Jadzia Dax has got to be one of the coolest character creations of the Star Trek franchise. The beautiful science officer is a union of two separate consciousnesses. Her outer form is the host, a young female of the Trill species. Melded to her is a wise and ancient symbiont. The two are harmoniously merged with a personality reflective of each of their existences and access to the knowledge of both.
When it was time for Farrell to leave the show, at the close of season six, the writers came up with a brilliant way to execute it. The host was killed off, leaving Farrell free to go, while the symbiont was saved and transferred into a new host. This maneuver allowed actress, Nicole DeBoer, to seamlessly take over as host while Terry Farrell, who was fired from the show, retired from the spotlight.
William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk
We’re sure you’ve been wondering when this familiar face would show up! Neither Captain Kirk nor the actor who played him, William Shatner, require any introduction in a Star Trek article. However, we will take a moment to say that, with nearly seven decades of acting under his belt (he got his start way back in 1951), William Shatner is nothing short of a cultural icon.
And a big part of that is due to his brilliant portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk. Kirk was central to the happenings of the starship USS Enterprise, making Shatner eternally central to the Star Trek franchise, even when he was physically absent. Since leaving the show, Shatner has gone on to act in films and TV shows like "Boston Legal" and "The Practice." He is also a successful director, producer, and author.
James Doohan as Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott
The character responsible for a phrase that became so widely known it even has its own Wikipedia entry: “Beam me up, Scotty.” The funny thing is, while this phrase is indelibly connected to Star Trek in the minds of basically all humans, it was never actually said in any Star Trek episode or movie. While that may be so, Scotty was a vital part of the crew (and did do a lot of beaming up in his time).
Played by Canadian actor, James Doohan, Scotty’s character had a wonderful impact on viewers. Many were inspired to follow in his footsteps and pursue careers in engineering and related technical fields. Doohan, on the other hand, didn’t enjoy such career success. He struggled to find roles outside of Star Trek, and so forged a life for himself within the franchise. In 2005 he sadly passed away, leaving Scotty behind.
Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura
Nichelle Nichols made a bold move with her role in Star Trek. Hers was one of the first female black characters to appear on American TV in a role other than that of a servant. What Nichelle achieved in Star Trek was so groundbreaking that, when she decided to leave the show, Martin Luther King, Jr. approached her personally and asked her to consider staying on.
While Nichols did eventually move on from the show, she didn’t let Martin Luther King Jr. down. With the civil rights movement still at the forefront of her mind, Nichelle commenced work with NASA, taking part in a recruitment program designed to encourage both minority and female personnel to become part of the space program. When she wasn't hard at work being a complete legend, Nichelle pursued her passion for music and released two studio albums. She passed away in the summer of 2022.
Robin Curtis as Lt. Saavik
Robin Curtis made her debut in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock." She was cast as a replacement for the late Kirstie Alley, taking over the role of Saavik, the Vulcan Lieutenant. While she received a lukewarm reception from hardcore Trekkies, Curtis reprised her role in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."
Curtis enjoyed a solid career in the dramatic arts, appearing in films, on television, and in theater productions all through the 80s and 90s. By 1999 though, Curtis was ready for a change and retired from acting before seeing in the new millennium. While she still makes appearances at conventions, Curtis shifted her attention to real estate.