Throughout the TV show, “Star Trek Voyager,” there were many ups and downs regarding the casting of certain members. The path that an actor takes towards accepting or denying a role may affect the future of other players in the acting world. In this article, you will see some of the close calls associated filling some of the major and minor roles regarding this popular television series.
Directors Cut
Several Star Trek cast members tried their hand at directing the TV series. This included Roxann Dawson, Robert Duncan McNeill, Robert Picardo, as well as Tim Russ. Even Deep Space 9 cast members like Jonathan Frakes and LeVar Burton directed some of the episodes of the show.
Life After Star Trek
Robert Duncan McNeill seems to have taken advantage of this directing experience, enjoying gigs with popular shows, such as Dawson’s Creek; One Tree Hill; The OC; and Desperate Housewives. That is certainly a long way from Star Trek, isn’t it?
Another Woman’s Role; Another Woman’s Regret?
While we have grown accustomed to seeing Captain Janeway being played by Kate Mugrew, it almost didn’t turn out this way. It was actually Genevieve Bujold, who was originally cast to play the role. Just as filming was about the begin, the actress suddenly quit before she even had a chance to make her mark on the show.
Just In Case of Second Thoughts”¦Pull Here
Did you know that the role of Janeway was not sealed in stone that the character would be a female? There was a time before filming began that a handful of male actors read for the part just to be on the safe side if Paramount would have rethought their position on having the first female captain of Star Trek.
A Long Line of Actresses
When it came to the role of Janeway, there were numerous recognizable names that were thought of when it came to filling the shoes of this character. Who would have known that stars like Joanna Cassidy, Linda Hamilton (of Terminator fame), and even Patty Duke were considered.
Another Geordi?
Did you know that Tim Russ was one of the first actors considered for playing the role of Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation? If you are a diehard Trekkie, you already know that LeVar Burton held that coveted role for many years.
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition”¦
In regards to the later Star Trek series, there were only six actors who played the same character on three different series. Voyager was the only TV show to showcase all of them. They include: Jonathan Frakes (who played Commander/Captain William T. Riker); Marina Sirtis (who is known as Counselor Deanna Troi); Armin Shimerman (who we all know as Quark); John de Lancie (who brought to life the character of Q); Michael Ansara (who played Kang); and Richard Poe (who took on the persona of Gul Evek).