Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry was always on the lookout for inspiration. A dedicated sci-fi fan, he saw every new entry to the genre that he could, including the 80s hit, “Aliens.” For Roddenberry, Vasquez stole the show and he was immediately inspired to create an equally strong Latina character for Star Trek. Enter Marina Sirtis and Counselor Deanna Troi.
Part-human, part-Betazoid, Deanna Troi had the ability to read the emotions of other beings. Sirtis appeared in this role in “Enterprise,” “Voyager,” and four of the Star Trek feature films. The popular star has gone on to appear in a string of films and TV shows, including “NCIS” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Brent Spiner as Lt. Commander Data
Here’s another of the most iconic faces of Star Trek. With a run on the show that spanned 15 years, Lt. Commander Data made a deep impression on Trekkies the world over. From 1987 on, actor Brent Spiner breathed life into Data over the course of seven seasons and four feature films.
Data was central to the action in this time, appearing in all but one of the 178 episodes that filled this time span (for the curious among you, the single episode he failed to make an appearance in was “Family”). Since leaving the show, Brent Spiner has turned his talents not just to roles in other TV shows, but also to theater and music.
Alexander Siddig as Doctor Julian Bashir
When Alexander Siddig was first called in for a Star Trek audition, the producers had Commander Benjamin Sisko in mind for him. However, at the time, Siddig looked far too young to properly embody the part. Not wanting to let the talented actor go, the producers made the wise decision to cast young Siddig as Dr. Julian Bashir.
Siddig enjoyed a long run with the show, appearing in "The Next Generation" and "Deep Space Nine," and gracing our screens from 1993 to 1999. Since stepping away from Star Trek, Siddig hasn’t slowed down, appearing in a variety of films and TV shows. Arguably, his biggest role since Star Trek came in HBO’s hit show, "Game of Thrones."
Ashley Judd as Robin Lefler
Here’s one you’ve probably forgotten: Ashley Judd was in Star Trek! The actress made her debut on the show back in 1991, long before reaching superstardom. Since she wasn’t a recognizable face at the time, most people don’t even realize she was ever a part of the show.
Judd played Starfleet officer, Ensign Robin Lefler, and appeared in just two episodes. With a face and a talent like hers, however, two episodes were all it took to set her career in motion. It was a rapid rise to fame from there. Judd is now a well-known Hollywood actress and political activist.
Dominic Keating as Lieutenant Malcolm Reed
Dominic Keating’s run on Star Trek was epic, spanning all 98 episodes of the show, from 2001 to 2005. Keating’s character, Lt. Malcolm Reed, was both a tactical officer and an armory officer aboard the Starship USS Enterprise. Reed’s tactical contributions to the storylines were of vital importance, so this was no small role for Keating.
While Lt. Malcolm Reed made Keating a household name (at least among Trekkies), many people also know him from his roles in "Jungle 2 Jungle" and "Beowulf." Keating is still going strong in the acting world and appeared in "Once Upon a Time in London."