Each Character Tim Russ Performed On Star Trek, Ranked

Actor Tim Russ was a military brat who, at an early age, turned fascinated with appearing and theater. He attended St. Edward’s College in Austin, Texas, getting a level in theater arts, and he continued his appearing research in grad college at Illinois State College. His first skilled appearing gig was a supporting function in an episode of the reboot of “The Twilight Zone” in 1985, and his first film was a small half within the 1986 Ralph Macchio car “Crossroads.” Audiences of a sure age doubtless recall Russ’ cameo in Mel Brooks’ 1987 spoof “Spaceballs.” He was the Spaceball officer who, whereas (actually) combing the desert with an outsize afro choose, introduced that “We ain’t discovered s***!” That very same yr, Russ appeared within the splendidly absurd “Loss of life Want 4: The Crackdown,” a movie that boasts certainly one of one of the best death-by-bazooka scenes in cinema historical past. 

Russ remained prolific, nonetheless, choosing up dozens of visitor spots in quite a few hit reveals over the subsequent 5 years. He was in “Superb Tales,” “Hill Road Blues,” and “Jake and the Fatman.” He was in “Cop Rock,” “The Recent Prince of Bel Air,” and “Alien Nation.” He obtained round. On the large display screen, he appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Fowl,” the horror movie “Pulse,” and the sci-fi flick “Eve of Destruction.” 

Russ’ highest-profile function got here in 1995 when he was solid because the Vulcan safety officer Tuvok on “Star Trek: Voyager.” Tuvok holds the excellence of being the primary full-blood Vulcan to have a daily function on a “Star Trek” present. Spock, recall, was half-human. Tuvok had no inside conflicts. He was sturdy and resolute from the outset. Russ performed Tuvok on all seven seasons of “Voyager,” showing in all 172 episodes.

“Voyager,” nonetheless, was not Russ’ first brush with Trek. Certainly, he began on “Star Trek” two years earlier with a small function on “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology.” Under are all six roles Russ performed all through the “Star Trek” franchise, handily ranked. 

There’s a prologue originally of David Carson’s 1994 flick “Star Trek: Generations” — the primary Trek movie primarily based on “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” and seventh general — that permit Trekkies to meet up with Kirk (William Shatner), Scotty (James Doohan) and Chekov (Walter Koenig) after the occasions of “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Nation.” It appears they’re now mere dignitaries, and have been requested to supervise the maiden voyage of the usS. Enterprise-B. Naturally, the Enterprise-B should be known as out on a particular mission, having to mount a rescue with out a full employees on board. Kirk will seemingly die within the try. 

Within the bridge scenes, one can see an unnamed crewman punching away at his work station, not likely including something of significance to the scene. The unnamed officer is performed by Tim Russ. 

He ranks low as a result of, properly, he is only a generic officer. The colour of his uniform denotes that he both works in engineering or safety, however that is all we actually find out about him. He tried to move some imperiled El Aurians off of a ship known as the Lakul, however was unable as a result of they have been in a state of temporal flux. He appeared succesful, I suppose, however little else will be mentioned of him. 

Within the “Star Trek: Deep Area 9” episode “By means of the Trying Glass” (April 17, 1995), Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) was kidnapped by a parallel universe variant of Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney) and brought to the infamous Mirror Universe final seen within the authentic “Star Trek” episode “Mirror Mirror.” Sisko needed to pose as his personal doppelgänger and stage a rise up within the Mirror Universe; plainly Earth had been conquered by the Cardassians on this universe, and people — pejoratively known as “Terrans” — have been forming an underground combating pressure ever since. 

Among the many Mirror Universe characters Trekkies glimpse is a parallel model of Tuvok, performed by Tim Russ. “Star Trek: Voyager” had debuted solely 4 months earlier than “By means of the Trying Glass” aired, so Tuvok’s presence was a cute little crossover for followers. 

Tuvok has little to do within the episode, aside from make Trekkies smile and level. He notes that logic can solely assist a revolution a lot, and that motion will ultimately be required. Tuvok additionally gives a take a look at for the kidnapped Sisko, noting that the Sisko he knew was lifeless. Sisko has to cautiously keep in character as his parallel self, noting that tales of his loss of life had been vastly exaggerated. Tuvok, being clever and observant, would doubtless see by way of the ruse. 

Weirdly, the Mirror model of Tuvok does not appear that a lot totally different from the Tuvok we already knew. He ranks low in consequence.

The “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology” episode “Starship Mine” (March 29, 1993) was Tim Russ’ first look within the franchise. He performed a human character named Devore, a terrorist who was working with a small group of anarchists to take over the Enterprise-D. Due to a particular decontamination course of, everybody has been taken off the Enterprise, leaving secret terrorists to work their villainy. Picard (Patrick Stewart) finds himself alone on the ship, having to maintain the terrorists himself. “Starship Mine” is the “Die Laborious” episode of “Star Trek.” 

Devore is the primary character Picard sees that clues him into the truth that one thing is amiss on the Enterprise. Devore claims to be making repairs with a easy laser instrument, when actually he is as much as one thing extra sinister. Picard finally ends up thwacking Devore with a horse saddle (do not ask) and leaving him unconscious. When he involves, Devore smugly declares that Picard cannot use a phaser on him due to the decontamination discipline. Picard then holds the laser instrument in his face. 

Devore is a cynical badass, and though his function is not very giant, he stays within the reminiscence. 

Within the “Star Trek: Deep Area 9” episode “Invasive Procedures” (October 18, 1993), DS9 — like in “Starship Mine” — is left principally empty with solely a skeleton crew available. Whereas empty, a Trill named Verad (John Glover) invades the station with a small retinue of goons, hoping to kidnap Dax (Terry Farrell) and steal the long-lived symbiote inside her physique. He has to do that by pressure, because the official Trill channels for symbiote conjoinment all rejected him. 

Amongst Verad’s goons is a Klingon named T’Kar, performed by Tim Russ. T’Kar, whereas having only a few strains of dialogue, is imposing and Russ brings a zesty character to the character. T’Kar notes in a single line that he has turned his again on the Klingon Empire, as they’re now run by, in his phrases “doddering fools and frightened previous ladies who aren’t worthy of the title Klingon.” He is extra classically villainous, and wanting to commit acts of violence. He’s the one who will seize Quark (Armin Shimerman) by the ear and pull him round. Ferengi ears are very delicate. 

His “Deep Area 9” look was additionally earlier than Russ was solid as Tuvok, however his three pre-“Voyager” roles had him excessive on the checklist of potential actors in line for a extra severe function. “Star Trek” is notoriously good to its supporting gamers, and most of the late-’90s Trek actors all turned up in supporting roles earlier. T’Kar was proof that Russ was pliable, prepared, and comfy to exist inside Trek.

Within the third season of “Star Trek: Picard” in 2023, the title character reunited with a number of of his closest pals from the Enterprise-D days a number of many years earlier than. The season served as a reunion particular for “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology,” and the present’s writers have been extremely tactful about introducing legacy characters in an natural means. Time had clearly handed for every of them, and most of them had fallen out of contact. 

Collectively, the previous pals uncover a conspiracy at work. It appears that evidently the shape-shifting Changelings (villains from “Deep Area 9”) have been infiltrating Starfleet for years, changing higher-ups at Starfleet Command. Picard and his good friend Seven of 9 (Jeri Ryan) do not know whom they will belief. Seven tries contacting her previous U.S.S. Voyager crewmate Tuvok, solely to seek out that he, too, had been changed. 

The reveal of the Changeling Tuvok is fairly superb. Tuvok appears to be himself, behaving in his normal taciturn style, answering questions dryly, however expressing concern for Seven’s security. Of their dialog, Seven caught Tuvok in a lie. When a smile creeps throughout his face, audiences know that one thing horrid has occurred. Tuvok, a Vulcan, by no means smiles. Russ will get to have just a few transient moments of villainous surroundings chewing, telling Seven that she and her buddies are just about f***ed. It is a small second, nevertheless it’s a spotlight of the season.

Don’t be concerned, although. The actual Tuvok is okay. 

After all, Tuvok is Russ’ greatest “Star Trek” function, fingers down. As talked about above, Tuvok is a full-blood Vulcan, permit him to be wholly logical and wholly alien, now not having to wrestle with a pesky human aspect like Spock. Tuvok served because the safety chief on board the usS. Voyager, and it’s actually logical to have somebody with a thoughts like Sherlock Holmes and the calm of a Carthusian monk investigating crimes. Tuvok was stern, in fact, and wasn’t given to outbursts of anger/ardour. As a substitute, he, in true “Star Trek” style, abided by his personal philosophical ideas, approaching each situation with a contemporary perspective. 

Some could argue that Tuvok is boring as a result of he arrived on the usS. Voyager totally shaped. His solely targets are to stay as Vulcan as doable, and to research crimes to one of the best of his skills. These targets reveal, nonetheless, that Tuvok has a eager sense of justice, and that he prefers a lifetime of analytical sizing up. 

Within the final episode of “Voyager,” which flashes ahead a number of many years, it will likely be revealed that Tuvok suffered from a uncommon mind ailment that left him with extreme dementia. Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) cared so deeply for Tuvok, nonetheless, that she was prepared to return in time to avoid wasting him. Tuvok was chilly and impassive, however understanding and affected person. In contrast to Spock, he obtained alongside together with his crewmates, figuring out precisely what they wanted, even when it wasn’t logical. He wasn’t baffled or annoyed, however resolute. He is an important character.