Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn | |
---|---|
Born | Luling, Texas, U.S. | December 9, 1952
Alma mater | Pasadena City College |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1976–present |
Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American actor best known for his role as the Klingon character Worf in the Star Trek franchise, appearing in all seven seasons of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994), and later reprising the role in Seasons 4 through 7 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1995–1999) and season three of Star Trek: Picard (2023). Dorn has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other Star Trek actor in the franchise's history, spanning five films and 284[1] television episodes.
Outside of the Star Trek franchise, Dorn has appeared in the television series
Early life
Dorn was born in
Career
Early work
Dorn first appeared on-screen in Rocky, in an uncredited role as Apollo Creed's bodyguard.[3] Two years later, he appeared as a guest star on a 1978 episode of the television show W.E.B.. Impressed by his work, the show's producer introduced Dorn to an agent, through whom he met acting teacher Charles E. Conrad. Dorn studied with Conrad for six months, until he landed a regular role on the crime drama series CHiPs.[3]
Star Trek
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. Dorn was the last of the main actors to be cast in The Next Generation, and prepared for his audition by isolating himself from the other actors and remaining taciturn through his interview, mimicking the personality of the character.[4] His character proved so popular amongst fans[5] that Dorn was added to the cast of spin-off series Deep Space Nine in an effort to boost ratings.[6]
Dorn (as Worf) has the record for the most on-screen appearances of any Star Trek character. As Worf, he appeared in 175 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (missing only the episodes "
He was one of six actors to reprise his role, in voice over, for the Star Trek: Captain's Chair virtual reality game. In 2014, he participated in the fan-produced Star Trek episode "Fairest of Them All", giving his voice to the computer of the Mirror Universe Enterprise.[7]
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.[8]
In April 2022, it was announced that he would reprise his role as Worf in the third season of Star Trek: Picard, which aired in 2023.[9]
Other work
Dorn has appeared in a number of TV shows, films, and
Following his Star Trek career, he 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. Dorn reprised his role as Worf for cameo appearances on Webster and Family Guy, the latter with several of his fellow Next Generation castmates. He had a recurring role on the television series Castle, playing the therapist of NYPD police detective Kate Beckett.[12]
In March 2023, Dorn was announced as the writer for a comic starring Steel (John Henry Irons), whom he voiced in Superman: The Animated Series. Steelworks #1 was published on June 6, 2023, with art by Sami Basri.[13]
Dorn provides the voice of the character Battle Beast in the animated series Invincible.
Personal life
A member of the
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.[17]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1976 | Rocky | Apollo Creed's bodyguard | Film debut; uncredited |
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 | |
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 | |
The Prophet's Game | Bob Bowman | ||
2001 | The Gristle | Tar | |
Mach 2 | Rogers | ||
Ali | Black pilot | ||
2002 | Face Value | Hitman | |
Star Trek: Nemesis | Lieutenant Commander Worf | ||
The Santa Clause 2 | Sandman | Cameo | |
2003 | Shade | Jack Thornhill | |
Lessons For an Assassin | Quinn | ||
The Interplanetary Surplus Male and Amazon Women of Outer Space | Sam the Bartender | Direct-to-video | |
2005 | Heart of the Beholder | Lieutenant Larson | |
Thru the Moebius Strip | King Tor | Voice[18] | |
2006 | The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | Sandman | |
2007 | Fist of the Warrior | Arnold Denton | |
Night Skies | Kyle | ||
The Deep Below | Carl Bennett | ||
2009 | Bionicle: The Legend Reborn | Mata Nui | Voice, direct-to-video[18] |
2012 | Strange Frame | Guardship Commander | [18] |
2015 | Ted 2 | Rick | |
2019 | Wonder Woman: Bloodlines | Ferdinand the Minotaur | Voice, direct-to-video[18] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979–1982 | CHiPs | Officer Jebediah Turner | 31 episodes |
1981 | Knots Landing | Paramedic | Episode: "The Vigil" |
1985 | 227 | Lester's friend | 1 episode |
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 | Voice, recurring role |
1994 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Mutilor | Episode: "When Strikes Mutilor" |
1994–1997 | Gargoyles | Coldstone, Taurus | Recurring role[18] |
1995 | Amanda and the Alien | Lieutenant Vint | Television film |
World of Wonder | Himself – Host | Science show on the Discovery Channel | |
1995–1996 | Fantastic Four | Gorgon | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
1995–1999 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Lieutenant Commander Worf | Main role, 4 seasons |
1995 | The Outer Limits | Pete Claridge | Episode: "The Voyage Home" |
1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Apollo | Voice, episode: "Humility" |
Captain Simian & the Space Monkeys | Lord Nebula | Voice, 2 episodes[18] | |
1996–2000 | Superman: The Animated Series | Kalibak, John Henry Irons / Steel
|
Voice, recurring role[18] |
1997 | Street Fighter | The Warrior King | Voice, episode: "The Warrior King"; uncredited |
1997–2000 | I Am Weasel | I.M. Weasel | Voice, main role[18] |
1998 | Haunted History
|
Narrator | Voice, episode: "Haunted History: Charleston" |
1998–1999 | Hercules | Minotaur | Voice, 2 episodes |
2000 | Martial Law | Councilman Tynan | Episode: "No Quarter" |
2001 | 7th Heaven | Mr. Johnson | |
2002 | Through the Fire | Michael Collins | Television film |
The Zeta Project | Colonel Lemak | Voice, 2 episodes[18] | |
Static Shock | Reverend Anderson | Voice, episode: "Frozen Out"[18] | |
2003 | Justice League | Kalibak | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time | Rufus 3000 | Voice, television film | |
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[18] |
2004–2005 | Megas XLR | Bot #14, Guard | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
2004–2007 | Danny Phantom | Fright Knight | Voice, 3 episodes[18] |
2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Kalibak | Voice, episode: "The Ties That Bind"[18] |
Descent | General Fielding | Television film | |
2005, 2009 | Family Guy | Lieutenant Worf, Himself | Voice, 2 episodes |
2006 | All You've Got | Fire Captain Diaz | Television film |
A.I. Assault | General Buskirk | Television film | |
Fallen Angels | Taylor | Television film | |
2007 | Squirrel Boy | Reuben Belmont | Voice, 2 episodes |
Ben 10 | Viktor, Benvicktor | Voice, 2 episodes[18] | |
Without a Trace | Nathan Riggs | Episode: "Absolom" | |
2008–2009 | Heroes | US President | 2 episodes |
2009 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Kru'll the Eternal | Voice, episode: "Menace of the Conqueror Caveman!"[18] |
Heroes
|
President of the United States | Episode: "An Invisible Thread" | |
2010 | Adventure Time | Gork, Monster Head #2 | Voice, episode: "Freak City"[18] |
It's a Trap! | Lieutenant Worf | ||
2011–2015 | Castle | Dr. Carver Burke | 6 episodes |
2011 | Winx Club | Lord Darkar | Voice, recurring role |
2011 | The Super Hero Squad Show | Ronan the Accuser | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
2012, 2014 | Regular Show | Thomas the Demon | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
2014 | Ben 10: Omniverse | Dr. Viktor, Plumber | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
2015–2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Captain Mozar, Triceratons | Voice, recurring role[18] |
2016 | Uncle Grandpa | Crispin Mulcahy | Voice, 4 episodes |
2016–2017 | Arrow | Prometheus
|
Voice, recurring role; uncredited[19][20] |
2017 | Supergirl | Voice, episode: "Crisis on Earth-X"; uncredited | |
Transformers: Titans Return | Fortress Maximus | Voice, web series | |
2017–2018 | Justice League Action | Atrocitus | Voice, 2 episodes[18] |
2017–2019 | The Lion Guard | Bupu | Voice, recurring role[18] |
2018 | OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes | Red Strike, I.M. Weasel | Voice, episode: "Crossover Nexus"[18] |
2021 | Invincible | Thokk / Battle Beast | Voice, episode: "That Actually Hurt"[18] |
2021 | Dogs in Space | Pistachio Soup | Voice, 6 episodes[18] |
2022 | Dota: Dragon's Blood | Asar | Voice, 8 episodes[18] |
2023 | Star Trek: Picard | Captain Worf | Season 3 |
2023 | The Santa Clauses | Sandman | [21] |
Video games
Web series
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Star Trek Continues | Computer Voice | Voice, episode: "Fairest of Them All" |
2015 | Con Man | Himself | Episode: "Thank Your for Your Service" |
2017 | Bravest Warriors | Armada Pilot | Voice, episode: "Dan of Future Past" |
Transformers: Titans Return | Fortress Maximus | Voice, episode: "Aftermath and Rebirth"[18] |
Awards and honors
- 2024 – Saturn Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award – The Cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation[25][a]
Notes
- ^ "The Lifetime Achievement Award is usually presented to an individual for their contributions to genre entertainment. Top luminaries like Stan Lee and Leonard Nimoy, Mr. Spock himself, have received this top honor. It's not new, but we extended this award to cover the entire cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, due to its continued influence on the face of general television. It was originally doomed to failure since it was following in the footsteps of the original Star Trek, yet it carved its own identity, and its diverse cast was light years ahead of its time!" —Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films[25]
References
- ^ "Michael Dorn - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Selected Crew Analysis: Casting (DVD). Michael Dorn (actor). Paramount. 2002.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ISBN 978-0-670-87399-9.
Dorn plays the immensely popular Worf ... Worf may be the most complex and sympathetic character in the history of Star Trek.
- ^ Charting New Territory: Deep Space Nine Season Four (DVD). Robert Hewitt Wolfe (writer/producer). Paramount. 2003.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) Of Worf, Wolfe says that the studio felt DS9's ratings were sagging at the end of the third season, and he and the other writers were asked to give viewers a new reason to watch. Their answer was to make Worf a part of the cast. - ^ Sloan, Sam (June 16, 2014). "Star Trek Continues: Fairest Of Them All – A Slice of SciFi Review". Slice of SciFi. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Petski, Denise (April 5, 2022). "'Star Trek: Picard': LeVar Burton & Michael Dorn Among 6 'Next Generation' Alums Joining Third & Final Season". Deadline. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Castle Exclusive: Star Trek's Michael Dorn Is Beckett's Shrink". TV Guide. August 4, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ^ "Star Trek Icon Michael Dorn Joins DC to Script a New Steel Series". CBR. March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "AOPA Online: Instructor Reports". Aopa.org. November 30, 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
- ^ Freeze, Di (June 2008). "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".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Michael Dorn (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 3, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Swann, Erik (October 17, 2023). "Tim Allen Clashes With Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet In The Santa Clauses Season 2 Trailer, And I'm Down To See These Sitcom Legends Face Off". CinemaBlend. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- Nerdist. Archived from the originalon 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.
- ^ a b Pascale, Anthony (February 4, 2024). "'Star Trek: Picard' Wins 4 Saturn Awards, 'Strange New Worlds' Wins 1". TREKMOVIE.com. Archived from the original on February 5, 2024.