Stars you never knew were in the Star Trek franchise

By Jessica Wedemeyer 8:13am PST, Jan 17, 2020

In the years since the "Star Trek" franchise first kicked off with "Star Trek: The Original Series" in 1966, many bold-faced names have joined the universe in various roles — big and small. But while some performances have become truly iconic, other have been lost to time. In honor of the latest installment in the expansive "Star Trek" film and TV franchise — the CBS All Access series "Star Trek: Picard," which debuts on Jan. 23, 2020 — Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at 35 celebrities who've boldly gone where apparently many A-listers have gone before, starting with Dwayne Johnson. The Rock portrayed a gladiator-like Pendari champion on a 2000 episode of "Star Trek: Voyager." Now keep reading for more!

A pre-fame Chris Hemsworth made his feature film debut in 2009's "Star Trek." He portrayed George Kirk, the father of Chris Pine's Captain James T. Kirk. For a while, there were rumors that the comely former co-stars would reunite in the upcoming 14th "Star Trek" film, but Chris H. dashed fans' hopes in mid-2019 when he told Variety, "I didn't feel like we landed on a reason to revisit that yet. I didn't want to be underwhelmed by what I was going to bring to the table." Womp!

In 1993, Kirsten Dunst appeared as Hendril, a child from a telepathic race, on an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

A pre-fame Tom Hardy portrayed the main villain — Shinzon, a Romulan-created clone of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the leader of the Reman people — in 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis."

A pre-fame Sarah Silverman portrayed astronomer Rain Robinson — who encounters the crew of the Voyager when they're thrown back in time — on two episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager" in 1996.

In 1991, a rising star by the name of Christian Slater portrayed an unnamed "Red Shirt" communications officer in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

Ashley Judd made her acting debut as Ensign Robin Lefler on two episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1991.

Iman portrayed the flirtatious criminal shapeshifter Martia, who attempts to kill Captain James T. Kirk and Doctor Leonard McCoy, in 1991's "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

Kelsey Grammer portrayed Captain Morgan Bateson, who's stuck in a time loop, on a 1992 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Famke Janssen made her television debut in 1992 on "Star Trek: The Next Generation." She portrayed the seductive Kamala, a metamorph who accidentally bonds with Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

In 1988, Teri Hatcher portrayed Lieutenant B. G. Robinson, a transporter operator, on an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Kirstie Alley made her feature film debut in 1982's "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." She portrayed the Vulcan Star Fleet Cadet trainee Saavik but was replaced by actress Robin Curtis in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home."

Adam Scott briefly popped up as a "Red Shirt" — a conn officer on the USS Defiant — in 1996's "Star Trek: First Contact." His character memorably declares, "It's the Enterprise!" as the starship swoops in to rescue his crew as they're attacked by the Borg.

Tyler Perry portrayed Admiral Richard Barnett — who presides over the Starfleet Academy board tasked with punishing James T. Kirk for cheating on the Kobayashi Maru exam — in 2009's "Star Trek."

Kim Cattrall portrayed Lieutenant Valeris — a Vulcan who was mentored by Captain Spock at Starfleet Academy and was revealed to be a traitor conspiring with the Klingons — in 1991's "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

A few years after he found fame for his work on "Family Guy," Seth MacFarlane portrayed Ensign Rivers, an engineer, on two episodes of "Star Trek: Enterprise" — first in 2004 and then again in 2005.

"Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander portrayed Kurros, a tactician and the spokesperson for a group of alien scholars, on a 1999 episode of "Star Trek: Voyager."

In 1998, Andy Dick portrayed EMH-2 Dr. Bradley, an emergency medical hologram, on an episode of "Star Trek: Voyager."

Ron Perlman was completely unrecognizable as a Reman in 2002's "Star Trek: Nemesis." He donned heaps of special effects makeup to play Shinzon's second-in-command, the villainous telepath who mentally rapes Deanna Troi.

"Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" star Jonathan Banks appeared on a 1993 episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

Before he starred as Doc Brown in "Back to the Future," Christopher Lloyd portrayed the main villain — the ruthless Klingon Commander Kruge — in 1984's "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock."

Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello has just a handful of acting credits on his résumé — and two are from the "Star Trek" franchise. In 1998, he portrayed a Son'a officer in "Star Trek: Insurrection," and in 2000, he had a brief cameo as Crewman Mitchell on an episode of "Star Trek: Voyager."

"Lost" star Terry O'Quinn portrayed Admiral Erik Pressman, the controversial commander of the USS Pegasus, on a 1994 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

In 1998, Iggy Pop portrayed alien Yelgrun on an episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

Bill Hader voiced a computer aboard the Vengeance, the vessel belonging to Benedict Cumberbatch's Khan, in 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness."

Former "Cheers" star Bebe Neuwirth portrayed the Malcorian nurse Lanel — who memorably enjoys a brief romantic tryst with Riker — on a 1991 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Long before "Dynasty" made her a household name, Joan Collins portrayed Edith Keeler — a social worker in 1930s New York City — on a time-travel-themed 1967 episode of "Star Trek: The Original Series."

Here's one you might not remember: Back in 1991, Christopher Plummer starred as a Klingon general named Chang in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

One of Vanessa Williams' earliest acting roles? Arandis — the hostess at a tourist destination on the planet Risa — on a 1996 episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

Former "That '70s Show" star Kurtwood Smith is no stranger to the extended "Star Trek" universe: He portrayed a Cardassian security officer named Thrax on a 1996 episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and then had a two-episode stint as a Krenim temporal scientist named Annorax on "Star Trek: Voyager" in 1997. But before all that, he played the president of the Federation in 1991's "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."

Fleetwood Mac co-founder Mick Fleetwood donned loads of prosthetics to play an Antedian dignitary on a 1989 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Four years before "Lost" launched him to stardom, Daniel Dae Kim portrayed an alien astronaut named Gotana-Retz on a 2000 episode of "Star Trek: Voyager."

Back in 1996, Ed Begley Jr. portrayed Henry Starling — a philanthropist and computer technology pioneer during the late 20th century — during two time-travel-themed episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager."

"Desperate Housewives" alum Brenda Strong portrayed Rashella — a member of the dwindling Aldean race — on a 1988 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Decades before her star-making turn as Sam Fox on "Better Things," Pamela Adlon popped up on a 1989 episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation." She portrayed Oji, a Mintakan record keeper responsible for measuring the daily readings from a sundial.