maltz star trek

The Star Trek Villain You Likely Don't Remember Night Court's John Larroquette Played

"Star Trek" has had its share of memorable guest stars and character actors over the years. But thanks to some excellent prosthetics, there's one TV star appearance as a Klingon that even some of the most devoted of Trekkies might have missed. Fortunately, the actor himself reminded the world of his Klingon warrior days in a recent reprisal of the role.

In a call back to his appearance in the 1984 film "Star Trek III: The Search For Spock," "Night Court" star John Larroquette appeared in full Klingon regalia for the sitcom's 2024 episode "Wrath of Comic-Con." In the episode, Larroquette's assistant D.A. Dan Fielding cosplays as a Klingon while attending Comic-Con, at one point saying the look feels familiar and at another introducing himself as "Maltz." Both the appearance and name are a reference to Larroquette's "Star Trek" character, Maltz.

Appearing in "The Search for Spock," Maltz is a Klingon officer serving under Commander Kruge (played by Christopher Lloyd). In the film, the Klingon crew is thwarted in their efforts to obtain the Federation's Genesis device. The only remaining survivor of his crew, Maltz is ultimately taken into Federation custody at the end of the film.

John Larroquette loved playing Maltz

Despite the lengthy makeup application process, Larroquette would later say he truly enjoyed his time spent decked out in Klingon ridges and full warrior's regalia. In an interview with Starlog Magazine (via Memory Alpha ), Larroquette said he would be eager to wear those ridges again if the opportunity arose, calling the role "fun, a lot of fun." Larroquette continued, "I just kept telling [...] [Kirk actor] Bill Shatner–since I was the last surviving Klingon, I smell spin-off." Jokingly, he added, "I could take this to a series. Maltz starts off and he has a little hot dog stand on Yakka III out there in the Doofus Galaxy." The Emmy Award-winning actor went on to claim that after the film's ending left Maltz stuck in a Federation prison, the Klingon's plight led to "Free Maltz" campaign led by a group of New Zealand Trekkies calling themselves the "Klingon Occupation Force."

According to Larroquette, no one had to twist his arm to get him on the Klingon bridge crew. As the actor told Starlog, "I was just called and asked. And I ran." The "Night Court" star added, "I guess the idea of playing a Klingon was real fascinating to me." To help prepare for the role, he read lines with Leonard Nimoy, who Larroquette said "knows that form inside and out, obviously, and since I had never played a Klingon before, it was sort of like, 'No, this is how Klingons talk.'" Larroquette's latest appearance as Maltz opens up the possibility that fans will get to see a second reprisal on "Star Trek: Lower Decks" or "Strange New Worlds." 

John Larroquette Played A Star Trek Klingon Again, 40 Years After He Last Suited Up

John Larroquette famously won Emmys for playing Dan Fielding on "Night Court" in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988. In 1989, he felt that he was hogging the spotlight and asked that his name be withdrawn from awards consideration. He's that good. In 1994, he was nominated for another Emmy for "The John Larroquette Show" and then won his fifth one for his work on "The Practice." In 2002, he was nominated for "The Practice" again. Larroquette has also long been beloved by the horror film community, as he provided the opening narration for Tobe Hooper's 1974 classic "The Texas Chain Saw Massacre." Loyal to the series, Laroquette likewise narrated the 2003 "Texas Chainsaw" remake, its 2006 sequel, and the 2022 "Chainsaw" reboot.

For Trekkies, Larroquette might be recognizable as the Klingon officer Maltz, one of Kruge's men in 1983's "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." Maltz was the Klingon who accidentally beamed Admiral Kirk (William Shatner) onto his Bird of Prey, allowing the Starfleet officer to take over his ship. Maltz expected to be killed for his incompetence, but Kirk, being merciful, chose to have Matlz imprisoned instead. Quoted in  a 1990 issue of Starlog Magazine , Larroquette said that he merely received a call from director Leonard Nimoy, having made it clear that he wanted to be in a "Star Trek" movie. He felt he wasn't terribly challenged as an actor playing Maltz, but he still had a great deal of fun.

Perhaps as an homage to his participation in "Star Trek III," the January 30, 2024 episode of the newly revived "Night Court" — called "Wrath of Comic-Con" — features scenes of Laroquette, 40 years after the fact, dressed as a Klingon once again.

The Wrath of Comic-Con

The official synopsis of "The Wrath of Comic-Con" is as follows:

"When Dan finds a potential love connection with a woman who has sworn to destroy him, Dan takes drastic measures, which include fully embracing the wondrous world of Comic-Con. Meanwhile, Abby is forced to confront the fact that she might actually dislike someone when a childhood 'friend' (Jessica St. Clair) comes to visit."

Dan Fielding is, for those unlucky enough to have never seen "Night Court," a devious cad, constantly looking out for number one and eager to scheme and connive to get what he wants. It's not out of character for him to dress in full Klingon regalia to dupe a potential paramour. Whether or not he calls himself "Maltz" while dressed as a Klingon remains to be seen. In the same Starlog issue mentioned above, Larroquette joked about returning to play Maltz in a "Star Trek" spinoff series, saying that "Maltz starts off and he has a little hot dog stand on Yakka III out there in the Doofus Galaxy."

The "Star Trek" connections to "Night Court" don't stop with Larroquette. Brent Spiner , who played the android Lieutenant Commander Data on "Star Trek: The Next Generation," also played Bob Wheeler, a recurring unlucky rube, on "Night Court." Bob Wheeler, always seen with his wife June (Annie O'Donnell), appeared in six episodes of the series, each time telling a sob story even more pathetic than the last. When Spiner landed the "Star Trek" gig, he stopped appearing on "Night Court."

Spiner, as far as anyone knows, has given no word as to whether or not he will return to the revived "Night Court."

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Maltz was a male Klingon who lived in the 23rd and 24th centuries . He was from the House of Grokan . ( TNG - The Genesis Wave novel : Book One )

• 2 Alternate timeline
• 3.1 Connections
• 4 External link

As a young man, Maltz became an officer in the Klingon Defense Force . In the year 2273 he was the second officer of the IKS Ghargh during its mission to Cragon V . ( TOS novel : Home Is the Hunter )

In 2285 , he was serving on board Commander Kruge 's bird-of-prey . When the ship was taken by then- Admiral James T. Kirk , Maltz was taken prisoner. ( TOS movie , novelization & comic adaptation : Star Trek III: The Search for Spock )

Pavel Chekov told Maltz on Vulcan that he would be extradited to the Klingon Empire . He was released from the ship's brig and remanded to Vulcan authorities. ( TOS comic : " The Needs of the One ")

It was believed after the incident that Maltz had committed suicide . ( TOS - Duty, Honor, Redemption novelization : Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home )

However, Maltz had survived as a prisoner of the Federation . During his imprisonment, Maltz assisted Federation linguists in learning even more about the Klingon language . ( ST reference : The Klingon Dictionary )

In 2287 , Maltz testified at the trial of Captain Kirk. ( TOS comic : " Trial and Error! ")

Maltz eventually returned to the Klingon Empire. For many years he struggled with the shame of being defeated by Admiral Kirk. In 2376 , when the Genesis Wave was propelled through the Alpha Quadrant , Maltz emerged to help track the wave to its source, joining a Klingon-Federation crew where he served as first officer to Doctor Leah Brahms , who had impressed him with her courage while attempting to escape the first strike launched by the wave. Shortly before his death, he met Carol Marcus , the mother of David Marcus — who had been killed at the order of Kruge many years before. Maltz died holding Carol Marcus while the space station they were on self-destructed, ensuring that the knowledge of Genesis that Marcus had could never be used again. ( TNG - The Genesis Wave novels : Book One , Book Two )

Alternate timeline

In an alternate timeline created by Spock 's death in 2237 , Maltz was serving about the IKS Katai in 2285 . The ship's commanding officer Kruge frequently disparaged him for his perceived cowardice. In March 2285, Kruge instructed Maltz to break one of their captive David Marcus' fingers in order to elicit information about the Genesis Device but Maltz did not see the honour in torturing the human.

Two months later, David's father Admiral James T. Kirk and his former USS Enterprise crewmates captured the Katai and rescued David and his fellow captive Saavik. However, the Klingons briefly gained the upper hand when Maltz accessed the Katai 's weapon console and fired at the already damaged Enterprise 's warp core . Admiral Kirk then attempted to bring the Enterprise 's auxiliary power systems online and prevent a warp core breach. However, his efforts were unsuccessful and he was killed as a result of the ship's destruction. In retribution for the death of his friend and former commanding officer, Thelin vapourised Maltz. ( TOS - Myriad Universes novella : The Chimes at Midnight )

Connections

External link.

• Maltz article from Memory Alpha , the canon Star Trek wiki.