Voyager’s Cast Had Secret Star Trek Doppelgangers?!

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Initially debuting in 1996, “Star Trek: Voyager” was a continuation of the rich lore that had been built up within the “Star Trek” universe. Captain Kathryn Janeway’s (Kate Mulgrew) inaugural mission found her pursuing a band of Maquis rebels, whose backstory was initially introduced in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” By linking the new series to its predecessors, “Voyager” not only connected storylines that had been established on other “Star Trek” shows, but also allowed characters and themes developed earlier to further shine in this new setting.

Multiple actors who were part of the cast for “Voyager” made appearances in other “Star Trek” series before joining the main cast. In fact, it’s quite typical for “Star Trek” actors to begin as guest stars and later become regular cast members. For instance, Colm Meaney initially appeared as an unnamed bridge officer in the TNG pilot, “Encounter at Farpoint”, and went on to play Chief Miles Edward O’Brien. Similarly, Jeffrey Combs has gained fame for portraying more characters within “Star Trek” than any other actor. Consequently, it’s not surprising that three actors from “Voyager” have roles that share similarities with their characters in other parts of the Star Trek universe.

3. Lt. Commander Tuvok Has Clones Across Time And Space

Tim Russ Appears In Star Trek: Generations And TNG

Without a doubt, Tim Russ is best known for his portrayal of the iconic character, Lt. Commander Tuvok, the stern Vulcan chief of security aboard Starship Voyager. Known for his close bonds with Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), Tuvok’s wisdom, gleaned from over a century of life, played a significant role in the ship’s survival in the Delta Quadrant. However, it’s important to note that Tim Russ has also taken on other roles within the Star Trek universe.

In my perspective as a devoted Star Trek fan, I first encountered Tim Russ in the “Starship Mine” episode of TNG, where he portrayed a human mercenary named Devor. Unfortunately, his character met his end during a Baryon Sweep onboard the USS Enterprise. Later, in Star Trek: Generations, he appeared as an unnamed lieutenant on the bridge of the same starship, which was set in 2293. Considering that Tuvok likely served under Captain Sulu during the events of Star Trek VI, these two seemingly identical Starfleet lieutenants were part of the crews manning the bridges of two of the most significant vessels of the late 23rd century.

In addition to his role as Tuvok in Star Trek: Voyager, Tim Russ has made appearances in other Star Trek series without reprising the identical Starfleet officer character. Notably, he portrayed the Klingon mercenary T’Kar in an episode of Deep Space Nine titled “Invasive Procedures,” which distinguishes him from Tuvok due to the Klingon forehead ridges. Furthermore, on Deep Space Nine, Russ also appeared as the Mirror Universe counterpart of Tuvok in the episode “Through the Looking Glass.” Thus, while he is most recognized for his role as Tuvok, Tim Russ has showcased a variety of Star Trek characters throughout his career.

2. Lt. Tom Paris Has An Evil Twin

And Lower Decks Knows It

In the first season of “Star Trek: Voyager,” the character Tom Paris, portrayed by Robert Duncan McNeill, was undeniably the ship’s rebellious figure. Captain Janeway took him from a literal prison camp to pilot Voyager for a specific mission due to his exceptional flying skills. However, it wasn’t until they were stranded in the Delta Quadrant that Tom Paris’ life took a turn for the better. It is worth noting that Robert Duncan McNeill portrayed more than one Star Trek rebel, and the character of Tom Paris was intended as a continuation of his earlier story, as Cadet Nicholas Locarno.

In essence, Nicholas Locarno, a former Starfleet cadet, was the mastermind behind a band of disgraced peers who performed hazardous space maneuvers, resulting in the fatal accident of another cadet and subsequent lies to conceal their actions. Interestingly, this character shares a striking resemblance with Tom Paris, as acknowledged by the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks. In season 4 of Lower Decks specifically, Locarno reappeared as a villain, and his similarity to the charismatic Lt. Paris was frequently used for comedic effect. It’s worth noting that, in this context, the resemblance between these two characters is not merely coincidental; it serves a narrative purpose.

1. There Are Multiple Emergency Medical Holograms

And Dr. Louis Zimmerman Was On DS9

It’s well-known that the Voyager’s Emergency Medical Hologram, commonly referred to as The Doctor (Robert Picardo), is patterned after his inventor, Dr. Lewis Zimmerman. This means that the socially awkward Starfleet engineer and The Doctor share a striking resemblance. In the Voyager season 6 episode, “Lifeline,” we see Dr. Zimmerman and The Doctor engage directly. Interestingly, Picardo played Dr. Zimmerman in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, where he proposed designing a new series of EMHs based on Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig).

In the realm of Star Trek, it’s not just one version of The Doctor that exists. Approximately 700 Emergency Medical Holograms, all modeled after Dr. Zimmerman, share not only his physical likeness but also his fundamental character traits. One of these EMHs can be spotted in Star Trek: First Contact, where he aids Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFaddon) in the Enterprise’s Sickbay. The upcoming series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, will feature Robert Picardo reprising his role as The Doctor. It remains to be seen if this new EMH will be identical to the one from Star Trek: Voyager or if another copy will emerge instead.

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2025-04-21 02:53