Many actors from Star Trek have also appeared in other well-known films and TV shows. It’s often a challenge for TV actors to transition to movie roles, which is why many build their careers on television. While stars like William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Jonathan Frakes are best known for their work in Star Trek and its related films, they’ve also made occasional appearances in other projects.
Here is a look at 10 of the best performances by Star Trek cast members in non-franchise roles.
10) Colm Meaney in Layer Cake
Everyone loved Colm Meaney as Miles O’Brien – he was in a whopping 225 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine! But if you really want to see what an incredible actor he is, you have to check out Layer Cake. It’s a British gangster film from 2004, directed by Matthew Vaughn, and it’s fantastic. Daniel Craig plays a drug dealer in London, and Meaney is his connection to the big boss. It’s a really fun movie, and honestly, it reminded me a lot of the stuff Guy Ritchie was making around then.
9) Alison Pill in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Alison Pill is well-known for her role as Dr. Agnes Jurati in the series Star Trek: Picard, appearing in 20 episodes. A major highlight of the show was seeing her character transform into the Borg Queen. Many fans were delighted to see Pill revisit one of her most memorable roles – Kim Pine from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In that energetic film adaptation of the comic book, Kim played the drummer for Scott’s band, Sex Bob-Omb, and wasn’t afraid to give Scott honest feedback, even when it was difficult. Pill reprised the role a decade later, providing the voice for Kim in the animated series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.
8) LeVar Burton in Roots
LeVar Burton has had an incredibly successful career, and it’s notable that his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation wasn’t even his biggest break. He first gained widespread recognition in the 1970s playing Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking miniseries Roots, a role for which he received an Emmy nomination. Later, from 1987 to 1994, he became known as Geordi La Forge in Star Trek. Simultaneously, he hosted Reading Rainbow for 23 years, winning 12 Daytime Emmy Awards for his work.
7) Doug Jones in Pan’s Labyrinth
Doug Jones is a remarkably flexible actor who’s built a successful career, often playing creatures and monsters. While many know him as Saru from Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024), he had an extensive career beforehand. He’s played memorable roles like Abe Sapien in the Hellboy films, Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the Ice Cream Man in Legion, and Amphibian Man in The Shape of Water. But he’s perhaps most celebrated for his work in Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth, where he brilliantly played both the Faun and the chilling Pale Man.
6) William Shatner in Miss Congeniality
Many fans recall William Shatner’s appearance in the classic Twilight Zone episode, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” where he played a passenger who spots a gremlin on the plane’s wing. However, his strongest performance outside of Star Trek as Captain Kirk was arguably in the action-comedy Miss Congeniality. In that film, Shatner brilliantly played a heightened version of himself – a sharp-tongued, unfiltered man who said and did whatever struck him as funny.
5) Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple
Whoopi Goldberg is well-known today as a talk show host, but she first became famous as a talented actress. Many remember her as Guinan on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and she even reprised the role in 2022’s Star Trek: Picard. She also starred in several successful films, including Ghost, for which she won an Academy Award. However, many consider her most powerful performance to be as Celie Harris Johnson in The Color Purple, a role that earned her an Oscar nomination. Although she didn’t win an award for The Color Purple, it remains her most memorable and impactful film performance.
4) Jason Isaacs in Harry Potter Franchise
Jason Isaacs is a well-known actor with a diverse career, having appeared in films like Black Hawk Down and the HBO series The White Lotus. He received awards recognition for his role as Captain Gabriel Lorca in Star Trek: Discovery, but he’s perhaps best known for playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films – a key villain and the father of Draco Malfoy, who often tormented Harry as a child.
3) Leonard Nimoy in Invasion of the Body Snatchers
Honestly, when most people think of Leonard Nimoy, it’s all about Spock – whether it’s from the original Star Trek or even cameos like his appearances on The Big Bang Theory. He became Spock, and many would argue his performance is the best in the whole franchise, even better than Shatner as Kirk! But I always feel like people forget this incredible role he had before the first Star Trek movie. In 1978, he was fantastic as Dr. David Kibner in Invasion of the Body Snatchers – seriously, it’s one of the greatest horror remakes ever made. He played a key part and really shined before fully stepping back into Spock’s shoes for the next ten years.
2) Patrick Stewart in Logan
Patrick Stewart’s career extends far beyond his famous role as Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek. He’s a highly skilled Shakespearean actor with a history of memorable performances that predate Star Trek: The Next Generation. After the series concluded, he found another iconic role playing Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men films. Now, he’s equally recognized for both Professor X and Captain Picard, and many consider his performance in Logan to be his best – portraying a mentally fragile mutant whose declining health posed a danger to those around him.
1) Wil Wheaton in Stand By Me
Wil Wheaton is known for playing Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he has mixed feelings about the role. Though he enjoyed working with his fellow actors, his childhood was difficult due to pressure from his parents, which made filming the show unpleasant. Now, Wheaton focuses on writing and other projects rather than Star Trek. Surprisingly, many consider his best acting performance to be in the film Stand by Me, which he made before joining Star Trek. His moving performance powerfully delivered the film’s emotional ending, and it remains a standout role in his career.
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2026-03-03 21:16