So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality?

[enterprisecvn65]

I'm sure on a board of this knowledge level a lot of people know already but I thought what the hell I'll ask it anyway.

So of all the characters in the all the Star Trek series, which one was the most bona fide total badass in real life?

I know the answer is technically subjective, but I think it's pretty hard to argue with the answer I'm looking for.

Hint: It WASN'T William Shatner.

 

[Melakon]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

So of all the characters in the all the Star Trek series, which one was the most bona fide total badass in real life?

The actors exist in real life. Their characters do not.

Toughest in real life was probably James Doohan, participant at Juno Beach on D-Day.

 

[enterprisecvn65]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

So of all the characters in the all the Star Trek series, which one was the most bona fide total badass in real life?

The actors exist in real life. Their characters do not.

Toughest in real life was probably James Doohan, participant at Juno Beach on D-Day.

Thanks professor for the correction in semantics.

And Yes it was Doohan. He stormed the beaches on D-day, led his squad through a mine field, shot (and I presume killed) two German snipers. Then when returning from a night patrol got shot SIX times by an overly nervous allied sentry. 4 in the leg, 1 in the chest and 1 that blew half his middle finger off on one of his hands. Only reason why the one in the chest didn't kill him was his metal cigarette case took most of the force (who says smoking isn't healthy).

As if that wasn't enough he became a pilot and once took a trainer through an obstacle course consisting of slaloming around telephone poles on a mountain side. His reason? just to show "It could be done".

I'm sure there's more that isn't specifically documented that he did. After all the war didn't end once the allies took Normandy, but that seems like it takes the top spot to me for being a real life macho stud.

So he was in real life what William Shatner was on TV and film. I think if Klingons knew that about Scotty they'd be s######g their pants on those occasions when he assumed command of the Enterprise on TOS.

Yes I'm aware BTW that the CHARACTER Scotty didn't do these things, that the ACTOR James Doohan did, so Klingons wouldn't have any real reason to fear the guts of this man. But I'm not going to take the time to explain the sarcastic tone of that comment if you can't figure it out.

 

[Melakon]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Thanks professor for the correction in semantics.

It was 7:22am when I wrote that, I've been awake less than 2 hours, and am not fully caffeinated and nicotined yet.

 

[Green Shirt]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Thanks professor for the correction in semantics.

Just be glad you weren't paid a visit from the hypothetical guy who has seemingly made it his mission and life's work to jump all over people's posts which don't measure up to his standards of perfection. Makes you want to take a shower after reading his critique.

 

[enterprisecvn65]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Thanks professor for the correction in semantics.

It was 7:22am when I wrote that, I've been awake less than 2 hours, and am not fully caffeinated and nicotined yet.

Fair enough. Call it even. Carry on.

 

[Melakon]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

One problem with single question guessing game threads like this, is once the question is answered, the thread is effectively over. Some sort of less specific title might help in cases like this, with the person with the right answer asking a new question, but then it just turns into Star Trek Trivial Pursuit.

 

[Push The Button]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Limiting it just to the actors, Doohan was the first one that came to mind for me, though some of the other actors also served during WWII, De Kelley for one, as well as some of the extras and guest stars. If we widen the scope out to behind the camera, then you can include Roddenberry (bomber pilot and police officer), Coon, Jefferies, and many others.

 

[Lance]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

If we widen the scope out to behind the camera, then you can include Roddenberry (bomber pilot and police officer), Coon, Jefferies, and many others.

Wasn't Bob Justman also a highway patrolman or something as well?

They made 'em tougher in those days.

I've often thought that's sometimes what modern "celebrities" lack. They've kind of got everything handed to them on a plate, some of them quite literally so, whereas entertainers of past generations really had tough lives. Because they lived in tough times. But it meant they were probably much more rounded individuals. Can somebody send Miley Cyrus off to the middle east please?

 

[Green Shirt]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Wasn't Bob Justman also a highway patrolman or something as well?

IIRC he was some kind of auxiliary police officer, or something.

 

[wulfio]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

I didn't know that about Doohan. That's very interesting.

 

[Silvercrest]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

I was going to suggest "The Rock" to the OP. But even as a joke, that would be a disservice to Mr. Doohan.

It was 7:22am when I wrote that, I've been awake less than 2 hours, and am not fully caffeinated and nicotined yet.

You know, smoking is bad for your--

err, what?

*reads back*

Oh. Never mind. Carry on.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

If we widen the scope out to behind the camera, then you can include Roddenberry (bomber pilot and police officer), Coon, Jefferies, and many others.

Wasn't Bob Justman also a highway patrolman or something as well?

They made 'em tougher in those days.

I've often thought that's sometimes what modern "celebrities" lack. They've kind of got everything handed to them on a plate, some of them quite literally so, whereas entertainers of past generations really had tough lives. Because they lived in tough times. But it meant they were probably much more rounded individuals. Can somebody send Miley Cyrus off to the middle east please?

Huh? I doubt they had everything handed to them prior to becoming celebrities. Some might have, especially if like Cyrus they came from a celebrity family and became famous at an early age. Others might have struggled just as hard as any "old time" celebrity. And I'm sure more than a few "old time" celebrities had everything handed to them once their fame hit as well. The stories of Hollywood excess didn't begin this Century.

As for the question. I'll give it to Doohan.

 

[Lance]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

If we widen the scope out to behind the camera, then you can include Roddenberry (bomber pilot and police officer), Coon, Jefferies, and many others.

Wasn't Bob Justman also a highway patrolman or something as well?

They made 'em tougher in those days.

I've often thought that's sometimes what modern "celebrities" lack. They've kind of got everything handed to them on a plate, some of them quite literally so, whereas entertainers of past generations really had tough lives. Because they lived in tough times. But it meant they were probably much more rounded individuals. Can somebody send Miley Cyrus off to the middle east please?

Huh? I doubt they had everything handed to them prior to becoming celebrities. Some might have, especially if like Cyrus they came from a celebrity family and became famous at an early age. Others might have struggled just as hard as any "old time" celebrity. And I'm sure more than a few "old time" celebrities had everything handed to them once their fame hit as well. The stories of Hollywood excess didn't begin this Century.

My point wasn't really about people being handed the silver spoon from birth, more about a generation of people (more than just celebrities, even) having less in the way of life experiences than their forebears.

That Doohan had been through so much undoubtedly informed the type of person he was. That the likes of Miley or Kim or Justin haven't, likewise informs the type of people they are.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not 'seriously' suggesting conscription. (I'm not 'seriously' suggesting anything, really. ) But you know, I think there is definitely something to be said for such shallow people as the above mentioned being held up as "role models" today. Past generations really knew stuff and had done stuff. Like I said, life experiences. I think they were people who were real achievers. More rounded people.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Life can be experienced in a lot of different ways. Not everyone of that generation is Kim, Justin or Miley. Their experiences are unique to them and probably not even close to typical.

 

[Lance]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Life can be experienced in a lot of different ways. Not everyone of that generation is Kim, Justin or Miley. Their experiences are unique to them and probably not even close to typical.

^ True. I don't deny that in my facile quest for a humorous tone, I did overgeneralize. I apologize humbly to any Miley Cyrus fans who may have been upset by my wholely facetious suggestion.

 

[thumbtack]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Can somebody send Miley Cyrus off to the middle east please?

That just might work.

 

[EnriqueH]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Anyone read Doohan's autobiography? Some pretty badass stuff in it.

Pointing a gun at a fellow officer during WWII?

Leading solidiers?

D-Day veteran?

 

[Captain Rob]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Not a war veteran, but how about the woman that played Lt Palmer on TNG's "Second Chances"? She was a walk on and played the transporter tech.
But in real life she's Dr Mae Jemison; a Space Shuttle astronaut and the first African-American woman in space.

 

[DS9forever]

Re: So anyone know which Trek actor was the toughest bada## in reality

Avery Brooks did his own stunts in DS9. He was also Hawk in Spenser: For Hire.