The 7 Star Trek Actors Who’ve Appeared In The Most Episodes

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Joining Starfleet in Star Trek is incredibly difficult. It takes years of rigorous training, and most applicants don’t succeed. Even those who do complete the training aren’t guaranteed exciting jobs. Running a starship involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work, not just commanding from the bridge. It’s similar to making a good TV show – everyone on the team, not just the actors, needs to be working together to create a successful final product.

It’s likely actors are often given too much praise for a show’s success, but the performers in the Star Trek universe definitely put in the effort. With so many different series and storylines crossing over, some actors frequently return to ensure the story stays consistent. Here’s a look at the seven Star Trek actors who have appeared in the most episodes.

T.6) Marina Sirtis

Marina Sirtis is the first actor on our list. She’s best known for playing Counselor Deanna Troi on the Enterprise, a character with strong empathic abilities. She appeared in 178 episodes overall, primarily on Star Trek: The Next Generation, where she was in almost every episode. She later reprised her role in Star Trek: Voyager and a significant portion of Star Trek: Picard, which gave her the chance to work with many of her original co-stars.

T.6) LeVar Burton

It’s no surprise another actor from The Next Generation lands in the top six! Like Marina Sirtis, LeVar Burton is best known for playing Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge, instantly recognizable by his VISOR, throughout most of TNG. He also appeared in one episode of Voyager and a few episodes of Picard, bringing his total appearances to 178.

5) Jonathan Frakes

A Starfleet captain relies heavily on their first officer, and Commander Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, was exceptional. He appeared in every episode of The Next Generation – all 178 of them! After that series ended, Riker continued to bring his charm and skill to Voyager, Enterprise, and Deep Space Nine. Including his many appearances in Picard, Frakes has a remarkable total of 194 episodes across the Star Trek universe.

4) Brent Spiner

Robots often don’t get the recognition they deserve in Star Trek. However, Brent Spiner’s character, Data, is a clear exception. He appeared in almost every episode of The Next Generation and also made significant appearances in Enterprise and Picard, consistently offering both insightful information and, when necessary, taking action. Spiner can proudly look back on a Star Trek career spanning 195 episodes.

3) Patrick Stewart

Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the Enterprise in The Next Generation and brilliantly portrayed by Patrick Stewart, is in every episode of the show, just like his first officer, Riker. What sets Picard apart is that he also starred in his own series, which helped boost his total number of appearances. Beyond TNG, Stewart made a guest appearance on Deep Space Nine, bringing his overall episode count to 209.

2) Colm Meaney

While some actors from The Next Generation appeared on Deep Space Nine as a way to wrap up their roles, Colm Meaney’s character, Miles O’Brien, had a different journey. Initially a smaller part in The Next Generation, O’Brien became a central figure on Deep Space Nine, essentially running the space station. Across both series, he appeared in an impressive 225 episodes – 173 on Deep Space Nine and 52 on The Next Generation.

1) Michael Dorn

Reaching 200 episodes is a great achievement, and Andrew Meaney certainly deserves recognition for making his character memorable. However, Michael Dorn truly stands out in the Star Trek universe. He appears in the majority of The Next Generation, then takes on a major role in Deep Space Nine. Plus, he makes appearances in Picard, bringing his total to an impressive 272 episodes.

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2025-12-07 21:14