Actor. He is best remembered for his role of 'Dr. David Marcus', son of 'Captain James T. Kirk', in the "Star Trek" series of movies. Born in Gainesville, Florida, he was raised near San Francisco, California, and while studying theater at the California Institute of Arts (CalArts), he was told by his college instructors that he did not have the skill or talent to become an actor. Determined anyway, the next year he got a part in the television series, Square Pegs. He also picked up a number of small bit parts in television in such shows as "Hill Street Blues," "CHiPs," "Jake and the Fatman" and "Beauty and the Beast." In 1982, he played the role of 'Dr. David Marcus', the son of 'Captain James T. Kirk', in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982), and reprised the role in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984). He had a number of small supporting roles in such films as "Code of Honor" (1984), "When the Bough Breaks" (1986), "Fright Night II" (1988), and "From the Dead of Night" (1989). He played the role of an Ornaran, T'Jon, in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (STNG) episode, "Symbiosis" (1988), making him one of the few actors to appear in more than one Star Trek series (it is also reported that he again played T'Jon‚ in the 1989 STNG episode: "Shades of Gray"). He tragically died in 1989 at age 29, of AIDS, and controversy contends that he got the disease either as a homosexual (debated by some) or from sharing drug needles (also debated). While his death was reported to be in New York City (generally accepted), he is also listed as dying in Los Angeles, by the California Department of Vital Statistics for Los Angeles County.
Actor. He is best remembered for his role of 'Dr. David Marcus', son of 'Captain James T. Kirk', in the "Star Trek" series of movies. Born in Gainesville, Florida, he was raised near San Francisco, California, and while studying theater at the California Institute of Arts (CalArts), he was told by his college instructors that he did not have the skill or talent to become an actor. Determined anyway, the next year he got a part in the television series, Square Pegs. He also picked up a number of small bit parts in television in such shows as "Hill Street Blues," "CHiPs," "Jake and the Fatman" and "Beauty and the Beast." In 1982, he played the role of 'Dr. David Marcus', the son of 'Captain James T. Kirk', in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982), and reprised the role in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984). He had a number of small supporting roles in such films as "Code of Honor" (1984), "When the Bough Breaks" (1986), "Fright Night II" (1988), and "From the Dead of Night" (1989). He played the role of an Ornaran, T'Jon, in the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (STNG) episode, "Symbiosis" (1988), making him one of the few actors to appear in more than one Star Trek series (it is also reported that he again played T'Jon‚ in the 1989 STNG episode: "Shades of Gray"). He tragically died in 1989 at age 29, of AIDS, and controversy contends that he got the disease either as a homosexual (debated by some) or from sharing drug needles (also debated). While his death was reported to be in New York City (generally accepted), he is also listed as dying in Los Angeles, by the California Department of Vital Statistics for Los Angeles County.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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