Top 100 Actors of Star Trek - Part One

As part of my ongoing attempt to memoralize Star Trek (there will be other ways before the finale in May), I was thinking about the actors involved. I plan on doing a series of entries that briefly discuss the Top 100 Actors - as judged by me. Not necessarily the big names, but those actors that appeared many times throughout the shows or who played characters essential to Star Trek lore in some way. This first entry will look at the 10 most famous captains of the Enterprise (and crewmen who served on the Enterprise and became captains).

The Enterprise Captains
Jeffrey Hunter (Captain Christopher Pike - TOS "The Cage"). Jeffrey Hunter was originally cast as the lead for the original show. He filmed the pilot "The Cage" and his character (but not the actor) returned badly mutilated in the two part episode "The Menagerie" which featured many clips from "The Cage". Hunter's real name was Henry Herman McKinnies Jr. Hunter was a movie actor, appearing in about 50 films, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Jesus Christ in the movie King of Kings. He also guested on numerous television series including The Green Hornet, Bob Hope Presents, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Disneyland, and This is Your Life. Hunter died on May 27, 1969 at the age of 42.
William Shatner (Captain / Admiral James T. Kirk in all 3 seasons of Star Trek, The Animated Series, Phase II and the first seven movies). Shatner was brought into replace Hunter when the cast was revamped. He portrayed Kirk in all 3 seasons for the first five year mission, was promoted to admiral for the first four movies, then demoted to captain for the next three. His character died in Star Trek: Generations and hasn't been seen on screen since. Shatner writes a series of books where his character lives on. When Shatner was first cast he was trying to be a rock star although he had several screen credits including starring roles in Howdy Doody, The Brothers Karamazov, and Marc Anthony in Julius Caesar. He went on to star in the television series TJ Hooker, Tekwar, and is currently on Boston Legal. He has been in numerous movies including Miss Congeniality, Dodgeball, Free Enterprise, Osmosis Jones and National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon. He is also the author of numerous books including The Ashes of Eden, Star Trek: Memories, and Get a Life! He will be 74 next month.
Leonard Nimoy (Lieutenant / Commander / Captain / Amabassador Spock in all 3 seasons of Star Trek, the animated series, the first six movies, and the TNG two parter Unification). Nimoy's Spock was the only character not cut after the original pilot "The Cage". In the 1970's Nimoy seeked to distance himself from that role by writing a book called I Am Not Spock and refusing to do the animated series and initially the first movie. He later did do the first six movies, although he turned down a role in Generations. He tried to leave the franchise again by insisting that he be killed in Star Trek II, the movie in which it was revealed that he was now captain of the Enterprise, but due to his popularity, his character was resurrected. He directed Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, TJ Hooker, and Three Men and a Little Baby. He was a producer for Star Trek VI. He later wrote a second book in the 90's called I Am Spock and came to terms with his character. Other than a stint on General Hospital his career is unspectacular before Star Trek but immediately after it he starred in the series Mission Impossible and went on to appear in Invasion of the Body Snatchers and lent his voice to Transformers: The Movie and Atlantis. He has guest starred in Becker, Futurama, Duckman, The Simpsons, TJ Hooker, Gunsmoke, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Outer Limits, and Bonanza. He currently runs an audio book company with John deLancie called "Alien Voice" in which actors renact classic sci-fi and fantasy books. He will be 74 next month on my birthday.
DeForrest Kelley (Dr. / Admiral Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek, the animated series, Phase II, the first six movies, and the pilot of TNG) - Kelley was a classic western star, but brought on to play the cranky doctor. He was added to the theme song in the second and third seasons, the only one in the theme song besides Shatner and Nimoy. His early credits include Taxi and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. He turned down a role in Generations. He didn't have much of a career post-Star Trek, although his voice did appear in The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars. His guest apperances include Bonanza, The Donna Reed Show, The Fugitive, Have Gun - Will Travel, Zane Grey Theatre, Gunsmoke, and The Lone Ranger. Kelley was so excited when the Star Trek actors cemented their names on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that he misspelled his! He kept in touch with his fellow ST actors and always wanted to bring Kirk, Spock, and McCoy back to the screen. He died in 1999 at the age of 79.
James Doohan (Lieutenant / Commander / Captain Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in The Original Series, the animated series, Phase II, the first seven movies and the TNG epsidoes "Relics"). Doohan was the king of accents and asked to do Scottish for Star Trek. Pre-Star Trek he did a few guest star roles including on Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, Bewitched, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Post Star Trek he appeared in Fantasy Island, Magnum PI, MacGyer, Knightrider, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Ben Stiller Show, and Duckman. Doohan was also in National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon. His character currently heads Starfleet's Corps of Engineers. He recently retired from showbuiness and turned 85 today.
Alan Ruck (Captain John Harriman in Star Trek: Generations). Ruck played the captain of the Enterprise-B. His film credits include Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Bad Boys, Speed, Twister, and Cheaper By The Dozen. He also starred in the television series Spin City. He also guest starred in Scrubs, Mad About You, The Outer Limits, Tales From the Crypt, and Picket Fences. Ruck is 48.
Tricia O'Neil (Captain Rachel Garret on the TNG episode "Yesterday's Enterprise"). O'Neil was the captain of the Enterprise-C. Her other film credits include Titanic, Brave New World, Police Story and guest appearances on JAG, Beverly Hills 90210, Babylon 5, Matlock, Murder She Wrote, Dallas, LA Law, Dynasty, MacGyver, The A Team, Charlie's Angels, Barney Miller, and Hawaii 5-O. She will be 60 next week.
Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard on TNG and the last four films, as well as in the pilot of DS9). Stewart has had a very busy career. Before doing Star Trek, his credits included North and South, Hamlet Prince of Denmark, and Excalibur. His credits since then include X-Men, X2, X3, A Christmas Carol, Moby Dick, LA Story, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Pagemaster, Jeffrey, Jimmy Neurtron: Boy Genius, and Animal Farm. Stewart sang for the film The Prince of Egypt. Stewart has also guest starred on Ellen, Fraiser, The Simpsons, Reading Rainbow, and Saturday Night Live. Stewart is 64.
Jonathan Frakes (Commander / Captain William Riker on TNG and the last four movies, as well as guest starring on DS9, and Voyager and an upcoming apperance on Enterprise). Frakes's character served as first office for the Enterprises-D and E and is now captain of the USS Trident. His other credits include Camp Nowhere, Gargoyles, Clockstoppers, North and South, Futurama, Roswell, Third Rock From The Sun, Lois & Clark, Wings, Cybill, The Twilight Zone, Hill Street Blues, The Waltons, Dukes of Hazard, Fantasy Island, Charlie's Angels and a recurring role on Falcon Crest. He has directed several films including The Thunderbirds, Clockstoppers, First Contant, Insurrection, and episodes of Deep Space 9, Voyager, Roswell, and Diagnosis Murder. He is 52.
Scott Bakula (Captain Jonathan Archer on Enterprise). Bakula was best known for his starring role on Quantam Leap. Other film credits include Life As a House, American Beauty, Major League III, and guest apperances on Murphey Brown, Matlock, Designing Women, and Dream On. Bakula is 50.

Qop!
"Don't let them promote you...don't let them transfer you...don't let them do anything that takes you off the bridge of that ship...Because while you're there...you can make a difference."
~William Shatner to Patrick Stewart, Star Trek: Generations

Hollywood 2005

So the movie title list for 2005 has now been released, and there are once again going to be a lot of movies this year. Here's a quick list of what I think will be the best and worst movies of 2005 in no particular order.

WORST
Son of the Mask ~ Enough said.
The Ring 2 ~ I refused to see the first one.
XXX: State Of the Union ~ Give me a break!
Ace Bigalo: European Gigalo ~ I like the first one, but geez!
Dukes of Hazard
The Honeymooners
The Amityville Horror
Land of the Dead
The Devil Rejects ~ Directed by Rob Zombie. Scary!
Oliver Twist
Herbie: Full Loaded ~ Another Lovebug movie, this one with Lindsay Lohan?
The Bad News Bears ~ Starring Billy Bob Thorton
Fever Pitch ~ The movie was only made in 1997! Why are they remaking it!?!
Sahara
Domino ~ Kiera Knightley as Laurence Harvey's daughter, a bounty hunter
ON THE FENCE
King Kong ~ It has a chance because Peter Jackson made it.
Be Cool (The Get Shorty sequel) ~ Haven't seen the original.
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous ~ It has Sandra Bullock, but what about William Shatner Michael Caine, and Candece Bergen?
The Legend of Zorro ~ The sequel to The Mask of Zorro
The Pink Panther ~ Starring Steve Martin.
Bewitched ~ It's gotten good reviews... Who am I kidding. Kidman is no Montgomery.
The yet untitle first Wallace & Gromit movie
A Sound of Thunder ~ Go back in time to hunt dinos. Hmm.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith ~ Hmm, Bard Pitt & Angelino Jolie, not my favorites...
The Weather Man ~ It looks good...
Rumor Has It ~ It has Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner. Interesting.
The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio
Crash
The Merchant of Venice
Guess Who? ~ A remake of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? with Bernie Mack.
Hitch ~ Will Smith asa date doctor?
The Interpreter ~ Nicole Kidman
Melinda and Melinda ~ Woody Allen
a 3 part film, each made by a different director. Hmm. Sonderbergh, Antonioni, & Wai
BEST
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (May 19) ~ Good reviews, Chewie returns, is this George Lucas's chance for redepemption?
Harry Potter & The Goblet of Fire (Nov. 18) ~ How could it possibly be bad?
Batman Begins ~ Christian Bale and Michael Caine! How could it miss?
War of the Worlds (June 29) ~ Please don't screw up a classic, Speilberg.
Corpse Bride ~ A zany animated movie by Tim Burton
The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy ~ Sam Rockwell and my future wife, Zoey Deschanel
Charlie & The Chocolate Factor ~ The creepy version!!!
Rent ~ directed by Christopher Columbus!
The Producers ~ Mel Brooks, Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Will Ferrel, & Uma Thurman!

Qop!
"I believe the name of the report was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Within the United States"." ~ Gotta love Condeleeza Rice (On a report issued to Bush in August 2001)