anthology dramas such as “Schlitz Playhouse of Stars.”

He returned to Hollywood in 1955 to resume his film work, appearing in director Sam Fuller’s “House of Bamboo” and “Tension at Table Rock.” He had a slight Southern drawl and a weathered face that he parlayed into roles as ranchers, town folk and minor villains in westerns such as “Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” in 1956.

In 1960 he landed more television roles, including the lead in a pilot written and produced by Roddenberry. Although Roddenberry later cast another actor, Edmond O’Brien, in the series “Sam Benedict,” he did not forget about Kelley.

Kelley was not a fan of science fiction. But when Roddenberry invited him to a screening of the original pilot for “Star Trek,” which starred Jeffrey Hunter, he did not turn him down.

After the screening, Roddenberry said: “Well, cowboy, what did you think?” Kelley replied: “Gene, that will be the biggest hit or the biggest miss ever.”

Over lunch in the studio commissary, Roddenberry offered him a choice of two roles, one of which he described as “this green-painted alien.”

Kelley chose the other role. “I’m glad it turned out that way,” he told the Chicago Tribune some years ago, “because I wouldn’t have been anywhere near Leonard [Nimoy]. He’s been marvelous.”

Although his character often clashed with Nimoy’s character, the two were united in loyalty to Shatner’s Kirk. He was often beamed down to hostile spots in the galaxy along with the other members of the show’s trinity, but was most at home in the high-tech dispensary aboard the Enterprise.

McCoy’s sarcasm endeared him to fans. “Did you see the love light in Spock’s eyes? The right computer finally came along,” McCoy said in an episode called “The Ultimate Computer,” in which the Enterprise tests a computer designed to run the ship without a crew. Kelley stalwarts loved his trademark lines: “I’m just a country doctor,” uttered when he was faced with some ghastly outer-space malady, and, “He’s dead, Jim.”

Few could have predicted the extraordinary longevity of the “Star Trek” craze. The original series, premiering on Sept. 8, 1966, was a ratings failure. It routinely lost in its time period. At its peak in 1966-67, it still ranked 52nd among all series. NBC canceled the show in 1969.

But a legion of “Star Trek” fanatics lobbied fiercely to return the program to network television. It achieved cult status in the 1970s and succeeded in reruns. Annual “Star Trek” conventions were held in the United States and abroad. An animated version ran on NBC from 1973 to 1975, with original cast members, including Kelley, supplying the voices.

Kelley developed his own loyal following over the years, welcomed by “Trekkies” at confabs around the world.

In 1989, the year Paramount released “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier,” he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He reprised the role of McCoy in all seven “Star Trek” movies made with Shatner and Nimoy, beginning with “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” in 1979 and ending with “Star Trek: Generations” in 1994.

(A new generation of Enterprise officers was featured in the 1996 release “Star Trek: First Contact,” which starred Patrick Stewart and Jonathan Frakes.)

Most of the movies were roundly panned, and the endless sequels became targets for late-night television show jokes. The last in the series fared best at the box office, grossing $70 million.

After a while, Kelley came to dread the critics’ words.

“The one thing I always dread about critics’ reviews of the ‘Star Trek’ movies is they first review us,” Kelley said in 1991, when “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country” was released. “We’ve heard it a hundred times, that Bill’s getting fat and I’m looking like death.” At the time, Kelley was 71, Shatner and Nimoy both 60.

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Elaine Woo is a Los Angeles native who has written for her hometown paper since 1983. She covered public education and filled a variety of editing assignments before joining “the dead beat” – news obituaries – where she has produced artful pieces on celebrated local, national and international figures, including Norman Mailer, Julia Child and Rosa Parks. She left The Times in 2015.

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The Best of Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy

'I told you people, I don't need a doctor. Damn it, I am a doctor.'

StarTrek.com

Karl Urban and I have something in common; we were both born on June 7. However, considering that Urban has contributed much more to the Star Trek franchise than I have, let us focus on his accomplishments.

Faced with inheriting DeForest Kelley's beloved role as Dr. Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy in 2009, Urban expertly tackled the daunting task by crafting a persona that harkened back to Kelley's creation and infused the ship's surgeon with the New Zealander's own charm and acting talents.

With three films set in the Kelvin Timeline under his belt, Urban has gifted fans with scene-stealing humor and an array of memorable, character-defining moments.

Star Trek (2009)

" i told you people, i don't need a doctor. damn it, i am a doctor. ".

What better way to introduce Karl Urban's Bones to the galaxy than with a clever riff on the classic "I'm a doctor, not a..." catch phrase ? The cantankerous encounter with a Starfleet officer aboard a shuttlecraft introduced McCoy's aviophobia, reminiscent of Prime McCoy 's distaste for transporters and his irritable (and bearded!) disposition as he arrived on the U.S.S. Enterprise in Star Trek: The Motion Picture . Urban made an excellent first impression on audiences...

" I may throw up on you. "

... which continued throughout his initial conversation with James T. Kirk . Despite his argumentative state, McCoy quickly established a cordial repertoire with Kirk. Urban superbly blended a colorful description of stellar perils with a generally welcoming attitude toward the younger cadet. The conversation's easy flow foreshadowed the lifelong friendship that ultimately emerged during their tenure at Starfleet Academy.

Star Trek Into Darkness

" you just stunned our ride ".

As usual, Kirk's fondness for improvisation spelled certain doom for McCoy's well-prepared exit strategy on Nibiru. The doctor's annoyance swiftly subsided as the furious natives pursuing the captain sprinted closer. Leonard's loyalty overrode his analytical mind, sending the doctor on a frantic footrace that ended with an unwelcome plunge over a cliff's edge into Nibiran waters. This brief scene demonstrated McCoy's willingness to follow Kirk's lead, regardless of the unpleasant consequences that often arose.

" I once performed an emergency c-section on a pregnant Gorn. "

Granting Bones and Dr. Carol Marcus their own scene on a planetoid in Klingon space provided an interesting dynamic, one not possible with the typical Kirk/McCoy pairing. Bones' transparent flirtations contrasted superbly with Marcus' calm professionalism, leaving the chief surgeon's commentary about his medical exploits to fall on uninterested ears.

Nevertheless, as the situation transitioned into a dire plight to prevent a torpedo from exploding, the doctors demonstrated their selfless natures as they proved willing to sacrifice themselves in order to save one another.

" Oh, don't be so melodramatic. You were barely dead ."

McCoy's flippant remark downplayed the relief he felt upon seeing his captain return to consciousness following a deadly encounter with the Enterprise 's warp core. Of course, McCoy's cool exterior evaporated when Kirk attributed his resurrection to Spock 's victorious brawl with Khan . Normally tolerant of Jim's remarks, Bones clearly drew the line when it came to giving Spock sole credit for Kirk's recovery. While brief, the trio's interaction in the hospital perfectly summarized their complex friendship's essence.

Star Trek Beyond

" you know me, mr. sensitive. ".

Dr. McCoy's aptitude for assessing Kirk's state of mind allowed him to offer a comforting ear when the captain expressed melancholy over the anniversary honoring both his birth and his father's death. Bones perceived Kirk's self-doubt as a malady that required treatment from a physician and a friend. The doctor's use of alcohol to spark the conversation paralleled his Prime counterpart's Romulan Ale delivery to a pensive Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

" Feeling philosophical, huh? "

Star Trek Beyond scribes Simon Pegg and Doug Jung brilliantly chose to pair Dr. McCoy with Spock following the Enterprise 's destruction at Altamid. This decision, along with masterful performances from Urban and Zachary Quinto, rewarded fans with a heartfelt scene that memorialized Ambassador Spock 's passing. The rare moment of raw emotion between the two began to uncover their mutual respect, setting the stage for their relationship's continued development throughout the film's remaining acts.

" You gave your girlfriend a tracking device? "

Leave it to Bones to break a situation down to its bare components. During the search for Uhura , Sulu and the Enterprise' s surviving crew, Spock surmised that their colleagues could be found by configuring the U.S.S. Franklin 's sensors to identify the Vulcan mineral vokaya.

In addition to fashionably adorning a necklace that Spock had bestowed upon Uhura, vokaya emitted innocuous, yet detectable, radiation. By describing the jewelry as a tracking device, McCoy secured a minor victory in his ongoing verbal sparring match with Spock.

" I'll keep an eye on him ."

Spock's emphatic plea to join Kirk, McCoy and Jaylah on the away mission to rescue Uhura did not fall on deaf ears. Recognizing Spock's love for Nyota, Bones convinced Kirk to permit the injured Vulcan to accompany the team by assuring the captain that monitoring the science officer's condition presented no problems. This marked yet another evolutionary step in the increasing level of trust between Spock and McCoy.

" You really want to head back out there, huh? "

Bones' simple comment, made as Kirk and Spock looked out upon the U.S.S. Enterprise -A's newly constructed frame, resonated on two wavelengths. On one hand, the words represented McCoy's disdain for space exploration and a disbelief that his comrades wished to resume their journey. On the other, the rhetorical question signified Bones' resignation to the notion that he would continue to stand by his friends and tend to their medical needs on their trek through the stars.

This article was originally published on January 4, 2019.

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Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

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Remembering “Bones” From Star Trek– Actor DeForest Kelley Passed 22 Years Ago From Stomach Cancer SHARE

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Remembering “Bones” From Star Trek– Actor DeForest Kelley Passed 22 Years Ago From Stomach Cancer

Remembering DeForest Kelly

• DeForest Kelly, the original Dr. Leonard McCoy of  Star Trek,  passed away 22 years ago due to a terminal stomach cancer diagnosis.
• If diagnosed at an early stage, stomach cancer is quite treatable (with a five-year survival rate of around 68%), usually with surgery and chemotherapy. When diagnosed in later stages, however, it becomes much harder to treat and is usually considered incurable.
• Recognizing symptoms of stomach cancer can be extremely tricky. The most common symptom is mild pain that could be easily mistaken for indigestion. Possible other symptoms include loss of appetite, heartburn, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and bloating.

Related: 5 Life Lessons We Learned From Mister Rogers, Who Died 18 Years Ago From Stomach Cancer

Related: New Hope For Stomach Cancer: Immunotherapy Drug Opdivo Now Approved As a First Treatment

“ He knew they would flood him with cards and letters , and he always answered personally when anyone wrote to him, but knew he wouldn't be able to respond to them all,” Smith told The Spectrum. “He was still receiving a lot of mail so I suggested sending out a form letter, but he said 'absolutely not' and continued to sign photos as long as he could. He never had an assistant because Carolyn always helped him.”

Cancer survivor Lillian Kreppel explains how to talk to loved ones about cancer

Understanding Stomach Cancer

In the beginning stages, stomach cancer (also known as gastric cancer) often does not cause many symptoms, making it difficult to identify early. The most common symptom is mild pain that could be easily mistaken for indigestion. Possible other symptoms include loss of appetite, heartburn, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and bloating. But plenty of other health problems can cause these same symptoms, so testing is needed to determine the cause.

Related: Floss Today to Slash Your Chances of Stomach and Esophageal Cancer Tomorrow

In most parts of the world, stomach cancers originate in the main part of the stomach, known as the stomach body. But in the U.S., it's more likely to affect the area where the esophagus meets the stomach. Diet and lifestyle variances around the world affect the prevalence and type of stomach cancer. Where the cancer occurs is one factor that contributes to treatment decisions. If diagnosed at an early stage, stomach cancer is quite treatable (with a five-year survival rate of around 68%), usually with surgery and chemotherapy. When diagnosed in later stages, however, it becomes much harder to treat and is usually considered incurable.

Two-time cancer survivor Marc Futterweit encourages men to not ignore symptoms and speak up if they feel like something is wrong

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Leonard 'Bones' McCoy Was the True Heart of Star Trek

When most people think of Star Trek , they of course think of Kirk and Spock . This isn’t surprising, as they were the star and the break-out character of the series, but it’s easy to forget that they were two members of a triumvirate that made up the essence of the show. Ship’s doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy was the third, and just as integral in making Star Trek a joy to watch.

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While Spock was all cold logic and Kirk was fiery passion, Bones was the heart of the Enterprise crew. He was the one who made the plea to do the right thing, who reminded the others of the potential cost of obeying logic or the Prime Directive. McCoy also was the true audience surrogate of the show, saying the things we yelled at the TV. The crew of the Enterprise did run into some completely ridiculous phenomena, and none of it would have worked if McCoy wasn’t there to say “Of course you save their lives, you idiots!” and “How in the universe is this happening to us?”

What makes Bones so fascinating is that he clearly didn’t want to be there. He wasn’t a full believer in the Starfleet mission. He hated space and ships and Starfleet, but he went out there and did his job every single time, no matter what insanity he encountered. Remember “The Devil in the Dark?” Can you imagine starting out life as a doctor in your home state and then finding yourself being asked to treat this?

McCoy complained, but he did it. Because he was a doctor and that was his job. And Kirk ordered him to. McCoy’s history isn’t epic and tragic like Kirk’s or unique like Spock’s. Which is why he, despite being an actual genius, insisted over and over that he was just a country doctor.

And when I say McCoy complained, I mean he complained all the time. About everything, but mostly Spock. Just think about how much life Star Trek would have lost without Bones for Kirk to talk to or for Spock to spar with:

Spock: I’m happy the affair is over. A most annoying emotional episode. McCoy: Smack right in the old heart. Oh, I’m sorry. [pointing to his side] In your case, it would be about here. Spock: The fact that my internal arrangement differs from yours, Doctor, pleases me no end.

(I would literally watch Spock and McCoy trade barbs over any other duo in all of Star Trek ’s 50 years.)

In between insults, grumpiness, and straight-up bitching, McCoy was also responsible for delivering messages about the human condition more than anyone else on the show. Kirk had the mission, Spock his logic, but what McCoy cared about was his patients—and that made him closer to people than he was to anything else.

One of Star Tre k’s primary messages is about the importance of the balance within ourselves. (It’s why several episodes revolve around characters splitting into two halves.) McCoy was an integral part of that equation for TOS, just like DeForest Kelley was integral is making Bones the perfect mix of grumpy and compassionate, prickly but still so essentially humane.

Kelley may not have received the same level of fame as William Shatner or Leonard Nimoy, and Bones might not have gotten the flashiest scenes. But Dr. McCoy was still the heart of the whole show, and it would have never taken off without him. Bones may not have wanted to be in space at all, but thank goodness he was.

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He reprised the role in the video game Star Trek , and appeared on card #35, titled Recruit L. McCoy, card #55, titled Cadet L. McCoy, card #82, titled Medical Officer L. McCoy, and card #98, titled Chief Medical Officer L. McCoy, of the 2013 virtual collectible card battle game Star Trek: Rivals .

Outside of Star Trek , Urban is probably best known for his role as Billy Butcher in the Amazon TV series The Boys , which also stars Jack Quaid and featured Urban's Star Trek co-star Simon Pegg in a recurring role. He is also known for his portrayal of Éomer in the second and third installments of Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, The Two Towers and The Return of the King .

He is also played notable supporting roles in such films as The Chronicles of Riddick , The Bourne Supremacy and RED and lead roles in films such as Pathfinder and Dredd .

In 2009, Urban was part of the Star Trek ensemble which received a Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award nomination in the category Best Ensemble and won a Boston Society of Film Critics Award in the category Best Ensemble Cast. He shared these awards with Chris Pine , Zachary Quinto , Zoe Saldana , John Cho , Leonard Nimoy , Simon Pegg , Anton Yelchin , Ben Cross , Eric Bana , Clifton Collins, Jr. , Bruce Greenwood , Jennifer Morrison , Chris Hemsworth , Winona Ryder , Faran Tahir , and Tyler Perry . In 2010, Urban was part of the ensemble which received a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award nomination in the category Best Acting Ensemble for Star Trek . In addition, Urban won the Constellation Award for Best Male Performance in a 2009 Science Fiction Film, TV Movie or Miniseries for his work on Star Trek .

Urban has said his favorite Star Trek film is Star Trek: The Motion Picture . [1]

Early life and New Zealand career [ ]

Urban was born in Wellington, New Zealand as Karl-Heinz Urban and was educated at St. Mark's Church School in his hometown and later attended Wellington College, where he began to pursue acting. After graduating from secondary school, Urban won the role of homosexual paramedic Jamie Forrest on the hit New Zealand television series Shortland Street . He appeared on the show during the 1993-1994 season. He then attended the Victoria University of Wellington, but left after one year to continue his acting career.

Shortly after leaving Victoria University, he began appearing on the hit series Xena: Warrior Princess and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys , both of which were filmed in his native New Zealand. Between 1996 and 2001, Urban appeared in twelve episodes of Xena and two episodes of Hercules , playing four different characters, primarily those of Cupid and Julius Caesar. He even played a character named Kor, not to be confused with the Klingon of the same name . Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman , the writers and two of the executive producers of Star Trek , were writers and co-executive producers on both Hercules and Xena .

Urban's first major film role was in the thriller Heaven , which was filmed in New Zealand and which opened in the United States in 1999. He continued working in New Zealand, starring in the 2000 films The Irrefutable Truth About Demons , for which he received a New Zealand Screen Award nomination as Best Actor, and The Price of Milk . His performance in the latter film won Urban acclaim as well as a nomination from the New Zealand Film and TV Awards.

In 2000, Urban was cast as Éomer for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, which was filmed in New Zealand. Among the other Star Trek alumni who appeared in these films were Brad Dourif and John Rhys-Davies . With his prominent roles in the Hercules/Xena and LOTR series, in 2009 he would be interviewed in Reclaiming the Blade , a documentary, narrated by Rhys-Davies, about swordsmanship in Hollywood.

In 2006, he played a New Zealand police officer in Out of the Blue based on the infamous 1990 Aramoana Massacre, which won him a New Zealand Film Award in 2008.

International career [ ]

Before he was even cast as McCoy in Star Trek , Urban already had one connection with Star Trek: The Original Series : he co-starred with Walter Koenig (the original Pavel Chekov ) in an unsold science fiction pilot called The Privateers . Several other Star Trek alumni appeared in this movie, including Jack Donner , Ray Proscia , Benjamin W.S. Lum , and Urban's Star Trek co-star, David Jean Thomas .

Urban's first Hollywood production was the 2002 horror thriller Ghost Ship , although the film itself was shot primarily in Australia. Following the releases of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Urban had supporting roles in two 2004 summer blockbusters: The Chronicles of Riddick and The Bourne Supremacy . In the former, he played the role of Vaako and worked with Roger Cross ; he reprised this role in the sequel, Riddick , in 2013. In The Bourne Supremacy he played the Russian assassin Kirill, who was responsible for killing Jason Bourne's girlfriend, Marie. Bourne was played by Matt Damon , who was approached for a role in Star Trek .

Afterward, Urban played the lead role in the 2005 adaptation of the video game Doom , opposite Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson . He then played the lead in the Viking adventure film Pathfinder , in which he worked alongside Clancy Brown . Urban returned to his native New Zealand to star in the 2006 crime drama Out of the Blue , which won him a New Zealand Film Award in the category Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Film. He then played the role of Woodrow Call in the CBS mini-series Comanche Moon (2008).

Urban starred in the 2009 crime drama Black Water Transit , in which he worked with Bill Cobbs . The following year, he was seen in the supporting role of CIA agent William Cooper in the hit action-comedy RED . He then played the vampire villain Black Hat in the action-fantasy film Priest , based on the comic book published by TokyoPop which centers on a war between Humans and vampires. This film also featured Madchen Amick , Alan Dale , Brad Dourif, and Christopher Plummer in the cast; Michael De Luca was one of the producers.

In 2012, Urban starred in the 2012 sci-fi action film Dredd , in which he played the eponymous role of Judge Dredd , based on the comic strip character of the same name. In 2013-14, Urban starred in the FOX science fiction series Almost Human , which was executive produced by J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk through their Bad Robot banner, however, the series got cancelled after only 13 episodes.

Urban then appeared in the thriller The Loft (2014), the fantasy film Pete's Dragon (2016), and the action film Acts of Vengeance (2017), and the Marvel superhero movie Thor: Ragnarok (2017, starring Chris Hemsworth and featuring Idris Elba , Benedict Cumberbatch , and the voice of Clancy Brown ).

Since 2019, Urban has been starring in the Amazon Prime satirical superhero series The Boys as Billy Butcher, leader of the eponymus vigilante group, alongside Jack Quaid , who co-stars as Hughie Campbell, Jr.

External links [ ]

• Karl Urban at StarTrek.com
• Karl Urban at the Internet Movie Database
• Karl Urban at the Tolkien Wiki
• Karl Urban at Wikipedia
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Star Trek: There's a Good Reason Kirk Calls McCoy 'Bones'

Star Trek's Leonard "Bones" McCoy had his nickname even before he was a character, and there's a fairly simple reason behind its origin.

Dr. Leonard McCoy forms the third part of Star Trek ’s “holy trinity,” along with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. He’s also the only one of the three with a nickname: “Bones,” a references to his role profession as a physician. The The 2009 film reboot was very specific about the origin of McCoy's nickname, but the original character never received an official explanation. It was part of the original concept of  Star Trek  – predating even the character of Leonard McCoy – and was another early sign of the kind of attention to detail that made the show a classic.

Roddenberry’s original pitch for the show included a specific reference to a doctor named “Bones.” It wasn’t Dr. McCoy, but instead Philip Boyce (played by veteran actor John Hoyt), who served under Christopher Pike in "The Cage," and who was replaced, along with most of the rest of the cast, for the show’s second pilot. Nevertheless, the nickname transferred over, and was used in almost every episode when Kirk referred to his chief medical officer. Clearly, it held some especial importance to creator Gene Roddenberry.

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“Bones” is short for “sawbones,” a term from the early 19th century that referred to a doctor’s often-gruesome practice of amputating injured limbs. The implications provide a great deal of character development in a single word. In the first place, it suggests the Enterprise’s mission is a dangerous one, akin to combat, and that the ship’s surgeon is there to repair injuries as much as study new diseases or find new medicines.

But it also suggests something about the character himself, a self-described “country doctor” who can be cantankerous and difficult at times. The “sawbones” name suggests a figure devoted to “practical” medicine, who does what works without necessarily following medical procedure. It’s very much in keeping with McCoy. In fact, before Star Trek , actor DeForest Kelley, like many of his fellow cast members, was largely known for his roles in Westerns ( Gunfight at the O.K. Corral , Warlock, Death Valley Days ), the predominant TV and film genre of the era. So, a gruff country doctor was certainly in keeping with his onscreen persona. And Roddenberry, who famously pitched Star Trek to NBC executives as " Wagon Train to the Stars," was no stranger to Westerns, having written for such TV series as Have Gun - Will Travel , Jefferson Drum and The Virginian .

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J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot was more explicit about the nickname, however. In a conversation with Kirk (Christopher Pine) on their way to Starfleet Academy, McCoy reveals the only reason he’s joining Starfleet is because he lost everything in a divorce. “All I got left is my bones,” he mutters before offering Kirk a drink. In the DVD commentary for the film, Abrams claims the moment was improvised by Karl Urban, a longtime Trek fan.

It’s unclear whether this explanation applies to the Prime Universe’s Bones, but it’s certainly in keeping with the character’s personality: contentious, passionate, grumpy, and forced into a vessel he considers less than safe by circumstance. Either way, it does the same job as the Prime Universe’s nickname by putting a human face on the character and allowing audience members to better identify with life aboard a 23rd century starship .

There is no official word on whether Boyce will appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , along with the rest of Pike’s crew, or whether the show will address his nickname of “Bones” if he does. Given how closely the name is associated with McCoy at this point, it seems unlikely. Roddenberry’s commitment to detail paid off in an iconic character, and the nickname remains an inseparable part of that package.

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DNA of DeForest Kelley, Dr. 'Bones' McCoy from 'Star Trek,' will fly to space with original cast on memorial spaceflight

Kelley's DNA will join Nichelle Nichols and others on this bold Celestis space mission

Last month we delivered news of an upcoming memorial space flight from the space burial firm Celestis that was going to be carrying the cremated remains and DNA of "Star Trek's" Nichelle Nichols, who died on July 30 at the ripe age of 89.

Now there's been word of another beloved " Star Trek " alumni hitching a ride aboard Celestis' remembrance Enterprise Flight along with other well-known deceased "Trek" luminaries as the reunion will now include the late DeForest Kelley's DNA. 

The Texas-based company provides respectful "memorial spaceflight services" for persons who hope to celebrate and honor the life of loved ones with an extraordinary off-Earth experience. 

On August 25 it was revealed that Nichelle Nichols was selected to fly on the first-ever Celestis deep space mission. Official announcements of Kelley’s addition were made on Thursday in honor of Star Trek Day .

“I donated the lock of hair so 'De' could join his shipmates on their eternal journey into interstellar space," said Kris M. Smith, Kelley's friend who submitted the DNA sample via a lock of his hair. "The mission just didn't feel complete without Dr. McCoy aboard. I think 'De' would have loved to 'go hopping galaxies' again with his cast and crew mates. So, "second star to the right and straight on 'til morning,” De! Loving you was easier than anything we will ever do again!"

Launching later this year inside United Launch Alliance 's appropriately named Vulcan Centaur rocket , Kelley's DNA will be accompanied by remains of Nichelle Nichols, "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, his wife Majel Barrett Roddenberry, "Star Trek" engineer James "Scotty" Doohan, and "2001: A Space Odyssey" VFX wizard Douglas Trumbull, among many others.

Kelley passed away on June 11, 1999 and made his debut on "Star Trek" in 1966 where he played  the irascible Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy on NBC's hit sci-fi series for three seasons and co-starred in six "Star Trek" feature films. Beyond his physician's duties aboard the USS Enterprise , Kelley was a distinguished Hollywood veteran of dozens of TV shows and films, especially westerns.

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— NASA celebrates the life and career of 'Star Trek' star Nichelle Nichols

— Documentary explores 'Star Trek,' Nichelle Nichols and NASA's 1970s astronaut search

— Nichelle Nichols, a 'Star Trek' icon, trailblazer and space advocate, dies at 89

"It's particularly notable that we announce DeForest Kelley's addition to our Enterprise Flight on Star Trek Day," said Charles M. Chafer Co-founder & CEO of Celestis, Inc. "No mission to deep space would be complete without a ship’s doctor."

Looking at the trajectory of this Enterprise Flight, the spacecraft will journey from 93 million miles to 186 million miles (150 million to 300 million kilometers) into deep space outside the Earth-moon system. The memorial mission will haul more than 150 flight capsules containing cremated ash remains, personal messages and greetings, and DNA samples from global clients on a timeless odyssey into space. 

Besides shuttling this precious cargo out beyond Earth orbit, the primary purpose of the Vulcan flight will be directing the Pittsburgh aerospace company Astrobotic's Peregrine lunar lander in the direction of the moon . The Vulcan Centaur's upper stage will continue into deep space, entering an orbit around the sun , becoming humanity's most remote outpost, to be renamed Enterprise Station.

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Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

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NCIS Just Wasted A Fan-Favorite Star Trek Actor

Contains spoilers for "NCIS" Season 21 Episode 8 -- "Heartless"

"NCIS" has had its share of guest stars whom fans might have forgotten appeared on the show.  While this is typically not the series' fault, the Season 21 episode "Heartless" happens to feature a "Star Trek" legend who was used to less than proper effect, leading to a forgettable appearance.

That was Tim Russ as cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Erik Harper in the episode, but his time on-screen is remarkably brief. He's seen in a single scene at the beginning of "Heartless" as he trains a team of first years to save their patient's life. They fail, and when they take a break to regroup and he can order them dinner, a group of masked men confronts Dr. Harper. He is kidnapped, driven 200 miles away, and killed. The rest of the case involves tracking down Harper's killers, resulting in Alden Parker (Gary Cole) and Harper's colleague Dr. Clara Logan (Christina Kirk) ending up in close quarters when the thieves come after them. This teases a new possible romance for Parker, and Harper's death is the catalyst.

Though the appearance is decidedly a pivotal one that gets the episode's plot going, for a talent of Russ' caliber, it's quite a waste. Russ is perhaps best known as Tuvok on "Star Trek: Voyager,"  but he's also popped up in two different branches of the "NCIS" world.

Read more: The Real Reason Zack Addy Left Bones

Tim Russ Has Appeared In An NCIS Universe Program Before

Tim Russ has appeared in three episodes across multiple "NCIS" shows, playing a different character in each of them. His first time was in Season 3's "Jeopardy," where Ziva David (Cote de Pablo) is accused of murder after a suspect dies in her custody. But while the team commences investigating the death, more bodies connected to Ziva begin to pile up around them. Later, NCIS Director Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) is kidnapped. Russ plays Jerry Kemper, who works security at a car rental service connected to a high-end hotel where Shepard has been staying; he's there when Tony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) finds the body of another person in the director's trunk.

Russ appears in "Ties that Bind," from Season 4 of "NCIS: New Orleans." He plays Felix Hill, the proprietor of a jazz club called Delilah's, where Dwayne Pride's (Scott Bakula) mother performed when he was a child. Memories complicate Pride's investigation of Hill and his daughter, who are tangled up in the death of a petty officer in the Navy, as well as in the local drug trade. It's the meatiest role Russ has been given in the "NCIS" universe so far. Hopefully, his next time on will be as complex as his time on "New Orleans."

Read the original article on Looper

Screen Rant

Star trek’s 10 most evil mirror universe characters.

Star Trek's Mirror Universe is home to the most evil versions of our favorite Starfleet heroes, but which ones are the best of the worst?

• The Mirror Universe boasts evil versions of beloved Star Trek characters — Mirror Spock, Mirror Sulu, Regent Worf, & more stand out.
• Evil Mirror Universe variants like Mirror Kirk and Intendant Kira showcase the dark side of well-loved Star Trek characters in a compelling way.
• Mirror Universe characters like Emperor Georgiou, Captain Killy, and Dr. Phlox display extreme evil actions, making them the "worst of the worst."

Star Trek 's Mirror Universe is home to the most evil versions of some of the franchise's most beloved heroes, but which ones are the best of the worst? First introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 10, "Mirror, Mirror", the Mirror Universe is the Federation's darkest timeline, where humanity embraced brutal fascism over peace, love and understanding. Although the Mirror Universe only appeared in one episode of TOS , bearded Mirror Spock (Leonard Nimoy) left a huge impression on popular culture, leading to multiple returns to the dark timeline and its evil alternates in later Star Trek TV shows .

Arguably, the most evil Mirror Universe character was Mirror Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell), who met the visiting Vulcan delegation with a shotgun blast . Cochrane's murderous first contact established how the Terran Empire would go on to subjugate countless species in Star Trek 's Mirror Universe. However, it was just the human Star Trek heroes that had evil Mirror Universe variants , the franchise's best-loved Bajoran, Klingon, and Cardassian characters also had their dark opposites. In a whole universe of evil Star Trek characters, it can be hard to narrow down exactly which ones are the best at being the worst.

Star Trek: Voyager & DS9 Crossed Over In The Mirror Universe

10 mirror hikaru sulu (george takei), "you will also appear to have killed him after a fierce battle. regrettable, but it will leave me in command.".

Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) was thrown into the complicated power dynamics of the Mirror Universe when he and his away team were stranded there in "Mirror, Mirror". After preventing Mirror Chekov (Walter Koenig) from assassinating him, Prime Kirk then had to contend with an attempt on his life from Mirror Hikaru Sulu (George Takei). Sulu versus Kirk was the climax of "Mirror, Mirror", as the ISS Enterprise's lieutenant tried to murder his way to the center seat.

Star Trek: The Original Series

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Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew - Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) - with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.

Mirror Sulu was, predictably, a more cruel and bitter version of his Prime Universe counterpart. Lt. Nyota Uhura (Nichele Nichols) got a sense of Mirror Sulu's harsher side when she had to play on his infatuation with her Terran counterpart. Although he wasn't the worst of the worst of Star Trek 's Mirror Universe characters, Mirror Sulu is a great example of the dark side of some of the franchise's best loved characters . However, despite being cruel, conniving, and a stone-cold killer, Sulu was bested by Prime Kirk in a final showdown.

9 Regent Worf (Michael Dorn)

"this time, i will deal with the rebels myself.".

Regent Worf (Michael Dorn) was the ruler of Star Trek 's Mirror Universe during the 24th century, so he was obviously an evil guy. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine revealed that the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance enslaved all Terrans and Vulcans in various regions of their territory. As the Regent, Worf oversaw the violent oppression of these slaves throughout his reign . The Regent relied on his Intendants to keep the Terrans under his heel, and was enraged by the loss of the Terok Nor space station .

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Worf doled out cruel and degrading punishments to those that failed him, including Mirror Elim Garak (Andrew Robinson) who was forced to wear a dog collar for losing Terok Nor to the rebels. However, as evil as Regent Worf may have been, he was presented as a fairly ineffective leader whose empire was crumbling around him . He suffered two embarassing losses in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , at the hands of Prime Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the ISS Defiant, and then even got duped by Prime Quark (Armin Shimerman) and Rom (Max Grodenchik) who installed a faulty cloaking device aboard his flagship.

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8 mirror dr. phlox (john billingsley), "will you kindly die".

The Mirror Universe version of the avuncular Dr. Phlox (John Billingsley) was a sadist who specialized in torture . Phlox conducted horrific experiments on living beings in pursuit of medical advancement, and served as the chief medical officer aboard the ISS Enterprise NX-01. Phlox specialized in concocting new means of torture to punish the enemies of the Terran Empire, leading to the creation of the Agony booth. This technology conducted a synaptic scan of any humanoid, so that it could stimulate every available pain center, keeping its victims in a state of constant agony.

The Agony booth or "Agonizer" was used across the Terran Empire, having been seen in Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Mirror, Mirror", and the Mirror Universe episodes of Star Trek: Discovery .

Despite being an evil sadist, Dr. Phlox was eventually convinced to join the attempt to stop Mirror Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) from using the USS Defiant to become Terran Emperor. However, as ever in Star Trek 's Mirror Universe, Phlox's actions were driven by self-interest more than moral duty. Phlox only agreed to stop Archer because he believed that, by saving the life of the incumbent Terran Emperor, he would be rewarded with multiple concubines and an impressive new medical facility .

7 Mirror Commander Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula)

"more like a federation of fools".

In Star Trek: Enterprise 's Mirror Universe, Jonathan Archer was still a Commander, serving alongside Captain Maximillian Forrest (one of Vaughn Armstrong's multiple Star Trek roles ). Archer's feelings of inadequacy compared to Forrester led him to commit some reckless and evil acts. After stealing the USS Defiant, Archer wanted to gain the respect of his crew, and so launched an assault on a Gorn foreman that had remained aboard the ship. Archer's attack on the Gorn resulted in many of his MACO troopers being killed, and also left Major Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating) seriously injured.

Mirror Archer is the earliest Star Trek captain to face a Gorn in any timeline.

Mirror Archer was insane, taunted by an illusion of his superior Prime Counterpart, who drove him to more and more reckless actions. Archer murdered Admiral Black (Gregory Itzin) and assumed command of the USS Defiant, with which he intended to stage a military coup. Archer became increasingly unhinged, and ordered the deaths of the Defiant's alien crew members, except for Dr. Phlox. Archer was eventually stopped from assuming control of the Terran Emperor, putting an end to further evil acts from the Enterprise captain.

Enterprise’s Mirror Universe Episodes Marked The Sad End Of The Star Trek Prequel

6 emperor philippa georgiou (michelle yeoh), "i'm extremely wicked, even for a terran.".

Star Trek: Discovery 's Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) has certainly gone some way to redeeming her actions in the Mirror Universe. However, it might take a lot more than ending the Federation-Klingon War to wash away the sins of Georgiou from her reign as Terran Emperor. Georgiou rendered the Klingon home world Qo'noS uninhabitable, subjugated the Betazoids and destroyed Mintaka III. Emperor Georgiou also launched a bombardment against the Talosians for trying to trick her with their mental projections .

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Georgiou was less xenophobic than her predecessors, happily accepting the native titles of the Vulcans, Andorians and Klingons that she ruled over. It was perhaps this openness with "lesser" species that made her opponents see Emperor Georgiou as a weak leader. The failed coup against Emperor Georgiou led to her traveling to the Prime Universe, where she now lives as a Section 31 operative. It's said that the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie will see Georgiou confront the sins of her past, continuing the redemptive journey she began in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 .

5 Captain Sylvia "Killy" (Mary Wiseman)

"i'm gonna have nightmares about myself now.".

Captain Sylvia "Killy" (Mary Wiseman) was the captain of the ISS Discovery, and a close colleague of Emperor Philippa Georgiou . Tilly rose to her position by murdering the previous captain while they were recovering from an illness, which is one of the most ruthless in a long list of Mirror Universe murders. As captain of the ISS Discovery, the Mirror Universe version of Tilly was just as responsible for the subjugation of the Betazoids and devastation of Mintaka III. However, unlike Georgiou, Mirror Tilly, who had earned the nickname "Killy" never got a chance to redeem herself later in Star Trek: Discovery , nor would she likely want one .

Mary Wiseman's character, Lt. Sylvia Tilly was named after the niece of Star Trek: Discovery producer Gretchen J. Berg.

The Mirror Universe Tilly was terrifying to her Prime Universe counterpart, who worried that she'd have nightmares about herself. With such nicknames as "The Slayer of Sorna Prime" and "The Witch of Wurna Prime", it's no wonder that Tilly was so unnerved by her Mirror Universe counterpart. "Killy" was the darker, more ambitious version of Star Trek: Discovery 's Tilly, and she had an impressive, if terrifying list of accolades;

• Medal of Valor
• Master of Poisons Medal
• 50 Kills Medal

Star Trek: Discovery Proves Starfleet Academy Show Doesn’t Make Sense Without Tilly

4 empress hoshi sato (linda park), "you're speaking with empress sato. prepare to receive instructions.".

The Mirror Universe version of Hoshi Sato (Linda Park) from Star Trek: Enterprise was an incredibly smart woman who knew which powerful man to throw in her lot with. Effectively playing off Mirror Archer and Mirror Forrest against each other, Hoshi placed herself in a position where she could use the USS Defiant to hold Earth to ransom. Staying close to Archer as his lover during his plot to steal the technologically superior USS Defiant from the Tholians, she waited until the time was right to depose the ambitious leader.

Mirror Archer ordered that any information about the Federation held on the USS Defiant's systems be erased so as not to inspire a rebellion against the Terran Empire, a reference to Mirror Spock being inspired by Prime Kirk's tales of the Federation.

Hoshi seduced Mirror Archer's personal security officer, Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) to help her with a poisoning plot. Killing Archer with poisoned champagne, Hoshi became commanding officer of the USS Defiant. She then holds the entire planet Earth to ransom with the USS Defiant in a hostile takeover of the entire Terran Empire. Hoshi's military coup was one of the boldest moves achieved by any of Star Trek 's Mirror Universe variants .

3 Intendant Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor)

"i have no taste for violence. i regret using it even when it seems necessary.".

Intendant Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) is the only character to feature in all five of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Mirror Universe episodes . Mirror Kira was a fascinating character who ruled Terok Nor at the behest of the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance. Although she was very clearly evil, Intendant Kira Nerys was less brutal than some of her Mirror Universe contemporaries, preferring instead to use manipulation and her sexuality to get what she wanted. That being said, the Intendant regularly veered from ordering the execution of Terran Rebels to subjugating others as her personal slaves to her every whim.

Nana Visitor once described Intendant Kira as such: " I t's very much me. I mean, I hope I don't send people to their deaths or anything like that, but yeah, that is more of who I am ."

The Intendant was so vain that she was even attracted to Major Kira from the prime Star Trek timeline . As with many Mirror Universe variants, Intendant Kira Nerys was adept at self-preservation, and she would easily stab her allies in the back if it saved her life. For example, Intendant Kira murders the Mirror Universe's Nog (Aron Eisenberg) even though the young Ferengi had freed her from prison. In her final Star Trek: Deep Space Nine appearance, the Intendant orchestrates the sabotage of Regent Worf's flagship, leaving behind the ruler of the Mirror Universe to face the punishment of the Terran Rebellion .

Major Kira's Best Star Trek DS9 Episodes

2 mirror captain james t. kirk (william shatner), "has the whole galaxy gone crazy".

The majority of Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 20, "Mirror, Mirror" has Prime Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) fill in for his Terran counterpart. This means that it's hard to get a handle on how truly evil Mirror Universe Kirk actually was. However, there is a staggering list of crimes attributed to the Terran Empire's Captain James T. Kirk in "Mirror, Mirror". As well as murdering Captain Christopher Pike to assume command of the ISS Enterprise, he used stolen alien technology, the Tantalus field, to vaporize his enemies.

William Shatner had pitched the return of Mirror Kirk to Rick Berman as a potential episode of Star Trek: Enterprise season 4.

Mirror Kirk is also said to have executed 5000 colonists on Vega IX, and also destroyed the home planet of the Gorlans' . None of these genocidal actions are depicted on-screen in Star Trek: The Original Series , as the real Mirror Kirk is largely confined to a cell aboard the Prime Universe's USS Enterprise. However, there's no question that the Mirror Universe's Captain Kirk was one of the very worst of the worst of Star Trek 's Mirror Universe characters.

1 Mirror Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs)

"i have been to another universe and back. you think i'd come all this way without a plan".

Budding Terran Emperor, Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) is the greatest Star Trek: Discovery villain and the most evil of Mirror Universe characters. Following his unsuccessful coup against Emperor Philippa Georgiou, Lorca fled to the Prime Universe, where he assumed the identity of his counterpart. This was one of Lorca's most evil moves, as he infiltrated his Prime Counterpart's life and career, including his romantic relationship with Admiral Katrina Cornwall (Jayne Brook). Not only did Mirror Lorca embark on a sexual relationship on false pretenses, he " groomed " Mirror Michael Burnham, proving that he was a sexual deviant as well as a brutal oppressor .

Jason Isaacs originally wanted to turn down the role of Captain Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery out of respect for Star Trek: The Original Series .

As well as his sexual crimes, Lorca was responsible for killing his entire crew by destroying the USS Buran on arrival in the Prime Universe. While Lorca claimed he was saving them from the brutal treatment they'd receive as prisoners of the Klingon Empire, his actions elsewhere suggest he was simply removing an obstacle to his goals . By inveigling his way into Starfleet and the USS Discovery, Lorca then goes back to the Mirror Universe to launch another attempt to seize the throne of the Terran Empire. Lorca's wholesale murder of his Mirror Universe crew, his manipulation of the women in his life, and the betrayal of the USS Discovery crew make him the Star Trek character with the blackest of black hearts.

All episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Star Trek: Discovery are available to stream on Paramount+.