majel barrett roddenberry star trek

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Majel Barrett Roddenberry

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Barrett was the only performer to have had a role on the first six Star Trek series – usually not as a character but as the voice of the various computers used throughout those series. She also supplied the voice of the Enterprise computer in five of the Star Trek films – spanning all three film series ( Original Series , The Next Generation Series, and the Alternate Reality Series)

Her most frequent portrayal in Star Trek , besides the computer, was that of Christine Chapel on Star Trek: The Original Series , Star Trek: The Animated Series , and in two of the films. She also voiced M'Ress and several other characters on The Animated Series and later played Betazoid Ambassador Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Her first filmed appearance was in the original Star Trek pilot episode " The Cage " as Number One in 1964 .

• 1 Early life and career
• 2.1 The 1960s
• 2.2 Marriage and continued collaboration
• 2.3 Post-TOS Trek work
• 2.4 Continuing the legacy
• 3 Other acting credits
• 5.1 Appearances as Christine Chapel
• 5.2 Federation computer voice
• 5.3 Appearances as Lwaxana Troi
• 5.4 Narrator
• 6 Writing credit
• 7 Star Trek interviews
• 8 External links

Early life and career [ ]

Barrett was born Majel Leigh Hudec in Cleveland, Ohio. She enrolled in an acting workshop when she was ten years old but later attended the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida with the intention of becoming a legal clerk. She attended law school for a year, but, after failing a class in contract law, opted to move to New York to try her luck in acting. She landed parts in several stage plays, including Models by Season and The Solid Gold Cadillac , the latter of which toured across the country for nine months. During this time, her father, a police officer in Cleveland, was killed while out on patrol. [1]

Believing the competition in New York to be too stiff, Barrett moved to California in the 1950s where she won parts in stage plays as well as films. She had a bit part in the 1957 film Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? , after which she made an uncredited appearance in the 1958 Paramount Pictures release The Black Orchid . She then landed a supporting role in the 1958 Paramount film As Young As We Were , along with TOS guest actor Barry Atwater . She also had a brief role in Paramount's The Buccaneer that same year.

One of Barrett's earliest television appearances came in 1959 in an episode of the syndicated adventure/drama series Whirlybirds , which starred Kenneth Tobey . She then made an uncredited appearance as a waitress in a 1960 episode of Desilu 's The Untouchables , which aired on NBC . That same year, she guest-starred on the ABC family comedy series Leave It to Beaver , which starred Tony Dow .

In 1961, Barrett was seen in a supporting role in the musical comedy Love in a Goldfish Bowl , another film from Paramount Pictures. This was followed by a supporting role in the 1963 war drama The Quick and the Dead . She also continued making appearances on television shows, including Cain's Hundred (with Anthony Caruso ) and a 1962 episode of Bonanza with her future TOS co-star James Doohan , entitled "Gift of Water."

In 1962, Barrett met actress Lucille Ball at an acting class and was signed to a contract with Desilu . Soon thereafter, she appeared with Lucy in an episode of Desilu's The Lucy Show .

History with Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek [ ]

The 1960s [ ].

Barrett first met Gene Roddenberry in 1961. ( Star Trek Memories , p. 14) In late 1963, she was cast in an episode of his Marine Corps drama, The Lieutenant , which starred Gary Lockwood . Incidentally, the episode in which Barrett appeared – titled "In the Highest Tradition" – also featured future TOS regular Leonard Nimoy . In addition, the episode was directed by Marc Daniels , who later directed fifteen episodes of TOS.

Barrett's relationship with Roddenberry, who was married and had two children, developed into her becoming his mistress. She later remembered, " We weren't lovers at the very beginning, that sort of developed after we'd become friends. " Barrett had doubts that Roddenberry was ready to end his marriage. " Up until Gene actually left his wife, I really couldn't anticipate spending my life with him, " she explained. " I felt I would spend the rest of my life loving him, but not necessarily with him. " ( Star Trek Memories , p. 14)

In 1964 , Roddenberry began developing " The Cage ", which became the first of two pilots for Star Trek . Roddenberry selected Barrett to portray Number One , the first officer and helm officer of the Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike (played by Jeffrey Hunter ). The role was specifically written for Barrett from the start. ( These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One ) Barrett filmed her scenes between Monday 30 November 1964 and Thursday 3 December 1964 , Tuesday 8 December 1964 and Wednesday 9 December 1964 , and Wednesday 16 December 1964 and Thursday 17 December 1964 at Desilu Culver Stage 15 and 16.

Barrett during early makeup tests

Barrett along with Leonard Nimoy had her first day for "The Cage" at the Desilu Culver Stage 15 on 17 November 1964 . Barrett was present for the green color makeup tests for "The Cage", a task she completed for no monetary compensation. Of note, she was credited in this unaired pilot as "Majel Barrett", but was credited as " M. Leigh Hudec " for the same appearance in "The Menagerie" cut of the episode.

NBC ultimately rejected "The Cage," but they gave Roddenberry the chance to produce a second pilot. However, the network asked that he drop both the devilish-looking Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy) and Barrett's Number One character, asserting that audiences would never accept a woman being second-in-command of a ship. Roddenberry insisted on keeping Spock but agreed to drop Number One. Barrett jokingly stated that Roddenberry "kept the Vulcan and married the woman, 'cause he didn't think Leonard [Nimoy] would have it the other way around." [2]

In their book Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , Herb Solow and Robert H. Justman claimed that the account of NBC rejecting the female first officer was a myth created by Roddenberry. In their version, NBC was proud of gender and race diversity in its shows, and even insisted on having a strong female leading character, but they felt that Barrett was not a leading-type actress with strong screen presence suitable for playing such a role, nor did they like her being forced on them by Roddenberry. Apparently not wanting to hurt his mistress' pride, Roddenberry purportedly came up with this story in the 1970s-1980s Star Trek convention circuit, which he toured extensively with his by-then wife.

Although her character was dropped from the second pilot, " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", after Star Trek was picked up as a series, Barrett, disguised as a blonde, was given the role of Nurse Christine Chapel in the episode " The Naked Time " by Roddenberry. Her appearance was surreptitiously introduced, according to Justman and Solow, because the network did not like her role in "The Cage". For this, Barrett donned a blond wig for her role, in a rather bold-faced effort of sneaking her back into the Star Trek production against the express wishes of NBC.

The ruse initially failed, and turned out to be one of the reasons for Lucille Ball, after she was informed of this, to ordain the firing of the pair of them on the spot, as a moral propriety-valuing Ball could not abide with nepotism. Concurrently, she had become aware that a married Roddenberry conducted an illicit affair with Barrett, which was an even stronger reason for her wanting them to be gone from her studio; Ball's own marriage with Desi Arnaz had fallen apart in no small part due to his philandering. It was Herb Solow who, through an intermediary, managed to convince Ball otherwise, though he had the toughest of times doing so. ( Inside Star Trek: The Real Story , 1997, p. 223; These Are the Voyages: TOS Season One , 1st ed, pp. 25-27)

Ultimately, Barrett was allowed to return, and in total, was featured as Nurse Chapel in twenty-five of the seventy-nine episodes of Star Trek , from the first season 's " The Naked Time " to the last episode of the series, " Turnabout Intruder ". She also supplied the Computer Voice for the USS Enterprise in several episodes of the series.

Barrett filmed her scenes for "The Naked Time" between Thursday 30 June 1966 and Tuesday 5 July 1966 at Desilu Stage 9 . She filmed her scenes for " What Are Little Girls Made Of? " between Thursday 28 July 1966 and Tuesday 9 August 1966 at Stage 9 and Stage 10 , and her scenes for " Operation -- Annihilate! " between Friday 17 February 1967 and Wednesday 22 February 1967 at Stage 9.

She filmed her scenes for " Amok Time " between Friday 9 June 1967 and Tuesday 13 June 1967 , her scenes for " The Changeling " on Wednesday 12 July 1967 , her scenes for " The Deadly Years " on Thursday 3 August 1967 , and between Monday 7 August 1967 and Friday 11 August 1967 . She filmed her scenes for " Journey to Babel " on Wednesday 27 September 1967 and Thursday 28 September 1967 , her scenes for " Obsession " on Friday 13 October 1967 and Monday 16 October 1967 , her scenes for " The Immunity Syndrome " on Thursday 26 October 1967 and Wednesday 1 November 1967 , and her scenes for " By Any Other Name " on Wednesday 15 November 1967 . All of the above were filmed at Stage 9.

Barrett filmed her scenes for " Elaan of Troyius " on Thursday 6 June 1968 at Stage 9. She filmed her scenes for " The Paradise Syndrome " on Thursday 13 June 1968 on location at the Franklyn Reservoir . She filmed her scenes for " The Enterprise Incident " on Friday 21 June 1968 , her scenes for " And the Children Shall Lead " on Thursday 27 June 1968 , her scenes for " Spock's Brain " on Monday 8 July 1968 , her scenes for " The Tholian Web " on Monday 7 August 1968 and Tuesday 8 August 1968 , and her scenes for " For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky " on Wednesday 13 August 1968 , all at Stage 9. She filmed her scenes for " Plato's Stepchildren " on Monday 16 September 1968 and Tuesday 17 September 1968 at Stage 10. She filmed her scenes for " Wink of an Eye " on Thursday 19 September 1968 and Friday 20 September 1968 , her scenes for " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield " on Tuesday 8 October 1968 and Wednesday 9 October 1968 , her scenes for " The Lights of Zetar " on Wednesday 6 November 1968 , her scenes for " The Way to Eden " on Tuesday 26 November 1968 , and her scenes for " Turnabout Intruder " between Tuesday 31 December 1968 and Friday 3 January 1969 , all at Stage 9.

Marriage and continued collaboration [ ]

Majel and Gene

Barrett and Gene Roddenberry married on 6 August 1969 , two months after the final episode of Star Trek was aired. Since they were both in Japan at the time, and because Roddenberry did not adhere to any particular religion, they decided to have a Shinto-Buddhist wedding. Roddenberry's divorce from Eileen Anita Rexroat had not yet been finalized, requiring the pair to make the marriage legal with a civil ceremony held on 29 December 1969 . A brief filed with the California Court of Appeal on 30 September 1994, docket number B074848, by attorneys for Barrett confirms that Roddenberry's divorce was not final until December 24, 1969. [3] Their son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Jr. , was born on 5 February 1974 .

Barrett and Roddenberry continued working together throughout the 1970s. They both ran the catalog company Lincoln Enterprises , which they founded in 1967 . In addition, Barrett acted in many of the unsold TV pilots Roddenberry wrote and produced, the first of which was Genesis II in 1973. In addition to Barrett, this project also featured performances by Star Trek alumni Ted Cassidy , Mariette Hartley , Harvey Jason , and Percy Rodriguez .

The following year, Barrett acted in Roddenberry's The Questor Tapes , which was directed by Richard Colla and which starred Robert Foxworth . That same year, Barrett performed in Roddenberry's Planet Earth , along with Diana Muldaur and the aforementioned Ted Cassidy. This project was directed by the aforementioned Marc Daniels. In 1977, Barrett appeared in one more Roddenberry pilot, entitled Spectre .

Post-TOS Trek work [ ]

Barrett voiced Nurse Chapel, as well as M'Ress and numerous other characters, on Star Trek: The Animated Series from 1973 through 1975 . Barrett reprised her role of Christine Chapel, now a doctor, in 1979 's Star Trek: The Motion Picture . She again played Doctor Chapel in 1986 . Barrett then recurred Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , appearing in six episodes of the former and three episodes of the latter. Barrett also co-wrote the story for the DS9 episode " The Muse ", along with René Echevarria . For the episode "Half a Life", Barrett filmed her scenes between Wednesday 27 February 1991 and Friday 8 March 1991 on Paramount Stage 8 and 9 . For the episode "Cost of Living", she filmed her scenes between Tuesday 4 February 1992 and Monday 10 February 1992 and Wednesday 12 February 1992 and Thursday 13 February 1992 on Paramount Stage 8, 9, and 16 . Her makeup in this episode was applied by Michael Westmore . Barrett cited the TNG episode "Half a Life" as one of her favorite Star Trek episodes. ( TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Special Profiles Year Seven" ("From Comedy To Drama") )

In addition, Barrett voiced Starfleet computers in many episodes of TNG, DS9, and Star Trek: Voyager . As a result of providing the USS Defiant 's computer voice in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II ", she became the only actress to work on the first five live-action Star Trek television series. Along with Joseph Ruskin , Clint Howard , Jack Donner , and Vince Deadrick , she was one of only five actors to appear in both The Original Series and Enterprise .

She was also heard as the Enterprise computer voice in five of the feature films: Star Trek Generations , Star Trek: First Contact , Star Trek: Insurrection , Star Trek Nemesis , and Star Trek . She also voiced the Federation computer in the video games Star Trek: Judgment Rites , A Final Unity , Star Trek: Borg , and Star Trek Generations , in Star Trek: The Next Generation Interactive Technical Manual , in the television documentary To Boldly Go , and in the DVD-ROM editions of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion - A Series Guide and Script Library , the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion - A Series Guide and Script Library , and the Star Trek Encyclopedia . She even voiced the ship's computer for the "World Enough and Time" episode of the fan-made internet series Star Trek: New Voyages , produced by James Cawley . Her son, Rod Roddenberry, was a consulting producer on this series at the time. She also voiced the ship's computer of the USS F. Scott Fitzgerald (NCC-85107-A) in the fan-made series Star Trek I: Specter produced by Brandon Bridge. ( credits )

On 10 December 2008 , it was announced that Barrett had again recorded a voiceover as the Enterprise computer for 2009 's Star Trek . She had completed her voice work on the film sometime the previous week. The announcement that she was reprising her role as the computer voice came just eight days before her death. [4] [5] [6] [7]

Continuing the legacy [ ]

Barrett's association with the Star Trek franchise and her love affair with creator Gene Roddenberry has earned her the title "The First Lady of Star Trek ." After Gene Roddenberry's death on 24 October 1991 , Barrett became an integral part of Star Trek 's continued legacy and that of Roddenberry himself. She continued to operate Lincoln Enterprises with their son, Rod, and attended at least one major Star Trek convention every year, in addition to making continued appearances and contributions to the Star Trek spin-offs.

Following Roddenberry's death, Barrett took material from his archives and used his ideas to develop two Canadian-produced science fiction television series. The first was Earth: Final Conflict , which ran from 1997 through 2002. The second was Andromeda , which aired from 2000 through 2005. Barrett served as executive producer on both of these shows until 2002 and had a recurring role as Julianne Belman on Earth: Final Conflict , but Roddenberry was credited as the creator of both shows, going as far as having the title logos for the programs proclaiming them as " Gene Roddenberry's Earth: Final Conflict " and " Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda ".

Other acting credits [ ]

In addition to her commitment to Gene Roddenberry and to Star Trek , Barrett continued acting in unrelated projects. She made an uncredited appearance in the 1965 Paramount film Sylvia , which was followed by a major role in a 1966 musical film called Country Boy . In 1967, she had supporting roles in two films: Gene Kelly 's comedy A Guide for the Married Man and the action drama Track of Thunder .

Barrett also continued appearing on television. She made a return visit to Bonanza in 1966, after which she appeared in such shows as The Second Hundred Years (which starred Monte Markham ) and Here Come the Brides . The latter series had three TOS guest stars as regulars: Robert Brown , Mark Lenard , and David Soul .

Barrett portrayed Miss Carrie in Michael Crichton 's 1973 science fiction classic Westworld . Alan Oppenheimer also had a role in this film. Barrett then appeared in Stanley Kramer 's 1977 film The Domino Principle , playing the wife of a character played by Ted Gehring .

" Errand of Mercy " director John Newland directed Barrett in the 1979 made-for-TV movie The Suicide's Wife , which also starred Don Marshall . That same year, veteran Trek director Corey Allen directed Barrett in another TV movie, The Man in the Santa Claus Suit . In 1983, Barrett was briefly on the soap opera General Hospital .

Barrett appeared in two 1995 independent films: Mommy and Teresa's Tattoo . The latter film also featured one-time TNG guest actor Diedrich Bader .

In 1996, Barrett guest-starred as the widow of the Centauri emperor in the episode of the cult science fiction series Babylon 5 entitled " Point of No Return ". She took the role as a goodwill gesture in hopes of calming the rivalry between the Trek franchise and the burgeoning new competitor. [8] In addition to series regular Andreas Katsulas , the episode also featured Vaughn Armstrong and Marshall R. Teague . From 1996 through 1998, Barrett voiced Anna Watson, the aunt of Mary Jane Watson, in the animated Spider-Man series based on the Marvel Comics characters. In 1998, Barrett, along with her Star Trek co-stars Walter Koenig , George Takei , and Grace Lee Whitney and Trek alumni Bill Mumy and Wil Wheaton , made gag appearances in the episode of Diagnosis Murder called "Alienated."

As an in-joke, Barrett was brought in by Trekkie writer and producer Seth MacFarlane to participate on his animated series, Family Guy . In the episode called "Emission Impossible," Barrett supplied the voice of Stewie's "sperm" ship, a nod to her four-decade role as a computer voice on Star Trek . The episode also featured the voice of DS9 alumnus Wallace Shawn .

Barrett died at her home in Bel Air, California, at 12:27 am on 18 December 2008 following a short battle with leukemia. She was surrounded by family, friends and her son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, Jr. She was 76 years old. [9]

The trust documents obtained after Barrett's death disclosed that her pet dogs were left a US$4 million trust and the rights to live in one of her mansions until they die. Barrett's employee, Reinelda Estupinian, was left US$1 million and the right to live and care for the pets in the same house. Son Eugene was left the family's Bel Air mansion, US$60 million and US$10 million bonuses when he turns 35, 40, and 45. [10]

Star Trek appearances [ ]

Appearances as Christine Chapel [ ]

• " The Naked Time "
• " What Are Little Girls Made Of? "
• " Operation -- Annihilate! "
• " Amok Time "
• " The Changeling "
• " Journey to Babel "
• " The Deadly Years "
• " Obsession "
• " The Immunity Syndrome "
• " A Private Little War "
• " Return to Tomorrow "
• " By Any Other Name "
• " Spock's Brain "
• " The Enterprise Incident "
• " The Paradise Syndrome "
• " And the Children Shall Lead "
• " For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky "
• " The Tholian Web "
• " Plato's Stepchildren "
• " Wink of an Eye "
• " Elaan of Troyius "
• " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield "
• " The Lights of Zetar "
• " The Way to Eden "
• " Turnabout Intruder "
• " Beyond the Farthest Star "
• " The Lorelei Signal "
• " The Survivor "
• " The Magicks of Megas-Tu "
• " Mudd's Passion "
• " The Terratin Incident "
• " The Ambergris Element "
• " The Pirates of Orion "
• " Albatross "
• Star Trek: The Motion Picture
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Federation computer voice [ ]

• " Mudd's Women " as USS Enterprise Computer (uncredited)
• " The Conscience of the King " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Galileo Seven " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " Court Martial " as Starbase 11 recorder voice and Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Menagerie, Part I " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " Tomorrow is Yesterday " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " A Taste of Armageddon " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " Wolf in the Fold " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Deadly Years " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Tholian Web " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " Day of the Dove " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " Wink of an Eye " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " That Which Survives " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " Let That Be Your Last Battlefield " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Lights of Zetar " as Enterprise computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Lorelei Signal " as Enterprise computer voice
• " The Survivor " as Enterprise computer voice
• " The Infinite Vulcan " as Enterprise computer voice
• " The Pirates of Orion " as Enterprise computer voice
• " The Practical Joker " as Enterprise computer voice
• " 11001001 " as USS Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Home Soil " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Skin Of Evil " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " We'll Always Have Paris " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Conspiracy " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Neutral Zone " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Child " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Where Silence Has Lease " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Elementary, Dear Data " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Outrageous Okona " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Schizoid Man " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Unnatural Selection " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Measure Of A Man " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Contagion " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Royale " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Icarus Factor " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Pen Pals " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Q Who " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Samaritan Snare " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Up The Long Ladder " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Manhunt " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Emissary " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Evolution " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Booby Trap " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Price " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Vengeance Factor " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Defector " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Hunted " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Deja Q " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " A Matter of Perspective " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Yesterday's Enterprise " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Sins of The Father " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Tin Man " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Hollow Pursuits " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Most Toys " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Transfigurations " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Best of Both Worlds " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Suddenly Human " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Brothers " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Family " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Remember Me " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Reunion " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Future Imperfect " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Final Mission " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Loss " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Data's Day " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Wounded " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Clues " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Galaxy's Child " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Identity Crisis " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Nth Degree " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Qpid " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Host " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Mind's Eye " as Enterprise -D & Onizuka computer voice
• " In Theory " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Redemption " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Darmok " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Ensign Ro " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " The Game " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Unification I " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " New Ground " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Violations " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Conundrum " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Power Play " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Cost Of Living " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " The Perfect Mate " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Time's Arrow, Part II " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Realm Of Fear " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Man Of The People " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Relics " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Schisms " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Rascals " as Enterprise -D and Fermi computer voice
• " A Fistful of Datas " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " The Quality of Life " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Chain Of Command, Part I " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Chain Of Command, Part II " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Ship In A Bottle " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Aquiel " as Relay Station 47 computer voice / Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Face Of The Enemy " as Enterprise -D computer voice (credited but in a deleted scene )
• " Tapestry " as Starbase Earhart computer voice
• " Starship Mine " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Lessons " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " The Chase " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Suspicions " as Enterprise -D and Justman computer voice
• " Rightful Heir " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Timescape " as Enterprise -D and Runabout computer voice (uncredited)
• " Descent " as Enterprise -D computer voice (uncredited)
• " Force of Nature " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Parallels " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Homeward " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Thine Own Self " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Eye of the Beholder " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Genesis " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Firstborn " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Bloodlines " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " All Good Things... " as Enterprise -D computer voice
• " Emissary " as USS Saratoga 's computer voice
• " Babel " as runabout computer voice (uncredited)
• " The Passenger " as USS Rio Grande computer voice (uncredited)
• " Vortex " as USS Ganges computer voice
• " Battle Lines " as USS Rio Grande computer voice
• " Melora " as USS Orinoco computer voice (uncredited)
• " Whispers "
• " Paradise "
• " Playing God "
• " Tribunal "
• " The Jem'Hadar "
• " The Search, Part II " as USS Defiant computer voice
• " Defiant " as USS Defiant computer voice/Federation computer voice
• " Fascination "
• " Heart of Stone "
• " The Adversary " as USS Defiant computer voice
• " The Visitor " as USS Defiant computer voice
• " The Assignment "
• " Blaze of Glory "
• " Valiant " as USS Valiant computer voice
• " Penumbra " as USS Gander computer voice
• " The Dogs of War " as Federation computer voice
• " Caretaker " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Phage " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " State of Flux " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Heroes and Demons " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Cathexis " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Jetrel " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Learning Curve " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Projections " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Initiations " as type 8 shuttlecraft computer voice
• " Non Sequitur " as Starfleet Headquarters and USS Yellowstone computer voice
• " Parturition " as type 8 shuttlecraft computer voice
• " Persistence of Vision " as USS Voyager computer voice
• " Tattoo " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Maneuvers " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Threshold " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Meld " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Dreadnought " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Investigations " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Deadlock " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Basics, Part I " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Basics, Part II " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Swarm " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Remember " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Future's End, Part II " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Warlord " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Alter Ego " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Coda " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Darkling " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Distant Origin " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Displaced " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Worst Case Scenario " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Day of Honor " as Cochrane and EV suit computer voice
• " The Raven " as Cochrane computer voice
• " Year of Hell " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Concerning Flight " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Message in a Bottle " as the USS Voyager computer voice/ USS Prometheus computer voice
• " Waking Moments " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Killing Game, Part II " as the USS Voyager computer voice (credit only)
• " Vis à Vis " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Omega Directive " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Demon " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " One " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Hope and Fear " as the USS Voyager computer voice/ USS Dauntless computer voice
• " Drone " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Extreme Risk " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Once Upon a Time " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Nothing Human " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Timeless " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Thirty Days " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Infinite Regress " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Counterpoint " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Latent Image " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Bride of Chaotica! " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Fight " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Bliss " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Disease " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Dark Frontier " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Course: Oblivion " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Juggernaut " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " 11:59 " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Equinox " as the USS Voyager /USS Equinox computer voice
• " Equinox, Part II " as the USS Voyager /USS Equinox computer voice
• " Survival Instinct " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Dragon's Teeth " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " One Small Step " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Voyager Conspiracy " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Pathfinder " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Fair Haven " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Collective " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Spirit Folk " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Ashes to Ashes " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Child's Play " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Good Shepherd " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Fury " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Muse " as Delta Flyer computer voice
• " Life Line " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " The Haunting of Deck Twelve " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Imperfection " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Drive " as Delta Flyer computer voice
• " Repression " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Inside Man " as Communications Research Center computer voice / USS Voyager computer voice
• " Flesh and Blood " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Body and Soul " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Shattered " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Lineage " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Prophecy " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Workforce " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Workforce, Part II " as Narrator
• " Human Error " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Q2 " as USS Voyager computer voice
• " Author, Author " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Natural Law " as class 2 shuttle computer voice
• " Homestead " as Delta Flyer computer voice
• " Renaissance Man " as the USS Voyager computer voice
• " Endgame " as the SC-4 / USS Voyager / Communications Research Center computer voice
• " In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II " as USS Defiant (NCC-1764) 's computer voice
• " These Are the Voyages... " as USS Enterprise -D computer voice
• Star Trek Generations as USS Enterprise -D computer voice
• Star Trek: First Contact as USS Enterprise -E 's computer voice
• Star Trek: Insurrection as USS Enterprise -E computer voice
• Star Trek Nemesis as USS Enterprise -E computer voice (credited as "Majel Barrett Roddenberry")
• Star Trek as Enterprise computer voice (credited as "Majel Barrett Roddenberry")
• " Võx " as Enterprise -D computer voice (archive audio)
• " The Last Generation " as Enterprise -D computer voice (archive audio)

Appearances as Lwaxana Troi [ ]

• " Manhunt "
• " Ménage à Troi "
• " Half a Life "
• " Cost Of Living "
• " Dark Page "
• " The Forsaken "
• " The Muse "

Narrator [ ]

• " The Best of Both Worlds, Part II " (uncredited)
• " Redemption II " (uncredited)
• " Unification II " (uncredited)
• " Time's Arrow, Part II " (uncredited)
• " Chain Of Command, Part II " (uncredited)
• " Birthright, Part II " (uncredited)
• " Descent, Part II " (uncredited)
• " Gambit, Part II " (uncredited)
• " The Circle " (uncredited)
• " The Maquis, Part II " (uncredited)
• " The Search, Part I " (uncredited)
• " Past Tense, Part II " (uncredited)
• " A Time to Stand " (uncredited)
• " Sacrifice of Angels " (uncredited)
• " Image in the Sand " (uncredited)
• " Shadows and Symbols " (uncredited)
• " 'Til Death Do Us Part " (uncredited)
• " Strange Bedfellows " (uncredited)
• " Caretaker " (uncredited)
• " Cold Fire " (uncredited)
• " Scorpion "
• " Scorpion, Part II "
• " Year of Hell, Part II "
• " The Killing Game, Part II "
• " Unimatrix Zero, Part II "

Writing credit [ ]

• DS9 : " The Muse " (story, credited as "Majel Barrett Roddenberry")

Star Trek interviews [ ]

• Launch of Star Trek: Voyager – Host ( 1995 )
• TNG Season 5 DVD special feature "A Tribute to Gene Roddenberry" ("Gene Roddenberry Building Dedicated to Star Trek's Creator", "Gene's Final Voyage"), interviewed on 4 February 2002
• TNG Season 7 DVD special feature "Special Profiles Year Seven" ("Lwaxana Troi", "From Comedy To Drama"), interviewed on 4 February 2002
• The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine  issue 2 , pp. 18-20, "Majel Barrett – Lwaxana Troi", interviewed by Bill Florence

External links [ ]

• Majel Barrett's biography (X) at Roddenberry.com (X)
• Majel Barrett Roddenberry at the Internet Movie Database
• Majel Barrett Roddenberry at the Notable Names Database
• Majel Barrett Roddenberry at the Earth: Final Conflict Wiki
• Majel Barrett at Wikipedia
• Majel Barrett Roddenberry at TriviaTribute.com
• Obituary by Ian Spelling at SciFi.com
• Obituary at Legacy.com

Majel Barrett

• Born February 23 , 1932 · Cleveland, Ohio, USA
• Died December 18 , 2008 · Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA (leukemia)
• Birth name Majel Leigh Hudec
• The First Lady of Star Trek
• First Lady of Star Trek
• Height 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
• Majel Barrett (born Majel Leigh Hudec) was an American actress, known for her long association with Star Trek. She had multiple Star Trek-related roles, though she is mostly remembered for her roles as Nurse Christine Chapel in Star Trek, The Original Series (1966-1969) and as Lwaxana Troi in Star Trek, The Next Generation (1987-1994) and Deep Space Nine (1993-1999). Due to her status as the second wife of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991), Barrett was nicknamed "the First Lady of Star Trek". In 1932, Barrett was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her father was police officer William Hudec (d. 1955), who was eventually killed while on duty. Barrett had aspirations of becoming an actress since childhood, and took acting classes as a child. She received her secondary education at the Shaker Heights High School, a public high school located in a suburb of Cleveland, and graduated in 1950 at the age of 18. She then enrolled at the University of Miami, a public research university located in Coral Gables, Florida. Following her graduation from university, started a career as a theatrical actress. In 1955, she was on tour with an off-Broadway road company. She had her first film role in the satirical film "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" (1957), which parodied the advertising industry, among other targets of satire. Barrett appeared in an uncredited bit part in a satirical advertisement within the film. Barrett's first credited film role was that Joyce Goodwin, a novice teacher depicted in the high school drama film "As Young as We Are" (1958). The film focuses on a male student who falls in love with his young, female teacher, and resorts to kidnapping her. In the early 1960s, Barrett had small roles in the romantic comedy "Love in a Goldfish Bowl" (1961) and the World War II-themed war film "The Quick and the Dead" (1963), and appeared in guest star roles in then-popular television series, such as "Leave It to Beaver", "The Lucy Show", and "Bonanza". She was often employed by the television production company Desilu Productions, which at the time was owned by veteran actress Lucille Ball (1911-1989). One of the television shows she appeared in was an episode of "The Lieutenant" (1964). This short-lived series created and written by Gene Roddenberry provided his first meetings and workings with many of the actors who would later become regulars and guest stars of Star Trek, including its two pilots. Barrett and Roddenberry befriended each other, and eventually started a romantic relationship. Roddenberry was still married to Eileen-Anita Rexroat, but often pursued relationships with other women. In 1964, Roddenberry was working on the original pilot for Star Trek. He cast Barrett in the role of "Number One", the unnamed first officer of the star-ship USS Enterprise. Number One was depicted as exceptionally intelligent and strictly rational, but seemingly unemotional. The episode hinted at a mutual attraction between Number One and her captain, Christopher Pike (played by Jeffrey Hunter). The alien Talosians try to force them to mate with each other, as part of a breeding project. This pilot was rejected by NBC executives, who complained about several aspects of the episode. One of them was the characterization of Number One, who was disliked for being overly assertive. In the subsequent retooling of the series, Number One was written out. Her character traits were added to that of a male character, Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy). Spock went on to become one of the franchise's most popular characters, due in large part to his coldly rational behavior. Still determined to cast Barrett in the series, Roddenberry later created a more traditionally feminine role for her. The role was that of Nurse Christine Chapel, depicted as the main assistant of Dr. Leonard McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley). Chapel was one of the main recurring characters in the series for three years. She was one of the earliest prominent female characters in Star Trek. In 1969, "Star Trek" was canceled. Barrett and Rodenberry briefly parted ways. Later that year, Rodenberry was in Japan on business. He realized that he missed Barrett and invited her to join him in Japan. On August 6, 1969, the two had a traditional Shinto wedding ceremony. This wedding was unofficial, as Roddenberry's divorce had not been finalized yet. Following the end of the divorce process, the two were officially married on December 29, 1969. Barrett served as a stepmother to Dawn Roddenberry (b.1953), Gene's teenage daughter. Dawn moved into the new couple's residence, and Barrett helped in her upbringing. Already known for her science fiction roles, Barrett was cast as female android Miss Carrie in the science fiction-Western "Westworld". Her character was the madame of the Westworld bordello. Barrett also had roles in the post-apocalyptic television film "Genesis II" (1973) and the science fiction television film "The Questor Tapes" (1974), both created and scripted by her husband. Star Trek was revived with the sequel series "Star Trek: The Animated Series" (1973-1974), which used much of the main cast from the original series. Barrett voiced two of the series' main female characters, Christine Chapel and M'Ress. The new character M'Ress was depicted as a female alien in feline form, who served as an officer on the Enterprise. Barrett also voiced many of this series' female guest characters. Barrett had a small role in the neo-noir film "The Domino Principle" (1977). The film depicted a secretive organization first helping a prisoner escape, and then trying to force him to serve as their newest assassin. When the escaped man refuses, a lethal struggle begins. This film was poorly received due to its convoluted plot. Barrett's next notable role was the housekeeper Lilith in the horror film "Spectre" (1977). Her character is depicted as a practicing witch, who manages to cure the alcoholic tendencies of one of the main characters. The plot of film depicts the demon Asmodeus assuming a human form and identity, while two occult detectives attempt to stop the demon's scheme. The film was intended as the pilot of a television series, but was rejected. Barrett played Christine Chapel again in the film "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1979), depicting older versions of the characters from the original series. While Chapel was not one of the film's main characters, she was now depicted as a doctor instead of a nurse. Barrett's last appearance in the 1970s was a minor role in the Christmas television film "The Man in the Santa Claus Suit" (1979). The film depicted Santa Claus (played by Fred Astaire) subtly helping a number of adult characters in resolving their personal problems. The film is mainly remembered as Astaire's last television role. Barrett played Christine Chapel for the last time in the film "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" (1986). She had a supporting role in the film, which depicted the former nurse as having achieved the rank of Commander. A year later, a third Star Trek television series was launched: "Star Trek: The Next Generation", which featured entirely new characters. Barrett guested in a few episodes as alien ambassador Lwaxana Troi, the eccentric mother of counselor Deanna Troi (played by Marina Sirtis). Barrett would play this role several times in this and the next Star Trek series, "Deep Space Nine", from 1987 to 1996. A subplot involving the character was that Lwaxana's other daughter had died young in an accident, causing Lwaxana to be overly protective of Deanna. Another subplot centered on her love relationship with Deep Space 9's shape-shifting security chief Odo. In 1991, Gene Roddenberry died from natural causes. Barrett never remarried. In the 90s, she lent her voice talents to several Star Trek video games and the animated Spider Man TV series, and had roles in two theatrical movies. As Roddenberry had left behind archives with unfinished projects, Barrett further developed one of these projects into the science fiction television series "Earth: Final Conflict" (1997-2002). She served as the series' executive producer and acted as one of the main characters, Dr. Julianne Belman, in 11 episodes in the first three seasons. The premise of the series was that a group of seemingly benevolent aliens share their advanced technology with the people of Earth. Many humans suspect that the aliens have ulterior motives, and consequently form a militant resistance organization which opposes the aliens. The series lasted 5 seasons and 110 episodes. Barrett fleshed out another of Roddenberry's unfinished projects into the space opera television series "Andromeda" (2000-2005). The series started in a distant future, where three galaxies are unified under the control of the Systems Commonwealth. When the Commonwealth attempts to resolve a war with another space-faring civilization by ceding territory to them, an uprising against the Commonwealth begins. In an early part of the conflict the spaceship "Andromeda Ascendant" is frozen in time. It emerges from stasis 303 years later, to find that the Commonwealth has collapsed and civilization has considerably declined. Main character Dylan Hunt (played by Kevin Sorbo) has the mission of restoring the Commonwealth. Like the previous Roddenberry series, "Andromeda" also lasted 5 seasons and 110 episodes. It was canceled largely due to a change of ownership of the production company Fireworks Entertainment. It was Barrett's last effort as an executive producer. In her last years, Barrett was suffering from leukemia. She died in December 2008, at her home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. She was 76-years-old. Her funeral was held in early January 2009, with about 250 people in attendance. Several of her former co-stars from Star Trek attended the funeral. Prior to her death, Barrett had recorded a number of voice roles in several Star Trek fan films and series, resulting in some posthumous releases of her last roles. She is still remembered as a major figure of Star Trek. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Dimos I
• Spouse Gene Roddenberry (December 29, 1969 - October 24, 1991) (his death, 1 child)
• Parents William Hudec Gladys V. Cotterman
• The computer voice on the Star Trek television series and five of the Star Trek films
• In addition to her voice-over work, she also provided the voice of automated railroad-defect detectors for the Union Pacific and other railroads. Her voice can be heard on railroad radio channels throughout the nation.
• Majel Barrett and Gene Roddenberry had a Shinto-Buddhist wedding on August 6, 1969. They regarded this as their real wedding, but his divorce was not yet final and they made it legal with a civil ceremony on December 29, 1969. They had one child, Rod Roddenberry . Barrett was the stepmother of actress Dawn Roddenberry and of actress Darleen Anita Roddenberry -Bacha (died on October 29, 1995 in a car accident). Her grandson, Zale Eugene Roddenberry, was born on August 6, 2013, 10:40 p.m. PT, and weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces.
• Along with Leonard Nimoy , she was one of only two actors to appear in both the first and last episodes of the original Star Trek (1966) series. Is one of only 32 actors or actresses to have starred in both the original Star Trek (1966) (up to and including Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) ) and then in one of the spin-offs. She was the only actor to appear in all five live-action "Star Trek" series ( Star Trek (1966) , Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) , Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) ). In addition to this, she supplied various voices on Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) . Along with Joseph Ruskin , Clint Howard , Jack Donner and Vince Deadrick Sr. , she was one of only five actors to appear in both Star Trek (1966) and Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) . Shortly before her death, she completed voice-over work as the voice of the Enterprise's main computer for J.J. Abrams ' Star Trek (2009) remake.
• Best known for her roles as Nurse Christine Chapel on the original Star Trek (1966) series and as Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) . She played the mother of two Enterprise crew members: Lwaxana Troi and on Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) , she played Amanda Grayson as Jane Wyatt was unavailable.
• Attended and graduated from Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights, Ohio (Class of 1950). Attended and graduated from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.
• On Gene Roddenberry : Well, he was a very tall and imposing-looking man, first off. He was a very adamant man. He was also very kind and sweet. He had a lot of sides to him. Our life together was wonderful. It just didn't go on long enough. (September 2006)
• On how Gene Roddenberry would have felt about digitally remastering all the Star Trek (1966) episodes: You know what? He wouldn't have been bothered by it at all. Gene did the best work he could at the time, but he was also all about the future. I think he'd have thought it was terrific that the show was being made to look better because of new technology. (September 2006)
• What's nice is you know a Star Trek movie is still one that everybody wants. It remains Paramount's cash cow, so there's no danger of it going away anytime soon. (September 2006)
• On what inspired Gene Roddenberry to create a television series set in space: It was the studio (Desilu) mainly. They wanted a show set in space. Gene wanted to do one that was more science fiction. So he decided to combine them both and see what happens. (September 2006)
• On how Gene Roddenberry felt about Star Trek revival movies and the Next Generation series: He was never really satisfied with the way any of them came out. It was just his own frustration at wanting everything to be perfect. It was nothing against the people he worked with. (September 2006)

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Majel Barrett Roddenberry was the “First Lady of Star Trek” — to me, she was mom

In an Inverse exclusive, Rod Rodenberry reflects on the legacy and life of his mother.

Most people don’t know that my mother — “The First Lady of Star Trek” — loved horror movies.

When I was a very young kid in the ‘70s, my mom, Majel Barrett Roddenberry, took me to see the movies American Werewolf in London and Amityville Horror. She also loved the camp and horror of TV shows like Elvira because they were so over the top.

As I explained in my documentary, Trek Nation , I didn’t grow up a Star Trek fan, despite the fact that my father created it. I was way more into Star Wars as a child. My father, Gene Roddenberry, didn’t often come to the movies with me and my mom. He was a good, present father, don’t get me wrong. I know he saw Star Wars and was supportive of it and complementary of George Lucas, but I don’t have a memory of my father taking me to see it. Watching movies was an experience I shared with my mom. She was the person next to me as I was guided into the possibilities of other worlds.

Majel with her son Rod.

Today, I’m equally a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars (I really love The Mandalorian ), But again, my love of Star Wars comes from my mom, who took me to see the first film in 1977, when I was just 4-years-old. She did things like that a lot, and not just as a mother. She often bridged the gap between different fandom cultures. My mother cultivated all sorts of interest in science fiction, horror, and fantasy, and in spite of — or perhaps because of — her close association with Star Trek, she kept an open mind and an open heart about all sorts of things happening in the genre.

In 1996, she guest-starred in an episode of Babylon 5 , a series that some fans felt was in direct competition with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Imagine that! It’s almost impossible to think of someone doing something like that today; to attempt to bridge two fandoms with an open-hearted act of generosity.

But that was my mother. She was a pillar of the science fiction community and treated the cast of The Next Generation — especially Marina Sirtis, who played her daughter on the show — like family. When she came on set, not just the cast, but the crew and everyone sort of felt like mom was there. Royalty is too flamboyant of a term. She was a true den mother. This was the woman who was taking on the mantle. She is the protector. And they were right. She protected my father’s image and reputation up until his death and beyond that, up until her own.

“Today, I’m equally a fan of both Star Trek and Star Wars.”

When Star Trek fans think of Majel Barrett Roddenberry, they might think of her many characters. Nurse Chapel. Lwaxana Troi. Number One. Hell, if you’re re-watching the 1973 Westworld , you might recognize her as the robot madame running the saloon. All of these roles are different, and all of them are over-the-top. She had an over-the-top acting style, full of camp, which is why she was so good as Lwaxana, a role utterly created for her and pretty much the embodiment of her actual personality.

My mother was a versatile actress, capable of several different kinds of roles. But the one role that gets forgotten is that of a poignant speaker and lecturer.

Majel with Spock actor Leonard Nimoy.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry in Westworld (1973).

All families have dysfunction, and mine is no different. Unfortunately, when my father passed away, there were lawsuits. People contested the will and those sorts of things. The family accounts were briefly frozen through these legal proceedings. We weren't living in squalor on the streets or anything like that, but bills needed to be paid. And so my mother stepped up.

In the ‘70s, after The Original Series was canceled, my father made a partial living lecturing at colleges, talking about the ideals and dreams of Star Trek. And when he died, my mother took out all of his old speeches and rewrote them so she could give them. And in that way, she paid our family's bills. She paid for my college because she had the grace and intelligence to improve upon my dad’s old speeches about Star Trek and his dreams for the future. She wasn't some helpless producer's wife who couldn't manage things on her own. She not only took care of herself, but all of Star Trek, and her son, too.

“She always gave me the impression [Star Trek] would last forever .”

These are things about my mother that people will never truly understand that I’m just beginning to grasp myself. She was a champion for women’s rights and a voice for representation across all the versions of Star Trek that she worked on. But when it was just us, we rarely talked about Star Trek. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to, it was just a topic we didn’t discuss.

My mother passed away slightly before the 2009 J.J. Abrams film was released, which featured her final performance as the voice of the Enterprise ’s computer. Again, we almost never spoke about the Final Frontier. It was almost like I didn’t need to ask. But, occasionally, when I did ask her about what she thought would happen to Star Trek, she always gave me the impression that it would last forever. The question is, could it have survived all of those years without her? Just like my mom lifted herself up by her Starfleet bootstraps to save her family, she also lifted the entire franchise. For all the generations of Star Trek fans, and the generations yet to come, all of us are still living in a world that my mother cared about, and kept safe.

Rod Roddenberry is the son of Gene Roddenberry and Majel Barrett Roddenberry. He’s also an executive producer on all current Star Trek TV series, including “Discovery”, “Lower Decks,” and “Strange New Worlds.” Starting in March 2022, Majel (aka, “The First Lady of Star Trek”) was honored as part of an exhibit focused on her husband at the San Diego Comic-Con Museum.

To commemorate this moment, Rod Roddenberry took time to reflect on who his mother was, from a very personal point of view. This is his story, as told to Inverse writer Ryan Britt.

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Published Dec 18, 2023

The Retro Interview: Majel Barrett

In an interview from 1988, Barrett details her hopes for 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and more.

StarTrek.com

Many — too many — of the people who helped make Star Trek the phenomenon that it is today are sadly no longer with us. But what they helped create, and what they said about doing so, remains out there in the ether, and on the pages of many official licensed Star Trek publications. Today, we're pleased to present a conversation with Majel Barrett, written by Bill Florence for Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Official Magazine Series, Vol. 2, which was released in January 1988.

Sitting behind her Lincoln Enterprises table at a convention dedicated to Star Trek: The Next Generation , Majel Barrett takes a break from signing autographs and talking with fans. Interested television viewers have joined diehard Star Star fans for the two-day event, eager to get their first glimpse of the show.

Earlier in the day, Barrett introduced slides, character descriptions, and live footage from the first segment of The Next Generation , " Encounter at Farpoint ." She has even brought various props from the show’s set and delighted audiences with demonstrations of a "working" tricorder and phaser weapon.

Barrett is eager to discuss something she is very excited about — her role in The Next Generation .

"The Naked Time"

"I don’t see much of a future for Christine Chapel," she notes of her previous Star Trek character. "I really see much more of a future for Majel Barrett playing Lwaxana Troi." Troi, her character in the new series, is an alien — a Betazoid — and the mother of Enterprise Counselor Deanna Troi.

"Lwaxana is sort of the Auntie Mame of the galaxy," Barrett says. "She’s a much more fun character, and I can play her forever, because I’m at an age where that’s totally believable. I would like to continue to do that. I could leave Chapel very easily. However, if somebody gave me the chance to do her again, of course I would."

"Haven"

Barrett, as Troi, first appears in the episode, “ Haven ,” in which she beams aboard the ship to pressure her daughter into an arranged marriage. "Gene [Roddenberry] had said that he thinks there will be another script down the line,” which would feature the character again. But I would like to have more than one script," Barrett says. She will be trying very hard to make the part a recurring one. "I would like to put a little pressure on Gene. But the idea of nepotism sticks in his craw sometimes and people tell him, 'Gee, it looks funny.' So he’s listening to that more than to my pleas and tears.

"If the audience likes my character in the episode, however, they should write the studio. If they write to Gene, he’ll say, 'Oh, another one of these,' and into the wastebasket it goes. I would like the other people involved in Star Trek to find out that, yes, there is some interest out there for me."

The cast of The Next Generation garners high praise from Barrett. "These people are not Hollywood stars, they aren’t faces, they aren’t pretty boys and pretty girls," she says. "These people have a background of mostly stage, and with the exception of LeVar Burton, Patrick Stewart, and Wil Wheaton, they’re not widely known. They have been working actors, and they have been doing their thing." She completes the thought with great emphasis, "They have paid their dues, and they are good ."

For Barrett, the decision to become an actress was gradual one. "When I was 10 years old, my mother put me in the Cleveland Playhouse, just because I was a backward child," she recalls. "As I went through school, I felt that this was what I wanted to do, but it was more of an avocation than a vocation. Then, when I graduated from college, I went to law school for a year, but I had been doing acting all the way through. I finally decided that, after flunking Contracts, a six-credit course, I really didn’t want to take it again, and I wasn’t going to be a very good lawyer anyway. So, I went up to New York and gave professional acting a try."

She attended Flora Stone Mather College of Western Reserve University (now Case Western University) for one year before transferring down to the University of Miami. "I always kid everybody and say I majored in Underwater Basket Weaving," Barrett laughs, "but I actually had a major and minor in Radio & Drama/TV."

There was no specific actress that Barrett tried to emulate as she trained to become a professional. "I just wanted to be a damn fine actress," she says. "I saw stardom, fame, and notoriety, but mostly I saw work and ability. I can’t honestly say that I had an idol at that time. I loved Katharine Hepburn. I still do. But I would like to be great on my own, in my own way, and do the best that I possibly can."

The year 1969 saw both the cancellation of the first Star Trek TV series and the marriage of Barrett and Roddenberry. They had met some years before Star Trek , as Barrett explains. "I knew him when I went over to Screen Gems for the first time on interviews. I was introduced to him, and we just became friends for two or three years. I would stop by when I was on the studio lot, and we would have coffee or something. There were no romantic interludes. We became good friends before we ever managed to start dating. And from that point on, it was kismet."

Barrett credits the creation of Star Trek entirely to her husband’s powerful imagination. "The expression 'Behind every great man is a great woman' does not work out here," she laughs. "If there was any inspiration to give, maybe I inspired him a little. The creativity and the imagination are all his. And as far as writing is concerned, I’m lucky I can sign my own name to the bottom of a check."

The couple have a 12-year-old son, Rod Jr. who is interested in "girls and wasting time," according to his mother. Barrett would love to see him follow his parents’ footsteps into show business, "because it has been very good to us," she says.

A golfer for 17 years, Barrett has played with such people as Harvey Korman, Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, and others. She also attends Star Trek conventions frequently. "It’s not very difficult to come to a place where people look at you adoringly, and where there’s such adulation showered upon you," Majel Barrett observes. "People here are so nice, so friendly and so warm, and I get so much love that I love to give some of it back."

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Majel Roddenberry, ‘Star Trek’ Actress, Dies at 76

By The Associated Press

• Dec. 19, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Majel Barrett Roddenberry, an actress who was the widow of the “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry but who is probably best remembered as Nurse Chapel in the original “Star Trek” series, died Thursday at her home in Bel-Air. She was 76.

The cause was leukemia, a family spokesman, Sean Rossall, said.

Ms. Roddenberry was involved in the “Star Trek” universe for more than four decades. She played the dark-haired Number One in the original pilot then metamorphosed into the blond, miniskirted Nurse Christine Chapel in the original show, which ran from 1966 to 1969.

The character had abandoned a career in bio-research to join the starship Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) in the hope of reuniting with a fiancé who had gone missing in deep space. She served as the loyal head nurse under the chief medical officer, Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) and harbored an unrequited infatuation with the first science officer, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy).

Ms. Roddenberry had smaller roles in all five television successors of the original series and in many of the “Star Trek” movie incarnations.

She was frequently the voice of the ship’s computer, and about two weeks ago she completed the same role for the forthcoming J.J. Abrams movie “Star Trek,” Mr. Rossall said. She was a regular participant at “Star Trek” conventions for fans.

Ms. Roddenberry was also the executive producer for two other television science fiction series, “Andromeda” and “Earth: Final Conflict.”

Majel Lee Hudec was born on Feb. 23, 1932, in Cleveland. After a number of stage roles she earned small parts during the late 1950s and ’60s in movies and in television series like “Leave It to Beaver” and “Bonanza.”

She met her husband in 1964 during a guest role for a Marine Corps drama he produced called “The Lieutenant.” They married in Japan in 1969 after “Star Trek” was canceled. Mr. Roddenberry died in 1991.

Ms. Roddenberry’s survivors include her son, Eugene Jr.

How Star Trek's First Lady Majel Barrett Was Embodied By The Next Generation's Lwaxana Troi, According To Son Rod Roddenberry

Her son was kind enough to share the story.

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry earned her title as the “First Lady of Star Trek” in many ways, but the late wife of Gene Roddenberry definitely laid claim through her various acting roles in the franchise over the years. Whether she was the voice of the ship or other computers ( which paved the way for virtual assistants ), Nurse Chapel or Number One ( both of whom will appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ), Barrett gave her all for a role in a way that inspired others. With that said, there are few characters she embodied more than one who many know and love from The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine : Lwaxana Troi. 

Playing the Betazoid Federation ambassador and Deanna Troi’s mother Lwaxana was one of Majel Barrett’s greatest roles, so it’s no surprise it came up during a recent conversation with Rod Roddenberry about her legacy. I asked Roddenberry, the son of Majel and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, which of Barrett’s roles she cherished most and got a little story about how well she embodied the role of Lwaxana.

You know it’s hard for me to say without her being here, but I could tell you that Lwaxana, she lit up. I remember the day I came home from school and she had – you know the Betazoids have these sort of black eyes and so she had those [on] in the kitchen and I walked in and looked at her, and I kind of did one of those double-takes and she kept looking at me and trying to show me her eyes. I was like ‘What the?’ and so she explained to me her character... I was still pretty young at the time so I didn’t really understand it but when I saw her on-screen I didn’t say ‘That’s Lwaxana Troi.' I said, ‘That’s my mom.’ So, they put a lot of her into that character.

There’s no denying that out of all the roles that Majel Barrett played for Star Trek , Lwaxana Troi is one of the most complex. It’s no surprise that a young Rod Roddenberry saw her as a living version of his own mother, even with all the makeup. 

Lwaxana Troi ultimately served as another example of a strong woman in Star Trek , which Rod Roddenberry described as similar to his mother. I asked Roddenberry if the similarities in the character made Lwaxana his favorite as well, and he confirmed. 

Yes, I do have to say that is my favorite. It really showed her. I mean, my mother was an incredibly strong woman. She was over the top, she spoke her mind. She didn’t let anyone or any man get in her way, in real life as well. That is something that I think she really cherished and loved, and I love seeing her do it.

It seems that Rod Roddenberry's love of the character is rooted in its authenticity to his mother, which makes it a great memorial to her life. Majel Barrett passed away in December of 2008 , but she’ll get another send-off in the upcoming space flight for Celestis later in 2022. Barrett’s ashes will travel to space alongside Gene Roddenberry’s ashes, and thanks to new technology, Rod Roddenberry was able to send his own genome into the stars alongside his parents. It’s certainly a great way to honor her legacy and a great gesture for one of science fiction’s most impactful families . 

Majel Barrett’s works in the Star Trek franchise are all available over on Paramount+ . Snag a Paramount+ subscription now to revisit Lwaxana Troi’s greatest episodes, and stick around for all the new Trek shows arriving in 2022 as well. 

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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Sci-fi icon Majel Barrett Roddenberry dies at 76

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Star Trek's Barrett-Roddenberry Dead at 76

A supporting cast member for the original 1960s Trek and subsequent movies as Dr. McCoy's right hand, Nurse Chapel, Barrett Roddenberry would return to Star Trek: The Next Generation as the voice of the starship Enterprise 's computer and as Lwaxana Troi, mother of ship counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis).

Fortunately for fans, Barrett Roddenberry was able to complete a final farewell role as the voice of J.J. Abrams' Enterprise in the upcoming reboot movie.

Image courtesy StarTrek.com

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The Untold Truth Of Star Trek's Majel Barrett

If you watch "Star Trek ," you may have heard a familiar female voice across most of its different incarnations. Every time a computer is used in the series, viewers hear a woman's voice acknowledge commands or read out data. Starship computers are voiced by actress Majel Barrett, a role that has made her beloved to the Trek fandom and one that she reprised over the years before her death. Barrett also has a different, more personal relationship with the franchise: She also happens to be the wife of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry.

Cleveland.com reported Barrett was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1932, as Majel Hudec. Her family had moved to the Cleveland area when she was a year old and grew up there. She left Ohio to go to the University of Miami. Ever since she was a child, she had taken acting classes and even starred in plays at regional theaters.

The official website of "Star Trek"  said that even though Barrett loved acting, she was initially going to school to become a legal clerk. She went to law school for a year before deciding to pursue acting full time after getting a bad grade in contract law. Barrett moved to New York but thought the competition for roles was too stiff. It wasn't until she moved to Los Angeles that her career took off.

She worked with Lucille Ball

Today, Barrett is most famous for "Star Trek," but the show is not the only iconic series where she performed. After moving to Los Angeles, Barrett worked at the Pasadena Playhouse, where she was cast in the play "All for Mary." But this was Hollywood, not New York, and the real money was to be found onscreen.

She signed with Paramount and was cast in several movies as well as the popular shows of the time. Barrett had roles in films like "Black Orchid," "Young As We Are," and "The Buccaneer." Barrett also appeared in seminal TV shows like "Leave It to Beaver," "Dr. Kildare," and "Bonanza."

According to Star Trek.com , a chance meeting with comedy legend Lucille Ball during an acting class changed Barrett's trajectory. Ball signed her to an exclusive contract with her production company Desilu. This allowed Barrett to be in an episode of "The Lucy Show." After she left Desilu and worked on the MGM show "The Lieutenant," she met the man who would change her life.

She had an affair with Roddenberry

Barrett first met Gene Roddenberry on the set of "The Lieutenant," an hour-long drama that lasted one season, 1963-64, on NBC. Roddenberry was the creator and executive producer of the series.

It wasn't until a few years later that Roddenberry and Barrett married. Roddenberry was married when they first met, but he chose to pursue a relationship with Barrett anyway, explained The National Review . Their affair was an open secret (and Roddenberry was known as a serial womanizer who would be absolutely canceled for the way he ran his shows) and lasted for years before he divorced his first wife.

Roddenberry cast Barrett in the first pilot of the original "Star Trek" series as Number One, but Star Trek.com noted NBC, where the show aired, didn't like that a woman was second in command of a starship, and they reshot the pilot with a different Number One. Barrett was cast again as Nurse Christine Chapel when the show was picked up.

Barrett and Roddenberry married in Japan in 1969 and the two stayed together until his death in 1991. They had a son together.

Trek was not her only gig

Barrett is most well-known to fans as the computer voice, but real "Trek" fans know Barrett has had a far more significant role than that. She's so tied to the show, beyond her relationship with its creator, that fans called her the First Lady of Star Trek, wrote the Los Angeles Times .

Aside from the Nurse Chapel, who appeared in the original series, Barrett also starred as another character on the show. When the spin-off "Star Trek: The Next Generation "  came out, Barrett was tapped to play Lwaxana Troi, the domineering, loud, and gregarious mother of Deanna Troi. IMDb said Barrett appeared in 104 episodes of "TNG" and 33 episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

As for her best-known contribution, Barrett provided the computer voice for all starships in most "Star Trek" programs. Before her death in 2008, Barrett recorded lines to voice the computer for the reboot movies. And Barrett wasn't just in "Trek"; she was also in an episode of the sci-fi series "Babylon 5."

Barrett also provided the voice-over for another form of present-day transportation. Per the Times of UK , Union Pacific Railways used her voice for their trains.

She loved space

As befitting the First Lady of Star Trek, Barrett had an interest in promoting science. One way this manifested is by serving on the board of governors of the National Space Society (NSS). She also served on the NSS board of directors.

The NSS is a non-profit group that helps create programs to prepare people for spacefaring. Their goal is to work towards resettlement in space and educate people on why the study of space is essential.

Barrett, along with Roddenberry, was also honored by the Space Foundation for contributions to space exploration. Their work on "Star Trek" has inspired so many to see the beauty of space and become engineers and astronauts.

Barrett was also a fierce advocate for land-based animals. The Los Angeles Times said she was dedicated to animal rescue. On her death, the Roddenberry family asked mourners to make a donation to two animal rescue charities in her name.

Her final frontier

In 2021, William Shatner became the oldest person to go to space and the first actor playing a Federation starship captain to reach the edge of space, at least momentarily, in real life. But Shatner, the first to play Captain James T. Kirk in the "Trek" franchise, is far from the first person from the "Star Trek" universe to think about traveling to space.

After inspiring an entire generation of space travelers, both Roddenberry and Barrett will have a chance to boldly go, too, after a fashion. Their ashes will be aboard the Celestis memorial flight dubbed, fittingly, Enterprise. The company said its tentative launch date is June 2022. Roddenberry's ashes had already been to space before, back in 1997, per Space Daily . When the Enterprise flight launches, it will be the culmination of a long journey into space for Barrett.

Barrett's influence stretches beyond space travel. Her work voicing the Enterprise, Voyager, and basically most of the shows' computers inspired the creation of voice assistants on our phones and homes . Not bad for the First Lady of Star Trek, who is more than the voice that calls out the self-destruct sequence.

“Star Trek” Creator's Spouse, Actress Dead at 76

Published december 18, 2008 • updated on january 26, 2009 at 4:22 pm.

LOS ANGELES -- Majel Barrett Roddenberry, wife of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry and the actress who portrayed Nurse Chapel on the original science-fiction television series, died Thursday of leukemia, according to the family.

Roddenberry, 76, died at her home in Bel Air with her son, Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, at her side, according to a family statement.

She began her acting career in the 1950s, appearing on shows such as "Bonanza," "The Untouchables" and "The Lucy Show." But she became a cult favorite on the original "Star Trek" series as Nurse Christine Chapel, the soft-spoken USS Enterprise medical assistant who adeptly aided Dr. McCoy and harbored a usually unspoken, unrequited love for Leonard Nimoy's Vulcan character, Mr. Spock.

Avid "Trek" fans also knew Chapel as the female voice of the Enterprise computer in virtually every television and movie incarnation of the series. She also voiced the ship's computer in the latest "Star Trek" film, which is due out next year.

Gene Roddenberry cast Majel Barrett -- whom he was dating at the time -- in the original pilot episode of "Star Trek" as the Enterprise's first officer, with her character known only as Number One. The pilot featured actor Jeffrey Hunter as captain of the Enterprise and a young Nimoy as Spock.

Most of the crew was re-cast after the pilot episode, with William Shatner coming aboard as Capt. James T. Kirk. The Number One character was eliminated, and Barrett took on the role of Nurse Chapel -- along with ship's computer voice.

She and Gene Roddenberry were married on Aug. 6, 1969, after the original series was canceled, earning her the crown of "First Lady of Star Trek" among many Trekkies.

Gene Roddenberry died in 1991.

"Over the course of their more-than quarter-century love affair, she became not only Gene's partner, but also his creative muse," according to the family's statement. "(Majel) Roddenberry helped Gene expand the `Star Trek' universe and was an integral part of its continued legacy after his death."

Roddenberry is survived by her son, Eugene. Funeral arrangements were pending, and a public memorial was expected to be held after Christmas or in early 2009.

According to the family, donations in Roddenberry's memory can be sent to Precious Paws, 18034 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 430, Encino, 91316; or C.A.R.E., P.O. Box 56631, Sherman Oaks, 91403.

Court is the final frontier for this lost ‘Star Trek’ model

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In April, Heritage Auctions heralded the discovery of the original model of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the iconic starship that whooshed through the stars in the opening credits of the 1960s TV series “Star Trek” but had mysteriously disappeared around 45 years ago.

The auction house, known for its dazzling sales of movie and television props and memorabilia, announced that it was returning the 33-inch model to Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry Jr., son of series creator Gene Roddenberry. The model was kept at Heritage’s Beverly Hills office for “safekeeping,” the house proclaimed in a statement, shortly after an individual discovered it and brought it to Heritage for authentication.

“After a long journey, she’s home,” Roddenberry’s son posted on X , (formerly Twitter).

But the journey has been far from smooth. The starship model and its celebrated return is now the subject of a lawsuit alleging fraud, negligence and deceptive trade practice, highlighting the enduring value of memorabilia from the iconic sci-fi TV series.

The case was brought by Dustin Riach and Jason Rivas, longtime friends and self-described storage unit entrepreneurs who discovered the model among a stash of items they bought “sight unseen” from a lien sale at a storage locker in Van Nuys last October.

“It’s an unfortunate misunderstanding. We have a seller on one side and a buyer on the other side and Heritage is in the middle, and we are aligning the parties on both sides to get the transaction complete,” said Armen Vartian, an attorney representing the Dallas-based auction house, adding that the allegations against his client were “unfounded.”

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The pair claimed that once the model was authenticated and given a value of $800,000, they agreed to consign it to an auction sale with Heritage planned for July 2024, according to the lawsuit. However, following their agreement, they allege the auction house falsely questioned their title to the model and then convinced them, instead of taking it to auction, to sell it for a low-ball $500,000 to Roddenberry Entertainment Inc. According to the suit, Eugene Roddenberry, the company’s CEO, had shown great interest in the model and could potentially provide a pipeline of memorabilia to the auction house in the future.

“They think we have a disagreement with Roddenberry,” said Dale Washington, Riach and Rivas’ attorney. “We don’t. We think they violated property law in the discharge of their fiduciary duties.”

The two men allege they have yet to receive the $500,000 payment.

A surprise discovery in a Van Nuys storage unit

For years, Riach and Rivas have made a living buying repossessed storage lockers and selling the contents online, at auction and at flea markets. In fact, Riach has appeared on the reality TV series “Storage Wars.”

“It’s a roll of dice in the dark,” Riach said of his profession bidding on storage lockers. “Sometimes you are buying a picture of a unit. When a unit goes to lien, what you see is what you get and the rest is a surprise. At a live auction you can shine a flashlight, smell and look inside to get a gauge. But online is a gamble, it’s only as good as the photo.”

Last fall, Riach said he saw a picture of a large locker in an online sale. It was 10 feet by 30 feet, and “I saw boxes hiding in the back, it was dirty, dusty, there were cobwebs and what looked like a bunch of broken furniture,” he said.

Something about it, he said, “looked interesting,” and he called Rivas and told him they should bid on it. Riach declined to say how much they paid.

There were tins of old photographs and negatives of nitrate film reels from the 1800s and 1900s. When Rivas unwrapped a trash bag that was sitting on top of furniture, he pulled out a model of a spaceship. The business card of its maker, Richard C. Datin, was affixed to the bottom of the base.

A Google search turned up that Datin had made “Star Trek” models, although the two men didn’t make the connection to the TV series.

“We buy lots of units and see models all of the time,” Riach said. He thought they would find a buyer and decided to list it on eBay with a starting price of $1,000.

At once, they were deluged with inquiries. Among Trekkies, the long-lost first starship model had attained a mythical status.

The original “Star Trek’’ debuted in 1966 and aired for three seasons. Although its original run was brief, the show has generated numerous films and television spinoffs and is one of the most lucrative entertainment franchises, with an enormous fan base.

In 2022, at a Heritage auction of 75 props and items, a Starfleet Communicator from the 1990s series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” sold for $27,500 while a pair of Spock’s prosthetic Vulcan ear tips from the original series went for $11,875, more than twice the amount they brought when they were sold in 2017 for $5,100.

The starship’s design was crucial to the series’ success. “If you didn’t believe you were in a vehicle traveling through space, a vehicle that made sense, whose layout and design made sense, then you wouldn’t believe in the series,” Gene Roddenberry said in the 1968 book “The Making of Star Trek,” according to the auction house.

For years, the show’s creator had kept the 33-inch model on his desk. It became the prototype for the 11-foot model used in subsequent episodes. That version was later donated to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. But that first model disappeared around 1978 when the makers of “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” borrowed it.

A missing starship model

In 1979, Roddenberry wrote to then Paramount executive Jeffrey Katzenberg stating that he had “loaned” the model to the studio more than a year earlier.

“My problem is simply that of getting my model back,” Roddenberry wrote, according to a copy provided by Washington. “It is a fairly expensive piece of model making but its real value to me is what it represents.” He added that no one he had spoken with “had the slightest hint as to who got it or what happened to it.”

Roddenberry died in 1991 .

After the massive interest sparked by the eBay listing, Riach and Rivas pulled the sale and began researching the model more intently. They discovered the connection between Datin and the TV series but also learned that the original model was the same size as the one they had found and it had gone missing. “I said wow, do we have something here?” said Riach, and then reached out to Heritage.

Riach admitted that “Star Trek” wasn’t really on his radar. He was a die-hard “Star Wars” fan, having collected vintage memorabilia from the space films since he was 8 years old.

But given the treasure he unearthed, he now says, “I love ‘Star Trek.’

“There are people buying storage units for 20 years and you will never find anything this great,” he said. “It’s like buying a lottery ticket. It was a very great find.”

Things took an unexpected twist, Riach said. In March, he and Rivas signed an agreement to sell the model for $500,000 after it was pulled from the planned auction and they were told Roddenberry Entertainment had a “strong claim” to the model’s title and “would tie them up with its ‘powerful legal team.’” But then they were given a new transfer agreement to sign with a new set of terms. Riach declined and, instead, he and Rivas called Washington.

Heritage “moved the goalposts,” said their attorney. Under the new agreement, Riach and Rivas would be paid a “finder’s fee,” which Washington called a “reward,” converting it from a transactional payment to a potentially voluntary payment.

They claimed that by April, when Heritage announced the model had resurfaced, the pair came to believe the house failed to disclose the item’s value was much greater than they had been told.

Joe Maddalena, Heritage’s executive vice president, made public statements calling it “priceless.” “It could sell for any amount and I wouldn’t be surprised because of what it is,” he told the AP . “It is truly a cultural icon.”

They also had not been paid.

On April 28, 10 days after Heritage announced it had returned the model to Roddenberry, Riach and Rivas’ lawyer sent a letter to the auction house’s attorney outlining their claims and asking for the payment promised; they also proposed mediation.

Vartian, the lawyer representing Heritage, said that Riach and Rivas became “impatient” about getting the transaction done, and disputes the house had a fiduciary duty to them.

“This is an arm’s-length business relationship,” Vartian said. “They bring something to the auction house and are trying to get the most possible amount as quickly as possible, that is [Heritage’s] position and what they did.”

Still, Vartian is confident that they will soon conclude the transaction, saying, “Various things including scheduling have taken longer than it would.”

For his part, Riach says this experience is much like that of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise — “a strange new world.”

“I’ve never experienced anything like this. I’ve sold fine art at auction and other places, I got my check and went on. I’ve never had this roller coaster.

“Storage is a hard game. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose,” he added. “We’ve bought a $10,000 unit and everything was complete garbage. But if you play long enough, you can get lucky.”

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All Roads Lead to Discovery: The Full Star Trek Timeline, Explained

Star Trek: Discovery takes place at the furthest point in the franchise timeline. Here is the stardate for each major entry in the series.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, the final season, is currently underway. The series debuted in 2017 and was used as the launch title for the streaming service CBS All Access, now rebranded Paramount+. It was also the first Star Trek series on television in 12 years following the conclusion of Star Trek: Enterprise back in 2005. While Paramount has spent nearly a decade trying to get Star Trek 4 out of development hell , the franchise has been going strong on Paramount+ with various series on the streaming service at different times of the year. Now, there is almost always a Star Trek series on the air at any given point.

Star Trek: Discovery is a fascinating case for the franchise, as it was originally conceived as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series , but following the conclusion of Season 2 and starting in Season 3, the series jumped far into the future, the farthest point in the franchise history. Star Trek: Discovery now takes place in a universe built on years of stories. Here is a breakdown of the Star Trek timeline across television and film and how it all leads to Star Trek: Discovery .

Star Trek: Enterprise (2151-2155)

Star trek: enterprise.

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The last television series on air before Star Trek: Discovery is also the first in the timeline as Star Trek: Enterprise takes place over 100 years before the adventures of Kirk and Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series . The series follows Jonathan Archer, the captain of the Enterprise NX-01 which was Earth’s first starship able to reach warp five. Major events in the series are around first contact with alien species like the Klingon and the Xindi. The series also featured the true formation of the United Federation of Planets.

The series also established the Temporal Wars, a conflict that stretched across time and space and resulted in the creation of multiple timelines as agents from various factions in the 32nd century were sent back in time to move history in their favor. This eventually resulted in an all-out war, and while it was resolved, it later had some major ramifications for the franchise. The first was that all-time travel technology became outlawed or destroyed in the 32nd century, so when the crew of Discovery jumped forward in time, they had no way of returning home. The other was a way for the writers to fix continuity errors , like moving up the date of Khan's rise and the Eugenics wars from the 1990s, as established in The Original Series , to the 2010s.

Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 1 and 2 (2256-2258)

When Star Trek: Discovery first premiered, it was pitched as a prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series , taking place nine years before the events of the series. It introduced Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham, the never-before-mentioned adopted sister of Spock who ended up starting the war between the Federation and the Klingons, one that would have repercussions for the franchise for years. Star Trek: Discovery dealt with a threat from the Mirror Universe , a faction that would come into play in Star Trek: The Original Series , while season two brought on fan-favorite versions of characters from the original Star Trek pilot in the form of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Number One (Rebecca Romijln), and Spock (Ethan Peck).

Star Trek: Discovery season two ended with the crew of the Enterprise making the decision to jump forward 1000 years in the future to save the galaxy from an artificial intelligence threat. This resulted in Pike, Spock, and Number One telling Starfleet that Discovery was destroyed in the battle and vowing never to speak of it or the crew again to prevent another incident like the rouge AI Control from happening. This was done to explain why nobody in the later series of Star Trek mentioned any of the characters on Discovery or the advanced technology the ship had as the first and only one of its kind to use an experimental spore drive.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2259-TBD)

Star trek: strange new worlds.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is both a spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery , following Captain Pike and the crew of the USS Enterprise, introduced in that series, as well as a continuation of the original pilot for Star Trek: The Original Series "The Cage." Now that Captain Pike knows the fate that awaits him by the time Star Trek: The Original Series happens, he and the crew of the Enterprise begin exploring strange new worlds. The series is notable for featuring not only Spock but also his first-ever meeting with Captain Kirk (Paul Wesley) and the first missions of Uhurua (Celia Rose Gooding). Other members of the original crew, like Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) and Doctor M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), while Season 2's finale introduces a young Scotty (Martin Quinn).

Star Trek Movies in Order: How to Watch Chronologically and by Release Date

It also adds a new wrinkle to the lore: La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), who is a descendant of villain Khan Noonien Singh. The series has so far fleshed out the alien race, The Gorn, and features the foundation of the Prime Directive rule, one that forbids a Starship from interfering with the development of an alien planet. It also features time travel in two key episodes. The first was when La'an and another version of Kirk traveled to 2020 Toronto, where La'an has a chance to kill a young Khan when he was just a boy but doesn't due to him not being guilty of any crime yet, and the other involved the crew of Star Trek: Lower Decks traveling back in time and arriving back 100 years before their time.

Star Trek: The Original Series (2265-2269)

The one that started it all, Star Trek: The Original Series , follows the crew of the USS Enterprise in their five-year mission to explore strange new worlds and go where no one has gone before. Under the guidance of Captain Kirk (William Shatner), his first officer Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and friend and ship doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelly), the crew of the USS Enterprise are the most important characters in the Star Trek franchise. Decisions and events here have major ripple effects on the entire franchise.

There are far too many to name, but the biggest ones include in 2267 when the crew finds and uncovers the body of Khan Nooniegn-Signh, and after he attempts a mutiny, they leave him on a planet to begin a new life, an action that will have repercussions decades later.

Star Trek: The Animated Series (2269-2270)

Star trek: the animated series.

Star Trek: The Animated Series was made in 1973, four years after Star Trek: The Original Series was canceled. It featured the continuing adventures of the crew of the Enterprise's five-year mission. It lasted for two seasons and helped round out the stories of Captain Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the USS Enterprise.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (2271)

Star trek: the motion picture.

While no official stardate is mentioned in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and is only identified as the 2270s, supplementary material for the film dates it one year after the crew of the Enterprise's five-year mission. The film sees the crew of the Enterprise reunite to investigate a mysterious and powerful alien cloud known as V'Ger, which is destroying everything in its path as it approaches Earth. While not stated in the film, subsequent Star Trek material has suggested that V'Ger is the progenitor of the Borg, one of the franchise's most popular recurring enemies.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (2285)

Star trek 2: the wrath of khan.

The most iconic Star Trek film, The Wrath of Khan , picks up 15 years after the events of the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Space Seed." The time since the planet Khan was marooned on , it became a wasteland after one of the planets near it was destroyed and altered the atmosphere. Khan now seeks revenge on Kirk and does so by going after the planet-terraforming machine called the Genesis device, a machine created by Kirk's ex, Carol Marcus, and his son, David Marcus. Kirk is able to defeat Khan but at a price, as Mr. Spock is forced to give his life to save the crew of the Enterprise. Spock's death will have major repercussions on the franchise that will be felt for years.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (2285)

Star trek iii: the search for spock.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock picks up just months after The Wrath of Khan , as the crew of the Enterprise discovers that there is a way to revive Spock. They go against Starfleet's orders and steal the Enterprise to return Spock's body and mind to Vulcan so that he can be reborn. The crew must also face off with hostile Klingons, led by Kruge (Christopher Lloyd), who is bent on stealing the secrets of the powerful terraforming Genesis.

Here’s How Much Each Star Trek Movie Made at the Box Office Upon Release

The film features some major hallmarks of the franchise. The first is the destruction of the Enterprise, a ship that had been with the franchise for years and would be absent in the following film. The second was establishing the core characters as fugitives from the United Federation of Planets, which would set up clearing their names in the follow-up. It also featured Spock being resurrected but at another cost for Kirk, the death of his son, which would begin to drive Kirk's prejudice against Klingons for many films.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (2286 and 1986)

Star trek iv: the voyage home.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home sees the former crew of the USS Enterprise discover that Earth is in grave danger from an alien probe attempting to contact now-extinct humpback whales. The crew travels to Earth's past to find whales who can answer the probe's call. The first and final part of the movie takes place one year after The Search for Spock , but the majority of the movie takes place in 1986, the present day for moviegoing audiences. While Star Trek had done time travel stories before, this one set a template for future entries in the franchise. By the end of the film, Kirk and his crew had been reinstated and cleared of all charges.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (2287)

Star trek v: the final frontier.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier deals with the crew of the new USS Enterprise-A as they confront renegade Vulcan Sybok, who is searching for God at the center of the galaxy. Sybok is Spock's half-brother , and he is from his father's previous relationship with a Vulcan woman. This makes the second chronological secret member of Spock's family and the first introduced in the series in order of release.

Sybok's presence was actually hinted at in the series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds when his lover, Angel, attacks his half-brother's ship. The entry is also the first to allude to a higher power in the Star Trek franchise, and while God would not be revealed in the series, the idea of someone being the creator of life in the galaxy would be picked up years later in Star Trek: The Next Generation and is now the main storyline for the final season of Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (2293)

Star trek vi: the undiscovered country.

The final time the entire crew of the USS Enterprise would be together was in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country . The Klingons seek to form an alliance with the Federation after years of fighting due to their planet suffering a major catastrophe, but Kirk is still bitter after the death of his son at the Klingon's hands in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . Kirk and Bones are framed for the murder of a high-up Klingon official, which threatens the peace accords, and they, alongside the rest of the crew of the Enterprise, must work to clear their names.

This final entry for most of the original cast marks a turning point in the franchise. It marked the end of the Federation and Klingon conflict, setting up Star Trek: The Next Generation , featuring the character Worf in a prominent role as part of the crew. The film takes place 28 years after Star Trek: The Original Series, and through one live-action show, an animated series, and six films, audiences saw a massive epic unfold for these characters, but the story was far from over as a new era began for the franchise and the next generation began.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (2364-2370)

Star trek: the next generation.

Star Trek: The Next Generation takes place a century after the events of Star Trek: The Original Series . The series follows Captain Jean Luc-Picard and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D as they continue to explore strange new worlds and seek out new life and new civilizations. For many audiences, this was their Star Trek and introduced a whole new host of concepts to the franchise, with the most iconic being the villain, The Borg.

Star Trek: The Next Generation might be one of the most important in terms of how it connects to Star Trek Discovery. The first is the episode "Unification," in which Spock looks to bring peace between the Vulcans and Romulans. Not only is this paid off as Spock's vision of a united Romulus and Vulcan comes true in the form of the planet Ni'Var in Star Trek: Discovery , but his work with the Romulan people will lead to the events that create the alternate Kelvin timeline of Star Trek , Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond .

Yet the most important element is in the episode "The Chase," which reveals that the reason various alien life in the galaxy looks so similar is due to sharing a common ancestry from an ancient species that crafted life in their image. This revelation forms the backbone of Star Trek: Discovery 's final season as the crew looks to find the technology of the species that created life, now dubbed the Progenitors. The episode debuted in 1993, and now, 31 years later, the series is finally going to delve into some answers.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2369-2375)

Star trek: deep space nine.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke from franchise conventions as instead of being focused on a starship, it was set on a space station Deep Space Nine, located adjacent to a wormhole connecting Federation territory to the Gamma Quadrant on the far side of the Milky Way galaxy. The series begins one year before the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation come to a conclusion and is firmly connected to the events of that series as Benjamin Sisko, head of Deep Space Nine, is mourning the death of his wife, who was killed by the Borg at the Battle of Wolf 359 seen in the episode "The Best of Both Worlds Part II" from The Next Generation and has a difficult time seeing the face of Jean-Luc Picard as that was the face he saw leading the Borg that lead to the death of his wife.

The biggest event of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is The Dominion Wars, a massive story arc that ran over the course of the series. It involved all major powers of the Alpha and Gamma Quadrants, organized into two opposing military alliances, the Federation Alliance and the Breen-Dominion Alliance, which resulted in the deadliest conflicts in the galaxy. It would begin the drive for the Federation to become a more militarized organization.

Star Trek Generations (2371)

Star trek: generations.

Star Trek: Generations occupies an interesting place within the timeline. It is set one year after the events of The Next Generation and two years into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine in the year 2371. Yet the film's beginning takes place shortly after the events of Star Trek VI: The Final Frontier, which sees Captain Kirk stuck in a pocket dimension, allowing him to meet Captain Jean-Luc Picard of The Next Generation nearly a century later into his future. This film marked the death of Captain Kirk , who died the way he lived, a man of adventure.

Star Trek: First Contact (2373)

Star trek: first contact.

Star Trek: First Contact is another time travel movie, similar to Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home . Set six years after being assimilated by the Borg in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Captain Picard and his crew travel through a time portal to pursue the Borg to April 4, 2063. This is the date before the historic warp drive flight that leads to humanity's first encounter with alien life, and the Borg are looking to alter the future so humans never make contact. The film's date of April 5th has now become an unofficial Star Trek holiday known as First Contact Day .

Star Trek: Insurrection (2375)

Star trek: insurrection.

Star Trek: Insurrection is notable as the film is set in 2375, the same year as the final season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Trying to take the renegade Starfleet team element from Star Trek III: The Search for Spock , the crew of the USS Enterprise -E rebels against Starfleet after they discover a conspiracy with the Son'a species to steal the peaceful Ba'ku's planet for its rejuvenating properties.

Star Trek: Voyager (2371-2378)

Star trek: voyager.

Star Trek: Voyager begins in 2371, the same year as Star Trek: Generations . It follows the adventures of the USS Voyager as it attempts to return home to the Alpha Quadrant after being stranded in the Delta Quadrant on the far side of the galaxy. This entry is key for introducing two characters to the franchise that will play major roles in future installments. The series introduced Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), the first female Captain in the franchise, who will later have a major role in Star Trek: Prodigy .

The second is Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), a former Borg drone that was born Annika Hansen before being assimilated by the Borg at age six in 2356, eight years before the start of Star Trek: The Next Generation . Seven of Nine plays a major role in Star Trek: Picard as the series delves more into the Borg's history and culture.

Star Trek: Nemesis (2379)

Star trek: nemesis.

Star Trek: Nemesis takes place fifteen years after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation and deals with a threat from a clone of Captain Picard named Shinzon (Tom Hardy), who has taken control of the planet Romulus and was created by the Romulan Empire originally to create a spy within the Federation but the plans were abandoned likely due to the events of "Unification" and the clone child was left on die as a slave on the Romulan controlled planet Remus. The film marked the final film for the crew of The Next Generation as it marked many landmarks, including the wedding of Commander Will Ryker and Deanna Tori and the death of Data, all elements that lead into Star Trek: Picard .

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2380-TBD)

Star trek: lower decks.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is a comedic spin on the Star Trek franchise . This animated adventure follows the low-ranking support crew of the starship Cerritos and begins one year after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis . Star Trek: Lower Decks crossed over with Star Trek: Strange New World in that series' second season episode, "Those Old Scientists," which saw Tawny Newsome and Jack Quaid get the chance to play their roles of Beckett Mariner and Brad Boimler, respectively, in live-action.

The series just announced its fifth and final season, meaning both it and Star Trek: Discovery will come to a close in 2024, and fans are certainly hoping to hear a mention of the characters of Lower Decks in Discovery just to know these lowly crew members did become big names with the Federation history.

Star Trek: Prodigy (2383-TBD)

Star trek: prodigy.

Star Trek: Prodigy was an attempt to create a new starting point for young kids to get into the Star Trek franchise. Set in 2383, it follows a group of young aliens from the Delta Quadrant who find the abandoned starship Protostar and learn about Starfleet with the help of the ship's computer, an AI of Captain Janeway from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . This young crew of kids makes their way to the Alpha Quadrant while discovering what it means to be a crew and what being part of Starfleet is all about.

The series features plenty of cameos and references to the past Star Trek series but does so in a way that invites the young viewer to learn more about them. The series was canceled at Paramount+ after one season but was then picked up by Netflix, where it will have a second season.

Kelvin Timeline (2387, 2255 - 2263)

This is where things get a bit tricky. In the year 2387, a supernova destroys the planet Romulus. For those in the original timeline, the destruction of Romulus kicks off the events of Star Trek: Picard, but a major event happens that none of the characters are aware of at the time: the creation of a new timeline.

In an attempt to stop the supernova, an elder Spock launches a piece of red matter into the supernova that creates a black hole that sucks both him and the Romulan villain Nero (Eric Bana) through it and back in time. Nero arrives first in the year 2233, which results in the destruction of the USS Kelvin and the death of Geroge Kirk on the birth of his son James T. Kirk's birth, creating a new branching timeline that is the Kelvin timeline, which is where the events of Star Trek , Star Trek Into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond take place. This means that while the events of the Kelvin timeline take place earlier, they are doing so in a separate timeline that is built off the events of the prior stories. So 2009's Star Trek is both a reboot, a prequel, and a sequel to the franchise.

Due to the timeline changing, the events of the Kelvin timeline actually take place earlier than in Star Trek: The Original Series . 2009's Star Trek takes place in 2255, while Into Darkness takes place four years later in 2259, and Beyond is set in 2263, roughly four years into the crew's five-year mission. This is notably two years before Star Trek: The Original Series begins. By the 31st century of Star Trek: Discovery season three, the Prime Timeline is aware of the Kelvin timeline. They established a Starfleet officer named Yor, a time soldier who originated from another timeline and referenced the events of 2009's Star Trek .

Star Trek: Picard (2399-2402)

Star trek: picard.

Star Trek: Picard takes place 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis in the year 2399. In the years since the series concluded, the Federation has become more isolationist. Following the destruction of Romulus, the Romulan people have become scattered; meanwhile, an attack on a Starfleet operation has led to a ban on synthetics. Season one focuses on Picard discovering more about the syncs with the discovery of Data's daughter Soji while also exploring more into the Borg culture as Romulans have begun mining Borg technology.

Season 2 takes place two years later, in 2401, and sees an old adversary named Q, an extra-dimensional being, traping Picard and his new crew in an alternate reality which forces them to travel back in time to Los Angeles 2024 to save the future while exploring more about Picard's own family origin. Finally, season three takes place one year later, in 2402, as Picard reunites with his old crew from The Next Generation , as well as his long-lost son, for a final showdown with the Borg.

Star Trek: Discovery: Seasons 3-5 (3188-TBD)

Now, finally, it's time to loop back to Star Trek: Discovery . Season 3 sees the crew of Discovery travel to the year 3188 to discover the Federation fragmented and investigates the cause of a cataclysmic event known as the "Burn" as they attempt to rebuild Starfleet. Burnham is promoted to captain at the end of the season, and in season four, the crew helps rebuild the Federation while facing a space anomaly created by unknown aliens that causes destruction across the galaxy, similar to the plot of Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

The fifth and final season sees Discovery faced with its biggest task yet. They embark on a journey to uncover the mystery of The Progenitors, the species that The Next Generation revealed created multiple sentient lifeforms in the universe. The final season of Star Trek: Discovery , the series set furthest in the Star Trek timeline, is now taking the franchise to answer the oldest question in the cosmos: where do we come from, and what is our purpose?

With humans making first contact with aliens on April 5, 2063, to the events of Star Trek: Discovery in 3188, the story of Star Trek is one that spans 1,125 years. It is an epic tale filled with heroes, villains, and worlds filled with imagination and hope. Star Trek continues forward as there are plenty more stories to tell.

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Star trek: discovery brings back a mirror universe enterprise computer easter egg.

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Star trek: ds9 had a real jerk on set, from season 3: 7 reasons to be excited about the sci-fi horror's 2024 return.

Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5 - "Mirrors"

• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 brings back the Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise with a male computer voice.
• Captain Burnham and Booker discovered the derelict ISS Enterprise in interdimensional space and brought it back to the Prime Universe.
• The USS Enterprise's voice is female, but it's male in the Mirror Universe.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 brought back the Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise and mirrored the change Star Trek: The Original Series made to the Enterprise's computer. Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) found the derelict ISS Enterprise in interdimensional space and piloted it back to Star Trek 's Prime Universe. The Mirror Universe's Enterprise in Star Trek: Discovery is the same ship introduced, along with the Mirror Universe, in Star Trek: The Original Series ' classic episode "Mirror, Mirror". Naturally, the ISS Enterprise's computer is the opposite of the USS Enterprise's computer in both series.

On his X, Jörg Hillebrand (@gaghyogi49), who was a researcher for Star Trek: Picard season 3, pointed out that the ISS Enterprise in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5 , has a male computer voice, just like the ISS Enterprise does in Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Mirror Mirror." This is a 'mirror reversal' of the USS Enterprise's computer, whose female voice was provided by Majel Barett-Roddenberry. Check out the post below:

John Winston voiced the ISS Enterprise computer in Star Trek: The Original Series, and Barnaby Carpenter provided the ISS Enterprise computer voice in Star Trek: Discovery.

As Burnham seeks the universe's greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she'll need help from a host of new and returning characters.

Star Trek's Computer Voices Are Traditionally Female

But not in the mirror universe.

Starfleet computer voices are traditionally female in Star Trek. Majel Barrett-Roddenberry voiced not just the USS Enterprise's computer in Star Trek: The Original Series , but also the starship computers in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager . Star Trek: Picard season 3 laudably restored Majel's voice as the USS Enterprise-D's computer. On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' Alex Kapp is now the voice of the USS Enterprise's computer. However, to make the Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise 'the opposite' of the USS Enterprise, the Mirror computer voice was and still is male in Star Trek: Discovery .

No one can ever replace Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as a Star Trek computer voice.

Different actresses voice the various computers in the current Star Trek on Paramount+ series . In Star Trek: Discovery , Annabelle Wallis voices Zora, the sentient and emotionally sensitive supercomputer of the USS Discovery. On Star Trek: Lower Decks , Jessica Ruth McKenna voices the USS Cerritos' computer. Star Trek: Prodigy 's Bonnie Gordon is the voice of the USS Protostar's computer, among other roles. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Amy Earhart was the voice of the USS Titan-A's computer. Of course, no one can ever replace Majel Barrett-Roddenberry as a Star Trek computer voice, but Star Trek: Discovery season 5 went the proper extra step by bringing back a male computer voice as Majel's ISS Enterprise counterpart.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+

• Star Trek: The Original Series (1966)
• Star Trek: Discovery (2017)

Why Wesley Crusher Left Star Trek, and Why He Came Back

Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher disappeared from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he came back for select episodes, movies, and Picard. Here's why.

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Wesley crusher went from boy genius to star trek time-travel god, wil wheaton was the 'big name' on star trek: tng, wesley crusher returned to star trek twice after leaving with the traveler, would wil wheaton return to star trek.

Despite running for seven seasons and keeping a grueling filming schedule, the central cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation didn't experience much turnover. In fact, of the regular cast who appeared in the series premiere and the series finale, only one character was absent. Wesley Crusher (played by Wil Wheaton) left Star Trek: The Next Generation early in the fourth season for a mix of personal and professional reasons. Still, Wesley returned a handful of times, and Wil Wheaton is still an active participant in Gene Roddenberry's universe. Despite Wheaton's unbridled enthusiasm for all things Star Trek and his experiences as part of The Next Generation family, his time playing the character wasn't the nerd's dream everyone thought it was.

The fans were harshly critical of Wesley Crusher , and the line "Shut up, Wesley!" from Season 1, Episode 13 became an early internet meme. In a promotional special, The Star Trek Saga: From One Generation to the Next , Roddenberry said the genesis of the character was himself at age 14, and "Wesley" was his middle name. Though, the Great Bird of the Galaxy admitted he was never the genius the eventual Starfleet cadet was in the series. Despite these struggles with Wesley Crusher's character, it was behind-the-scenes problems that inspired Wheaton to leave Star Trek: The Next Generation .

REVIEW: Star Trek: Picard: The Art & Making of the Series Tells the Story Behind the Story

Wesley was the only son of Doctor Beverly Crusher and her late husband Jack, the best friend of Captain Picard. He was a deeply curious boy, but he was often treated harshly by the crew and its captain. In the sixth episode of Season 1, "Where No Man Has Gone Before," Wesley befriends and impresses the mysterious Traveler, an alien with strange abilities. At the end of that episode, despite his disdain for children, Captain Picard promotes Wesley to "Acting Ensign" allowing him to serve on the bridge in advance of his application to Starfleet Academy.

Wesley's time in Starfleet Academy was tumultuous despite his genius and experience serving on the Enterprise. He failed the entrance exam the first time he took it, though so did Captain Picard. Once he was accepted, he left the ship and only appeared in a few episodes. While at the Academy, he joined Nova Squadron led by Nick Locarno . He was part of a cover-up with the squad, hiding the death of a classmate while performing a forbidden flight maneuver. After admitting the truth, he had to repeat that year at the Academy.

In Star Trek: TNG's final season , Wesley Crusher returned to the Enterprise on leave from the Academy. His grades were dropping, and he was in danger of failing out of the program. He challenged Starfleet's and the captain's orders in order to stand up for a colony of Native Americans being forcibly removed from their home to appease the Cardassians. He experienced a vision of his father, Jack, telling him Starfleet wasn't his path. Instead, Wesley joined the Traveler to ascend to "another plane of existence" paying off the arc that began in the first season. What that meant, however, remained a mystery .

How Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Connects to TNG's Biggest Open Mystery

The youngest TNG character went through some changes in development. Legendary Star Trek producer Robert H. Justman lobbied to make "Wesley" into "Leslie," according to Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion by Larry Nemecek, but Roddenberry eventually overruled the decision. They also struggled to come up with a justification for why this young man was so special, earning a coveted position on the bridge. In a memo, Justman wrote that Wesley's youth gave him a brash, assertive nature the adults on the crew lacked, making him "a one-man 'think tank' without pre-conditioned limitations.'"

Despite LeVar Burton's iconic role in Roots and the popularity of Reading Rainbow , it was Wil Wheaton who was the "big name" in the cast . Best known as Gordie in Stand By Me , the burgeoning movie star jumped at the chance to be in The Next Generation . "I was a Trekkie," Wheaton said in The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman. However, Wheaton said that even he was annoyed by how Wesley was written, calling him "pretentious." When he was offered a role in a film directed by Milos Forman, The Next Generation producers wouldn't let him do it. They told him he was going to be in a "really important to the series" episode during the filming window, but Wheaton said the producer "just lied to me." Wheaton also revealed that "years later," Deanna Troi actor Marina Sirtis told him she'd heard the producers were worried the film would make him an even bigger star.

If Wheaton's star rose, "it would have been harder for them to deal with me. I felt so betrayed by that," he said in The Fifty-Year Mission . Despite his love of Star Trek , this slight made Wheaton desperate to leave the series . However, in his memoir, Still Just a Geek , Wheaton detailed how his parents pushed him into acting in the first place, when he wanted "to just be a kid." This neglect, plus instances of abuse on various sets, particularly The Curse , soured him on the profession for many years. Still, Wheaton also maintains his fellow cast on The Next Generation are like family to him. Their love and support helped him and helps explain why he returned to the show for guest-spots. Returning was "like coming home for me," he told Entertainment Tonight in 1992. "I always have a terrific time [on set.] I adore the cast."

How Star Trek: The Next Generation Disserviced This Fan-Favorite Character

Despite leaving Starfleet and going off with the Traveler in "Journey's End," Wesley Crusher almost returned. Wheaton filmed scenes for Star Trek: Nemesis at the wedding of Riker and Troi. Wesley was again a Starfleet officer and slated for duty aboard Riker's ship, the USS Titan. However, the scene was cut from the film . In Still Just A Geek , Wheaton wrote about the experience. Even though it ignored Wesley's final episode on The Next Generation , Wheaton enjoyed the experience working with the cast as an adult. While it might have seemed like another slight by Star Trek producers, cutting the scene worked to the advantage of the character.

In Star Trek: Picard Season 2, Wesley Crusher appeared in the 21st Century to Isa Briones's character Kore Soong. He explained that he was part of a group called "the Travelers" who worked to protect the universe, all of reality from "annihilation." It's a difficult job apparently, since the last time Wesley made a joke he apparently changed a century of history. While the Travelers mostly observe, knowing when to act is a crucial part of their task. He recruited Kore into the group, and when she accepted, they both beamed away. The beaming effect was not like those audiences have seen from Starfleet or other species and organizations in the galaxy.

It seems Wesley Crusher and the Travelers were connected to Talinn, played by Orla Brady, in Picard Season 2 . She watched over Reneé Picard whose destiny was even more important than her famous starship captain ancestor. The group can also trace itself back to the Season 2 episode of Star Trek: The Original Series "Assignment: Earth" that introduced Gary Seven . An attempt at a spinoff series by Gene Roddenberry, Gary was a not-so-ordinary human tasked with protecting the 20th Century, specifically the space program.

Star Trek The Next Generation: When Does TNG Get Good?

Outside of this brief appearance on Picard , Wil Wheaton's involvement with the Star Trek universe has been as a professional fan . As the host of The Ready Room he talks to the actors, producers and others about making this third wave of series. His charm and grace put his guests at ease, because while he's still very much a fan of Star Trek , he's also been where they were. His time on the set and playing Wesley Crusher was both joyous and troubling. Ironically, the character that adult fans hated the most when he debuted is now the best ambassador to the Star Trek fanbase they have.

While Wheaton still does some on-camera work, he's mostly done voice acting of late. Still, Picard Season 3 introduced his half-brother Jack Crusher. Wheaton seemed enthused by the idea of teaming up with actor Ed Speelers for a "Crusher brothers" adventure , either a series or feature. Wesley Crusher's appearance at the end of Season 2 was a lovely coda for a character who deserved better . If that's all fans get, it might be enough. But after all these years, fans would likely be very excited to see Wesley again, especially if he's teaming up with Jack.

Star Trek series are available to stream on Paramount+, and The Ready Room can be found on YouTube.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

The One Thing Star Trek's George Takei Really Wanted For Sulu But Never Got

In the original "Star Trek," only three actors were credited at the start of the show: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley. For many watching the series -- and for the actors especially -- those three were the leads, while the rest of the recurring ensemble were mere supporting players. Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley certainly had the most screen time on "Star Trek," yet they often advocated for more. Eventually, Shatner and Nimoy became such whiny spotlight hogs that show creator Gene Roddenberry had to write an angry letter , demanding the actors stop whining and get back to work.

Trekkies, however, knew better than Shatner and Nimoy. "Star Trek" was always an ensemble piece about a core cast of multiple characters. In addition to the three "leads," the show also regularly featured chief engineer Scott/Scotty (James Doohan), communications officer Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Ensign Chekov (Walter Koenig), Yeoman Rand (Grace Lee Whitney), and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett). Meanwhile, always sitting at the helm and flying the ship was Lieutenant Sulu (George Takei).

Takei, along with most "Star Trek" viewers, saw the above group as a whole and vitally important senior staff on board the U.S.S. Enterprise. Captain Kirk might have been commanding the ship, but everyone else was just as capable and professional. Indeed, the whole point of "Star Trek" was to depict a future wherein a diverse cross-section of humanity could gather together, work without bickering, and devote themselves collectively to a mission of peaceful exploration.

Back in 2010, Takei was interviewed by StarTrek.com , and the actor admitted that during his tenure playing Sulu, he never got to talk about his family. It wouldn't be until 1994's "Star Trek: Generation" (which Takei wasn't in) that Sulu's family was mentioned.

Read more: Why Khan Noonien Singh Casts A Shadow Over The Entire Star Trek Universe

Sulu Finally Got A Daughter In Star Trek: Generations

Takei recalled his early days on "Star Trek" and the relief he felt in not playing a broad stereotype. Takei was born in Los Angeles to Japanese parents, but when he began acting professionally in the 1950s, roles for Asian and Asian-American men were limited. In his own words:

"From the very beginning I thought it was a breakthrough opportunity. Just to be able to play a member of the leadership team, without an accent, was hugely important. So many Asians back then were, first of all, stereotypes and spoke with a heavy accent. So I thought I could parlay that into something substantial for the character."

Sulu's backstory was never explored in "Star Trek," although the show's writers did think to give him a few iconoclastic hobbies. He was a botany enthusiast for one, and he kept his quarters filled with bizarre alien plants that he tended to closely. Sulu was also a fan of vintage firearms, knowing all about their models and functionality. In the episode "Shore Leave," Sulu fires a classic revolver across a lake, enjoying every shot.

We never learned, however, about Sulu's family, which irked Takei. It wasn't until Demora Sulu (Jacqueline Kim) appeared in "Generations" that Trekkies would learn anything on that front:

"I suggested Sulu having a family that he connects with. I suggested a lot of ideas to develop Sulu that never really happened. It was only after I turned down a role in ['Generations'] that they gave all my lines to a relative that I had lobbied for, my daughter. When the series ended and the films began, I was lobbying for parents, brothers, sisters, lovers, maybe a wife, all of that, but none of it ever happened. I wanted to see Sulu more dimensioned."

It was a missed opportunity.

Star Trek Beyond Introduced Sulu's Husband

Incidentally, Demora's mother wasn't named until the 1995 "Star Trek" novel "The Captain's Daughter" written by Peter David. That book named Demora's mother as a woman named Susan Ling. She was described as a "freelance adventurer" who had a one-time fling with Sulu while he was on shore leave ... and she was on the run from angry aliens. She had Demora nine months later.

Takei gave the above interview in 2010. It wouldn't be until 2016 that Sulu -- this time played by John Cho -- would be seen with additional family members. In Justin Lin's "Star Trek Beyond," Sulu discusses how worried he was about his marriage, seeing as he asked his spouse to relocate to a distant space station called Yorktown ( although that scene was cut ). Sulu's husband is a man named Ben (Doug Jung), and he is introduced holding a young Demora. There are no dialogue scenes between Ben and Sulu, but at least audiences saw that he had a family.

Takei, who came out in 2005 and married his longtime partner Brad Altman in 2008, famously objected to "Beyond" making Sulu a queer man. He told The Hollywood Reporter that Sulu was originally envisioned as a straight man and he played the character that way. "I'm delighted that there's a gay character," he explained. "Unfortunately, it's a twisting of Gene [Roddenberry]'s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it's really unfortunate."

Takei would have preferred the makers of "Beyond" merely create a new queer character to introduce into "Star Trek" canon, rather than repurposing Sulu's sexuality.

Since then, "Star Trek: Discovery" has introduced numerous queer, trans, and nonbinary characters to "Star Trek,"  which is more in line with what Takei wanted.

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