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John Colicos

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John Colicos
OOnt
Born(1928-12-10)December 10, 1928
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
DiedMarch 6, 2000(2000-03-06) (aged 71)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1950–1999
Spouse
Mona McHenry
​
​
(m. 1956; div. 1981)​
Children2

John Colicos OOnt (December 10, 1928 – March 6, 2000) was a Canadian actor. He was noted for his Shakespearean roles on stage, particularly with the Stratford Festival,[1] but became well-known to science fiction fans for his roles as Klingon commander Kor on Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and as the villainous Baltar on the original Battlestar Galactica.

Early life

[edit]

Colicos was born in Toronto, Ontario, to a Greek father and a Canadian mother.[2] He was raised in Montreal. He made his acting debut playing Jesus in a Christmas pageant, later joking "one of the first roles I ever played was the Son of God, and I've been going downhill ever since."[1]

As a teenager, he acted with the Canadian Art Theatre and trained at the Brae Manor Playhouse in Knowlton,[3] before making his professional debut with the Montreal Repertory Theatre.

Career

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Theatre

[edit]

Colicos worked on CBC Radio dramas with Douglas Rain.[4] In 1951, Colicos won the Best Actor Award at the Dominion Drama Festival.[4][5] He moved to England to work at the Old Vic for the 1951-52 season.[4] At the age of 22 he played the title role in King Lear, the youngest actor to play the part at the Old Vic.[6] He also starred in a production of Timon of Athens, then starred in The Ghost Writers on the West End.

In 1956, Colicos made his Broadway debut, playing Edmund in Orson Welles' production of King Lear. In 1957, he starred in Mary Stuart at the Phoenix Theatre. That same year, he joined the American Shakespeare Theatre for two seasons.[7] In 1961, Colicos joined the Stratford Festival, for four seasons. He played King Lear in the Festival's first-ever production of the play in 1964.[8]

His other New York theatre credits included The Devils (1965–66), Serjeant Musgrave's Dance (1966), and Soldiers (1967–68).[9][10] His role in the latter play, where he portrayed Winston Churchill, was described as "uncannily believable.... hypnotically interesting. The actor created, not a replica, but a strong impression of the great man."[1]

In 1982, he played "Sir" in The Dresser at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.[11]

Film and television

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Colicos made his screen acting debut in the Canadian film Forbidden Journey (1950).

Jil Jarmyn and John Colicos in War Drums (1957)

He appeared as Monks in a television version of Oliver Twist for the DuPont Show of the Month series in 1959. He also gave memorable performances in 1966 on the CBS soap opera The Secret Storm; as the unscrupulous Thomas Cromwell in the 1969 movie version of Anne of the Thousand Days; and as the governor of Umakran in the episode "The Goddess Calabra" from the 1973 TV show The Starlost.

On American television, he established himself as a science-fiction villain icon, portraying the first Klingon ever seen in the Star Trek franchise, Commander Kor in the Original Series episode "Errand of Mercy" (1967).[12] Colicos worked with Gene Roddenberry designing the look the Klingons have on Star Trek (1966). Budget constraints prevented the extensive makeup the Klingons were supposed to have so Colicos suggested they have a leathery Genghis Khan look, dark skin and hair. He also portrayed Lord Baltar in the original Battlestar Galactica movie and television series. Over a quarter-century after his initial appearance in the Star Trek franchise, Colicos reprised his role as the 140-year-old Kor in three episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, telecast between 1994 and 1998.[13]

Aside from his science-fiction roles, Colicos also appeared numerous times in episodic television from the 1960s onwards, including the portrayal of the villain on three episodes of Mission: Impossible. He appeared in four episodes of the CBC docu-drama The National Dream as the "railway general" William Cornelius Van Horne and appeared in seven episodes of Mannix. The last person shot and killed in the television series Gunsmoke (1955–1975) was Judge Flood, played by Colicos in episode 631, "Hard Labor".

Several years after his Battlestar Galactica tenure, Colicos again ventured into science fiction. In August and September 1981, he portrayed Mikkos Cassadine, a demented, power-mad businessman bent on freezing the world, on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. He was also the voice of the X-Men villain Apocalypse/En Sabah Nur (1993–1995) in the Fox Kids animated X-Men television series in the nineties, and twice played rogue alien Quinn in the first season (1988–1989) of War of the Worlds.

In 1982 he ventured into educational TV with TVOntario's award-winning production of Prophecy with John Colicos. The writer/director, Robert Gardner, recalled his initial meeting with the actor: "I had seen him scores of times in movies and television and I was very nervous. In truth, though, he was a joy to work with. Once he sensed that you were prepared he was thoroughly professional. His presence in the ninety-minute production was the main reason it went on to win the prestigious Gold Medal at the Atlanta International Film Festival."

He appeared in TV commercials during the 1990s for America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses. Colicos' final acting appearance was his reprise of Baltar in the concept demonstration trailer Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming, exhibited at many science fiction conventions in 1999.[14]

Personal life

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Colicos wed Mona McHenry in 1956 and divorced in 1981. They had two sons, Nicolas (also an actor) and Edmund.[14] The family lived at a Victorian-style mansion in Toronto, where Colicos owned a 4,000-volume theatrical research library.[1]

Colicos received the Order of Ontario in 1997.[15]

Death

[edit]

Colicos died in Toronto on March 6, 2000, at the age of 71, after a series of heart attacks.[16]

Partial stage credits

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1951-52 Timon of Athens The Old Vic, London [17]
King Lear Lear [17]
1955 The Ghost Writers Ralph Sherman Cambridge Arts Theatre, London [17]
1956 King Lear Edmund New York City Center, New York [18]
1957 The Merchant of Venice Gratiano American Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford [19]
Much Ado About Nothing Leonato [19]
Othello Lodovico [19]
Mary Stuart Sir Edward Mortimer Phoenix Theatre, New York City [20]
1958 Hamlet Laertes American Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford [19]
The Winter's Tale Leontes [19]
A Midsummer Night's Dream Lysander [19]
1961 Love's Labour's Lost Berowne Festival Theatre, Stratford [21]
Coriolanus Tullus Aufidius [21]
1962 The Tempest Caliban [21]
The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio [21]
1963 Troilus and Cressida Hector [21]
Timon of Athens Timon [21]
Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac [19]
1964 Timon of Athens Timon [21]
Love's Labour's Lost Berowne [21]
Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester [17]
King Lear Lear Festival Theatre, Stratford [21]
The Country Wife Mr. Horner [19]
1965-66 The Devils Baron de Laubardemont Broadway Theatre, New York City [18]
1966 Serjeant Musgrave's Dance Serjeant "Black Jack" Musgrave Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City [20]
1967 Macbeth Macbeth American Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford
1968 Soldiers Winston Churchill Billy Rose Theatre, New York City [18]
New Theatre, London [1]
Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto [22]
1982 The Dresser Sir Citadel Theatre, Edmonton [22]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
John Colicos film credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1950 Forbidden Journey Student [23]
1953 Appointment in London Pip Uncredited [citation needed]
1955 Barbados Quest Mustachioed Henchman U.S. title: Murder On Approval [24]
1956 Bond of Fear Dewar [25]
1956 Passport to Treason Pietro [25]
1956 Breakaway First Kidnapper [25][24]
1957 War Drums Chino [26]
1964 The Naked Flame Blackmailer Uncredited [citation needed]
1969 Anne of the Thousand Days Thomas Cromwell [27]
1971 Doctors' Wives Dr. Mort Dellman [27]
1971 Raid on Rommel Sgt. Allan MacKenzie [27]
1971 Red Sky at Morning Jimbob Buel [26]
1972 The Wrath of God Colonel Santilla [26]
1973 Scorpio McLeod [26]
1976 Breaking Point Vincent Karbone [26]
1976 Drum Bernard DeMarigny [26]
1978 Battlestar Galatica Count Baltar 125-minute Theatrical release [26]
1979 King Solomon's Treasure Allan Quatermain [27]
1979 Mission Galactica: The Cylon Attack Lord Baltar Theatrical release of a merger of 2 TV episodes [27]
1980 Conquest of the Earth Lord Baltar Theatrical release of a merger of 2 TV episodes [27]
1980 The Changeling Captain DeWitt [27]
1980 Phobia Inspector Larry Barnes [27]
1981 The Postman Always Rings Twice Nick Papadakis [26]
1986 The Last Season Walter Batterinski AKA L'Ultima Stagione [25]
1987 Nowhere to Hide General Clay Howard [27]
1988 Shadow Dancing Anthony Podopolis [27]
1995 No Contest Senator Donald Wilson [27]
1999 Battlestar Galactica: The Second Coming Baltar Short film (4-minute promotional for potential sequel film)

Television

[edit]
John Colicos television credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1953 Captain Brassbound's Conversion Sidi el Assif Television film
1953 Sunday Night Theatre Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe Episode: "Will Shakespeare"
1953 Douglas Fairbanks Presents Brown Episode: "The Heel" [25]
1953 Playbill Unknown Episode: "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime"
1953–1960 General Motors Theatre Uturu / Luke Richardson / Kroll 4 episodes
1954 The Secret Storm Matthew Devereaux
1955 London Playhouse Charlie Episode: "Adeline Girard"
1956 The Taming of the Shrew Lucentio Television film
1956 You Are There Alexander Smith Episode: "Mr. Christian Seizes the Bounty (April 28, 1789)"
1956 The Adventures of Hiram Holliday Thief Episode: "Lapidary Wheel"
1957 Studio One Gold Root Episode: "The Rice Sprout Song"
1958 DuPont Show of the Month Hindley Earnshaw Episode: "Wuthering Heights" [24]
1958–1960 DuPont Show of the Month Fernand Mondego / Monks / Mr. Arrow Episodes: "The Count of Monte Cristo", "Olifer Twist", "Treasure Island"
1959 Folio Unknown Episode: "Ward No. Six"
1959 Berkeley Square Tom Pettigrew Television film [27]
1959 The Unforeseen Count Cagliostro Episode: "Checkmate"
1959 Startime Andy Episode: "A Clearing in the Woods"
1960 The Play of the Week Mortimer Episode: "Mary Stuart"
1960 NBC Sunday Showcase Aaron Burr Episode: "Our American Heritage: Not Without Honor"
1960 Our American Heritage Aaron Burr 2 episodes
1960 Omnibus Gen. George McClellan Episode: "He Shall Have Power"
1960 Family Classics: The Three Musketeers Porthos Television film
1960–1963 The United States Steel Hour Dr. Steve Bruchesi / Edmund Hobert / Silvio 3 episodes
1961 Vanity Fair Rawdon Crawley Episode: "Part 1"
1961 The Man Born to Be King Jesus Christ Television film
1961 Festival Lord Arthur Savile Episode: "Lord Arthur Savile's Crime" [28]
1962 John Brown's Body Unknown Television film
1962 Playdate Puff / Ernst Herman / Dr. Bruchesi 3 episodes
1962 Cyrano De Bergerac Comte de Guiche Television film [27]
1963 Festival Poet Episode: "Ivan" [29]
1963 Festival Gregers Werle Episode: "The Wild Duck" [30]
1963 Festival Galileo Galilei Episode: "Galileo" [31]
1965 The Defenders District Attorney / District Attorney Scott Turner 2 episodes
1965 Profiles in Courage Sen. Davis / Patrick Henry 2 episodes
1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre Ricardo Episode: "Licence to Murder"
1967 T.H.E. Cat King Delphine Episode: "A Slight Family Trait"
1967 Star Trek: The Original Series Kor Episode: "Errand of Mercy" [24]
1967 A Choice of Futures Prime Minister Robert Ghiberti Episode: "1999"
1967–1970 Mission: Impossible Chief of Internal Security Manuel Ferrar / Milos Kuro / Commissioner Taal Jankowski 3 episodes
1967–1974 Mannix Dr. Myles Considine / Lytell / Duke Benedict / Alton K. Moore / David Barker / Eddie Lee Prentiss 7 episodes (Including Pilot) [25][24]
1969 Dulcima Mr. Parker Television film
1969 The Name of the Game Rafael Episode: "High Card" [25]
1970 The High Chaparral Matthew Kendall Episode: "The Journal of Death" [25]
1970 Then Came Bronson Harve Traine Episode: "Still Waters"
1970 It Takes a Thief The Man Episode: "Project "X""
1970 The Young Rebels British Colonel Episode: "The Blood of an Englishman"
1970, 1975 Hawaii Five-O Lorenzo Corman / Mr. Thorncrest 2 episodes
1971 Night Gallery Survivor Segment: "Lone Survivor" [25][24]
1971 Goodbye, Raggedy Ann Paul Jamison Television film [27]
1972 Longstreet Arnold Zaduck Episode: "Sad Songs and Other Conversations" [25]
1972 The F.B.I. Logan Episode: "The Test"
1972–1975 Dr. Simon Locke Dekker / Police Sergeant 2 episodes
1973 Portrait: A Man Whose Name Was John Numan Menemengioglu Television film
1973 The Starlost The Governor Episode: "The Goddess Calabra"
1974 The Magician Paul Gunther 2 episodes
1974 The Lives of Benjamin Franklin Wentworth Episode: "The Ambassador" [27]
1974 Salty Dobbs Episode: "For the Price of Freedom"
1974 The National Dream Cornelius Van Horne Television miniseries
1974–1975 Performance Smirnov 2 episodes
1974–1976 Medical Center Tom Evans / Weldman 2 episodes
1975 Gunsmoke Judge Flood Episode: "Hard Labor" [24]
1975 Insight Gus Mangel Episode: "The Pendulum"
1975 Bronk Martin Episode: "Terror" [25]
1975 Petrocelli Dimitri Episode: "Terror on Wheels"
1975 Harry O Walter Nesbitt Episode: "The Madonna Legacy" [25]
1976 The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper Moroni Television film
1976 The Wonderful World of Disney Moroni 2 episodes
1976 A Matter of Wife... and Death Joe Ruby Television film [27]
1977 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman Ambassador Orrick Episode: "The Queen and the Thief" [25][24]
1978 Switch Gilchrist Episode: "Coronado Circle"
1978 Quincy, M.E. Harlan Standish Episode: "Gone But Not Forgotten"
1978 The Six Million Dollar Man General Norbukov Episode: "The Moving Mountain" [25][24]
1978 The Bastard Lord North Television film [27]
1978 W.E.B. Harry Brooks 2 episodes [25]
1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Col. L. Morbius Episode: "Search for Atlantis" [25][24]
1978 Saga of a Star World (Battlestar Galactica) Count Baltar Television film (148-minute pilot) [26]
1978–1979 Battlestar Galactica Lord Baltar 21 episodes
1979 Sergeant T.K. Yu Gangster Television film
1979 Charlie's Angels Anton Karazna Episode: "Angel in a Box" [25][24]
1979 The Paradise Connection Major Barclay-Battles Television film [27]
1979 Vegas Dr. Victor Durrand Episode: "Dan Tanna Is Dead"
1981 General Hospital Mikkos Cassadine Episode: #1.4715
1984 The Yellow Rose Nick Pappas Episode: "Sport of Kings"
1984 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Ilya Kreschenko Episode: "Playing Possum"
1985 The Hitchhiker Mr. Stregga Episode: "Petty Thieves"
1987 Street Legal Farraday Episode: "A Little Knowledge"
1987 I'll Take Manhattan banker, Lester Maypole Television miniseries [27]
1987–1988 Night Heat Karakonis / Lech Koretski 2 episodes
1987–1989 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Lestrade / Moriarty / Carter Talbot 2 episodes [25]
1989 War of the Worlds Quinn 2 episodes
1989 Love and Hate: The Story of Colin and JoAnn Thatcher Serge Kujawa Television film [27]
1990 In Defense of a Married Man Charles Evers Television film [27]
1991 E.N.G. Lionel Hirsch Episode: "Smoke and Mirrors"
1992–1993 X-Men: The Animated Series Apocalypse / En Sabah Nur (voice) 4 episodes [32]
1993 Beyond Reality Sinclair Episode: "Bloodstone"
1993 Counterstrike Vince Egan Episode: "The Contender"
1994–1998 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Kor 3 episodes [24]
1997 The Last Don Eli Marrion Television miniseries [27]
1997 Fast Track Dr. Wallace Beckett Episode: "Fathers & Sons"
1997 Windsor Protocol Gerhardt Heinzer / Albert Greenfield Television film [27]
1998 Thunder Point Heinzer Television film
1998 My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story Richard Eberling (in jail) Television film [27]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Bergan, Ronald (2000-03-08). "John Colicos". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  2. ^ Moskos, Charles C. (1989). Greek Americans: Struggle and Success. Transaction Publishers. p. 150. ISBN 9781412824835 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Colicos, John". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Actor noted for Stratford roles". The Globe and Mail. 7 March 2000. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  5. ^ "John Colicos". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Stage and Film Actor, John Colicos, Dead at 71". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  7. ^ "John Colicos theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  8. ^ "King Lear (1964, Stratford Festival of Canada)". Internet Shakespeare Editions. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  9. ^ "Theater: 'Lear,' as Colicos Sees Him; Portrait of Tragic King Given on Ontario Stage". The New York Times. June 19, 1964. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  10. ^ Simonson, Robert (March 8, 2000). "Stage and Film Actor, John Colicos, Dead at 71". Playbill. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  11. ^ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Colicos, John". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  12. ^ Laurie Ulster (March 11, 2021). "13 Original Series Actors Who Couldn't Get Enough Trek". StarTrek.com.
  13. ^ Spelling, Ian (September 8, 1995). "LOOKING BACK WITH A FORMIDABLE KLINGON". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "John Colicos, TV, Film and Stage Actor, 71". The New York Times. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. March 8, 2000. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  15. ^ "The Order of Ontario | ontario.ca". www.ontario.ca. 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  16. ^ "John Colicos". The Guardian. March 7, 2000. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d "John Colicos | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  18. ^ a b c "King Lear – Broadway Play – 1956 Revival | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h "John Colicos theatre profile". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  20. ^ a b "John Colicos". www.iobdb.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i "King Lear (1964, Stratford Festival of Canada)". Internet Shakespeare Editions. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  22. ^ a b "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Colicos, John". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
  23. ^ Lentz (III), Harris M. (2000). Obituaries in the Performing Arts. McFarland & Company. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-7864-1024-8. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "John Colicos". Apple TV+. Apple, Inc. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "John Colicos". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media / NBCUniversal. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i "John Colicos". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "John Colicos: Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Festival - 1961-01-16 - Lord Arthur Savile's Crime". CBC Archive Sales. CBC / Société Radio Canada. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Festival - 1963-02-11 - Ivan". CBC Archive Sales. CBC / Société Radio Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Festival - 1963-02-25 - The Wild Duck". CBC Archive Sales. CBC / Société Radio Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Festival - 1963-03-25 - Galileo". CBC Archive Sales. CBC / Société Radio Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  32. ^ "John Colicos". Behind The Voice Actors. Inyxception Enterprises. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
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