Mark Lenard
Mark Lenard | |
|---|---|
| File:STBalofTerror.jpg The Romulans from Balance of Terror, Mark Lenard (left) and Lawrence Montaigne | |
| Born | Leonard Rosenson |
| Occupation(s) | Film, television actor |
| Years active | Template:Fy–Template:Fy |
| Spouse(s) | Ann Amouri (1960-1996) (his death) 2 children |
Mark Lenard (15 October 1924 - 22 November 1996) was a US actor, primarily in television.
Biography
Lenard was born Leonard Rosenson in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a Russian Jewish immigrant, Abraham, and his wife, Bessie. He joined the United States Army in 1943 and trained to be a paratrooper during World War II but did not see actual combat and was discharged in 1946 as a technical sergeant.[1]
A graduate of the University of Michigan, Lenard was best known as the actor who played Spock's father Sarek in Star Trek: The Original Series and later in Star Trek: The Next Generation. He was one of the first actors to appear in more than one Star Trek series as the same character and to play more than one character. He played the first Romulan seen on the show and the first Klingon with a ridged forehead. Lenard wanted to appear in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan but Sarek was not a character in the film and there were no further substantial alien roles. Lenard did however eventually appear as Sarek in supporting roles in three Star Trek feature films: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984); Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986); and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).
Lenard was also known for roles outside the Star Trek series. He played the character Aaron Stempel in Here Come the Brides and the hostile gorilla Urko in the television series Planet of the Apes. He also made a guest appearance on Little House on the Prairie in the episode "Journey in the Spring, Part I" playing Peter Ingalls, older brother of Charles Ingalls. He had roles in Gunsmoke several times, including the episode "No Where to Run" (1968). He also guest starred in several episodes of the original Mission: Impossible, including one with Leonard Nimoy; and one episode of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Lenard also played a lead role in the movie Noon Sunday filmed on Guam with costars Keye Luke, TV series star John Russell from Lawman, and character actor Stacy Harris.
Lenard died of multiple myeloma in New York City, New York in 1996 at the age of 72.
Films
- Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) ... Klingon Captain
- Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) ... Ambassador Sarek
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) ... Ambassador Sarek
- Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) ... Ambassador Sarek
Television
- Star Trek: The Original Series: "Balance of Terror" (1966) (Romulan Commander)
- Star Trek: The Original Series: "Journey to Babel" (1967) (Sarek)
- Star Trek: The Animated Series: "Yesteryear" (1973) Voice of (Sarek)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Sarek" (1990)
- Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Unification" (1991)
- Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: "Journey to Oasis" (1981)