star trek discovery actors

Full Cast of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Every Main Character & Actor Who Appears (Photos)

As Star Trek: Discovery ’s final season commences, the principal actors from the hit series must say goodbye to characters they have played for several years.

When Star Trek: Discovery premiered in 2017, it was met with its fair share of backlash. Trek die-hards criticized the show’s design, cast, and even the time period in which it was set.

Still, Discovery won over a good portion of fans, many of whom were just glad to have a new Star Trek series again, after the franchise’s extended absence from television. Now, the show has launched Season 5, set to be the show’s final voyage.

The Characters & Actors of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Sonequa martin-green - michael burnham.

Sonequa Martin-Green plays Captain Michael Burnham, the adopted sister of Star Trek icon Mr. Spock. Burnham was given command of the series’ eponymous starship, the USS Discovery, at the end of the third season, after the cast wound up in the far-flung future of the 32nd Century.

Apart from her work on Discovery , which is undeniably her most well-known role, Martin-Green has also been a part of shows like The Walking Dead and The Good Wife .

Doug Jones - Saru

Veritable chameleon Doug Jones portrays Saru, Burnham’s first officer. Saru is a Kelpian, a species with a kind of biological early warning system that acts like a sixth sense. Saru has served as a fan-favorite since the series began, with many viewers calling for him to take on Discovery’s captain‘s chair.

Doug Jones has appeared in many major projects, but he is often completely unrecognizable, buried under prosthetics and makeup. He was Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies and the Amphibian Man in 2017’s The Shape of Water .

Anthony Rapp - Paul Stamets

Anthony Rapp plays the groundbreaking role of Commander Paul Stamets, a science officer and one of the two first openly gay Star Trek characters (The other being Stamets’ husband Dr. Hugh Culber).

Rapp has long been a fixture of stage and screen, having performed as a part of several high-profile Broadway shows, such as Rent , in which he was an original cast member. 

Mary Wiseman - Sylvia Tilly

Sylvia Tilly, brought to life by Mary Wiseman, started the series as a quirky but very driven cadet on board Discovery. Later on in the series, after the crew’s one-way trip to the future, she took a teaching position at Starfleet Academy.

Mary Wiseman is most famous for her part as Tilly but she’s also appeared in Baskets and the Western show Longmire to name a few.

Wilson Cruz - Hugh Culber

Wilson Cruz plays Dr. Hugh Culber, one of the USS Discovery’s physicians. Earlier in the series, Culber was killed by another, out-of-control officer. But eventually, the good doctor was brought back to life through the use of the mycelial network.

Cruz cut his teeth on the classic 1990s teen drama My So-Called Life , playing Rickie. He’s additionally had roles on hits like Grey’s Anatomy , Monk , and The West Wing .

Blu del Barrio - Adira Tal

Adira Tal is portrayed by Blu del Barrio. The character’s backstory involved them becoming the host for a Trill symbiont called Tal, which they inherited from their romantic partner. Currently, Adira is a Starfleet ensign, having been granted commission in Season 3.

Blu del Barrio holds the significant distinction of being Star Trek ’s first openly non-binary actor. They are also a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Callum Keith Rennie - Rayner

Callum Keith Rennie’s Rayner is a new character for Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery . Rayner is a Kellerun, which is a species first introduced in the 1994 episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , “Armageddon Game”.

Rennie has a lengthy resume, starring in a vast array of Canadian shows and films. He has also acted in the Battlestar Galactica reboot as well as Showtime’s Californication .

David Ajala - Cleveland “Book” Booker

David Ajala plays Book, a man introduced to the crew upon their arrival in the year 3188. As a Kwejian, Book can empathically connect with plant and animal life, including his pet cat Grudge. He also has a close personal bond with Michael Burnham.

Alaja previously had roles in Nightflyers and CW’s Supergirl , where he played the villainous Manchester Black.

Eve Harlow - Moll

Moll, played by Eve Harlow, is a pirate who is seeking an ancient technology that has ties to the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Chase”.

Eve Harlow has acted in favorites such as NCIS: Los Angeles and The Rookie . She also played the recurring character Tess on Agents of SHIELD .

Elias Toufexis - L’ak

L’ak, a green-skinned alien of unknown descent, is played by Elias Toufexis. He serves as Moll’s literal partner in crime.

Toufexis has appeared in another popular sci-fi series The Expanse , as well as several other television series, like Shadowhunters and Criminal Minds .

Oded Fehr - Charles Vance

Oded Fehr plays Admiral Charles Vance, who was introduced to Star Trek: Discovery in Season 3. As commander in chief of Starfleet, Vance wields a considerable amount of influence within the spacefaring organization.

Fehr would be best recognized for his character of Ardeth Bay in 1999’s The Mummy and its 2001 sequel. He’s also guested on shows such as The Blacklist and How to Get Away With Murder .

Chelah Horsdal - Laira Rillak

Laira Rillak, in addition to serving as Federation president, is of multi-species descent, a hybrid of human, Cardassian, and Bajoran genetics. Typically, Starfleet and Federation top brass are portrayed as having lesser quality moral fiber, but Rillak has stood out as an exception.

Chelah Horsdal has appeared in a wide variety of movies and series including Arrow , Hell on Wheels , and Rise of the Planet of the Apes .

Tara Rosling  - T’Rina

T’Rina is a Vulcan woman who first showed up in Discovery in the seventh episode of the third season. Since then, she has become romantically linked with Saru. T’Rina is also president of Ni’Var, the planet formerly known as Vulcan.

In addition to her Star Trek role, Rosling has also cropped up in The Expanse and The Handmaid’s Tale .

David Cronenberg - Kovich

David Cronenberg portrays Dr. Kovich, a Federation agent and galactic historian. Kovich first appeared in Discovery ’s third season and has gone on to become a well-liked recurring character.

As a veteran filmmaker, David Cronenberg is credited with bringing the genre of body horror into popular culture. His newest film, The Shroud , will hit theaters this year.

Tig Notaro - Jett Reno

Comedian Tig Notaro breathes life into Jett Reno, the fast-talking, wise-cracking Discovery engineer with a heart of gold. Reno has more than cemented herself as an audience favorite.

Alongside Notaro’s standup work, she’s had parts in Community , Bob’s Burgers , Suburgatory , and many more.

Star Trek: Discovery can be streamed exclusively on Paramount+ . The next new episode premieres on Thursday, April 11.

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Star Trek: Discovery - Full Cast & Crew

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Star Trek: Discover team up with Captain Christopher Pike on a mission to explore seven signals. The crew work together to uncover the meaning of the Red Angel while Michael considers the return of Spock.

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Meet the cast of Star Trek: Discovery season 5

The crew of the Discovery are boldly going further than ever before.

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It's time for one last adventure with the crew of Star Trek: Discovery , as season 5 officially arrives on Paramount Plus .

The cast of the epic Trek series are back for one more trip, with Sonequa Martin-Green helming the ship as Captain Michael Burnham .

Chatting to RadioTimes.com about the show ending after five instalments, the actress explained she's "at peace" with the decision - despite only finding out after the season wrapped.

She said: "Yes, it was bittersweet, but I always felt a great sense of peace about it. TV has changed, and we're in the streaming era, and so I feel that five seasons is solid. I think we had a good run, you know? So I always felt peace."

It's a sentiment shared by the rest of the cast, according to Martin-Green: "I've been saying three words, especially, that I feel have really settled in me is a sense of achievement, ownership and gratitude. I think all of us feel that way."

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Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Star Trek: Discovery as they bow out in season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 cast

Below is a full list of cast members for Star Trek: Discovery season 5:

• Sonequa Martin-Green as Michael Burnham
• Doug Jones as Saru
• Anthony Rapp as Paul Stamets
• Mary Wiseman as Sylvia Tilly
• Wilson Cruz as Hugh Culber
• Blu del Barrio as Adira Tal
• David Ajala as Cleveland 'Book' Booker
• Callum Keith Rennie as Rayner
• Eve Harlow as Moll
• Elias Toufexis as L'ak
• Oded Fehr as Charles Vance
• Chelah Horsdal as Laira Rillak
• Tara Rosling as T'Rina
• David Cronenberg as Kovich
• Tig Notaro as Jett Reno

Sonequa Martin-Green plays Michael Burnham

Who is Michael Burnham? A science specialist aboard the USS Discovery, who finds herself in a tough spot in season 5.

What else has Sonequa Martin-Green been in? Prior to bagging her leading Star Trek role, Martin-Green was best known for portraying Sasha Williams on AMC's zombie drama The Walking Dead .

Doug Jones plays Saru

Who is Saru? Saru is first officer of the USS Discovery and comes from an alien race called the Kelpiens, who are hunted as prey on their home planet. This has given them the evolutionary ability to sense danger, which is handy while traversing the far reaches of space.

What else has Doug Jones been in? Jones is a prolific physical performer, often taking on roles as strange creatures, usually involving prosthetic make-up. He has collaborated with Guillermo del Toro several times, portraying Abe Sapien in the Hellboy films, The Pale Man in Pan's Labyrinth, and the amphibian in Oscar-winning fantasy film The Shape of Water.

Anthony Rapp plays Paul Stamets

Who is Paul Stamets? Stamets is chief engineer aboard the Discovery and one of Star Trek's first gay characters.

What else has Anthony Rapp been in? Rapp has acted in a number of stage productions and boasts screen credits on The Knick, The Good Fight and 13 Reasons Why .

Mary Wiseman plays Sylvia Tilly

Who is Sylvia Tilly? Tilly is a former Starfleet cadet, now ensign, on the USS Discovery, who bravely accompanied Burnham into the distant future. She is well liked for her kind and optimistic attitude.

What else has Mary Wiseman been in? Wiseman previously appeared in Western drama Longmire across its fourth and fifth season, and also had a small role in Netflix's 2019 awards favourite, Marriage Story.

Wilson Cruz plays Hugh Culber

Who is Hugh Culber? Culber is the husband of Stamets, who serves as a physician on the USS Discovery, after cheating death in the first season.

What else has Wilson Cruz been in? Cruz previously played Dennis, attorney to the Baker family, on Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why.

David Ajala plays Cleveland 'Book' Booker

Who is Cleveland 'Book' Booker? Book is a charismatic and daring personality the crew encountered in the future, first making his debut in season 3.

What else has David Ajala been in? Ajala is best known for his roles as Manchester Black on Supergirl and Roy Eris on the Syfy series Nightflyers. Doctor Who fans will recognise him as Peter from The Beast Below, an episode from the fifth modern series.

Blu del Barrio plays Adira Tal

Who is Adira Tal? Adira Tal is a member of the USS Discovery crew. They're the first openly non-binary character in Star Trek history.

Where have I seen Blu del Barrio before? Aside from Star Trek: Discovery, they're known for roles in the TV series The Owl House and The Listener.

Tig Notaro plays Jett Reno

Who is Jett Reno? Commander Reno is an engineer who recently joined the ranks of the USS Discovery and played an instrumental role in their successful jump into the distant future.

What else has Tig Notaro been in? Notaro has a background in stand-up comedy, where her work has been highly praised. Her recent acting roles include Barb in Transparent , Ms Doris in Fresh Off The Boat and Tig Bavaro in her semi-autobiographical series One Mississippi on Amazon Prime Video .

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is available to stream on Paramount Plus and continues weekly.

C heck out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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Star Trek: Discovery

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

Season four of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery facing a threat unlike any they’ve ever encountered. With Federation and non-Federation worlds alike feeling the impact, they must confront the unknown and work together to ensure a hopeful future for all.

Follow the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and lifeforms, and one Starfleet officer, Michael Burnham, who learns that to truly understand all things alien, she must first understand herself.

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"Star Trek: Discovery" cast photos

By Andrea Park

September 8, 2017 / 6:02 PM EDT / CBS News

"Star Trek: Discovery" is the latest reboot of the iconic science fiction show that first premiered 50 years ago. "Discovery" features a black woman in the lead – a first for the famously diverse franchise.  

Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays First Officer Michael Burnham,  told "CBS This Morning,"  "We're upholding the legacy but again taking that next step forward because here I am, the first black female lead. We've got the first Asian female captain, we've got the first woman captain – with a woman first officer."

Pictured here: Michelle Yeoh (left) as Captain Philippa Georgiou and Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham. Click through to see more photos from the show. 

A special broadcast premiere of "Star Trek: Discovery" will air September 24 at 8:30 p.m. ET, 7:30 p.m. CT on CBS. After premiere night, all new episodes will be available on  CBS All Access . 

Captain Philippa Georgiou

Michelle Yeoh plays Captain Philippa Georgiou in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Cadet Sylvia Tilly

Mary Wiseman plays Cadet Sylvia Tilly in "Star Trek: Discovery."

First Officer Michael Burnham

Sonequa Martin-Green plays First Officer Michael Burnham, the first human to attend the Vulcan Science Academy, in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Lieutenant Ash Tyler

Shazad Latif plays Lieutenant Ash Tyler in "Star Trek: Discovery."

"Star Trek: Discovery"

Michelle Yeoh (left) plays Captain Philippa Georgiou and Sonequa Martin-Green (right) portrays First Officer Michael Burnham in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Ambassador Sarek

James Frain plays Ambassador Sarek in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Chris Obi plays T'Kuvma in "Star Trek: Discovery."

The Klingon leader T'Kuvma is played by Chris Obi in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Sonequa Martin-Green plays First Officer Michael Burnham on "Star Trek: Discovery." The series starts with her as the first officer of the USS Shenzhou, a plot point that appears  in the show's trailer , but she ends up serving on the USS Discovery under Captain Gabriel Lorca, played by Jason Isaacs of " Harry Potter " franchise fame. 

Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou in "Star Trek: Discovery." She helms the key Federation starship Shenzhou. 

Mary Wiseman as Cadet Sylvia Tilly in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Mary Chieffo as L'Rell. Klingons feature prominently in Season 1 of "Star Trek: Discovery."

Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou and Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham in a scene from "Star Trek: Discovery."

Klingons feature prominently on "Star Trek: Discovery." 

Mary Chieffo plays L'Rell on "Star Trek: Discovery."

Lieutenant Saru

Doug Jones plays Lieutenant Saru on "Star Trek: Discovery."

Kenneth Mitchell plays Kol on "Star Trek: Discovery."

Sonequa Martin-Green plays First Officer Michael Burnham in "Star Trek: Discovery."

Mary Chieffo plays L'Rell and Chris Obi portrays Klingon leader T'Kuvma. 

Captain Gabriel Lorca

Jason Isaacs plays Captain Gabriel Lorca, who is in charge of the Discovery.

Pictured (l-r): Doug Jones as Lieutenant Saru; Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham; and Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou.

Conman and criminal Harry Mudd, who guest-starred in two episodes from the original series, will also show up in the first season of "Star Trek: Discovery," this time with  "The Office" actor Rainn Wilson  in the rakish, trouble-making role. 

Jason Isaacs plays Captain Gabriel Lorca, who heads the Discovery.

Michelle Yeoh as Captain Philippa Georgiou and Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham. 

Jason Isaacs plays Captain Gabriel Lorca on "Star Trek: Discovery."

Lieutenant Paul Stamets

Anthony Rapp plays Lieutenant Paul Stamets on "Star Trek: Discovery."

Doug Jones plays Lieutenant Saru in "Star Trek: Discovery." 

Andrea is an entertainment producer at CBSNews.com

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Star trek: discovery actors share a unique bond with fantastic four’s michael chiklis.

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

5 star trek: discovery characters progenitors' treasure could resurrect, star trek: discovery reveals seven of nine's surprising legacy.

Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

• Star Trek: Discovery's Elias Toufexis & Doug Jones bonded over wearing prosthetics with Michael Chiklis from Fantastic Four.
• Chiklis advised Toufexis on managing prosthetics, recalling his full-body rubber suit as The Thing in the Fantastic Four films.
• Jones shared his experience of camaraderie with Chiklis during Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer's filming.

Star Trek: Discovery actors Elias Toufexis and Doug Jones share a special bond with Michael Chiklis, who played The Thing in Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Toufexis joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 as L'ak, a Breen renegade who was one of the season's adversaries along with his lover, Moll (Eve Harlow). Of course, Jones is one of Star Trek: Discovery 's series leads as the noble Kelpien, Captain Saru. All three actors, Toufexis, Jones, and Chiklis, have had to wear copious amounts of prosthetics for their roles.

On X, Elias Toufexis (@EliasToufexis) shared his memories of running into Michael Chiklis in Toronto while he was filming as L'ak in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 . Toufexis says Chiklis gave him advice on how to deal with wearing prosthetics since Michael was covered head to toe in orange rubber to play The Thing in the Fantastic Four movies. Check out Toufexis' post below:

Doug Jones (@actordougjones) replied to Elias Toufexis' post, and he also praised Michael Chiklis. Jones and Chiklis worked together in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer , in which Doug played the Silver Surfer. Check out Jones' post below:

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.

What Happens To Saru & L'ak In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

The kelpien and the breen have very different fates.

Captain Saru and L'ak have very different fates in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, but they share one thing in common besides the actors playing them being encased in prosthetics: Both Saru and L'ak are in love. L'ak ran away from the Breen to be with Moll, at great cost to himself. Saru left the USS Discovery to become a Federation Ambassador, and he plans to marry T'Rina (Tara Rosling), the Vulcan President of Ni'Var .

Saru's ending looks to be considerably happier than L'ak's.

L'ak tragically died in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah" , after it was revealed he is the Scion of the Breen who is crucial to determining a new Breen Emperor. Saru has missed a few Star Trek: Discovery season 5 episodes because Doug Jones was promoting Disney+'s Hocus Pocus 2, but he will return before Star Trek: Discovery season 5 ends. Saru's ending looks to be considerably happier than L'ak's when Star Trek: Discovery season 5 takes its final bow.

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

Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer are streaming on Disney+

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‘star trek: discovery’ co-showrunner teases the final episodes and her message for fans.

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Co-showrunner Michelle Paradise with her "Star Trek: Discovery" cast and crew.

For five seasons, Star Trek: Discovery has taken audiences on the ride of a lifetime. With its series finale now in sight, I sat down with executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise at SeriesFest in Denver, Colorado to discuss the beloved show’s journey and what fans should expect from this ever-expanding television universe on Paramount Plus, before we say a proper farewell to the U.S.S. Discovery.

So for starters, what has Paradise enjoyed most about the evolution of Star Trek: Discovery , since it first premiered in September 2017?

“That’s a really great question,” Paradise said. “I have loved being a part of it. I joined halfway through season two, and it was starting to know what it was and it’s really found its way. I’ve really enjoyed the character arcs and getting to take them all to these different places. It’s also hard for me to separate out the evolution of the show from my evolution on the show and stepping into co-running it with [co-showrunner] Alex [Kurtzman] and starting to take over more of that in later seasons. It’s been the highlight of my career.”

Mary Wiseman as Tilly and Blu del Barrio as Adira in "Star Trek: Discovery" episode 7, season 5 - ... [+] streaming on Paramount+.

Paradise is no stranger to television production. She was previously an executive producer on such television projects as Exes & Ohs and The Originals , but I wondered what it might be about her Star Trek: Discovery cast and crew that perhaps feels special.

“It’s like a big family. First of all, our cast is incredible. They’re all insanely talented actors but they’re lovely human beings. They approach one another and they approach the project from just a place of love and respect for one another and for the material, which is always a wonderful place to start. You can’t say enough of [actor] Sonequa [Martin-Green], our number one and the tone that she sets on the show and on the set. We have a lot of folks on the show and the crew who come back, year-after-year. They all really love the world of Trek and they love one another. We try and go bigger and better and bolder every season, and there’s never a feeling of Oh, we can’t do that . It’s always a feeling of How do we do that? ”

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Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in "Star Trek: Discovery" streaming on Paramount+.

Since the original Star Trek series first premiered on television in 1966, the Star Trek story and fictional sci-fi universe has evolved into several iterations, including Star Trek: The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , Voyager , Enterprise , Strange New Worlds and Picard - not to mention the numerous Star Trek movies over many decades, including the three recent blockbuster films, starring Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto, with another sequel in the works.

Throughout all of these years, Star Trek fans have remained quite loyal and vocal, both when they love a story and even when they don’t. So, how does Paradise and her Star Trek: Discovery creative team try to appease Trek fans, but also not allow the chatter to stop them from taking on some creative risks?

Wilson Cruz as Culber and Anthony Rapp as Stamets in "Star Trek: Discovery" episode 6, season 5 - ... [+] streaming on Paramount+.

Paradise said, “I think the best way to answer that is we always try to honor what Trek is - where it came from, what is the DNA of any Trek series, which of course goes back to the original series, and then also honoring what is this version of Trek and knowing that it’s our job to make the best version of Discovery . Someone who loves Discovery may not love Strange New Worlds or someone who loves Strange New Worlds may not love Discovery. By design, these are all very different shows. To a certain degree, it has to be okay that not everyone is going to love this iteration. We always feel like if we can do justice to the franchise as a whole - what it means, do justice to the characters and do our best version of Discovery , then we will have succeeded.”

Ever since the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes ended late last year, there have been signs of movement and optimism within the entertainment industry, but also a sense of some standstill with television and film productions. So, what is Paradise seeing around the current state of Hollywood?

“I think it depends on who you talk to,” Paradise said. “It feels a bit like a mixed bag to me. There are a lot of people who are still very much struggling - writers, crew members, directors - because things have not picked up in the way that they would normally at this particular time of year. By in large, there’s not really a pilot season, as we used to know it. That’s very difficult for people. Of course, there’s still a lot of wonderful opportunities, but it seems like the compression that happened - it’s the combo platter of the [Covid-19] pandemic and the strikes, just after that. It does feel condensed - there are fewer things but I feel like, to some degree, that had to happen because in the big balloon of streaming, that in retrospect, it doesn’t feel like it was necessarily sustainable. Hopefully it will ease up, sooner than later, and kind of calm down because there’s still a lot of people who are struggling to get back into work right now and I feel for them - it’s hard.”

On more of a positive note, when asked what Paradise is enjoying most about the television landscape today, she says that she feels there is a lot that can be done, applauding the way that every week, Star Trek: Discover y is a “cinematic storytelling into television,” though she admits that the visual design of Discovery is not sustainable for every network and studio.

While our real world faces divisive times with war, political unrest and other conflicts, I wondered if Paradise and her team keep in mind the real-life issues occurring, when crafting its stories for the screen on Star Trek: Discovery .

Mary Wiseman as Tilly, June Laporte as Ravah and Wilson Cruz as Dr. Culber in "Star Trek: Discovery" ... [+] episode 6, season 5 - streaming on Paramount+.

“That comes from just the DNA of the show itself. The original series did not shy away from what was happening societal at that time. It did not shy away from tackling those things in the way that it could. That’s one of the cool things about sci-fi - aliens can stand-in for another culture, different relationships can stand-in for whatever is happening in society at the time. That’s kind of baked into any Trek show, is that reflection of what’s happening in the world at that time via sci-fi and the different ways we could do it.”

Paradise added: “In Discovery , we were very much aware of that and very thoughtful about what are the types of stories we want to tell, how does that reflect certain things that are going on. Trek means so much to so many people and where people are actively looking to Trek to reflect themselves in some way or actively looking to Trek as an answer to what’s happening in society and for hope that, as divisive as things are right now, as challenging around the world and in our country, that there is hope and we can overcome it with our better selves.”

Blu del Barrio as Adira, Tig Notaro as Jett Reno and Mary Wiseman as Tilly in "Star Trek: Discovery" ... [+] episode 7, season 5 - streaming on Paramount+.

When asked about what fans can expect ahead in the remaining episodes of Star Trek: Discovery , which drop every Thursday during this final season, Paradise teases that fans “might see more of our bad guys this season.” She added: “We did not going into the season [knowing] that this would be our last season. We’re so fortunate - CBS Studios and Paramount Plus gave us the opportunity, after the fact, to go shoot some additional material, and I feel like the thing I just want to keep reiterating for fans of the show is it has a proper ending. Our Discovery is not going to end on a cliffhanger of Are they all going to die? and then we never find out. It was worth the investment and I do think when people finish the season/series, they will feel like this season - again, we didn’t know going in - but it does feel like if you didn’t know that, you would think we knew going in because of what we’re doing thematically and where our characters go. So, I think people will feel very satisfied.”

As the conversation with Paradise concluded, she was left with one last question: For Star Trek: Discovery fans, people who have followed these five seasons - as they soon finish these final episodes, what message do you as a co-showrunner want to say these people, after investing their time in the series over the past seven years and falling in love with these characters?

Mary Wiseman, Sonequa Martin-Green and Michelle Paradise.

“I just would want to say thank you. There is no Discovery without the fans and they are always so loving and supportive and passionate, even when they don’t like what we’re doing, they’re passionate. As writers and creators and actors and the directors, we love that! We love that passion and their passion means so much to us.”

Paradise added: “It was a gift. Hopefully, we’ll all get to do it again someday.”

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Star Trek: Discovery Is Ending Soon, And L'ak Actor Elias Toufexis Told Us Why He Thinks The Show 'Wraps Up Really Nicely'

B ack in March 2023, it was announced that Star Trek: Discovery was ending with Season 5 , and now we’re just a few weeks away from this era of the sci-fi franchise concluding on the 2024 TV schedule . Fortunately, Discovery ’s cast and crew were given extra filming time to ensure the series could end on a proper note . As we enter this final stretch, Elias Toufexis, who played the Breen character L’ak this season , discussed with CinemaBlend why he thinks the show “wraps up really nicely” after being informed about what’s to come.

In addition getting his thoughts on the big L’ak twist that “Erigah” delivered , I asked Toufexis, who also voices Seraphim in Netflix’s Blood of Zeus , if he’d seen Star Trek: Discovery ’s ending yet, and if so, what he thought about it. Although the actor hasn’t seen the final product, not only did he read how everything comes to a close, he was impressed by how Season 5 feels like the final hurrah despite the fact that it was intended to be from the start. As he informed me:

I haven’t seen it, they haven’t shown us yet, but I did read it and I talked to Michelle Paradise about it. As a fan of the show, I think that it wraps up really nicely, and I think it’s going to be pretty emotional, if you’re a fan of the show, to watch. It’s a very smart way to end it. You know what’s really interesting about this season is we didn’t know it was going to be the last season when we were shooting it, but in some strange universe way, episodes all feel like they’re ending. Like Saru going off and becoming ambassador and getting married. Just the time travel one, Episode 4, where they’re going back and seeing the old [characters]. These are the type of things that shows that know they’re ending do, but we didn’t know. It just happened to turn out that way. Then they went back and did this denouement thing. At least on the script point of view, it really works and I’m really excited to see it.

When Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 began filming, the possibility of Season 6 was still on the table. It was only after principal photography concluded that Paramount+ pulled the show’s plug, but looking back, Elias Toufexis is impressed with how some of Season 5’s episodes and status quo changes serendipitously feel like they belong in a final season. Like he noted, Saru resigned from Starfleet and is now an ambassador for the Federation, and Episode 4, titled “Face the Strange,” is a look back at times long gone by before we wrap things up.

Then as far as the show’s ending itself goes, Toufexis is confident that fans will be happy with it going off of what he read and learned from showrunner Michelle Paradise, and he’s just the latest Discovery actor to voice such thoughts to CinemaBlend. In January, Saru actor Doug Jones told us that he felt “closure” after watching the show’s epilogue , and in April, David Ajala, who plays Booker, said he was “excited” for fans to see “one very specific thing” that was filmed after the cancellation. Then this month, Callum Keith Rennie, who joined Season 5 as Rayner, said Discovery will deliver a “great finale,” and Tilly actress Mary Wiseman described what she read as “lovely,” although she won’t watch the entire thing until it’s released to the fans.

Star Trek: Discovery fans will finally get to know what the actors are talking about when they’re able to stream the series finale, titled “Life, Itself,” with their Paramount+ subscriptions on Thursday, May 30. As we count down the days until the big finish, look over the upcoming Star Trek TV shows that are slated.

Star Trek: Discovery Cast Goes Out with a Bang and Unpacks Their Most Memorable Moments

Wilson Cruz, Blu del Barrio, and Mary Wiseman talk Trek, dive deep, and reveal what went down in the fifth and final season of the hit sci-fi show.

They have boldly gone where no Star Trek has gone before. Literally. We’re talking 930 years in the future. But Star Trek: Discovery (affectionately known as Disco ) will be remembered for more than that innovative Season 2 plot twist. Showrunner and Trek titan Alex Kurtzman reinvented the franchise with Disco, which became a huge success and helped launch Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy , and the upcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy and streamer film Star Trek: Section 31, starring Michelle Yeoh .

So, get ready: The fifth and final season premieres April 4 on Paramount+. The cast tells us that the end generally feels “bittersweet,” mostly because they didn’t know going into Season 5 that it would be their last adventure together. The season was mostly shot when news dropped that Disco would not be returning for a sixth season. The producers lured back the cast to shoot additional scenes and create an effective coda.

It's a dynamic, action-packed final ride, in fact, purposely plucking something unique from Star Trek lore to give the season a singular focus. Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery rush to solve a mystery about an ancient hidden power that could wreak havoc in the wrong hands. Enter new villains L’ak and Moll, played by recurring guest stars Elias Toufexis and Eve Harlow, respectively.

Cast members Blu del Barrio, Wilson Cruz , and Mary Wiseman — Adira, Dr. Hugh Culber, Tilly — are jazzed about the final season, but in a roundtable interview with journalists, the actors waxed philosophical, reflecting back on their milestone moments. Dive in.

Blu del Barrio on Their Historic Star Trek Role

Star trek: discovery.

Out of all the actors in Disco, Blu del Barrio’s personal and character arc has captured some of the most attention. Del Barrio came aboard the Discovery in Season 3 as a teenage member of the United Earth Defense Force. Adira’s natural curiosity and stellar knowledge of what then had become a 900-plus-year-old vessel eventually led to her staying on board under the tutelage of Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Ensign Sylvia Tilly (Wiseman).

The actor and the character came out as non-binary around the same time. It would be the first time a non-binary actor played a role in a Star Trek show, and del Barrio’s scenes with transgender character Gray, played by out trans actor Ian Alexander, also became a Trek first.

When asked about some of the most interesting things they learned about themselves during this pivotal time in their lives — and the show’s — del Barrio shared, “Yeesh. Um… there was a lot of self-discovery for me… a lot of self-discovery the last three, four years that came from playing this role and working and living inside this universe that I was not expecting." They added:

“I have always been somebody who always thought at every moment in time that I know myself really well… [But] working on season three, season five especially, this period of my life has changed so drastically, and I'm so glad that it has. I've been able to let go a little bit of control, of wanting to really know the intricacies of how I function. I think that this show helped me do that, helped me kind of open up my mind a little bit and listen to myself ." "And having these people around me as my mentors and my friends also really helped me to do that. This experience has helped me grow in ways that I did not think that I could grow in.”

On Filming (and Grieving) the Final Season of Discovery

Discovery’s cast didn’t have the luxury of knowing that Season 5 would be its last. In fact, Wilson Cruz was already off shooting another project after production presumably wrapped, but thanks to modern tech, he managed to video in for a final “group hug” goodbye after the coda was shot.

Related: Every Star Trek TV Series, Ranked

“The vibe was bittersweet, I would say,” said Mary Wiseman. “I don't know, it's weird … it’s a good goodbye [but] kind of difficult to conceive… It didn't feel real. We're still just joking around, and I remember the last thing you do, usually, when you wrap a season is, you clap people out. And when they called my name, I was smiling and being weird. And then I felt tears and spit and snot just rocket out of my face… it was very spontaneous and weird. And that was the moment I think I accepted that it was over .”

“I remember that very vividly,” del Barrio admitted, “because it was Sonequa who said it, too. I was laughing the entire day. I didn't know how to deal with it. I feel like… the grieving process for this show has come in like tiny little moments. It's like 20 seconds of time when it kind of just hits you really hard, then you might cry for a second, and then it goes away, and then it feels weird again. It's how I've experienced it since we wrapped.”

What Wilson Cruz Gained from Star Trek

Wilson Cruz’s Dr. Hugh Culber has endured a great deal during Disco’s run. A wild near-death experience early in the run, followed by a renewed sense of commitment to life partner Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp). What did he personally take away from his time on this series?

Related: 15 Classic Star Trek Episodes That Are Deeply Philosophical

“Having worked with Anthony Rapp for over 25 years, [I know] that ‘goodbye’ is never goodbye, right?” he said. “He's been a part of my life for this long, he will continue to be, and now all of these amazing people that I've shared this experience with will also be a part of my life. So, I won't miss them. I'll miss everyday interactions with them, but they'll be sick of me soon.”

“What I will take away from [playing] Culber is this belief that I have, that no matter how hard things get, no matter how difficult a cultural or political moment might be, that all we can really control is our responses to that and who we are," said Cruz, adding:

"And like Culber, if our lives aren't working for us, it doesn't have to take your sudden death for you to realize that you can reinvent yourself at any given moment; that you can create the life that you deserve, the love that you deserve, the career that you deserve, just by choosing to do that. And if you do that, you will be, just like Culber, in awe of how wonderful your life could be if you give yourself that permission. ”

In the meantime, the third episode of this season gives Cruz a chance to play outside the box with Culber. We can’t reveal much, but it’s a memorable, must-see episode of television filled with alien monsters and big twists. “They gave me free rein, which for an actor is so wonderful and yet terrifying,” Cruz said of the episode. “I got the script a couple of weeks before and… I will tell you the thing that saved me from my own anxiety in performing that part was having Sonequa and David [Ajala, aka Booker] in all of those scenes with me supporting me and cheering me on and letting me know that I wasn't completely falling on my face. And I needed that reassurance, to be honest with you.”

Were They Happy with How Discovery Ended?

“I personally am really happy,” del Barrio shared of where Adira winds up at the end of Season 5, “especially not knowing beforehand that these were the last moments we were having. It felt like a beginning for [Adira] more than anything else. It felt like the start of their story, and it's nice just sort of leaving that up to mystery and knowing in my heart of hearts that they would be okay… and they have a family and a home.”

Mary Wiseman said she was “very satisfied” with where Tilly ends up. And of his character’s endgame, Cruz noted:

“I'm really happy with the fact that, despite not getting a couple more seasons to… realize the end of what I thought was going to be his arc, after watching it, I actually am thrilled that I kind of manifested where I wanted him to end up, which was really comfortable in his own skin and still in awe of the universe, and all of these strange things that have happened to him that he has now allowed the mystery of to exist. Not everything needs an answer, that sometimes it's okay for mysteries to exist and that's just part of life . But for a control freak like Hugh Culber, that's a lot.”

The Star Trek Cast's Proudest Moments

Anything can happen on Star Trek. And anywhere, for that matter. One doubts this will be the last we see of Disco’s crew. This troika was happy to share some of their proudest moments during the five-season run. Mary Wiseman pointed out a Tilly story arc that found the character protecting students she brought on the ice moon back in Season 3, one of whom was the character Adira. “That reshaped her understanding of what she wanted to do and what gave her life purpose,” she added. Wilson Cruz shared:

“There's a moment at the end of Season 2 when Paul is literally dying on the bed in front of me, and we are making our way 900 years into the future, and Hugh has made a choice to stay in this relationship, to stay on this ship with this crew and go out into the future, this unknown future. But the decision to stay and to love this man and to continue to be a doctor, and in Season 3 become the counselor on the ship, is his way of really claiming his life and responsibility for it.”

“I'm really proud of the relationship that Ian [Alexander] and I got to portray as Adira and Gray,” del Barrio mused. “I'm really proud of that. And I love Ian to death. I'm so happy that I had him opposite me in this.” The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery blasts off April 4 on Paramount+ and you can watch it through the link below:

Watch Star Trek: Discovery

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The final frontier is here for Star Trek 's queerest crew

The final frontier is here for Star Trek's queerest crew

Star Trek: Discovery’s fifth season marks the end of the most diverse and LGBTQ+ inclusive series in the 58-year-old sci-fi franchise.

After a television journey that’s lasted seven years, five seasons, and 65 episodes, the gays, queers, trans nonbinary, and even the straight characters of Star Trek: Discovery sashay away with a bang!

The first two action-packed episodes of the 10-episode final season of the science fiction drama are now streaming on Paramount+ ( and for free on YouTube ). The storyline this time around is pure adventure, mystery, intrigue, and a search for ancient clues (no more spoilers!) that continues this series’ intense focus on the characters’ relationships, but also calls back to Star Trek’s roots.

“There is action,” said actor Doug Jones, who plays the alien Saru . He paused briefly as he searched for the right word in a recent interview with Out. “Action mixed with, with family. The relationships in this show are so deep by now, by season five especially, that the action means something when there's so much at stake between all the characters and why we love each other and want to care for each other.”

Love was a theme repeated by everyone connected with the series who sat down to speak with Out recently.

“That's what we strive for in every episode and every season,” lesbian showrunner Michelle Paradise told Out . Discovery was nominated five times for Best Drama at the GLAAD Media Awards and won in 2021. Paradise is especially proud of how her series has been a beacon of LGBTQ + representation, boasting a cast of at least seven out actors who are gay, queer, transgender and trans nonbinary playing roles not all that different from their actual lived experience.

“The representation is so important to us, and it's very, very intentional,” said Paradise. “Every season, every episode, it's intentional.”

When the series launched in 2017, it was intended to be a prequel to the original Star Trek series of the 1960s, set at least a decade before the 23rd century adventures of Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise . Discovery was the first spinoff whose central character was not a starship captain, and the first to revolve around the misdeeds, keen insights, and growth of a Black woman.

Sonequa Martin-Green plays Michael Burnham, a human orphan raised on Vulcan, the never-before revealed adopted sister of Spock, and Starfleet’s first mutineer — who did ultimately rise to the rank of captain by the end of the third season.

On a red carpet in 2017, Martin-Green told this reporter her hope was to stand up as a role model in the same way Nichelle Nichols did in the very first Star Trek series, as Lt. Uhura. She told Out that Nichols very much inspired her own performance in this leading role.

“I have been very grateful to stand, and I think I can say that I have at this point,” she said. “Everything that she did, the impact she made in front of the camera and behind it, in society, my goodness! She made it so that I could stand with her.”

When Star Trek: Discovery’s third season propelled the crew of the Starship Discovery into the 32nd century, it introduced two new queer characters: teenage lovers Adira (played by Blu del Barrio ) and Gray (played by Ian Alexander ), who are reunited in this fifth and final season. Del Barrio has a recurring starring role and Alexander returns as a guest star in the third episode. Although Alexander previously identified as a trans man, they and del Barrio told Out in 2022 they are both trans nonbinary.

For del Barrio, that evolution of identity occurred just as much in front of the camera on a soundstage in Toronto, as it did behind the scenes.

“I think it's been a really scary thing to do it through this show and to do it so openly and for lack of a better word, but transparently,” they told Out recently. “And at the same time, I'm incredibly grateful to have been able to start and go through the beginnings of my transition while also playing this character.”

As Star Trek’s first-ever recurring gender nonconforming character, and as a 26-year-old exploring their own trans nonbinary identity, del Barrio told Out they were glad for the good that it did for young viewers back on 21st century Earth to see themselves on that same trajectory.

“It really feels like a sacred thing to me,” they said. “This piece of work feels really sacred because there was a huge change going on for me emotionally. Medically transitioning, all of that was during the last four years. It's like a really crazy snapshot in time.”

But becoming a role model was never something del Barrio sought, they said.

“I really did not think that I deserved to be the person to do that. And I think I've now realized that I did not see other trans people in the media. I didn't necessarily see myself, someone that was maybe a little bit anxious and scared and nervous.”

Actor Wilson Cruz told Out that Star Trek: Discovery provides an answer to that feeling of anxiety that so many share in these troubled times.

“I think the best possible word, given this moment culturally and politically, is resilience. I think, if we can inspire you to be resilient in this moment and to show up for your communities, then I will have done my job.” Cruz plays Dr. Hugh Culber, the gay partner of and fellow “space dad” with Anthony Rapp’s character, Commander Paul Stamets.

“Wilson has used this phrase that I'm going to borrow from him,” Rapp told Out . “One of the things that this show is doing, is showing that we're in the future. The fact that two of the main crew members who are really good at their jobs have been there from the beginning.” There’s never actually been an episode dealing with Culber and Stamets’ orientation; it’s just a given that they are a gay couple, as it would be if they were straight.

“And then we brought into our family and crew this brilliant young person. Adira, that we keep kind of saving the universe, that we're among the ones that really make a huge difference. I do think that this sends this message loud and clear that, ‘Hey, we're still alive, we're still going to be here, hundreds of years into the future. We've always been here, throughout history, some of the major minds of the world have been queer folks throughout history. And that will continue to be the case.’”

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Rapp, who was in Tokyo performing his one man musical Without You at the time of our interview, said he and Cruz have heard repeatedly from fans the positive impact they’ve made.

“We've heard from so many people over these several years who've been profoundly impacted by that representation, by seeing the way that we are with each other and how much it's helped them, either young people themselves that were coming out, or just came out, seeing themselves in Adira, and parents of young people who are like Adira. Just seeing that it has been profoundly meaningful to them, that in turn, is very meaningful to us,” said Rapp.

His next statement is especially prophetic given the recent controversy over the International Transgender Day of Visibility. “It’s essential,” Rapp said. “Visibility is essential to the safety and equality of queer people. It always has been, and it is what has made the difference over the last 50, 60 years. People finally were saying, ‘We're here, we're queer, get used to it, etc.’ It's taken a while. In some places, there's still very far to go. But we've taken as much ground as we have because of that visibility.”

A character who became less visible in the prior season was Ensign Sylvia Tilly, always played with aplomb by out queer actor Mary Wiseman . And, without providing any spoilers, it’s a joy to say she is back and better than ever. “Super fun,” is how Wiseman described to Out what it’s like to return in a different capacity than what fans have seen Tilly do before.

“I think it's kind of nice for Tilly to be both inside of it and outside of it,” she said. “It just feels like she has a lot of autonomy. And for me, it's great, because I get to be there, and it's a nice character development that Tilly gets to come in almost as a consulting expert, instead of being just part of the crew, as she always was. I think it orients her in a different way, where she has a lot more agency, and has gained a lot of confidence by going off on her own and teaching at Starfleet Academy.”

Starfleet Academy is the name of the next Star Trek series, now in pre-production, under the supervision of executive producer and man in charge of all things Trek , Alex Kurtzman. He talked with Out about what made Discovery far more LGBTQ+ inclusive than any other iteration of the 58-year-old franchise.

“I think you hire different showrunners, so that they will give you their vision of Star Trek, right? Nobody wants the same vision for every show,” said Kurtzman. “There has to be certain common denominators, right? Trek is about an essential vision of optimism and inclusion and a sense that our future can actually be bright, even in times of darkness. But beyond that, part of what I love about Star Trek is that each writer of each show brings their own interpretation to it, and I think that's how it stays fresh. So, in no way, shape or form am I taking credit for being the one who's doing all of it, because I couldn't. This show doesn't exist without Michelle, just as every other show doesn't exist without the showrunners and all the amazing writers and crew that work on them.”

“That people are feeling seen and that people are seeing themselves, amidst all of the fun and the cool storytelling and the action and the adventure, that's wonderful,” added Paradise. “That is a wonderful thing about this show. And hopefully that's what people think of, among many other things, once the show finishes its run.”

Even when the characters are in a binary male / female relationship, Star Trek: Discovery finds a way to draw parallels to contemporary issues of love across cultures and other barriers. Can a Kelpien ambassador and a Vulcan president find love in the 32nd century?

“Saru and President Karina, played by Tara Rosling, has been such a fun journey, and I think they're both in love for the first time ever as grown adults,” said Jones. “They've had such a sense of duty all these years that now it's like, ‘Wait, but my heart beats as well, so I can have both!’ That's been lovely to explore and unfold and see. Can career and duty and diplomacy and all of the things that they represent, can that also coincide with ‘I love you,’ and me finding out that I think it can.”

David Ajala is back as well, in the role of Cleveland “Book” Booker, also introduced in the third season. “I love the fact that Michael Burnham and Cleveland Book have been through so, so much, but yet they're in a place where they're able to just try to build bridges.”

The ending of the fourth season saw Burnham and Book separate, and the tension between them is palpable in the first four episodes of season five screened for reporters. Ajala said love is a central theme this go-round, in addition to all the Indiana Jones-style action.

“Love, that's my anchor,” he said. “Love has more currency when it is expressed in action. And I think going forward in season five, Cleveland Book is in a position where he's on a redemptive journey and his love is shown in his actions. He is a student of life and a student of love.”

Out asked Ajala where he stands in terms of the LGBTQ+ community, and the well-known mantra, “Love is Love.”

“Absolutely! You said it. So, I stand in the middle of all that love which everyone is deserving of.”

Martin-Green, the series lead, took the opportunity to frame the series’ end as the end of her own personal evolution, standing up as Nichols did, as Kate Mulgrew did, as Avery Brooks did. Each of them in their own way was a pioneer in the Trek universe, expanding what it means to be seen, and to lead.

“I understand now because of the journey that I've taken, because my journey as Sonequa has paralleled Burnham's in a lot of ways. And there's been so much evolution and maturation and growth. I understand now that I do stand, and that that is why the people before me went through what they went through, that they would want me to stand freely, they would want me to stand confidently. And I understand that that's what I do, and that's what I will continue to do in honor of them, and in honor of whoever might come after me.”

When the cast of Star Trek: Picard was introduced at New York Comic-Con in 2019, Martin-Green took a seat all alone in an empty Madison Square Garden theater mezzanine, watching from afar, but spotted by this reporter. For this story, Out asked her if she had any idea back then what her work on Star Trek: Discovery would make possible: The launch of not only Picard but four other Trek series, namely Strange New Worlds, Prodigy, Lower Decks and now Starfleet Academy .

“Oh, my goodness! We just never in a million years would have imagined,” said Martin-Green. “I don't think any of us could have imagined what we were going to be doing. You know, the fact that we were making television history, with me, with so many others, with our diversity, the fact that we were innovating the franchise and pushing it forward, doing it justice. Now, we've become this mothership. Apparently, fans call this, this time is now called the ‘Platinum Age.’ And so, we're the mothership of the Platinum Age, and now we have our own children, and that is mind blowing. It's mind blowing.”

Platinum, with a whole lot of glitter and rainbows on top.

Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery is now streaming on Paramount+ , with new episodes dropping every Thursday.

• 'Star Trek: Discovery' Stars React to Show's Ending With Season 5 ›
• Cover Stars Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz Are the 'Space Dads' We Need ›
• Star Trek's Blu del Barrio & Ian Alexander: Transgalactic Heroes ›
• Star Trek: Discovery's Anthony Rapp on Playing the Shows First Openly Gay Character ›
• Meet the Lesbian Co-Showrunner Queering 'Star Trek: Discovery' ›
• How Star Trek Helped 'Discovery' Star Emily Coutts Come Out ›

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‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Actor Kenneth Mitchell Has Passed Away

| February 25, 2024 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 28 comments so far

Kenneth Mitchell, who portrayed the Klingon Kol as well as other characters in Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Lower Decks , has passed away at age 49. The Canadian actor is being remembered by those who worked with him and the Star Trek community.

RIP Ken Mitchell

Kenneth A. Mitchell passed away on Saturday, February 24, 2024. The news was announced by his family via his official social media accounts, starting with the message “With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth Alexander Mitchell, beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, son and dear friend.” Mitchell had been suffering with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for over five years, eventually resulting in the loss of speech. The Saturday night announcement from Mitchell’s family noted: “For five and a half years Ken faced a series of awful challenges from ALS. And in truest Ken fashion, he managed to rise above each one with grace and commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment.”

Mitchell’s acting career began in 2001 with roles in dozens of shows, including starring roles in Jericho and The Astronaut Wives Club as well as recurring roles in Odyssey 5 and Ghost Whisperer . He also appeared in a number of feature films, including 2019’s Captain Marvel . Mitchell is best known to Star Trek fans for his recurring role as Klingon General Kol, a main antagonist in the first season of Star Trek: Discovery .

Kenneth Mitchell as Kol

The actor returned to  Discovery in season 2 playing two other Klingons: Kol-sha and Tenavik. In season 3 he appeared in two episodes as the human scientist Aurellio. At that time Mitchell was already fighting ALS and the production built him a special mobility chair for the role. In season 4, the USS Mitchell was named in Ken’s honor.  Mitchell also voiced the Tweerk captain and some other characters in the first season Lower Decks episode “Veritas.”

The following video from 2021 features Ken Mitchell talking about his Star Trek roles as well as some of his co-stars talking about working with him.

Kenneth is survived by his wife Susan, their children Lilah and Kallum, his parents Diane and David, brother Sean (Norah), in-laws Sally and Bill Pratt, sister-in-law Beth (Ajay) nieces and nephews Kiran, Jyoti, Avery, and Eliza… and cats Chai & Cinna. According to his family, Kenneth requests that any gifts be directed toward ALS research or in support of his children. A GoFundMe has been set up for his family.

Image from Mitchell’s obituary shared by his family

Star Trek cast and crew remember Ken Mitchell

Condolences and memories from those who knew Ken are starting to appear on social media.

A number of Twitter messages are coming from those who worked with Ken on Star Trek : Discovery, including executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise, producing director Olatunde Osunsanmi, writer Sean Cochran, and guest star Raven Dauda. A number of the Discovery stars are on Star Trek: The Cruise now so we should have more messages as the news spreads of Ken’s death and they can share their thoughts.

We love you, Ken. What an absolute gift and privilege to have known you…. Please help support his family if you can. #YNWA https://t.co/yeh60k0cwy — Michelle Paradise (@michelleparadis) February 25, 2024

Kenneth, the world is gonna miss you man. — Olatunde Osunsanmi (@CenterWillHold) February 25, 2024

I am so grateful for all the time I got to spend working with Ken on Star Trek: Discovery. He was such a talent and such a wonderful person. Everybody adored him. And the way he embraced his final years with such love and joy was beyond inspirational. He will never be forgotten. https://t.co/hdKxAK2L2i — Sean Cochran (@SeanCochran) February 25, 2024

Rest in peace beautiful soul. 🪷 You will be greatly missed. Thank you for showing us how to live fully from our hearts. 🤍🖖🏾🤍 https://t.co/TsjN1aL5Jt — Raven Dauda (@TheREALRavenD) February 25, 2024

Discovery star Wilson Cruz shared an Instagram story saying goodbye to Ken.

Comments on the Instagram posting from Ken’s family included Voyager star Garret Wang, Strange New Worlds star Ethan Peck, TNG star Jonathan Frakes, Picard star Evan Evagora, Eugene Roddenberry, and Discovery guest star Sam Vartholomeos.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Kenneth Mitchell (@mr_kenneth_mitchell)

Other stars have taken to Twitter, including Star Trek star William Shatner and Voyager / Picard star Jeri Ryan.

I am so saddened to read this. Kenneth and I were Twitter/X friends. We met a few times at conventions and spent some time exchanging DMs here. He had such a positive outlook on life despite everything going on. He will be missed. Condolences to his family. 😔 https://t.co/l79mOmHYTb — William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) February 25, 2024

I’m so sorry… RIP Ken. https://t.co/oVG60JQNpd — Jeri Ryan (@JeriLRyan) February 25, 2024

TrekMovie offers our condolences to the friends and family of Ken Mitchell.

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Sad news. It was cool that Discovery found ways for him to be on the show that accommodated his medical situation. Condolences to his family and friends.

Agreed and condolences as well. I enjoyed his Klingon characters. Disco put its money where its mouth is by carving out a significant role for him as his health declined.

Condolences to his family and friends. :(

Far too young. RIP Ken….and thank you.

Very, very sorry to hear of his passing. His characters were highlights.

My thoughts go out to his family, friends, and co-workers. ALS is a truly awful disease.

So sad to see this. My condolences to his family and friends. RIP Ken…

Such sad news.

He will be missed greatly. RIP

My Sincerest Condolences To Ken’s Family And Friends. May He Rest In Holy Peace.

Way too young. My condolences.

This cruel word, man….

My condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. Loved him in his roles on Discovery!

Heartbreaking. Sending all my love to his family and friends. You will be so missed!

Wow this is truly sad news. I can’t imagine living with that disease. He will be greatly missed.

No one should have to go through that. He seems like he was a wonderful man to know and love, and the world is poorer for losing him.

Oh No. My condolences to the family. In Discovery Season 3, his performance and his accommodations were an inspirational tale, and I really enjoyed his work.

His passing will be deeply felt by the fandom for a long time.

Damn. 49 is far too young.

Sincere condolences to all his loved ones.

ALS is a terrifying disease. Deepest condolences. 😞 Heartbreaking video.

Rest in Peace Kenneth Mitchell…

I encourage everyone to watch the touching video interview with him in this article. “Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… human.” And give to his family in the GoFundMe linked above if you can. Live long and prosper Ken. 🖖🏼

Sad news. Too young, and with a family who will miss him so much. He really did great work.

I missed the Gary Graham article. Was it this nice?

Amen. I was waiting for this comment.

He was genuinely great in the roles he played. The story of him at a Rave at a convention or Trek Cruise or something was quite moving. I believe he talked about it on Anson Mount’s podcast. My heart goes out to his loved ones and friends. Rest in Peace.

ALS is brutal. Peace and condolences to his family and friends….

RIP. I was much inspired by his last Trek role.

There was man in my synagogue who had ALS (or something very similar) for well over twenty years- he died recently, in his mid-eighties. Even in the decades when he could only move his eyes, he was remarkably productive, writing books, creating artwork, giving speeches, and much more. I greatly admire people like these who can carry on despite such an awful prognosis.

A huge loss to the entire community.

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One of the most influential television shows ever made spawned the careers of many great actors.

Star Trek The Original Series debuted in 1966 and introducing the world to Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and a whole host of amazing characters. In the years that have gone by, an entire franchise has blossomed, picking up speed as it went. Only a slight respite of a few years has halted this juggernaught, with three live action series currently released or in production, along with two animated series and more on the way.

But the show that started it all is still one of the dearest parts of many fans' journeys. The stories that came from Gene Roddenberry and the creative team still resonate today, echoing through the years to remind contemporary audiences of what the meaning of Star Trek really is.

The characters were often larger than life, which is to say nothing of the actors who played them. Some would go on to mega-stardom while some would rest comfortably in typecasting. None, however, had anything like a boring life or journey after their time on the show wrapped up.

Collecting here the stories from the main cast and some of the notable guest stars, this list offers a look into the lives of the Star Trek crew in the years after the Enterprise's Five Year Mission.

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Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick

Chris Pine Was Surprised by New ‘Star Trek 4’ Writer Hire Because ‘I Thought There Was Already a Script…I Was Wrong or They Decided to Pivot’

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“I honestly don’t know,” Pine told Business Insider when asked about “Star Trek 4” updates. “There was something in the news of a new writer coming on board. I thought there was already a script, but I guess I was wrong, or they decided to pivot. As it’s always been with ‘Trek,’ I just wait and see.”

Steve Yockey is the latest screenwriter to get a chance to pen the script for “Star Trek 4.” Attempts over the years to get the sequel off the ground have included an R-rated idea from none other then Quentin Tarantino. Another version of the project was to be directed by Matt Shakman (“WandaVision”) and written by Lindsey Beer (“Sierra Burgess Is a Loser”) and Geneva Robertson-Dworet (“Captain Marvel”). Shakman left the project to direct Marvel’s “The Fantastic Four” instead, and it fell apart soon afterwards.

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“It’s interesting. Karl Urban decided to go head first into McCoy because Karl loved ‘Star Trek,'” Pine said. “With Spock, you have to do Spock-like things, plus Zach [Quinto] kind of looked like Leonard [Nimoy]. And then Kirk is a tricky one. You are the lead of the band of characters, so you don’t want to occupy too much space. It’s fine if they are doing a thing, but you don’t want to. And J.J. [Abrams] never asked me to do a thing, though I did do little nods to Shatner because it was fun.”

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