Michael Dorn
| Michael Dorn | |
|---|---|
 Dorn at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born |
December 9, 1952 Luling, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Pasadena City College |
| Occupation | Actor, voice actor |
| Years active | 1976–present |
Michael Dorn (born December 9, 1952) is an American actor and voice artist who is known for his role as the Klingon Worf in the Star Trek franchise.
From his first appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation pilot episode, "Encounter at Farpoint", to his last in Star Trek: Nemesis, Dorn has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other actor of the Star Trek franchise, spanning five films and 272 television episodes. He also appeared as Worf's namesake, Colonel Worf, in the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Following the end of his Star Trek career, Dorn had supporting roles in a number of independent feature films, including Shadow Hours (2000), Lessons for an Assassin (2001), and the Santa Clause trilogy where he appeared in a cameo role as 'The Sandman'.
Dorn is also an accomplished pilot and owns and operates a Lockheed T-33 trainer jet, which Dorn jokingly refers to as his 'starship'.
Early life
Dorn was born in Luling, Texas, the son of Allie Lee (née Nauls) and Fentress Dorn, Jr.[1] He grew up in Pasadena, California. He studied radio and television production at Pasadena City College. From there he pursued a career in music as a performer with several different rock music bands, traveling to San Francisco and then back to Los Angeles.
Career
Early work
Dorn first appeared in Rocky (1976) as Apollo Creed's bodyguard, though he was not credited.[2] He first appeared as a guest on the television show W.E.B. in 1978. The producer was impressed with his work, so he introduced Michael to an agent who introduced him to acting teacher Charles Conrad to study acting for six months. He then landed a regular role on the television series CHiPs.[2]
Star Trek
Dorn's most famous role to date is that of the Klingon Starfleet officer Lieutenant J.G. (later Lt. Commander) Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
"If what happened to the first cast is called being typecast," Dorn says, "then I want to be typecast. Of course, they didn't get the jobs after 'Trek.' But they are making their sixth movie. Name me someone else in television who has made six movies!"[3]
Dorn has appeared on-screen in more Star Trek episodes and movies as the same character than anyone else: he appeared in 175 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, 102 episodes of Deep Space Nine and four Star Trek movies, bringing his total to 281 appearances as Worf. Dorn is also one of six actors to lend his voice to Star Trek: Captain's Chair, reprising his role of Lieutenant Commander Worf.
Dorn's appearance in the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was as Colonel Worf, representing Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard McCoy at their trial on Qo'noS and also unmasking the real assassin, Colonel West.
Dorn directed the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes "In the Cards", "Inquisition" and "When It Rains...", and also the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Two Days and Two Nights".
In 2012, Dorn announced a desire to return to his Klingon role in a television series tentatively titled Star Trek: Captain Worf. He said:
I had come up with the idea because I love [Worf] and I think he's a character that hasn't been fully developed and hasn't been fully realized. Once I started thinking about it, it became obvious to me that I wanted to at least put it out there, which I have, and the response has been pretty amazing. We've been contacted by different individuals–I can't say who and all that–about wanting to come on board and be part of this.[4]
In 2014, Dorn participated in the fan produced Star Trek episode "Fairest of Them All", giving his voice to the computer of the Mirror Universe Enterprise.[5]
Other work
Dorn has appeared in a number of TV shows, films, and video games. He has been the spokesman for Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo, and has appeared in a car commercial.
Dorn has appeared as Worf on Webster and Family Guy; the latter along with fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation stars. He had a recurring role on the television series Castle, playing the therapist of NYPD police detective Kate Beckett.[6]
Dorn appeared in a 2012 tongue-in-cheek television commercial for Chrysler as "Future Guy", a time traveler sent from the future to assist development of the 2013 Dodge Dart.[7] He also plays the role of General Thain in the "Castlevania: Hymn of Blood" web series.[8]
Personal life
A member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA),[9] Dorn enjoys flying. He was not permitted to fly while on The Next Generation, but was able to do so after joining the cast of Deep Space Nine. He has flown with the Blue Angels as well as the Thunderbirds.[2] Dorn has owned several jet aircraft, including a T-33 Shooting Star, an F-86 Sabre, and currently owns a North American Sabreliner. The T-33 was often referred to as his "starship." Dorn also serves on several organizations, one of which is the Air Force Heritage Foundation[10] where he is on the advisory board. Dorn has also done interviews for the "Private Jets" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel. Dorn is a vegan.[11]
Filmography
Feature films
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Rocky | Apollo Creed's bodyguard (uncredited) | Dorn's film debut. |
| 1977 | Demon Seed | bit part (uncredited) | |
| 1985 | Jagged Edge | Dan Hislan | |
| 1991 | Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country | Klingon Defense Attorney (Colonel Worf) | |
| 1994 | Star Trek: Generations | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 1995 | Timemaster | Chairman | |
| 1995 | Mission Critical | Commander | |
| 1996 | Star Trek: First Contact | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 1997 | Menno's Mind | Simon, Menno's Friend | |
| 1998 | Star Trek: Insurrection | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 2000 | Shadow Hours | Detective Thomas Greenwood | |
| 2000 | The Prophet's Game | Bob Bowman | |
| 2001 | The Gristle | Tar | |
| 2001 | Mach 2 | Rogers | |
| 2001 | Ali | Black pilot | |
| 2002 | Face Value | Hitman | |
| 2002 | Star Trek: Nemesis | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 2002 | The Santa Clause 2 | The Sandman | |
| 2003 | Shade | Jack Thornhill | |
| 2003 | Lessons For an Assassin | Quinn | |
| 2003 | The Interplanetary Surplus Male and Amazon Women of Outer Space | Sam the Bartender | Straight-to-DVD film |
| 2005 | Heart of the Beholder | Lieutenant Larson | |
| 2005 | Thru the Moebius Strip | King Tor (voice) | |
| 2006 | The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause | The Sandman | |
| 2007 | Fist of the Warrior | Arnold Denton | |
| 2007 | Night Skies | Kyle | |
| 2007 | The Deep Below | Carl Bennett | |
| 2009 | Bionicle: The Legend Reborn | Mata Nui (voice) | Straight-to-DVD film |
| 2012 | Strange Frame | Guardship Commander | |
| 2015 | Ted 2 | Rick |
Television
| Years | Television show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–1982 | CHiPs | Officer Jebediah Turner | 31 episodes |
| 1985 | 227 | Lester's friend | 1 episode |
| 1986–1987 | Days of Our Lives | Jimmy | |
| 1987–1994 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Lieutenant Worf | 175 episodes |
| 1988 | Reading Rainbow | Himself | Episode: "The Bionic Bunny Show" |
| 1991–1994 | Dinosaurs | Elders | |
| 1994 | SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron | Mutilor | |
| 1994–1997 | Gargoyles | Coldstone, Taurus (a Minotaur security officer) | |
| 1995 | Amanda and the Alien | Lieutenant Vint | Made-for-TV film |
| 1995 | World of Wonder | Himself – Host | Science show on the Discovery Channel |
| 1995–1996 | Fantastic Four | Gorgon | |
| 1995–1999 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Lieutenant Commander Worf | |
| 1995–2000 | The Outer Limits | Pete Claridge | |
| 1996 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Apollo | 1 episode |
| 1996–2000 | Superman: The Animated Series | Kalibak and John Henry Irons (a.k.a. Steel) | |
| 1997–1999 | I Am Weasel | I.M. Weasel | |
| 2001 | 7th Heaven | Mr. Johnson | |
| 2002 | Through the Fire | Michael Collins | Made-for-TV film |
| 2003 | Justice League | Kalibak | |
| 2003 | Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time | Rufus 3000 | Made-for-TV film |
| 2003 | Spider-Man: The New Animated Series | Kraven the Hunter | |
| 2003–2005 | Duck Dodgers | The Martian Centurion Robots, Captain Long, Klunkin Warrior | |
| 2004–2005 | Megas XLR | R.E.G.I.S. Mark V and Number 14 | |
| 2004–2007 | Danny Phantom | Fright Knight | |
| 2005 | Justice League Unlimited | Kalibak | |
| 2005 | Descent | General Fielding | Made-for-TV film |
| 2005 | Family Guy | Lieutenant Worf | Episode: "Peter's Got Woods" |
| 2006 | All You've Got | Fire Captain Diaz | Made-for-TV film |
| 2006 | A.I. Assault | General Buskirk | Made-for-TV film |
| 2006 | Fallen Angels | Taylor | Made-for-TV film |
| 2009 | Family Guy | Himself | Episode: "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven" |
| 2009 | Batman: The Brave and the Bold | Bane, Krull the Eternal | |
| 2009 | Heroes | Unnamed President of the United States | Episode: "An Invisible Thread" |
| 2010 | Adventure Time | Gork | |
| 2010 | It's a Trap! | Lieutenant Worf | |
| 2011–2015 | Castle | Dr. Carver Burke | |
| 2011 | Winx Club | Lord Darkar | |
| 2012, 2014 | Regular Show | Thomas the Demon | 2 episodes |
| 2015-2016 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Captain Mozar |
Video games
| Year | Game | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers | Dr. John | |
| 1995 | Mission Critical | Captain Steven Dana | |
| 1995 | Star Trek: The Next Generation – A Final Unity | Lieutenant Worf | |
| 1998 | Fallout 2 | Marcus/Frank Horrigan | |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Armada | Ambassador Worf | |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Klingon Academy | Thok Mak | |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Fallen | Lt. Commander Worf | |
| 2000 | Star Trek: Invasion | Lt. Commander Worf | |
| 2001 | Emperor: Battle for Dune | Duke Achillus | |
| 2004 | World of Warcraft | Multiple Characters | |
| 2006 | Star Trek: Legacy | Worf | |
| 2008 | Saints Row 2 | Maero | |
| 2010 | Mass Effect 2 | Gatatog Uvenk | |
| 2010 | Fallout: New Vegas | Marcus | |
| 2010 | StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty | Tassadar | |
| 2013 | Saints Row IV | Maero | |
| 2013 | Star Trek: Online | Ambassador Worf | |
| 2015 | Infinite Crisis | Swamp Thing | |
| 2015 | Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. | John Henry | |
| 2016 | Master of Orion: Conquer the Stars | Narrator | [12] |
References
Notes
- ↑ "Michael Dorn Family Tree". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- 1 2 3 "Star Trek Database - Dorn, Michael". Star Trek Database. CBS Entertainment. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
- ↑ Teitelbaum, Sheldon (1991-05-05). "How Gene Roddenberry and his Brain Trust Have Boldly Taken 'Star Trek' Where No TV Series Has Gone Before : Trekking to the Top". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. p. 16. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ↑ Schaefer, Sandy (4 September 2012). "Michael Dorn Confirms He's Working on a 'Star Trek: Captain Worf' TV Series". Screen Rant. IndieClick Film Network. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ↑ Sloan, Sam. "Star Trek Continues: Fairest Of Them All – A Slice of SciFi Review". Slice of SciFi. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
- ↑ "Castle Exclusive: Star Trek's Michael Dorn Is Beckett's Shrink". TV Guide. August 4, 2011. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ↑ Vellequette, Larry (September 5, 2012). "Chrysler's latest treat wears a silver suit". Automotive News. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
- ↑ "Warp Factor 2 announces "Castlevania: Hymn of Blood" Web Series". PRWeb. October 26, 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2013.
- ↑ "AOPA Online: Instructor Reports". Aopa.org. 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ↑ ":::Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation :::". Afahf.org. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
- ↑ "Worf from 'Star Trek' goes vegan".
- ↑ Forté, Malik (February 18, 2016). "Master of Orion Voice Cast Includes Mark Hamill, Michael Dorn, and More". Nerdist. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Michael Dorn. |
- Michael Dorn at the Internet Movie Database
- Michael Dorn at the TCM Movie Database
- Michael Dorn at AllMovie
- Serves on the Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation as an advisory board member