What Every Star Trek: Voyager Star Did After The Show Ended

Star Trek: Voyager first aired in 1995 and continued for seven seasons, concluding with the two-part episode “Endgame” in 2001. Since it ended, the show has become even more popular with Star Trek fans. Voyager followed Captain Janeway and her diverse crew of Starfleet officers and former rebels as they embarked on an extended journey back to Earth. While the characters successfully returned home, the actors who played them faced the reality of the series ending.

While not all of the actors became household names, many continued to thrive in movies and TV. It’s remarkable that most of the original cast has revisited the Star Trek universe in recent shows like Picard, Prodigy, and Lower Decks. We’re taking a look back at what the stars of Voyager have been up to since the show ended, from Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine) to Robert Picardo (The Doctor).

10) Ethan Phillips

Neelix, portrayed by Ethan Phillips, was a Talaxian who served as the chef, boosted crew morale, and acted as a guide during Voyager’s journey through the Delta Quadrant. In the seventh season, he decided to settle with a Talaxian colony and said a heartfelt goodbye to the crew, particularly Tuvok, in the episode “Homestead.”

Throughout his career, both before and after his time on the series, Phillips consistently worked as an actor. After 2001, he appeared in several well-known films, including Bad Santa and Inside Llewyn Davis by the Coen Brothers. Having been involved with Star Trek before Voyager—even appearing in First Contact—he later returned to the franchise by voicing a guide on the USS Voyager in Lower Decks and reprising his role as Neelix in Very Short Treks.

9) Garrett Wang

Garrett Wang played Ensign Harry Kim on Voyager, a dedicated officer who remained at the same rank for the entire seven-year run of the show. He started as a recent Academy graduate, and his character was known for being sincere and missing home. A key part of the series was his friendship with Tom Paris. There were reports that Wang almost lost his job after the third season, but a listing in People Magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” issue in 1997 is said to have kept him on the show.

Since his role on Voyager, Garrett Wang has appeared in the miniseries Into the West (produced by Steven Spielberg), the fan-made Star Trek: Of Gods and Men alongside Tim Russ, and several independent films. Remaining involved with Star Trek, Wang has directed the series’ track at Dragon Con in Atlanta since 2010 and currently co-hosts the podcast The Delta Flyers with Robert Duncan McNeill. He also returned to the role of Kim in the Star Trek Online video game and voiced different versions of the character in Season 5, Episode 9 (“Fissure Quest”) of Star Trek: Lower Decks, where one version finally earns a promotion to Lieutenant.

8) Jennifer Lien

Jennifer Lien portrayed Kes, a member of the Ocampa species, during the first three seasons of the show. Kes worked as the Doctor’s medical assistant and her telepathic powers grew over time. Her character left in the episode “The Gift,” which unexpectedly moved Voyager much closer to Earth. While the exact reasons for Lien’s departure are unclear, reports suggest personal issues led to difficulties on set and ultimately the end of her contract.

Unlike most of the actors here, Lien didn’t reprise her role in any Star Trek projects. She stopped acting in 2001, with her last part being the voice of Agent “L” on Men in Black: The Animated Series, and has lived a private life ever since.

7) Roxann Dawson

B’Elanna Torres, portrayed by Roxann Dawson, was the incredibly talented but often fiery half-Klingon Chief Engineer of the Voyager, who also had a past as a member of the Maquis. Her character’s journey throughout the series was particularly captivating, focusing on her battle with her Klingon side and her developing relationship with Tom.

After her time on Voyager, Roxann Dawson became a successful television director, earning respect within the industry. She’s directed episodes of many popular shows, including Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., House of Cards, Foundation, Dark Matter, The Americans, Lost, and Bates Motel. Though she didn’t act in Star Trek again, she did direct four episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, and her Voyager character, B’Elanna Torres, has been mentioned in Star Trek: Prodigy.

6) Robert Duncan McNeill

Viewers first met Robert McNeill in a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode called “The First Duty,” which hinted at the character of the confident helmsman he’d later play on Voyager. His Voyager character, Tom Paris, had a troubled past – he was kicked out of Starfleet, became involved with the Maquis, and even spent time in prison – before Captain Janeway gave him a second chance. Throughout Voyager, Paris transformed from a disgraced pilot into a committed husband and father. Plus, his creative holodeck programs, particularly the Captain Proton adventures, provided a lot of laughs.

Similar to Dawson, McNeill moved into directing after his work on Voyager. He directed and executive produced the NBC series Chuck, and most recently held the same role on SYFY’s Resident Alien, even receiving an Astra Award nomination for the show’s Season 3 finale. He’s also directed episodes of popular shows like Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, The O.C., Desperate Housewives, and Supernatural. As for revisiting Star Trek, McNeill co-hosts The Delta Flyers podcast with Wang, made a cameo in the Lower Decks episode “We’ll Always Have Tom Paris,” and reprised his role as Nick Locarno (from The Next Generation) by voicing the character in Season 4 of Lower Decks.

5) Robert Beltran

Robert Beltran played Commander Chakotay on Voyager, the ship’s first officer and a former rebel leader who became Captain Janeway’s close ally. Later, it was discovered that the spiritual practices his character used, including vision quests and a prayer called “Akoocheemoya” (developed with a consultant for Native American representation), weren’t authentic. Beltran was also known for publicly criticizing the show, once describing it as a personal hardship. Despite his complaints, he did receive a Golden Eagle Award for acting excellence in 1997.

Since 2001, Robert Beltran’s acting roles have been infrequent. He’s best known for playing casino promoter Jerry Flute on HBO’s Big Love after his time on Voyager. Fans were excited when he returned to the Star Trek universe as Chakotay, voicing the character as captain of the USS Protostar in Star Trek: Prodigy. However, he declined a role in Star Trek: Picard because the story would have portrayed Chakotay as a villainous husband to Seven of Nine in a different version of reality.

4) Tim Russ

I always loved Tuvok on Voyager! Tim Russ really brought the character to life as the ship’s security chief and Captain Janeway’s close friend. His Vulcan logic was fascinating, and his interactions with Neelix were just hilarious – he quickly became one of my favorite characters. That perfectly deadpan delivery of ‘Indeed’ was so classic Vulcan, reminding me of Spock, but uniquely Tuvok. It’s cool to realize Russ was already a Trek pro before Voyager; I remember him from appearances in The Next Generation’s “Starship Mine,” as well as Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Generations! He really brought a lot of experience to the role.

Since his time on Voyager, Russ has enjoyed a diverse career. He’s best known for playing Principal Franklin on iCarly for six seasons, and he also formed his own band, Tim Russ Crew. In 2014, he received an Emmy Award for his work on public service announcements about intellectual property theft and cyberbullying. Star Trek fans will also recognize him as the director and star of the fan film Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, and he most recently appeared in Season 3 of Picard as Fleet Captain Tuvok. He’s hinted at a possible role in the upcoming Spaceballs 2 movie as well.

3) Robert Picardo

Robert Picardo brilliantly brought the Emergency Medical Hologram – affectionately known as “The Doctor” – to life. Originally designed as a simple backup system, Picardo’s performance transformed the character into a complex and fan-favorite figure within the Star Trek universe. The Doctor was memorable for both his humor and heartfelt exploration of what it means to be human, pursuing interests like opera, love, and writing, and even fighting for the rights of holograms. His iconic line, “Please state the nature of the medical emergency,” is still frequently quoted by fans at Trek conventions.

Robert Picardo is well-known for originally trying out for the role of Neelix—which ultimately went to Ethan Phillips—and he playfully noted that not getting the part meant avoiding over 6,000 hours of makeup application. Before Voyager, he had already played the Doctor’s creator in both Deep Space Nine and First Contact. Even after Voyager ended, Picardo continued to work steadily in television, film, and theater. He also became a passionate advocate for science and space exploration, frequently collaborating with NASA. In 2024, he brought the Doctor back to life for Season 2 of Prodigy, marking his first return to Star Trek since Voyager concluded in 2001, and the character is scheduled to appear again in the upcoming Starfleet Academy series.

2) Jeri Ryan

Jeri Ryan became well-known for her role as Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager. The character was a former Borg drone, a human who had been assimilated by the Borg collective as a child and was liberated by the Voyager crew. When Ryan joined the show in its fourth season, viewership jumped by 60%. She initially declined the part four times, partly because she wasn’t a Star Trek fan and worried about being typecast as a superficial character. Despite these concerns, Ryan later felt the character was presented as too sexualized and expressed regret about Seven of Nine’s initial portrayal.

Ryan has consistently worked in television, appearing in shows like Boston Public as Veronica Cooke, Body of Proof as Dr. Kate Murphy, and Bosch as Veronica Allen. She’s also been in films such as Dracula (2000) and Down with Love. Many fans were thrilled when she returned to the role of Seven of Nine in Star Trek: Picard. Initially a recurring character, Seven eventually became a main cast member. Throughout the series, her character evolved from a vigilante with the Fenris Rangers to a reinstated Starfleet officer, ultimately earning the rank of Captain of the USS Enterprise-G. Ryan initially believed she had finished with the character, but she was happily surprised to revisit the role.

1) Kate Mulgrew

Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Janeway broke ground as the first female captain to headline a Star Trek series. Known for her decisive leadership and willingness to make difficult decisions, she quickly became one of the franchise’s most iconic captains. The series finale, “Endgame,” featured a particularly strong performance, showcasing both her present-day role as Captain and a glimpse into her future as an Admiral.

Kate Mulgrew is widely recognized for her role in Star Trek, but she gained a new following in 2013 playing Red (Galina Reznikov) on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. This performance earned her an Emmy nomination and helped boost her career. Beyond television, Mulgrew has enjoyed a successful stage career and wrote a bestselling memoir. She also revisited the Star Trek universe, first as Vice Admiral Janeway in Nemesis, and later received another Emmy nomination for voicing both a holographic and live-action version of the same character in Prodigy.

Kate Mulgrew, reflecting on her 50-year acting career, said she never once thought about quitting. You can now see her latest work in the Apple TV film, Dope Thief.

Which former Voyager actor would you like to see appear in a future Star Trek show or movie? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-13 23:22