Crew Members
William Shatner
William Shatner has cultivated a career spanning over 50 years as an award-winning actor, director, producer, writer, recording artist, and horseman. He is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures and a major philanthropist.
His accomplishments in television, film, and stage would take a great deal of time and more space than allotted here.
In 1966, Shatner originated the role of “Captain James T. Kirk” in the television series Star Trek. The series spawned a feature film franchise where Shatner returned as Captain Kirk in seven of the Star Trek movies, one of which he directed.
Shatner played the title role in the hit television series T.J. Hooker before hosting television’s first reality-based series, Rescue 911.
He won Emmys and his first Golden Globe for his portrayal of eccentric lawyer “Denny Crane” on both The Practice and Boston Legal. He received four more Emmy nominations as well as other Golden Globe and SAG Award nods.
Shatner's Raw Nerve, which aired on Bio, was his own edgy, celebrity interview series. Each episode showcased Shatner getting to know his guest on an intensely personal level, touching upon subjects not normally visited on other talk shows. Guests have discussed topics such as addiction, grief, childhood, marriage, combat and parenthood.
His love of music inspired him to record the critically acclaimed album Has Been. The Milwaukee Ballet performed “Common People,” a dance presentation set to several numbers from the record; the event and its preparations are featured in the documentary Gonzo Ballet, which played to sold out houses at film festivals worldwide.
Shatner’s newest musical project, Ponder The Mystery, with lyrics by William Shatner and music by Billy Sherwood was released October 2013. It followed the well-received, space-inspired album Seeking Major Tom, which featured songs by U2, Frank Sinatra, Queen and Pink Floyd and was released in October 2011.
Off the screen and broadcast waves, Shatner has authored nearly 30 best-sellers in both the fiction and non-fiction genres. His autobiography, Up Till Now, was a New York Times best-seller and was followed by Shatner Rules which was released in October 2011. William Shatner’s new book, Hire Yourself, was released in May 2015.
In April 2011, Shatner launched his hugely popular one-man show, Shatner’s World in Australia and New Zealand, followed by tours in Canada and over 50 cities in the United States. The show is currently touring again in the United States and abroad.
A comic book series – William Shatner Presents – debuted in summer 2009. The series is based on three novels of Shatner’s: Tek War, Man O’ War, and Quest for Tomorrow, along with a brand new title: Chimera.
Shatner has been successful in another area — horse breeding. A longtime dedicated breeder of American Quarter horses, he has had enormous success with the American Saddlebred, developing and riding world champions and has won numerous world championships in several equine events. His passions for horses and philanthropy were united when he started the Hollywood Charity Horse Show, which benefits Los Angeles-based children’s charities.
Shatner continues to act, write, produce and direct while still making time to work with charities and further his passion in equestrian sports. He and his wife, Elizabeth and three married children live in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Frakes
Actor, author and accomplished director, Jonathan Frakes is a man of many hats. Perhaps best known to Star Trek fans as Commander William T. Riker on seven season and three motion pictures in the Star Trek: The Next Generation franchise, Frakes has carved out a distinctive niche for himself as a versatile talent in Hollywood.
Following several guest appearances on television series such as Fantasy Island, Charlie’s Angels, Days of Our Lives and Eight is Enough early on his career, Frakes landed the role of Commander Riker on the long running television series, Star Trek: The Next Generation. As second in command to Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Frakes’ portrayal of William Riker lead the Starship Enterprise through seven seasons and three films. His characterization endeared Riker to fans young and old, making him one of the most beloved characters in the Trek pantheon.
In addition to live action, Jonathan Frakes has also lent his voice to animated projects, including the cult favorite Disney animated series Gargoyles as the character David Xanatos and Adventure Time. Frakes also landed appearances in Matt Groening’s Futurama and Seth McFarlane’s Family Guy, playing versions of himself on each series.
Jonathan Frakes holds a unique distinction among Star Trek actors being one of only two regulars to appear on five different television series, from Star Trek: The Next Generation to Star Trek: Picard. Beyond acting, Frakes is also a veteran director, including several episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Discovery and the feature films Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection.
Brent Spiner
Brent Spiner was born and raised in Houston, Texas. He first began pursuing his interest in acting while in high school. There his inspirational drama teacher, Cecil Pickett, ignited a fire under his students and started the careers of a remarkable group of aspiring young actors and directors including Spiner, Randy Quaid, Dennis Quaid, Thomas Schlamme, Trey Wilson and Cindy Pickett, all of whom later attained success in Hollywood.
After graduation, Spiner followed his mentor to the University of Houston and other local colleges, while also launching his professional acting career in theater (The Houston Music Theater) and in film (My Sweet Charlie (TV) which was shot on location in Texas).
Spiner then made his way to New York, appearing in a number of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, such as A History of the American Film, Sunday in the Park with George, Big River, The Three Musketeers and The Seagull at the New York Shakespeare Festival. While in New York, he had a bit part in Woody Allen’s Stardust Memories, starred in an independent feature, Rent Control and had a featured role in the mini-series The Dain Curse.
After a number of character parts in television movies such as Robert Kennedy and His Times, Crime of Innocence, Manhunt for Claude Dallas, Family Sins and guest shots on such shows as Hill Street Blues, Night Court and Cheers, Spiner landed the role for which he is most identified, Data the android on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Following a seven-year run on television, he appeared in four Star Trek feature films: Generations, First Contact, Insurrection and Nemesis for which he co-wrote the story.
He returned to Broadway playing the role of John Adams in the Roundabout revival of 1776 for which he was nominated for a Drama Desk award as Best Actor in a Musical and later co-starred in Yasmina Riza’s play, Life x 3 at the Circle in the Square Theater.
On television, he co-starred in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge for which he was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award as Best Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries. Other television credits include Geppetto, Friends, Frasier, Mad About You, Law and Order: Criminal Intent and The Ponder Heart on PBS.
His subsequent film credits have included Independence Day, Out to Sea, Dude Where’s My Car?, The Master of Disguise, South Park: The Movie, Phenomenon, I Am Sam and Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator.
Marina Sirtis
Known to Star Trek fans the world over for her role as Counselor Deanna Troi, English-born Marina Sirtis set her sights on international stardom and moved to the U.S. in 1986. It was around this time that Star Trek creator Gene Rodenberry began casting for a new series based on his lauded and much loved original series. Dubbed The Next Generation, the series looked to introduce Rodenberry’s vision of the future to a brand new audience.
Originally auditioning for the role of security chief Lt. Macha Hernandez, (later called Tasha Yar and eventually played by Denise Crosby). Rodenberry felt Sirtis was a much better fit for the character Deanna Troi, a half human, half Betazoid who can read the emotions of others. With a coveted seat next to Captain Picard on the bridge, Counselor Troi was one of the respected and trusted characters on board the Enterprise and Sirtis’ portrayal of the character endeared her to fans through seven television seasons and four feature films.
Sirtis’ post-Trek work includes appearances in series such as Diagnosis: Murder, The Outer Limits, Earth: Final Conflict (originally created by Gene Rodenberry), The Closer, Grey’s Anatomy, Stargate SG-1, and NCIS as well as roles in the films Crash, and Spectres.
Beyond her live action work, animation and gaming fans will recognize Marina Sirtis’ voice from her roles in the fondly remembered Disney series Gargoyles, Adventure Time, Family Guy, Young Justice and the hit Mass Effect gaming franchise.
Denise Crosby
Denise Crosby was cast as Tasha Yar in 1987 for The Next Generation, after first being picked to play Deanna Troi. Tasha Yar was initially among the top-billed characters and was featured prominently in “The Naked Now” and “Code of Honor.” Crosby left the show after 22 episodes when her character was killed by the alien creature Armus. In the documentary Trekkies, Crosby said her Tasha Yar character had to die in order to get “the best episodes.” She reprised her role as Tasha Yar in Season 3’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” in which an alternate timeline was created.
John de Lancie
An acclaimed stage and screen actor as well as an accomplished voice-over artist, John de Lancie is best known as the mysterious and godlike Q, appearing in The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. While only appearing 9 times in 10 years, the cult popularity of Q is so widespread that John’s likeness has appeared in countless merchandising and promotional products. He’s been named “Best Villain,” “Best Recurring,” and “Best Loved” character. He’s also made appearances on such hit dramas as Breaking Bad, The West Wing, Law & Order, The Mentalist, and CSI.
Robert O'Reilly
Award-winning theater director, actor and poet Robert “Bob” O’Reilly has been a Star Trek fan since 1967. O’Reilly has appeared in over a hundred films and television episodes, primarily as either the antagonist or as a villain. He has had arguments with Carroll O’Connor, a gunfight with Willie Nelson, and been arrested by Bill Shatner, all in the name of “The Bad Guy.” O’Reilly appeared in the Star Trek franchise for over ten years, primarily in his recurring role on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as Chancellor Gowron, the leader of the Klingon Empire, a character he based on the Shakespearian character King Lear. Q’apla!
Terry Farrell
Best known for her role as the warm and lighthearted Jadzia Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine from 1993-1998, Terry Farrell was destined for greatness since childhood. Her career started at 16 years old as a model, which led to commercials for Maybelline, AT&T and Oil of Olay. Her big acting break came at 19 when she read for the ABC TV series Paper Dolls and the roles continued with Beverly Hills Madam, Back to School, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, and Becker (Farrell’s gig after departing the space station after the sixth season of DS9). She credits acting coach Ivana Chubbuck, who she met on the first season of DS9.
Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor appeared in Broadway plays, had regular roles on TV and starred in the title role of Working Girl before joining Deep Space Nine as Bajoran Major Kira Nerys. The role piqued her curiosity because Kira Nerys wasn’t “a mother, or a wife, or a prostitute, or a killer. [Kira] is fully realized.” She also voiced the character in the video games Harbinger and The Fallen. Following Deep Space Nine, she starred on Broadway in the Tony Award-wining musical Chicago and later appeared in the series Dark Angel and Wildfire.
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman is an actor and writer, a veteran of stage and screen widely known for his role as Quark for seven seasons on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993), as well as Principal Snyder on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the films The Hitcher (1986) and BioShock (2007). Shimerman was the first actor to ever play a Ferengi on Star Trek, as Letek on the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Last Outpost.” Five years later, he was offered the role of Quark on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the first Ferengi character in the main cast of any Star Trek series and a role that he would play for seven years. He is one of only five Star Trek actors to appear in three different Star Trek series. He has a myriad of acting, voiceover and teaching credits and has been married to actress Kitty Swink since May 16, 1981.
Max Grodénchik
Max Grodénchik is best known for his portrayal of Rom on Deep Space Nine over the course of 37 episodes. Before getting the role of Rom, he auditioned for the role of Rom’s brother, Quark, and played two other Ferengi characters on The Next Generation: Sovak in “Captain’s Holiday” and Par Lenor in “The Perfect Mate.” He wrote and performed “Rom’s Song” and performed the song “The Lady is a Tramp” in the Deep Space Nine episode “The Siege of AR-558.” He also played a NASA flight dynamics officer in Apollo 13.
Chase Masterson
Chase Masterson is best known for her 5-year breakout role on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, reprising her roles of Leeta and Mirror Leeta in Star Trek Online. She has the title role in the Doctor Who Big Finish spinoff VIENNA, now in Season 4.
Among a myriad of other roles, Chase has Guest-Starred on The Flash, hosted Sci-Fi Entertainment and starred opposite Bruce Campbell in Terminal Invasion for SyFy, played opposite Jerry O’Connell in Sliders, and co-hosted NBC Sunday Night at the Movies with Ryan Seacrest. Guest-Star credits include an episode of the Emmy-winning ER and Presidio Med, and a recurring role on General Hospital. Chase played opposite Richard Lewis in a cameo role Mel Brooks wrote for her in Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Feature film leads include a mysterious jazz singer in eOne’s acclaimed sci-fi noir, Yesterday Was a Lie and a lead in the recently released Unbelievable!!!!!. She has lead roles in the upcoming features Manipulated, Skipping Stones, and Je Suis Auto, all due out in 2021.
Chase was named in AOL’s 10 Sexiest Aliens in Television History, Screen Rant’s 15 Most Stunning Aliens in Star Trek, Femme Fatales’ 50 Sexiest Women, Film Fetish’s Hot Leading Ladies of Film, and TV Guide Online readers’ poll’s Favorite Sci-Fi Actress on TV during the run of DS9. She is a singer who has headlined at Las Vegas’ Voodoo Lounge, Universal City Walk, and the Sofiensaal in Vienna, Austria. She was an Artist-In-Residence at the Vienna MuseumsQuartier in November, 2019.
Chase has mentored kids coming out of gangs since 2008 at Homeboy Industries. She is the Founder/CEO of www.PopCultureHero.org, the 1st 501c3 teaching mental health skills and working to end bullying, racism, misogyny, LGBTQI-bullying and cyberbullying by using relatable pop culture stories in schools. The Coalition also works in comic-cons and children’s hospitals. Chase has spoken at the United Nations, Google, UNESCO, TEDxVienna, the International Bullying Prevention Association, the World Anti-Bullying Forum, YMCA USA forums, on CBS News, and at the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science. See more info at @ChaseMasterson and @SuperheroIRL.
Casey Biggs
Casey Biggs is an actor, director, producer, musician and teacher who portrayed Damar on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for five years. He created The Enterprise Blues Band with fellow members Vaughn Armstrong and Steve Rankin, who recordings have been best sellers throughout Europe and the U.S. A graduate of the Juilliard School, he is well known in both the world of the stage and television and has performed throughout the country and Europe. He has appeared in Lincoln Center’s Pride’s Crossing and spent ten years as a leading actor at Washington’s Arena Stage in productions of Taming of the Shrew, All the Kings Men, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Summer and Smoke, It’s a Wonderful Life, and The Philadelphia Story among others. Film and television credits include Broken Arrow, Dragonfly, The Pelican Brief, The Good Wife, Elementary, CSI, and Person of Interest.. His directing credits include Hedda Gabler, Hamlet, The Seagull, Richard III, The Three Sisters, Standup Shakespeare and Macbeth plus, for The Acting Company, Moby Dick Rehearsed, The Three Musketeers and Love, Shakespeare. He is an alumni of The Acting Company and is on the acting and directing faculty at the New School for Drama.
Jeffrey Combs
Jeffrey Combs has the distinction of portraying eight different characters on three Star Trek television series, most notably those of Brunt and the various Weyouns in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and the Andorian Thy'lek Shran on Star Trek: Enterprise. Most recently, he voiced AGIMUS in the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode, "Where Pleasant Fountains Lie."
Cirroc Lofton
Cirroc Lofton played the role of Jake Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine throughout all seven seasons of the show. When he was cast in 1992 for the role, Lofton became the youngest person ever to appear as a regular on a Star Trek series. He was only a few weeks past his 14th birthday when he filmed his first scenes for the DS9 pilot, “Emissary.”
After DS9 ended Lofton was cast as a main character on The Hoop Life, airing in 1999 and 2000. Other television credits included 7th Heaven, Invasion, CSI: MIami and All American. Prior to DS9, he appeared in the 1992 movie Beethoven. Lofton is the nephew of former Major League Baseball player Kenny Lofton.
Interviewed for the 2018 documentary What We Left Behind, Lofton stated that Every Brooks treated him not only like his television son, but like his real-life son, a relationship that has continued since the series ended.
Nicole de Boer
Born in Toronto, Canada, Nicole de Boer performed in commercials and theater throughout her childhood and made her television debut in a Red Skelton TV special called Freddy the Freeloader's Christmas Dinner at age 11. By seventeen de Boer had numerous television credits including a recurring role on the popular Canadian sketch comedy series Kids in the Hall. She made her film debut with the lead role in the 1992 horror sequel Prom Night IV: Deliver Us from Evil and was featured in Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy (1996), National Lampoon's Senior Trip (1995) and the critically received sci-fi horror film Cube (1997). It was while working on the Canadian series Dooley Gardens that de Boer got the call to audition for the role of Ezri Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
With Terry Farrell departing the cast along with her character Jadzia Dax, The producers decided to create a new female character who would inherit the Dax symbiont. When it was decided that the new character would be someone who was unprepared to be joined with a symbiont, the producers began looking for a young actress who could convey vulnerability. De Boer appeared in all 25 episodes of Deep Space Nine's seventh season, from "Image in the Sand" to the series finale, "What You Leave Behind".
Since Deep Space Nine, de Boer credits include the Showtime movie Rated X, starring on the USA Network series The Dead Zone from 2002 to 2007, and appearances on Stargate Atlantis and in the 2010 film Suck with Malcolm McDowell and Iggy Pop, and a recurring role on the Canadian series Private Eyes.
Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson was born in New York City and attended the University of New Hampshire, later receiving his B.A. in English from the New School for Social Research in NYC. After graduation, he spent a year in England at the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts on a Fulbright Scholarship. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Robinson performed a wide variety of theater, movie and television roles. These included the infamous Scorpio killer in Dirty Harry, a stint on Ryan's Hope, which earned him an Emmy nomination, and the title role in a TV movie about Liberace. To Star Trek fans, Andrew is best known for portraying Elim Garak on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also provided the voice of Garak in the video games Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Fallen and Star Trek Online, and wrote the novel A Stitch in Time. Robinson also appeared in the documentary What We Left Behind.
Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo enrolled at Yale as a pre-med student, not knowing that he would someday portray doctors in three separate productions: Dr. Dick Richard on China Beach, then as Dr. McCaskill in The Waiting Room, and, most famously, as the Holographic Doctor for all 7 seasons of Voyager. One of the two Voyager episodes Bob also directed, “One Small Step,” was a moving tribute to the pioneers of space exploration. Combining his 40-plus-year acting career with a lifelong interest in science, Bob served for over 15 years on the advisory board of The Planetary Society.
Garrett Wang
Born in California, Garrett Wang spent his formative years on the move, living in Indiana, Bermuda and Tennessee before moving back to California to attend UCLA to major in East Asian Studies and minor in theater. Garrett signed with his first talent agent in 1993 and within a year he landed his first speaking role, guest starring on All American Girl. Three months later, Wang was cast in the role of Harry Kim on Voyager. Garrett was named one of People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People as well as one of E! Channel’s “20 Coolest Bachelors.”
Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips is well known to Star Trek fans for the seven years he spent on Star Trek: Voyager as Neelix. He also played two different Ferengi characters, one on Star Trek: The Next Generation and another on Star Trek: Enterprise.
Phillips has appeared in over forty feature films, including the Coen brother’s Inside Llewyn Davis, Woody Allen’s Irrational Man, and Purge 3. Besides Neelix, he played Pete on Benson for five years, and has guest starred in scores of television shows including Better Call Saul, New Amsterdam, Veep, The Good Wife, Younger, Criminal Minds and most recently on HBO’s Avenue 5. He has played scores of leading roles both on and off-Broadway and in the major regional theaters. He plays tenor saxophone in the Allan Wasserman Jazz band.
John Billingsley
Known for his role as Doctor Phlox on Star Trek: Enterprise for four years, John Billingsley has carved out a distinct niche for himself with unique character roles in more than 150 film and television appearances. “Dear Doctor” was the first Phlox-heavy Enterprise episode, and in a 2013 interview with StarTrek.com, Billingsley explained that he appreciated the fact that a Phlox hour followed the Trek tradition of tackling an issue with a lot of gray area. In 2001, Billingsley also played himself in an episode of Roswell that used the Enterprise set. In 2002, he was a guest star in an episode of Stargate SG-1, playing a scientist who is also a Trekkie. One of Billingsley’s earliest roles was in the TV comedy-drama Northern Exposure, then in the cult phenomenon The X-Files.
Connor Trinneer
Connor Trinneer is most known for playing Charles “Trip” Tucker III on Star Trek: Enterprise and Michael Kenmore on Stargate Atlantis. Originally from Washington state, Connor discovered acting in college, went to drama school and found himself in New York upon graduation. Regional theater work quickly followed and his career went on to span film and television as well. His big break came with Enterprise, which led to dozens of extraordinary roles and his epic appearances on Star Trek: The Cruise! Besides Enterprise and Atlantis, Connor has appeared in American Made, The Resident, NCIS, The Mentalist, Suits, Pretty Little Liars and was in all of season 2 of The Purge.
Vaughn Armstrong
Vaughn Armstrong is a veteran Star Trek actor who is noted for portraying twelve separate characters in twenty-eight episodes over four separate series. His characters include a Human, a mirror universe Human, a Romulan, a Borg/former Borg, a Vidiian, a Kreetassan, a Hirogen, two Cardassians, and three Klingons. However, he is probably best known for his recurring role as Admiral Maxwell Forrest in the Star Trek: Enterprise series. He appeared in both the second, and penultimate episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Doug Jones
Doug Jones is perhaps one of the most brilliant actors of our time. Some say he is this generations "Boris Karloff"!
Doug’s career spans numerous years in television and on film, currently Doug can be seen as Captain Saru in CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery (perhaps one of the best Trek series to hit airwaves)! He can also be seen in the Oscar winning film The Shape of Water in which Doug teams up again to bring an original story to life by director Guillermo del Toro! He is also set to star as Count Orlok in the highly anticipated remake of Nosferatu!
Fans will long remember Doug for his work as The Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. He's also the life and soul of Abe Sapien in Hellboy and Helboy II: The Golden Army (based on the popular Dark Horse comic book, returning to his role of Abe Sapien as well a taking on 2 other roles, that of The Chamberlain and The Angel of Death for director Guillermo del Toro.
In the film he wants to be remembered for, Doug portrays 2 characters in the Oscar winning film Pan’s Labyrinth (in the native tongue of Spanish "El Laberinto del Fauo"). He plays both Pan (the faun creature) and The Pale Man. Another fan favorite is the Halloween classic, Hocus Pocus, in which Doug plays the goofy zombie, ex-boyfriend of Bette Midler, Billy Butcherson. And his earliest comic book movie appearance was alongside Danny De Vito as a faded circus clown in Batman Returns.
In addition to these very popular films, you can also find Doug as the very smart alien, Cochise on TNT's critically acclaimed series, Steven Spielberg produced Falling Skies, season 3 (Summer 2013) and season 4 (Summer 2014). Other notable TV guest roles for Doug include William Barrow on Teen Wolf, Grady Edlund on Fear Itself, Dominique Wilkins on The Neighbors, and the lead Gentleman on Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s Emmy-nominated "Hush" episode!
Sara Mitich
Sara Mitich is defined by her passion, discipline and remarkably wide range as an actor.
You can catch Sara most recently in Star Trek: Discovery as Lt. Nilsson (and in Season One as Lt. Cmdr Airiam), and in the feature film White Night. Sara is best known for her portrayal of the lovable Gia in The Expanse, and the controversial, but global fan favorite, Lillian Moss in Murdoch Mysteries feature “Adon” for Netflix. Her upcoming projects include a Christmas movie for Gaumont called Cold Feet at Christmas and also a post-apocalyptic short film called Bunker Burger which premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.
Jess Bush
Jess Bush is an Australian actress and artist, best known for playing Christine Chapel in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present). In 2011, she appeared in season 7 of Australia's Next Top Model. Her subsequent screen credits include appearances in the Australian TV series Home and Away (2017), Secret Daughter (2017), Skinford: Chapter Two (2018), Les Norton (2019), Playing For Keeps (2019) and Halifax: Retribution (2020).
Bush is also a visual artist. Her environmentally-themed installation Bee Totem received multiple rounds of funding from the Australian government.
Tawny Newsome
Tawny Newsome voices the lead character of Ensign Beckett Mariner on the Star Trek animated series, Star Trek: Lower Decks on Paramount Plus. She stars in Netflix’s live-action series Space Force opposite Steve Carrell and John Malkovich. She starred in the Kevin Hart and Wesley Snipes limited series True Story for Netflix. Additional credits include IFC’s Brockmire, Sherman’s Showcase and Documentary Now!, the Seeso Original Bajillion Dollar Propertie$, BET’s The Comedy Get Down, and NBC’s Perfect Harmony and The Carmichael Show. Newsome is the co-host of the comedy-meets-culture podcast Yo, Is This Racist? She’s also the host of the official Star Trek podcast, Star Trek: The Pod Directive.
Paul F . Tompkins
Federation Advisors
Ira Steven Behr
Lolita Fatjo
Lolita Fatjo worked for 14 years as Assistant to the Executive Producer and later as Script Coordinator on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: First Contact. Throughout the years, she has built good working relationships with many of the stars, soon transitioning to the role of manager for many Star Trek actors.
Her reputation for being fan-friendly along with her first-hand knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes has made her a fan-favorite on the convention circuit.
She served as talent coordinator on the hit DS9 documentary What We Left Behind and is currently a producer and talent coordinator on the Voyager Documentary To the Journey which was shot partly on Star Trek: The Cruise in 2020.
Dr. Erin Macdonald
Dr. Erin Macdonald ("Dr. Erin") is the science advisor for the entire Star Trek franchise and works as a writer and producer in Los Angeles, CA. She is an internationally sought-after public speaker, educator, STEAM advocate, writer, and technical consultant. Erin wrote and narrated The Great Courses' Audible Original, The Science of Sci-Fi which was an Audible Top 10 best seller in March 2020. She also wrote Star Trek: My First Book of Space, a baby board book in conjunction with Robb Pearlman's Star Trek: My First Book of Colors released in late 2022.
Dr. Mohamed Noor
Dr. Mohamed Noor is professor of biology and currently serves as Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Duke University. He is also a contracted science consultant for the Star Trek universe, with current credits in seasons 3-4 of Star Trek: Discovery and more to come. He merges his passions of genetics and evolution with science-fiction by teaching biology concepts using depictions from Star Trek in the classroom, in online videos, and in presentations at conventions. Additionally, Dr. Noor published a book via Princeton University Press that uses examples from Star Trek to teach real-world principles in genetics and evolution, called Live Long and Evolve: What Star Trek Can Teach Us About Evolution, Genetics, and Life on Other Worlds.
Robb Pearlman
Robb Pearlman is a pop culturalist, Trekspert, publishing professional, and #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 60 books including Fun with Kirk and Spock, Trek the Halls, The Wit and Wisdom of Star Trek, Star Trek: My First Book of Colors, Star Trek: The Girl Who Made the Stars, The Star Trek Book of Friendship, Starfleet Is…, The Book of Grudge, Search for Spock, Body by Starfleet, Redshirt’s Little Book of Doom, Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookiee, Laugh Like a Hobbit, books tied into such pop culture properties as The Office, Parks and Recreation, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Rick and Morty, Bob's Burgers, The Smurfs, and iconic personalities including Bob Ross and Richard Simmons. He has appeared at pop culture events and conventions across the country, lives in New Jersey, and summers on Vulcan.
Megan Levens
Megan Levens is a cartoonist, illustrator and longtime Trekkie, known for her work on IDW Publishing's Star Trek comics series Boldly Go, Waypoint, and Year Five. A self-described "TNG baby and Spock fangirl,” she credits her love of Trek with inspiring her to pursue a career as a visual storyteller, to connect people and explore our common humanity through tales of the fantastical and otherworldly. She has also produced several creator-owned graphic novels.
We're beyond excited to have Megan sailing with us on our starship at sea, where she will host onboard demonstrations and unveil the awesome official Star Trek: The Cruise VI poster she's creating!
Thomas Surprenant
Thomas Surprenant is a makeup artist whose career has spanned over 30 years, to include such credits as The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Surprenant was nominated for two Emmys for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1995 for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Distant Voices."
His work has spanned from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise, and two Star Trek feature films.
Band 47
Band 47 is a Los Angeles-based 60s, 70s and 80s classic rock R&B group, consisting of Steel Rod and DW3. The classic rock, R&B, and blues trio with the soulful vocals of Eric, Billy and David of DW3 create a perfect combination. In addition to these two powerhouse groups, along came Rebecca Jade with her soulful sound and rock influences, making a perfect addition to this very versatile group.
DJ Storm
