What does one of our biggest sitcom stars have to do with Star Trek? Find out today as our guest star stellar cartography continues. For this week’s Trek Tuesday, we’re spotlighting the inimitable Kurtwood Smith.
Kurtwood Smith
Where have you heard the name “Kurtwood” before? For one thing, Smith has stated in interviews that he believes he is the only person named “Kurtwood.” This is because his mother felt that the name “Kurt Smith” was too short, so she added the extra syllable.
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And where have you seen Smith? He may be best known for his role as Red Forman on That’s 70’s Show and, more recently, That ’90’s Show. Appearing alongside his wife, Kitty Forman (Debra Jo Rupp), Red radiates hard-line authority. These traits are echoed in the Star Trek characters Smith has played.
In addition to his role as Red, Smith is otherwise best known for his performance as the antagonist in 1987’s Robocop. However, you may recognize him from his many, many other performances on film and television. Smith is a prolific actor who has been working since 1980. However, Trekkies have ensured that some of Smith’s Star Trek roles are remembered among his most iconic performances.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Smith’s first appearance in Star Trek was in 1991’s Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. In this movie, Smith has a role as the Federation President.
Compared to many of the other characters in the movie, Smith has a small role with only a few lines. However, these lines have become very memorable. In particular, the line “This President is not above the law” was remembered on social media in the wake of a recent criminal trial that found a certain ex-POTUS to be a convicted felon.
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The Federation President, or at least his species, has also been recently remembered on Star Trek: Discovery. In the antepenultimate episode of Discovery‘s fifth and final season, “Labyrinths,” Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) visits a galactic library where a member of the same species as the Federation President serves as librarian.
This character is remembered beyond the realm of Star Trek, too — sort of. Consider the Mike McMahan co-created animated series Solar Opposites. In Solar Opposites, a leader inside “The Wall” is human but possesses a countenance that is a clear allusion to Smith’s Federation President.
Deep Space Nine
Smith’s next appearance in the Franchise is in the 1996 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 5 episode “Things Past.” In this episode, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and several crew members are transported back in time seven years. This gives them the opportunity to experience Terek Nor, as the “tacky Cardassian fascist eyesore” was called before the Federation took charge.
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In this episode, directed by Star Trek: The Next Generation alum LeVar Burton, Smith plays one of the Cardassians, Thrax. Thrax is the station’s security officer before Constable Odo (René Auberjonois) replaces him around 2365.
Compared to many of Smith’s other guest-starring roles, Thrax isn’t as well remembered. However, anyone who has watched That ’70s Show or That ’90s Show can surely attest that Smith makes a very convincing Cardassian security officer.
Voyager
The next time Smith appeared in the Franchise, it was in one of the most memorable episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. This episode is perhaps best remembered for Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) going full Ripley. But there’s no reason for one of Starfleet’s most capable leaders to put on her tank top and pick up a phaser rifle without a worthy antagonist, is there?
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Fortunately, Smith is more than capable of serving as a villain antagonistic enough to bring out the ultimate badass form in Janeway. In the Voyager Season 4 two-part episode “Year of Hell,” Smith plays Annorax. This Kremin military scientist repeatedly uses a temporal weapon in an attempt to restore the fallen Kremin Imperium. And maybe he would have succeeded, too — if not for that meddling Janeway.
Lower Decks
Smith’s most recent appearance in the Franchise was in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 1’s “Veritas.” In this episode, Beta Shift is convinced that they’re being subjected to an alien trial. This trial is being led by Imperium Magistrate Clar (Smith). Over the course of the episode, the confused Beta Shifters are forced to testify on various topics raised by Clar.
However, there’s a twist. At the conclusion of the episode, it is revealed that the Beta Shifters are not actually on trial. Instead, they’re attending a dinner party in honor of the crew of the USS Cerritos. In their defense, for some reason, in Prime culture, this involves a tank equipped to issue electrical shocks, which is also filled with eels.
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Obviously, Smith’s appearance in Lower Decks is animated. However, it’s easy to identify him as the actor portraying Clar from the get-go, thanks to his distinctive and singular voice. Let’s hope we see more of Smith in the Franchise soon. Maybe he and Rupp could appear as parents of a cadet in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. The episode could be called “That 3100’s Show.”
Which one of Smith’s guest-starring appearances is your favorite? What Star Trek guest star do you hope to see us spotlight next? Be sure to let Geek Girl Authority know in the comment section.
All these Star Trek episodes and Star Trek VI are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
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