Dominic Keating’s run on Star Trek was epic, spanning all 98 episodes of the show, from 2001 to 2005. Keating’s character, Lt. Malcolm Reed, was both a tactical officer and an armory officer aboard the Starship USS Enterprise. Reed’s tactical contributions to the storylines were of vital importance, so this was no small role for Keating.
While Lt. Malcolm Reed made Keating a household name (at least among Trekkies), many people also know him from his roles in “Jungle 2 Jungle” and “Beowulf.” Keating is still going strong in the acting world and appeared in “Once Upon a Time in London.”
Marina Sirtis as Counselor Deanna Troi
Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry was always on the lookout for inspiration. A dedicated sci-fi fan, he saw every new entry to the genre that he could, including the 80s hit, "Aliens." For Roddenberry, Vasquez stole the show and he was immediately inspired to create an equally strong Latina character for Star Trek. Enter Marina Sirtis and Counselor Deanna Troi.
Part-human, part-Betazoid, Deanna Troi had the ability to read the emotions of other beings. Sirtis appeared in this role in "Enterprise," "Voyager," and four of the Star Trek feature films. The popular star has gone on to appear in a string of films and TV shows, including "NCIS" and "Grey’s Anatomy."
Ashley Judd as Robin Lefler
Here’s one you’ve probably forgotten: Ashley Judd was in Star Trek! The actress made her debut on the show back in 1991, long before reaching superstardom. Since she wasn’t a recognizable face at the time, most people don’t even realize she was ever a part of the show.
Judd played Starfleet officer, Ensign Robin Lefler, and appeared in just two episodes. With a face and a talent like hers, however, two episodes were all it took to set her career in motion. It was a rapid rise to fame from there. Judd is now a well-known Hollywood actress and political activist.
Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer
Scott Bakula is a veteran of science fiction, with starring roles in two of the most critically acclaimed series to hit our televisions. You may recognize him as Sam Beckett from "Quantum Leap," a role for which he received a Golden Globe award and four Emmy nominations. As much as we loved him in "Quantum Leap," this role is not the reason he’s made it onto our list.
Star Trek fans will be more fond of Bakula for his portrayal of Captain Jonathan Archer in the "Star Trek: Enterprise" series. Since his role in the iconic sci-fi series came to an end, Bakula has enjoyed roles in a wide variety of TV shows and Hollywood films.
Vaughn Armstrong as Admiral Maxwell Forrest
Vaughn Armstrong has had 27 appearances on Star Trek. Compared to some of the veterans we’ve just visited, that doesn’t sound like so much, right? What if we told you that, in those 27 episodes, he took on the forms of eight distinct races to play a total of 11 different characters? Suddenly way more impressive!
While all that characterization sounds like a lot of work, this talented actor has still had plenty of time to explore the realms outside of Star Trek, appearing in a number of hit TV shows, including "Mad Men," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Modern Family," and "Criminal Minds."