Summary
It’s been 25 years sinceStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended, and the cast have gone on to do some great things in the years after “What You Leave Behind” aired. It’s hardly surprising that actors like Rene Auberjonois and Colm Meaney continued to be in-demand actors given their impressive movie credits in the years beforeDS9. However, the rest of thecast ofDeep Space Ninehave also built on the increased profile afforded to them by theStar Trekfranchise to do some truly great work.
When leaving a long-running TV show likeStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, it can be difficult for actors to escape type-casting. While many cast members have remained working in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, their talents have ensured these characters are indistinguishable from their belovedDS9characters. Thebest episodes ofDS9showcase an ensemble of incredibly talented performers and so it’s no surprise that Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor and the cast moved on to some fascinating new projects after theStar Trek: Deep Space Ninefinale.
Recasting Star Trek: DS9 For A Movie Reboot
If Paramount wanted to add Deep Space Nine to Star Trek’s Kelvin timeline, how would they find the right Hollywood stars to play DS9’s cast?
10Michael Dorn as Lt. Commander Worf
Michael Dorn reprised the role of Worf in 2023.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s finale wasn’t the end for Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn), who returned for one finalStar Trek: The Next Generationmovie in 2002.Star Trek: Nemesiswas far from anyone’s finest hour, particularly Worf, who didn’t have much to do beyond shooting at things. In the years betweenNemesisandWorf’s return inStar Trek: Picardseason 3,Michael Dorn has made a consistent living from voice work on acclaimed video games likeMass Effect 2andFallout: New Vegas,in which he voiced Gatatog Uvenk and Marcus, respectively.
Fortress Maximus
Transformers: Titans Return
As well as video games, Michael Dorn has also provided the voices of many characters in animated shows as diverse as Disney’sThe Lion Guardand girtty superhero show,Invincible. On the subject of superheroes, Michael Dorn also had an uncredited role as the voice of Prometheus in five episodes of the DC showArrow,and played the Presidentof the United States inHeroes. Like manyof his fellowStar Trekactors, Dorn has also worked with Seth McFarlane onFamily GuyandTed 2, in which he played Rick, who in one scene cosplayed as Lt. Worf fromStar Trek: The Next Generation.
you’re able to follow Michael Dorn on X, formerly Twitter, with the handle@akaWorf.
9Nicole de Boer as Lt. Ezri Dax
Best known as Ezri Dax, Nicole de Boer’s most substantial role sinceStar Trek: DS9ended was as Sarah Bracknell Bannerman in the TV adaptation ofThe Dead Zone, which ran between 2002 and 2007. Nicole de Boer then became one of the manyactors who starred inStar TrekandStargate, playing Dr. Alison Porter inStargate Atlantisseason 5, episode 7, “Whispers”. Nicole de Boer then had a series of guest roles in procedural shows likeCracked,Perception, before securing a recurring role as Becca D’Orsay inPrivate Eyes. Nicole De Boer also reprised the role of Ezri Dax forStar Trek: Online.
Nicole de Boer is on X as@Nikki_deboer, but hasn’t been active since 2023.
8Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
Cirroc Lofton now hosts The 7th Rule: A Star Trek Podcast
Jake Sisko actor Cirroc Lofton went straight fromStar Trek: Deep Space Nineto a regular role as Curtis Thorpe in basketball dramaThe Hoop Life, which ran between 1999 and 2000. Following that, Cirroc Lofton had a handful of guest roles in shows likeSoul Food,Invasion, andCSI: Miami. Lofton has maintained a strong relationship withStar Trekfandom, appearing in fan films, likeStar Trek: Of Gods and Men, in which he played Sevar, the half-Vulcan son of Captain Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols).
Star Trek Actors Credit Avery Brooks for Cirroc Lofton’s “Great” DS9 Performance
Cirroc Lofton’s performance as Jake Sisko on Star Trek: DS9 was “great” thanks to Avery Brooks, say Star Trek actors on The Delta Flyers podcast.
Cirroc Lofton now hostsThe 7th Rule, theStar Trekpodcast he began with his close friend andStar Trek: Deep Space Nineco-star, Aron Eisenberg. When Aron Eisenberg tragically died in 2019, Lofton continued to host the podcast with Ryan T. Husk and Aron’s widow, Malissa Longo. What began as aDS9podcast has now expanded into the widerStar Trekcanon, recently adding Walter Koenig to the podcast to provide his commentary on classic episodes ofThe Original Series. To learn more about the podcast, you can follow @CirrocL and @7thRule on X.
7Armin Shimerman as Quark
Quark returned to Star Trek in 2022.
A year afterStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended in 1999, Armin Shimerman made one final appearance as Principal Snyder inBuffy the Vampire Slayer, season 4, episode 22, “Restless”. SinceDS9, Shimerman has voiced multiple characters in cartoons and video games, most notably voicing Dr. Nefarious in theRatchet & Clankgames.In 2006, Armin Shimerman was reunited with Rene Auberjonois onBoston Legal, in which he played Judge Brian Hopper in six episodes.Shimerman and Worf actor Michael Dornalso contributed various voices to the animated seriesUncle Grandpain 2016.
MultipleBioshockgames (2007–2014)
MultipleRatchet & Clankgames (2004-2012)
Judge Brian Hopper
Boston Legal(2006)
Armin Shimerman reprised the role of Quark forStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 3, episode 6, “Hear All, Trust Nothing” in 2022. Outside his screen work, Shimerman has been an Adjunct Professor at University of Southern California since 2017, teaching the works of William Shakespeare. Shimerman also does a great deal of work with SAG/AFTRA and co-chairs one of their charitable committees (viaArminShimerman.com). Shimerman is also a passionate supporter of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, raising money with theTrek Against Cancerteam for the annual Purple Stride walk.
6Colm Meaney as Chief O’Brien
Meaney’s film work continues long after DS9.
Colm Meaney has played some extraordinary roles on film and television sinceStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended. It’s possibly due to his contract allowing him to pursue movie roles while working onDS9, but it seems that Colm Meaney hasn’t stopped working since 1999. Some ofColm Meaney’s most memorable performances in the years afterDS9include Gene in 2004’sLayer Cake, opposite future James Bond, Daniel Craig, and Thomas ‘Doc’ Durrant in the AMC seriesHell on Wheels.
Hell on Wheelsmade Anson Mount a household name in the years before he was cast as Captain Christopher Pike inStar Trek.
More recently, Colm Meaney has been seen in the likes ofIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,Gangs of London, andThe Singapore Grip. Meaney has also recently made a handful of movies with Liam Neeson;MarloweandIn the Land of Saints and Sinners. In 2017, Colm Meaney won Best Actor in a Lead Role at the 2017 Irish Film and Television Awards for his role as Northern Irish politician Martin McGuinness inThe Journey. Colm Meaney will next be seen in Neil Marshall’s upcoming crime movie,Duchess, released later in 2024.
Colm Meaney’s Best 10 Acting Roles (Including Star Trek: DS9’s Chief O’Brien)
DS9’s Colm Meaney is one of the best actors to appear in Star Trek and these brilliant roles display the depths of the iconic Chief O’Brien star.
5Rene Auberjonois as Constable Odo
Rene Auberjonois teamed up with William Shatner on Boston Legal
Rene Auberjonois' most notable role afterStar Trek: Deep Space Ninewas as Paul Lewiston inBoston Legal, co-starring with Captain Kirk actor, William Shatner. Among many roles prior to being cast as Paul in 2004,Rene Auberjonois appeared inStar Trek: Enterpriseand made a memorable guest appearance inFrasieras Professor William Tewksbury. Having worked with Hollywood auteur Robert Altman in the 1970s, Rene Auberjonois had a late period partnership with indie auteur Kelly Reichardt, with whom he made the filmsCertain WomenandPoor Cowbefore his death in 2019.
4Alexander Siddig as Dr. Julian Bashir
From Bashir to Batman.
Alexander Siddig went on to star in some of the biggest TV shows of the past 20 years afterStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended. Although probably best known for playing Ra’s al Ghul inGotham, Siddig has also appeared in huge US shows like24andGame of Thrones. Alexander Siddig has also worked with director-producers like Ridley Scott and the Russo Brothers on the moviesKingdom of Heavenand21 Bridges, respectively. Raised in the UK as a child, Siddig has appeared on British TV in popular shows likePeaky BlindersandPrimeval, and has done voice work for variousDoctor Whoaudio plays.
3Terry Farrell as Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax
Terry Farrell retired from acting in 2002.
AfterStar Trek: DS9killed off Jadzia Dax, Terry Farrell joined the cast of the Ted Danson sitcom,Beckerin 1998. Farrell played Reggie Kostas, who appeared to have been set up as a love interest for Danson’s misanthropic Dr. John Becker. However, this idea was eventually pared back and Reggie was written out ofBeckerin season 4. Terry Farrell retired from acting to focus on her family shortly after, in 2002. It’s recently been announced (viaDeadline) that Terry Farrell will star in the movie, The Glass Mind, alongsideResident Alien’s Sara Tomko.
You can follow Terry Farrell on X, formerly Twitter, @4terryfarrell.
Why Ezri Replaced Jadzia As Dax Explained By Star Trek: DS9 Writer
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 7 replaced Jadzia Dax with Ezri Dax, and Ronald D. Moore details why they didn’t create a new character instead.
2Nana Visitor as Colonel Kira Nerys
Nana Visitor is writing a book about the women of Star Trek
Nana Visitor remained close to the science fiction genre afterStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended. Visitor has since had a string of guest roles in James Cameron’sDark Angel, Ronald D. Moore’sBattlestar Galacticareboot, and theDoctor Whospinoff,Torchwood: Miracle Day. Nana Visitor also had a regular role inWildfire, a family drama co-created by formerDS9showrunner, Michael Piller. Nana Visitor has also worked with Seth McFarlane, lending her voice to various characters inFamily Guybetween 2009 and 2014, and later appearing as an Adoption Agent inTed 2.
Friday the 13th(2009)
Olivia Colasanto
Torchwood: Miracle Day(2011)
More recently, Nana Visitor reprised the role of Colonel Kira Nerys forStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 3, episode 6, “Hear All, Trust Nothing”. Visitor has also been working on a book,Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek, which focuses on the inspiring stories ofStar Trek’s female stars across six decades, due for release later in 2024. You can learn more about the book by following Nana Visitor on socials, as she details below:
1Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko
Avery Brooks is believed to have retired from acting.
Avery Brooks has become something of an enigma sinceStar Trek: Deep Space Nineended in 1999. Brooks had one movie role following the end ofDS9, playing Detective Leon Jackson opposite Robert De Niro and Edward Burns in 2001’s15 Minutes. In that same year, Brooks did a series of commercials for IBM, in which he poetically mused on the lack of flying cars in the 21st century. Watch the IBM flying cars commercial below:
As the IBM commercial shows, Avery Brooks is a terrific voiceover artist, and has narrated documentaries like the US version ofWalking with Dinosaurs, and the IMAX documentary,Africa’s Elephant Kingdom. In 2007, Brooks directed a revival of the playBoogie Woogie Landscapesat the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and London’s West End. In 2009, Brooks released the albumHere…, which contained his versions of some classic ballads and love songs. So while audiences may have missed Avery Brooks on screen sinceStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, the actor has certainly been busy in the interim period.
