Here’s my first shot at ranking them. Regulars and semi-regulars: 1. Patrick Stewart 2. Andrew J. Robinson 3. Leonard Nimoy 4. Marc Alaimo 5. Whoopi Goldberg 6. John DeLancie 7. Colm Meaney 8. Michelle Forbes 9. Robert Picardo 10. Armin Shimerman Honorable mention: Avery Brooks, Louise Fletcher, DeForest Kelley, William Shatner (seriously), Brent Spiner ________________________________________ Guests: 1. Harris Yulin, Aamin Marritza 2. Christopher Plummer, Chang 3. David Warner, Gul Madred and Gorkon (not so much as Talbot) 4. John Colicos, Kor 5. Mark Lenard, unnamed Romulan Commander and Sarek 6. Jonathan Del Arco, Hugh 7. Celia Lovsky, T’Pau 8. Arnold Moss, Anton Karidian 9. Hallie Todd, Lal 10. William Windom, Matt Decker Honorable Mention: Roger C. Carmel, Harry Mudd; Joan Collins, Edith Keeler; Frank Langella, Jaro; Robert Reilly, Gowron; Camille Saviola, Kai Opaka; Alfre Woodard, Lily Sloane; Prada and Breezy, Porthos ________________________________________ Best Ensemble Cast: DS9, and it’s not even close. Not a sour note in the bunch. ________________________________________ Special Recognition: Majel Barrett for versatile performances as Christine Chapel, Computer (voice), Number One, Lwaxana Troi, and M’Ress (voice) ________________________________________ Special Recognition: Jeri Ryan, for being insanely hot. Also credit to hair, makeup, and especially wardrobe.
My standard is consistency in performance and characterization. The lists are in no particular order. Regulars: (in all or almost all episodes (after joining the cast) ENT: Connor Trinneer TOS: Leonard Nimoy TNG: Patrick Stewart Brent Spiner DS9: Armin Shimmerman Rene Auberjonois Louise Fletcher VOY: Robert Picardo Jeri Ryan Robert Duncan MacNeill Supporting/recurring: ENT: John Billingsley Jeffrey Combs Gary Graham Vaughn Armstrong Linda Park TOS: Mark Lenard Nichelle Nichols TNG: Suzie Plakson Patrick Massett DS9: Andrew Robinson Chase Masterson Max Grodenchik Aron Eisenberg VOY: uh, sorry
My picks, per series: ENT Principals: John Billingsley by a long shot Guests/Recurring: Jeffrey Combs TOS Principals: Leonard Nimoy Guests/Recurring: Mark Lenard TNG Principals: Patrick Stewart Brent Spiner Guests/Recurring: John de Lancie David Warner Jean Simmons Suzie Plakson Whoopi Goldberg Andreas Katsulas James Sloyan Leonard Nimoy Mark Lenard Majel Barret Jeremy Kemp Theodore Bikel Georgia Brown Colm Meaney DS9 Principals: Armin Shimmerman Rene Auberjonois Siddig El Fadil Avery Brooks Colm Meaney Recurring: Andrew J. Robinson Marc Alamo Jeffrey Combs Salmon Jens William Sadler Louise Fletcher Casey Biggs Harris Yulin VOY: Principals: Robert Picardo Tim Russ Jeri Ryan Guests/Recurring: Joel Grey Tom Wright Brad Dourif John de Lancie Kurtwood Smith Lori Petty
On a show by show basis: TOS: Leonard Nimoy TNG: Patrick Stewart (overall winner among regulars), he made TNG a great show. DS9: Probably Colm Meaney, although I really like this cast as a whole, especially Avery Brooks and Rene Auberjonois Voyager: Robert Picardo Jeri Ryan Enterprise: Er, I've never seen this, but I do like Scott Bakula as an actor in general, so maybe him? Recurring characters: Michelle Forbes (wouldn't TNG have been better if Ro had been a regular? Yes it would have.) Andrew "Scorpio" Robinson Whoopi Goldberg Louise Fletcher Robert O'Reilly (Gowron may be the best Klingon ever) Andreas Katsulas (because of Babylon 5 really, but he definitely deserves a shout out) One-off characters: Christopher Plummer David Warner - wonderful actor, I'd have liked to see Gul Madred again.
Why to people praise Stewart so much? They guy was a one-trick clown and pretentiously colorful script reading does not a great actor make. And, those times the guy was actually required to act, he was terrible. He can play one emotion: pompous asshole. If I had to pick a few main cast members, I suppose I have to say: Nimoy Auberjonois Trinneer Ryan Picardo Mulgrew (Very Underappreciated IMHO) I do find it funny that, as far as main casts, the acting has generally been pretty mediocre (except for maybe DS9), but casting for recurring/guest roles is generally top notch.
Trek's top actors: Armin Shimerman Rene Auberjonois Jeffrey Combs Andy Robinson Louise Fletcher Marc Alaimo J.G. Hertzler Leonard Nimoy Aron Eisenberg Max Grodénchik Colm Meaney William Shatner
You forgot the IMO, pal. Anywho, I go for Patrick Stewart, Kate Mulgrew, Brent Spiner, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelly, Andrew Robinson, Jeri Ryan and Robert Picardo.
Hmm, how about TNG: "Chain of Command, Part II"? Anyhow, among the regulars, I put Stewart, Auberjonois, and Spiner as a pretty distinct Top 3. Maybe Picardo in there, too. Honorable Mentions (again sticking to regulars) to Kelley, Nimoy, Visitor (kind of surprising no one has mentioned her yet), Meaney, Mulgrew, Ryan, McNeill. And yeah, going series versus series, including recurring actors and all, it was DS9 by miles.
I take it from your tone, that Stewart refused to sign your Star Trek merchandise at the theatre door of his award winning Macbeth last year.
Re: Trek’s top actors WellI have barely seen any Voyager or Enterprise, so I'll leave them out... Leonard Nimoy Patrick Stewart Mark Lenard DeForest Kelley Mark Alaimo Rene Auberjonois Nana Visitor Armin Shimerman Brent Spiner Colm Meaney Casey Biggs Jeffrey Combs Nichelle Nichols - despite mostly poor material or lack of material Louise Fletcher Andrew J. Robinson Michelle Forbes J.G.Herzler Avery Brooks was great at times, but he could also overact... one-time guest stars: Harris Yulin in DS9 "Duet" William Marshall in TOS "The Ultimate Computer" David Warner in TNG "Chain of Command" Diana Muldaur in TOS "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" Robert Walker Jr. in TOS "Charlie X" probably qutie a few guest stars from TNG that I can't remember right one since it's been a while since I've seen it the last time
My list is only a top 10 and it covers all 5 series, plus movies, including the new film. 1. Patrick Stewart 2. John de Lancie 3. Avery Brooks 4. Louise Fletcher 5. Ricardo Montalban 6. DeForest Kelley 7. Anton Yelchin 8. Andrew Robinson 9. Jeffrey Combs 10. Armin Shimerman
Re: Trek’s top actors I was leaving the new movie out of it and concentraing on the shows, but now that you mention, I have to add Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and Bruce Greenwood. Ricardo Montalban had a great presence and pretty much saved the character that was written in a rather lame way.
Re: Trek’s top actors Here are some of my favorites, in no particular order...or is there? Marc Alaimo Andrew Robinson Casey Biggs Lawrence Pressman (Tekeny Ghemor...seriously, that dynamic between him and Kira wouldn't have been believable if he hadn't been convincing at it!) Harris Yulin Leonard Nimoy Colm Meaney Nana Visitor Patrick Stewart (even though I don't like Picard all that much!) Bruce Greenwood
TOS: Leonard Nimoy James Doohan TNG: Pattrick Stewart Brett Spiner Dwight Schultz John De Lancie Michael Doran Marjel Barrat DS9: Armin Shimerman Rene Auberjonois Andrew Robinson Marc Alamio Jeffrey Combs VOY: Kate Mulgrew Robert Picardo Roxanne Dawson Jeri Ryan Tim Russ ENT: Dominic Keating Connor Trinneer Scott Balkua
Re: Trek’s top actors Yes! Can't believe I forgot to mention him... But then again, most of my list consists of DS9 actors.