Michael Dorn

b. 1952 · American film and television actor

Biography

Michael Dorn (Luling, Texas, 1952) is an American actor of film and television, best known for playing Worf, a Klingon officer in Starfleet, in the Star Trek franchise. His career runs from the late 1970s to the present, and he has also lent his voice to animated series and video games.

Raised in Pasadena, California, he studied radio and television production and performed with several rock bands before turning to acting. His first screen appearance came in Rocky (1976), as Apollo Creed's bodyguard, though he was not credited. After studying acting for a period, he won a regular role on the series CHiPs.

His breakout role came with Star Trek: The Next Generation, where Worf became one of the most popular characters. The part extended to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and, in 2023, to the third season of Star Trek: Picard. Dorn also directed several episodes of Deep Space Nine and one of Star Trek: Enterprise, and he has appeared in more episodes and films of the franchise than any other regular cast member.

Outside the franchise, he has taken supporting roles in independent films and a recurring part on the series Castle, where he played the therapist of detective Kate Beckett. He is also an accomplished pilot and has owned several jet aircraft, which he jokingly calls his "starship".

His legacy is closely tied to Worf, one of the most recognizable characters in television science fiction. In 2024 he and the cast of The Next Generation received a Saturn Award for lifetime achievement.

Key films

Rocky (1976): uncredited bodyguard to Apollo Creed, one of his first screen appearances.
Star Trek: First Contact (1996): Worf in one of the films that carried the Next Generation crew to the big screen.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991): plays Colonel Worf, an ancestor of the character, in the courtroom plot.
Star Trek: Nemesis (2002): Worf's last big-screen appearance alongside the original Next Generation cast.
Star Trek: Generations (1994): Worf's return to film as the series moved into cinemas.

Trivia

A very real starship

Dorn once owned a T-33 trainer jet, one of the first jet aircraft in the US inventory. He jokingly referred to it as his "starship".

Last to join the cast

Dorn was the last of the main actors cast for The Next Generation. He prepared for his audition by isolating himself from the other actors and staying reserved through his interview, mirroring the character's personality.