Fans Mourn Passing of Original ‘Star Trek’ Actor at 97

Few guest stars in the original ‘Star Trek‘ era managed to leave an impression as large as the one made by a towering, toga-clad being who claimed to be a Greek god. The performer behind that role spent decades as a working actor across film, television, theater and voice work, but one episode kept his name alive for generations of science-fiction fans. His story is one of range as much as fame.

Born in North Dakota, he grew up in Seattle and initially thought about becoming a boxer. His coach reportedly warned that a bad facial injury could end an acting career, and he turned his attention to the stage. He earned a degree in English and drama from San Jose State University before moving to Hollywood in 1955.

Now the sad news has arrived. Michael Forest, who famously played Apollo in the original ‘Star Trek’ series, has died at the age of 97.

Forest died on Wednesday, October 14, at a senior living facility in Sparks, Nevada, where he had been living in recent years. His death was confirmed by his close friend James A. Brown in a Facebook tribute, which remembered Forest as both an actor and a friend. A cause of death has not been made public.

Born Gerald Michael Charlebois on April 17, 1929, in Harvey, North Dakota, he took the stage name Michael Forest in 1957. That same year, Roger Corman cast him in ‘Saga of the Viking Women,’ which became the start of a long run in low-budget genre films.

Forest’s most famous performance came in the 1967 ‘Star Trek’ episode ‘Who Mourns for Adonais?’, which aired on September 22. He played Apollo, a powerful being who claimed to be the Greek god and demanded that the crew of the USS Enterprise worship him, while falling for crew member Lt. Carolyn Palamas.

The episode featured William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, and it has remained a fan favorite for its mix of mythology and science fiction. Forest’s imposing presence suited the part, which called for an actor with commanding stature who could also handle Shakespearean dialogue.

Nearly five decades later, he got a rare chance to revisit the character. In 2013, he reprised Apollo in ‘Pilgrim of Eternity,’ the first episode of the fan-produced series ‘Star Trek Continues,’ a sequel to the original story.

He appeared opposite his real-life wife, actress Diana Hale, who played the goddess Athena. The two were married for 52 years before Hale died in 2022, and footage of Forest’s original performance even surfaced in 2016’s ‘X-Men: Apocalypse.’

Forest racked up more than 200 credits, and his work went well beyond science fiction. He appeared in classic television including ‘The Twilight Zone,’ where he played one of the alien bikers in the 1964 episode ‘Black Leather Jackets,’ as well as ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show,’ ‘Zorro’ and ‘Gilligan’s Island.’ On the big screen, he turned up in the 2000 film ‘Cast Away.’

He also worked repeatedly for Roger Corman, including ‘Beast From the Haunted Cave,’ ‘Ski Troop Attack’ and the sword-and-sandal film ‘Atlas,’ in which he played the title role. Soap opera viewers knew him from ‘As the World Turns,’ where he played Nick Andropoulos.

In his later decades, Forest built a second career as a voice actor. He lent his rich voice to many animated titles, including ‘Lupin the 3rd: The Mystery of Mamo,’ ‘Paprika,’ ‘Redline’ and ‘Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom.’

At age 71, he voiced Prince Olympius in ‘Power Rangers: Lightspeed Rescue.’ He also moved into video games in 1995, which kept him in demand long after his on-screen heyday.

What stands out about Forest’s career is how varied it was, from 1950s television westerns to Italian mythology films to anime dubs and fan productions. He was a fixture of B-movie and classic TV fans, and even those who never learned his name often remembered the god on the Enterprise bridge.

His performance as Apollo gave him a lasting place in ‘Star Trek’ history, and the fact that he returned to the role decades later speaks to how much it meant to him and to fans.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!