Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Dorn at the 2019 GalaxyCon Richmond | |
| Born | December 9, 1952 Luling, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Pasadena City College |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American film, television and voice actor, who is known for his role as Worf in the Star Trek franchise.
From his first appearance in the 1987 series premiere episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", to his last in Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002, Dorn has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other Star Trek actor in the franchise's history, spanning four films and 272 television episodes. He also appeared as Worf's ancestor, Colonel Worf, in the 1991 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Following the end of his Star Trek career, Dorn had supporting roles in a number of independent feature films, including Shadow Hours (2000), Lessons for an Assassin (2001), and the Santa Clause trilogy, in which he appeared in a minor role as the Sandman.
Early life
Dorn was born in Luling, Texas, the son of Allie Lee (née Nauls) and Fentress Dorn, Jr.[1] He grew up in Pasadena, California. He studied radio and television production at Pasadena City College. From there, he pursued a career in music as a performer with several different rock music bands, traveling to San Francisco and then back to Los Angeles.
Career
Early work
Dorn first appeared in Rocky (1976) as Apollo Creed's bodyguard, though he was not credited.[2] He also appeared as a guest on the television show W.E.B. in 1978. The producer was impressed with his work, so he introduced Dorn to an agent who then introduced him to acting teacher Charles E. Conrad to study acting for six months. He then landed a regular role on the television series CHiPs.[2]
Star Trek
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Dorn's most notable role to date is that of the Klingon Starfleet officer Lieutenant (later Lt. Commander) Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
"If what happened to the first cast is called being typecast," Dorn says, "then I want to be typecast. Of course, they didn't get the jobs after 'Trek.' But they are making their sixth movie. Name me someone else in television who has made six movies!"[3]
Dorn has appeared on-screen in more Star Trek episodes and movies as the same character than anyone else: he appeared in 175 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (missing only the episodes "Code of Honor", "Haven", and "Shades of Gray"), 102 episodes of Deep Space Nine and four Star Trek movies, bringing his total to 281 appearances as Worf. Dorn is also one of six actors to lend his voice to Star Trek: Captain's Chair, reprising his role of Lieutenant Commander Worf.
Dorn's appearance in the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was as Colonel Worf, representing Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy at their trial on Qo'noS and also unmasking the real assassin, Colonel West.
Dorn directed the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes "In the Cards", "Inquisition" and "When It Rains...", and the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Two Days and Two Nights".
In 2012, Dorn announced a desire to return to his Klingon role in a television series tentatively titled Star Trek: Captain Worf. He said:
I had come up with the idea because I love [Worf] and I think he's a character that hasn't been fully developed and hasn't been fully realized. Once I started thinking about it, it became obvious to me that I wanted to at least put it out there, which I have, and the response has been pretty amazing. We've been contacted by different individuals–I can't say who and all that–about wanting to come on board and be part of this.[4]
In 2014, Dorn participated in the fan produced Star Trek episode "Fairest of Them All", giving his voice to the computer of the Mirror Universe Enterprise.[5]
During the production of Star Trek: The Next Generation, castmates occasionally used the nickname "Turtle Head" when referring to Michael Dorn.[6]
Other work
Dorn has appeared in a number of TV shows, films, and video games. He has been the spokesman for Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo, and has appeared in a Dodge Dart car commercial.
Dorn has appeared as Worf on Webster and Family Guy, the latter along with fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation stars. He had a recurring role on the television series Castle, playing the therapist of NYPD police detective Kate Beckett.[7]
Dorn appeared in a 2012 tongue-in-cheek television commercial for Chrysler as "Future Guy", a time traveler sent from the future to assist development of the 2013 Dodge Dart.[8] He also plays the role of General Thain in the "Castlevania: Hymn of Blood" web series.[9]
Personal life
A member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association,[10] Dorn is an accomplished pilot. He has flown with the Blue Angels as well as the Thunderbirds.[2] Dorn has owned several jet aircraft, including a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, which he jokingly refers to as his "starship",[11] a North American F-86 Sabre, and currently owns a North American Sabreliner. Dorn also serves on several aviation organizations, one of which is the Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation,[12] where he is on the advisory board. He has done interviews for the "Private Jets" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel.
Dorn stated in a 2010 interview that he had been diagnosed with an "early early" stage of prostate cancer, which led him to become a vegan.[13]
Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Rocky | Apollo Creed's bodyguard (uncredited) | Dorn's film debut |
| 1977 | Demon Seed | bit part (uncredited) | |
| 1985 | Jagged Edge | Dan Hislan | |
| 1991 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | Klingon Defense Attorney (Colonel Worf) | |
| 1994 | Star Trek Generations | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 1995 | Timemaster | Chairman | |
| 1995 | Mission Critical | Commander | |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 1997 | Menno's Mind | Simon, Menno's Friend | |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 2000 | Shadow Hours | Detective Thomas Greenwood | |
| 2000 | The Prophet's Game | Bob Bowman | |
| 2001 | The Gristle | Tar | |
| 2001 | Mach 2 | Rogers | |
| 2001 | Ali | Black pilot | |
| 2002 | Face Value | Hitman | |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 2002 | The Santa Clause 2 | Sandman | Cameo |
| 2003 | Shade | Jack Thornhill | |
| 2003 | Lessons For an Assassin | Quinn | |
| 2003 | The Interplanetary Surplus Male and Amazon Women of Outer Space | Sam the Bartender | Straight-to-DVD film |
| 2005 | Heart of the Beholder | Lieutenant Larson | |
| 2005 | Thru the Moebius Strip | King Tor (voice) | |
| 2006 | The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | Sandman | |
| 2007 | Fist of the Warrior | Arnold Denton | |
| 2007 | Night Skies | Kyle | |
| 2007 | The Deep Below | Carl Bennett | |
| 2009 | Bionicle: The Legend Reborn | Mata Nui (voice) | Straight-to-DVD film |
| 2012 | Strange Frame | Guardship Commander | |
| 2015 | Ted 2 | Rick | |
| 2017 | The Man from Earth: Holocene | Dr. Parker | |
| 2019 | Wonder Woman: Bloodlines | Ferdinand the Minotaur (voice) | Straight-to-DVD film |
Television
| Years | Television show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1982 | CHiPs | Officer Jebediah Turner | 31 episodes |
| 1981 | Knots Landing | Paramedic | Episode: "The Vigil" |
| 1985 | 227 | Lester's friend | 1 episode |
| 1985 | Hunter | Highway Patrolman | Episode: "Waiting for Mr. Wrong" |
| 1986–1987 | Days of Our Lives | Jimmy | |
| 1987–1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Lieutenant Worf | Main role, 7 seasons |
| 1988 | Reading Rainbow | Himself | Episode: "The Bionic Bunny Show" |
| 1989 | Webster | Lieutenant Worf | Episode: "Webtrek" |
| 1991–1994 | Dinosaurs | Elders, Solomon the Great, WESAYSO Announcer (voices) | Recurring role |
| 1994 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Mutilor | Episode: "When Strikes Mutilor" |
| 1994–1997 | Gargoyles | Coldstone, Taurus | Recurring role |
| 1995 | Amanda and the Alien | Lieutenant Vint | Television film |
| 1995 | World of Wonder | Himself – Host | Science show on the Discovery Channel |
| 1995–1996 | Fantastic Four | Gorgon | 2 episodes |
| 1995–1999 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Lieutenant Commander Worf | Main role, 4 seasons |
| 1995–2000 | The Outer Limits | Pete Claridge | Episode: "The Voyage Home" |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Apollo | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys | Lord Nebula | 2 episodes |
| 1996–2000 | Superman: The Animated Series | Kalibak and John Henry Irons / Steel | Recurring role |
| 1997–1999 | I Am Weasel | I.M. Weasel (voice) | Main role |
| 1998 | Haunted History | Narrator (voice) | Episode: "Haunted History: Charleston" |
| 2000 | Martial Law | Councilman Tynan | Episode: "No Quarter" |
| 2001 | 7th Heaven | Mr. Johnson | |
| 2002 | Through the Fire | Michael Collins | Television film |
| 2003 | Justice League | Kalibak (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time | Rufus 3000 (voice) | Television film |
| 2003 | Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Kraven the Hunter (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2003–2005 | Duck Dodgers | The Martian Centurion Robots, Captain Long, Klunkin Warrior (voice) | Main role |
| 2004–2005 | Megas XLR | R.E.G.I.S. Mark V and Number 14 (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2004–2007 | Danny Phantom | Fright Knight (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Kalibak (voice) | Episode: "The Ties That Bind" |
| 2005 | Descent | General Fielding | Television film |
| 2005, 2009 | Family Guy | Lieutenant Worf, Himself (voice) | Episodes: "Peter's Got Woods" "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven" |
| 2006 | All You've Got | Fire Captain Diaz | Television film |
| 2006 | A.I. Assault | General Buskirk | Television film |
| 2006 | Fallen Angels | Taylor | Television film |
| 2009 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Bane, Krull the Eternal (voices) | Episode: "Menace of the Conqueror Caveman" |
| 2009 | Heroes | President of the United States | Episode: "An Invisible Thread" |
| 2010 | Adventure Time | Gork (voice) | Episode: "Freak City" |
| 2010 | It's a Trap! | Lieutenant Worf | |
| 2011–2015 | Castle | Dr. Carver Burke | |
| 2011 | Winx Club | Lord Darkar (voice, Nickelodeon dub) | Recurring role |
| 2012, 2014 | Regular Show | Thomas the Demon (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2015–2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Captain Mozar (voice) | Recurring role |
| 2016–2017 | Arrow | Prometheus (voice) | Recurring role (uncredited)[14][15] |
| 2017 | Supergirl | "Crisis on Earth-X" (uncredited) | |
| 2017 | Transformers: Titans Return | Fortress Maximus (voice) | Web Series |
| 2017–2019 | The Lion Guard | Bupu (voice) | Recurring role |
| 2018 | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | Red Strike, I.M. Weasel (voice) | Episode: "Crossover Nexus" |
Video games
References
- ^ "Michael Dorn Family Tree". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Star Trek Database – Dorn, Michael". Star Trek Database. CBS Entertainment. Retrieved December 10, 2011.
- ^ Teitelbaum, Sheldon (May 5, 1991). "How Gene Roddenberry and his Brain Trust Have Boldly Taken 'Star Trek' Where No TV Series Has Gone Before : Trekking to the Top". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. 16. Archived from the original on November 6, 2015. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ Schaefer, Sandy (September 4, 2012). "Michael Dorn Confirms He's Working on a 'Star Trek: Captain Worf' TV Series". Screen Rant. IndieClick Film Network. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ^ Sloan, Sam. "Star Trek Continues: Fairest Of Them All – A Slice of SciFi Review". Slice of SciFi. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ^ "Trek Directors' School: Jonathan Frakes". startrek.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ "Castle Exclusive: Star Trek's Michael Dorn Is Beckett's Shrink". TV Guide. August 4, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ Vellequette, Larry (September 5, 2012). "Chrysler's latest treat wears a silver suit". Automotive News. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- ^ "Warp Factor 2 announces "Castlevania: Hymn of Blood" Web Series". PRWeb. October 26, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
- ^ "AOPA Online: Instructor Reports". Aopa.org. November 30, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ Freeze, Di. "Michael Dorn: A Trek worth Remembering". Airportjournals.com. Airport Journals. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
- ^ ":::Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation :::". Afahf.org. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ "Worf from 'Star Trek' goes vegan".
- ^ Schedeen, Jesse (June 1, 2017). "Arrow: Season 5 Review". IGN. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ Guggenheim, Marc (April 5, 2017). "marcguggenheim". "tumblr". Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ Forté, Malik (February 18, 2016). "Master of Orion Voice Cast Includes Mark Hamill, Michael Dorn, and More". Nerdist. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ "LEGO DC Super-Villains Story Trailer Brings Back Classic Animated Series Voice Actors". GameRevolution. August 21, 2018.
- ^ "Indivisible Cast List Revealed". August 6, 2019.
External links
- Michael Dorn at IMDb
- Michael Dorn at the TCM Movie Database
- Michael Dorn at AllMovie
- Michael Dorn: A Trek Worth Remembering
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1952 births
- Living people
- African-American male actors
- African-American television directors
- American aviators
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male video game actors
- American male voice actors
- American television directors
- Male actors from Pasadena, California
- Male actors from Texas
- Pasadena City College alumni
- People from Caldwell County, Texas
- People from Luling, Texas
- 20th-century American male actors