While Robert Duncan McNeill was a massive contributor to the Star Trek franchise, it’s hard to beat the astounding contribution of Tim Russ. First up, Russ took on the character of Lt. Tuvok, from 1995 to 2001. Tuvok was a Vulcan and performed as both the chief tactical officer and the chief of security for the ship. But Russ didn’t stop there.
The talented creative also worked behind the scenes, producing, directing, and writing and, prior to his Tuvok role, had taken on a number of bit parts. That’s a whole lot of dedication to the show! Outside of Star Trek, Russ has enjoyed plenty of work in film, television, and music. The multi-talented artist shows no signs of slowing down.
Garret Wang as Ensign Harry Kim
From 1995 to 2001, Garrett Wang brought to our screens the adorably naive, yet undeniably gifted, Ensign Harry Kim. Wang had grown up watching and loving the films, so was excited to audition. When he finally realized how epic the series was, after landing his role, Wang was relieved at how the timeline of events had gone down.
Now a dedicated Star Trek fan as well as a cast member, Wang pops up regularly at conventions and even appeared in "Star Trek: Of Gods and Men," a fan-produced mini-series that came out in 2007. Wang was also involved in the creation of the MMORPG, "Star Trek: Online."
Ricardo Montalban as Khan Noonien Singh
Make way for everyone’s favorite villain: Khan Noonien Singh. Appearing in the original Star Trek series and, of course, "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," this guy was a pivotal part of Captain Kirk’s world. Khan was originally played by Mexican actor, Ricardo Montalban. The man was a fitness buff who worked out regularly, and it certainly showed!
Montalban had a long and prosperous career beyond Star Trek, spending a good seven of his decades on Earth entertaining us with performances in comedy films, crime shows, dramas, and even musicals. He was an absolute fan favorite and, while he lived a long and happy life, his passing in 2009 (at the age of 88) was mourned by many. As for his character, Khan lives on, taking the form of Benedict Cumberbatch in the 2013 movie, "Star Trek: Into Darkness."
Ian Abercrombie as Abbot
Ian Abercrombie was such a legend in the sci-fi world it would’ve been unthinkable if he’d never appeared in Star Trek. Thankfully, that travesty never occurred (not in our lifetime anyway) as Abercrombie appeared in a couple of episodes of "Voyager," playing the roles of the Abbot and Milo.
Abercrombie had a stellar career, appearing in an insane number of films and TV shows. He was in everything from David Lynch’s bizarre masterpiece, "Twin Peaks," to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and even "How I Met Your Mother." Abercrombie also voiced Palpatine and Darth Sidious in the animations and video games of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." In January 2012, he sadly passed away.
Evan English as Ensign Tanner
Here’s another "Star Trek: Enterprise" regular for you: Evan English. Playing Ensign Tanner, a Starfleet officer, and helmsman, English stuck around for all four seasons of the Enterprise series. Those with a keen eye will also be able to spot him doing background work in "Star Trek: Insurrection."
English continued his acting work after leaving Star Trek, taking on a number of small roles in major films like "Coyote Ugly," and "Almost Famous." He’s also spent time performing on Broadway and appeared in TV shows like "ER" and "The West Wing." English will always have a heart for Star Trek though, regularly making appearances at conventions and appearing in "Star Trek: The Continuing Mission," a web series produced by fans.