Which actor appears as the most different species in Star Trek?

Question

Highly related: Which actor has portrayed the most distinct roles in the Star Trek universe?

The reason I ask this, and the reason it's not a dupe is because if we look at the answer to that question, we have, for example:

J.G. Hertzler: Appeared as three different Klingons (Martok, Kolos, and unnamed Commander)

Randy Ogleby: Appeared as the brothers Ah-Kel and Ro-Kel

Jeffrey Coombs: Appeared as two Ferengi (Krem and Brunt) and two humans (Mulkahey and Holosuite Guest)

Thomas Kopache: Appeared as two humans (Train Engineer and Enterprise-B Comm Officer)

Vaughan Armstrong: Appeared as three Klingons (Korris, Korath and unnnamed Klingon Captain), and two Cardassians (Danar and Seskal)

In addition, note that the same character appearing as multiple species is in bounds for this question but not the other one.

Which actor appeared on Star Trek as the most different species?

Now all the disambiguations. This is going to seem tedious, but otherwise we end up with a hundred comments/questions/debates.

Humans: we assume a character who appears as human is a human unless there's a good a reason to think they aren't (for example if they appear in the Delta quadrant)
Hybrids: A hybrid counts as each of its parent species, but not to exceed the number of characters represented. A single Klingon-human hybrid counts as one. If an actor appears as a human, a Klingon, and a Klingon-human hybrid, that is two, not three. This prevents the character in Enterprise's far-future mentioned as being a hybrid of a dozen races counting as a dozen.
Surgical alteration: counts. The character does appear as the other species. Farrell appears as a Bajoran. Sirtis appears as a Romulan.
Pure disguise: But if you just cover your distinctive parts, that doesn't count. Nimoy isn't appearing a human because he puts on a headband. (Aside from #2)
Other 'magic/powers/technobabble': counts. John de Lancie's Q appears as both a human and an android.
Borg: count as another species. Patrick Stewart appears as a human and a Borg.
Not played by actor: Janeway as a lizard does not count (thankfully!) because not played by Kate Mulgrew.
Voice work: Voice work doesn't count. This is like #7. The actor must appear on-screen.
Expect the list to get longer.

The current existing answer by @JackBNimble is effectively giving four different actors who played five species. (Jeffrey Coombs is wrong because Jack double counted humans). There's another line of answers which this isn't considering. Off the top of my head, I believe Riker appeared undercover as at least three different species. — ThePopMachine, Sep 22 '15 at 16:20
Does voicing count as appearing? James Doohan in TAS would likely walk away with it... — Politank-Z, Sep 22 '15 at 19:32
@Politank-Z: No, appear means appear on-screen in the flesh. — ThePopMachine, Sep 22 '15 at 19:44
For all the characters Odo impersonated does their actor get a +1? — JamesRyan, Sep 25 '15 at 17:03
@ThePopMachine didn't he learn how to at some point? At any rate the other changelings could and did — JamesRyan, Sep 25 '15 at 19:06
@JamesRyan: Yes, they could do a perfect copy, but that doesn't count at the actor playing multiple species. — ThePopMachine, Sep 25 '15 at 19:24
@ThePopMachine why not, since they have played both their normal character's race as well as a changling? — JamesRyan, Sep 25 '15 at 20:42
@JamesRyan, I believe you said it backwards, but yes, I'd accept that when Bashir is impersonated by a changeling, that counts as Siddig El Fadil playing a changeling. — ThePopMachine, Sep 26 '15 at 05:59
@JamesRyan.... the only place I believe this even comes close to mattering would be JG Hertzler as Martok, but he already played Laas, so no difference. — ThePopMachine, Sep 26 '15 at 06:05
If this were limited to the original series (a different question, thus a comment rather than an answer), I'd say Janos Prohaska. — Keith Thompson, Sep 03 '16 at 20:50

score 49 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

49

Patricia Tallman has 10!

Human (played an Enterprise security officer in TNG "Power Play", the Defiant tactical officer in DS9 "The Way of the Warrior", and her face as appeared when playing Beverly Crusher in TNG, as body double for Gates McFadden; see here)
Ennis (played Nima, an Ennis female in the Gamma Quadrant in DS9 "Battle Lines")
Bajoran (played Nurse Tagana in DS9 "The Muse")
Arkarian (she played Kiros, a random bumpy-forehead alien in TNG "Starship Mine")
Romulan (she played an unnamed Romulan in TNG "Timescape")
Taresian (played a Taresian female in Delta Quadrant in Voyager "Favorite Son")
J-Nali (as stunt double in TNG "The Outcast")
Klingon (was stunt double for Duras sisters in various TNG episodes and in Generations)
Elaysian (as stunt double, in DS9 "Melora")
Vulcan (as stunt double, in DS9 "Maquis" Part 1)

edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

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answered Sep 22 '15 at 18:00

Praxis

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Not to diminish Pat Tallman at all, but the OP specifies "actor". Can we count stunt double roles? – Politank-Z Sep 22 '15 at 18:40
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@Politank-Z: It's a good question. If we allow stunt performers, then the answer to http://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/31810/which-actor-has-portrayed-the-most-distinct-roles-in-the-star-trek-universe should change too. – ThePopMachine Sep 22 '15 at 18:41
If we don't count stunt appearances, that's still six, which appears to tie Johnathan Frakes. It may even be seven; I'd have to go watch Timescape again to determine if she's ever seen in the alien's native form. – T.J.L. Sep 22 '15 at 18:44
Is there a particular reason why performing stunts in character isn't considered acting? – Ellesedil Sep 22 '15 at 19:05
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@Ellesedil - it is acting, but it is not a distinct role per se. However, according to the terms of the question, this would be a winner. – JohnP Sep 22 '15 at 19:16
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@Politank-Z - Stuntmen are actors. While there are separate stuntmen and stunt actors, all of them are part of SAG-AFTRA, pay union dues, vote in Academy elections/awards, etc. – JohnP Sep 22 '15 at 19:18
So shouldn't someone go give an answer to the other question?! – ThePopMachine Sep 22 '15 at 19:31
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but Tallman's appearance as a Romulan in TNG "Timescape" was actually a disguise - she was one of two alien beings from outside our space-time continuum trying to rescue their young from the Romulans' reactor. – Mar Sep 22 '15 at 19:56
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@MartinCarney A point I addressed in my answer, and my earlier comment here. I'm going to Netflix the episode this evening to check for double-credit. :) – T.J.L. Sep 22 '15 at 20:29
@T.J.L. I saw that the other answer had mentioned it after I made my comment. Maybe I should have just made an edit myself... – Mar Sep 22 '15 at 20:48
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I just reviewed Timescape. The alien disappears without taking her "normal" form, whatever that may be. So, no double-credit. – T.J.L. Sep 23 '15 at 03:28

score 32 · Answer 2 · edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

32

Credit where credit's due, Praxis' answer on Is this Beverly Crusher? gives Patricia Tallman, with ten:

TNG 5x15 "Power Play" - Human
TNG 5x17 "The Outcast" - J'naii (as a stunt double)
TNG 6x18 "Starship Mine" - Arkarian
TNG 6x25 "Timescape" - Alien pretending to be Romulan (we never get to see the alien's "true" form.)
DS9 1x13 "Battle Lines" - Ennis
DS9 2x06 "Melora" - Elaysian (as a stunt double, but still seen on screen and in a unique uniform/outfit/makeup)
DS9 2x20 "The Maquis, Part 1" - Vulcan (as a stunt double)
DS9 4x21 "The Muse" - Bajoran
VOY 3x20 "Favorite Son" - Taresian
ST:Generations - Klingon (as a stunt double)

I didn't include DS9 5x17 "A Simple Investigation", because while she was a stunt double for an alien character (an Idanian), she was presumed human in the scenes the stunt double was used. There were also a number of other stunt-double appearances, but the races are duplicated above.

edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

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answered Sep 22 '15 at 17:56

T.J.L.

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Thanks @T.J.L! My suspicion was also Tallman, and I was actually working on a nearly identical answer at the same time as you. I only saw yours just now, when I posted mine.... – Praxis Sep 22 '15 at 18:01
@Praxis Well, like I said... your answer on that other question is what sent me off looking. – T.J.L. Sep 22 '15 at 18:02
Hehe, just found the J-Nali one too. Let's see if we can find more...she was prolific in her Star Trek work! – Praxis Sep 22 '15 at 18:03
BTW, I recommended that if ThePopMachine were to accept an answer, he should accept yours. :-) – Praxis Sep 22 '15 at 18:14
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Despite the name. she's only 5'8" and she's a fairly slim woman. I don't know if she's big enough to pull of a Jem'Hadar, even in costume. :) – T.J.L. Sep 22 '15 at 18:15
Fair enough. ;-) – Praxis Sep 22 '15 at 18:24
"A Simple Investigation" sounds like a RuneScape quest. – corsiKa Sep 24 '15 at 02:04
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@T.J.L. "Only 5'8"? She's got five inches on me! :) – Jane S Sep 24 '15 at 21:11
There are a couple of Jem'hadar that make Michael Dorn (Worf) look "short", and he's 6'4". Then again... Nicole de Boer (Ezri) is taller than you, and I think she may be the shortest member of the regular cast. S'all a matter of perspective, I suppose. :) – T.J.L. Sep 25 '15 at 12:18
I thought the Jem'Hadar were so grumpy because they had no women... – CJ Dennis Oct 03 '15 at 08:21

score 31 · Answer 3 · edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

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Vaughn Armstrong has 8:

Klingon: Korris, Korath, unnamed Captain
Cardassian: Danar, Seskal
Romulan: Telek R'Mor
Borg / Unknown: Two of Nine/Lansor
Vidiian - unnamed Captain
Hirogen - unnamed Alpha
Kreetassan - unnamed Captain
Human - Maxwell Forrest / Maximilian Forrest

edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

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answered Sep 22 '15 at 17:45

Politank-Z

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ThePopMachine · Answer 4 · 2015-09-22T17:48:02.297

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@JackBNimble is effectively giving four different actors who played five species, and Jeffrey Coombs appearing as six species. There's another line of answers which this isn't considering.

Jonathan Frakes also appears as at least six species

Human
Malcorian ("First Contact")
Mintakan ("Who Watches the Watchers")
Barkorian ("Thine Own Self")
Bajoran ("Preemptive Strike")
Australopithecine ("Genesis")

Honorable mention:

Q ("Hide and Q") --- I'm not going to count this because the Q take on a human appearance, their natural appearance is not depicted. Essentially, a Q as human counts as a human appearance.

edited Sep 22 '15 at 17:48

answered Sep 22 '15 at 17:20

ThePopMachine

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Even if human is double counted counted Jeffery Combs still played six different species. – Xantec Sep 22 '15 at 17:45
@Xantec: That's true. I see what he said now. Edited. – ThePopMachine Sep 22 '15 at 17:46
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He also temporarily appeared as the species Phallus Gigantus in 'Insurrection', while he took manual control of the doomed Enterprise... sigh XD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4x1K97JZG0 – Astravagrant Sep 23 '15 at 23:22
I would give you the Australopithecine, but the rest are simply Frakes playing Riker in turn playing another character. By that logic, you cannot include the human Riker in your list as he is the actor. – 1252748 Sep 30 '15 at 01:11
Although I guess "actor" Riker did play a human in Frame of Mind. Hmmm. – 1252748 Sep 30 '15 at 01:14
@thomas, please reread the OP, which defines what "appears as a species" means for the purpose of this question and decide if you want to keep these comments. – ThePopMachine Sep 30 '15 at 03:24
I understand the stipulations now. I think you have a pretty accurate list actually. Nice work. – 1252748 Sep 30 '15 at 03:42
You need to add one more for the beard. – CJ Dennis Oct 03 '15 at 11:08
According to "Star Trek The Next Generation Stunt Doubles", Dan Koko played Caveman Riker in "Genesis". – Gaultheria Sep 29 '18 at 20:00

score 15 · Answer 5 · edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

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I'm going to assume it was Jeffery Combs.

He played:

Ferengi - Brunt, Krem
Vorta - Weyoun 4-8
Andorian - Shran
Unnamed species- Tiron
Human - Kevin Mulkanhey
Unnamed species - Penk
Holosuite Human - Party Guest

6 Species, plus a holosuite program (whatever they are).

J.G. Hertzler, Randy Oglesby, and Thomas_Kopache each played 5 distinct species.

edited Jan 07 '20 at 00:37

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answered Sep 22 '15 at 15:32

Jack B Nimble

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Holosuite Human is a human. – ThePopMachine Sep 22 '15 at 15:49
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@ThePopMachine Says you! I wouldn't share my table with that holosuite filth. – Jack B Nimble Sep 22 '15 at 15:54
I gave exactly this case in the question.... ! – ThePopMachine Sep 22 '15 at 15:59
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@ThePopMachine i dont associate with sudo humans. – Himarm Sep 22 '15 at 16:13
Come on, us Holosuite Humans are people too! – blm Sep 22 '15 at 16:16
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Sudo humans? Like Demi-gods? I'm scared now... – flq Sep 22 '15 at 16:39
This is soo interesting; I would never had guessed Brunt and Wayoun were played by the same actor! I was quite good at spotting JC(Wayoun to me!) in the other roles though. – n00dles Sep 22 '15 at 19:15
@n00dles Check out Jeffrey Combs' IMDB profile--he is a horror and SF B-movie staple. (My favorite role of his is the lead in Re-animator.) – dodgethesteamroller Sep 22 '15 at 21:32
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@Himarm it's pseudo. Unless you were trying to run humans as root. – Rob Grant Sep 23 '15 at 07:07
@RobertGrant http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Sudowoodo_(Pok%C3%A9mon) :D – Himarm Sep 23 '15 at 13:01
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@RobertGrant: I am Root! – ThePopMachine Sep 23 '15 at 21:57
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would Q be a sudo pseudo human? – LindaJeanne Sep 24 '15 at 09:23
... never run humans as root. – ApproachingDarknessFish Apr 23 '19 at 19:44

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 03 '16 at 14:11

Depending on how you define role, Tim Russ may be a contender with at least seven that I can think of which were all speaking roles:

Human (Devor in TNG:"Starship Mine", Unnamed Lieutenant in TNG:Generations)
Klingon (T'Kar in DS9:"Invasive Procedures")
Komar (Possessed!Tuvok in VOY:"Cathexis") (While he still appeared as Tuvok, the actor was playing a different species)
Hologram (Several variations of Hologram!Tuvok as well as a holographic human in VOY:"Killing Game")
Kradin (seen as the one of the "Beasts" by Chokotay in VOY:"Nemesis")
Unnamed biomimetic species (VOY:"Course: Oblivion")
Borg (As 3 of 12 in VOY:"Unimatrix Zero")

He's also played a couple different imagined/illusionary versions of Tuvok but I don't think they'd count as a separate species.

score 1 · Answer 7 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:43

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This answer: https://scifi.stackexchange.com/a/103106/3823

seems to indicate that Patricia Tallman appears as at least five species. (I'm not sure which of those images are humans or not -- someone can do the research and clarify if they wish.)

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:43

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answered Sep 22 '15 at 17:45

ThePopMachine

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Both T.J.L and I have counted 10 (see our answers above). – Praxis Sep 22 '15 at 18:09
If you accept an answer (not holding my breath!), you should go for T.J.L.'s even though his and mine are nearly identical. – Praxis Sep 22 '15 at 18:13

score -2 · Answer 8 · edited Sep 24 '15 at 22:12

Bill Blackburn!

Now if you’re going to be picky and say that the actor had to be credited and that there’s documentation proving the actor played such and such an alien, then you’re answer is going to be Jeffrey Combs. But if you want to know who REALLY played the most species, then it’s Bill Blackburn. You can find a small blurb about him on his IMDB bio:

Was an uncredited extra in most episodes of the original "Star Trek". Frequently played Lt Hadley, seen on the bridge, or walking around the halls of the Enterprise, but he could and did turn up in any other available extra role, sometimes in costumes which fully obscured his face. He also did minor stunts on the show. All his parts were non-speaking.

You get even more detail when you watch the cast interviews on the Re-mastered release of ST-TOS.

Billy played Lt. Hadley, the ‘guy who sat next to Sulu’ before Chekov joined the crew. He never had a speaking roll but they say he was an uncredited extra in most every episode of ST-TOS. Moreover, whenever they had need for an alien (i.e. guy in a monkey suit), they would get Billy to wear the costume.

He played so many different aliens that he can’t even remember them all. The cast all acknowledged what a great asset he was to the show, but back then people didn’t pay much attention to giving credit to anyone but the stars. His efforts weren’t credited, never documented but very much appreciated.

This looks like it should be the answer to a different question because this question is about who played the most aliens — ThePopMachine, Sep 24 '15 at 22:53
Even if we were to give (unverified) credit for the TOS rubber-suit aliens, I can think of only four full-up rubber-suit aliens... M-113 Salt Alien (Man Trap), Balok (The Corbomite Maneuver), Gorn (Arena), and Yarnek (The Savage Curtain). If we wanted to stretch, you might include include Tellarite (Journey to Babel) and Vian (The Empath), but they weren't as extensive as a full suit and other characters had speaking parts in similar makeup. The Talosians in The Cage were also not rubber suits, plus they were all played by women. TLDR - Hard to believe without a sourced list. — T.J.L., Sep 25 '15 at 13:52

score -6 · Answer 9 · edited Feb 11 '16 at 01:16

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I believe the correct answer to this question is Jeffery Combs.

The following roles are attributed to Mr. Combs:

Penk  - Star Trek Enterprise   (Andorian)  
Shran - Star Trek Enterprise   (Andorian)  
Krem  - Star Trek Enterprise   (Andorian)  
Brunt - Star Trek Deep Space 9 (Ferengi)  
Weyoun- Star Trek Deep Space 9 (Vorta)  
Tiron - Star Trek Deep Space 9  
      - Star Trek Deep Space 9 (Human - 1 episode)

edited Feb 11 '16 at 01:16

Rand al'Thor

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Memory Alpha Librarian

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This isn't adding anything beyond this existing answer – ThePopMachine Feb 11 '16 at 00:46
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I added some formatting to your answer to make it easier to read. However, in future please check the existing answers and only post a new answer if it adds something new that hasn't already been posted. This answer is the same as this pre-existing answer to the same question, which may explain why it's been downvoted. Also, Stack Exchange has a "be nice" policy, and calling someone a prick is not acceptable. – Rand al'Thor Feb 11 '16 at 01:19
Rand: How about you ask your staff to stop being rude. I was accused of spamming and I ABSOLUTELY did not spam. How about you teach your staff to be nice and help them CLEARLY define what spamming is before they wrong accuse people. Additionally, my answer was NOT copied. I drafted this response from memory. Again, you and your staff have the gal to accuse me of something I haven't done. Moreover, attacking the scores in my other posts is simple retaliation. Your staff behaves poorly and retaliates. What does that say about this site? – Memory Alpha Librarian Feb 11 '16 at 01:26
@MemoryAlphaLibrarian I'm not sure what you mean by "my staff", but the comment that offended you has now been deleted. And I didn't accuse you of copying this answer, just pointed out that it's the same as another one (by coincidence, but still). – Rand al'Thor Feb 11 '16 at 01:31
Rand: That would matter more if I had not been banned in retaliation for my complaints. While it's true to say I could have reacted better; it's also true that my other posts were unfairly targeted and I was banned from posting. As it stands now, I am the only one who was punished for this post. How is that fair to me? I know your site doesn't care what mods do; however, at the beginning of this day I had 21 reputation points. I lost almost all of them because I took exception to the way your staff behaved. Furthermore, I cannot fix my posts or get positive reviews because of the ban – Memory Alpha Librarian Feb 11 '16 at 01:38
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@MemoryAlphaLibrarian You were auto-banned from answering by the system, not because of your complaints but because you had posted too many low-quality answers. And although I can't prove it, I'm fairly sure your answers were downvoted because people thought they were bad, rather than because of your complaints or anything about you personally. In short, no retaliation has occurred. If you deleted your negatively-scored posts, you would regain the lost reputation (though this wouldn't lift the ban). If you cannot delete due to the ban, I'm happy to delete one or two for you. – Rand al'Thor Feb 11 '16 at 01:48
For more details about the ban, please see this link. – Rand al'Thor Feb 11 '16 at 01:51

Which actor appears as the most different species in Star Trek?

Which actor appeared on Star Trek as the most different species?

9 Answers9

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