Recurring Stars Recall Star Trek Appearances

Star Trek never ever really ends," Jeffrey Combs told the audience at the Las Vegas Creation convention two weeks ago. Combs, who played Weyoun and Brunt on Deep Space Nine and Shran on Enterprise, was one of many recurring guest stars to appear at the gathering.

StarTrek.com noted that the convention was the first ever for Rosalind Chao, though she played (Keiko O'Brien) on both The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. She was welcomed by Robert Duncan McNeill (Tom Paris), who coaches her child's Little League team, and said that being a mother had affected both her own career and Star Trek because she chose not to become a series regular along with Colm Meaney, her husband in the franchise, on DS9. She said that executive producer Rick Berman released her from permanent obligation to the show so she could film The Joy Luck Club, as well, saying, "I'm very grateful to the Star Trek people because they made it possible for me to participate in a movie that really made a difference to Asian-Americans, and it made a difference in my life as well."

Another DS9 spouse, Penny Johnson Jerald, said that she was reluctant to sign on as Kasidy Yates because "I was never a Trekkie. My husband is the Trekkie. Big-time Trekkie, way back." He convinced her to audition, and when she met Avery Brooks, whom she described as "this tall, dark, handsome, bass-speaking, intellectual, juicy-lipped man...a voice that could make you melt", the chemistry was immediate and "I couldn't wait to get to work!" She is currently working on a film about Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

John de Lancie (Q) reported that he was mostly directing for the stage in several cities, including an opera, a popular sentiment as several of the recurring characters including DS9ers James Darren (Vic Fontaine), Max Grodencik (Rom) and Chase Masterson (Leeta) sang at various convention events, including a concert with the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra and parties at which the Ferengi Family Hour sang "He's Got Two Babes."

Combs took the stage with Casey Biggs (Damar) to sing parodies by their Enterprise Blues Band, which also includes Vaughn Armstrong (Forrest), who appeared onstage with Martha Hackett (Seska) at her first U.S. convention. "I'm proud to be the only actor who has died twice in the same season," joked Armstrong, who died in both the main and mirror universes on Enterprise. "If you have been on this ride in the hotel," he added of Star Trek: The Experience, "I'll have you know, I am that over-acting Klingon chasing you. That's me. I'm so sorry!"

Other guests included Gary Graham (Soval), Gwynyth Walsh (B'Etor) and Grace Lee Whitney (Rand), who appeared with Charlie X guest star Robert Walker Jr.. Full coverage is at StarTrek.com.

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