Several Star Trek aliens made their debut onStar Trek: The Next Generationbefore playing more significant roles onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,and a couple were even portrayed by the same actors.TNGset the stage for a new golden era ofStar Trek,influencing almost everything that came after. Some ofStar Trek’smost famous aliens - like the Vulcans, Klingons, and Romulans - were introduced onStar Trek: The Original Series,but others did not appear untilTNG.Several actors have portrayed multiple roles in theStar Trekfranchise, and some have even played different characters within the same alien species.
Star Trek:The Next Generationtook a season or two to find its footing as it worked to figure out what kind of show it was going to be. Even asTNGprogressed,there were many elements it was still figuring out, including the looks and cultures of new alien species.Species like the Ferengi and the Cardassians, as well as the Bajorans and the Trill, would be better defined onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,but they got their start onTNG.Armin Shimerman and Marc Alaimo both appeared onTNGbefore taking on their more famouscharacters onDS9,and they helped define the Ferengi and the Cardassians.
Armin Shimerman Played TNG Ferengi Before DS9’s Quark
Shimerman Portrayed One Of Star Trek’s First Ferengi
Armin Shimerman may be most knowntoStar Trekfans for portraying the Ferengi bartender Quark onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,but Quark was not the first Ferengi Shimerman played. InTNGseason 1, episode 5, “The Last Outpost,” Shimerman played one of the first Ferengi to ever appear on screen. By playing one ofStar Trek’sfirst Ferengi,Armin Shimerman helped establish some aspects of the species,including their mannerisms. Although the Ferengi were initially meant to be the main adversaries for Captain Picard onTNG,producers felt they came across as too comedic to be scary.
Shimerman also appeared as the Ferengi DaiMon Bractor inTNGseason 2, episode 21, “Peak Performance.”
The Ferengi ofTNGwere one-note villains focused almost entirely on profit.Shimerman later expressed regretabout the way he portrayedTNG’sFerengi, buthe got the chance to redeem himself and the entire Ferengi species as Quark.Quark certainly has a love for gold-pressed latinum, as any self-respecting Ferengi should, but he also cares about his friends. As a central figure throughoutDS9’sseven seasons, Quark developed into a complex character, and he and his family revealed a lot more about Ferengi culture.
Marc Alaimo Played A TNG Cardassian Before DS9’s Gul Dukat
Alaimo Appeared In TNG’s “The Wounded” As Star Trek’s First Cardassian
Before he became the villainous Gul Dukat on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Marc Alaimo portrayedStar Trek’sfirst Cardassian onTNG.InTNGseason 4, episode 12, “The Wounded,“Alaimo played Gul Macet, the commanding officer of the Cardassian warship Trager.Macet visits the Starship Enterprise when a Federation starship begins attacking Cardassian outposts. Not only does “The Wounded” introduce the Cardassians, but it’s also one of the firstStar Trekepisodes to focus on Chief Miles O’Brien(Colm Meaney). O’Brien had served on the USS Rutledge during the Federation-Cardassian War and continued to hold on to his prejudice against Cardassians.
All 6 Star Trek Characters Played By DS9’s Marc Alaimo
Marc Alaimo played four different characters on TNG before he began portraying one of Star Trek’s best villains on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
With his commanding performance, Marc Alaimo helped establish the cunning and war-like nature of the Cardassians. Macet remains the only Cardassian seen sporting facial hair and the headgear worn by the Cardassians was never shown again. While some aspects of the Cardassian’s appearance differed fromTNGtoDS9, Macet helped establish the Cardassians' look. Looks aside,Alaimo’s Gul Dukat went on to become one ofStar Trek’smost complex and compelling villains.Alaimo brought the same menacing energy to both Cardassians he played, creating intelligent and formidable villains who could go toe to toe with even the best Starfleet captains.
Other Early Versions Of Star Trek: DS9 Aliens On TNG
The Trill & The Bajorans Made Their Debut On TNG
A handful of other alien species made their debut onStar Trek: The Next Generationbefore becoming more permanent fixtures onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. In the aptly titledTNGseason 2 episode, “Ensign Ro,“Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes) became the first Bajoran to appear inStar Trek.There were plans forRo to join the cast ofDS9,but Michelle Forbes turned down the role that eventually became Major Kira Nirys (Nana Visitor). Ro’s characterization onTNGinformed Kira as a character and offered insight into the plight of the Bajorans.
Not only is Odan’s physical appearance different than that of later Trill, but his relationship with his symbiote seems different as well.
Introduced inTNGseason 4, episode 23, “The Host,“Star Trek’sfirst Trill was a mediator named Odan (Franc Luz)who developed a romance with Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden). Not only is Odan’s physical appearance different than that of later Trill, but his relationship with his symbiote seems different as well. OnDS9,Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) would gain the spots most associated with the Trill and help define the species and their culture. The Trill, Bajorans, Ferengi, and Cardassians have all become importantStar Trekspecies who were introduced onStar Trek: The Next Generationbefore being more fully explored onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine.
