Brent Spiner, Star Trek's Data, Seen in Rare Public Outing
The veteran actor, known for his iconic role as the android Data, was spotted recently while continuing his varied career.
Brent Spiner, the actor celebrated for his portrayal of the sentient android Data in "Star Trek: The Next Generation," made a rare public appearance this week. Spiner, 77, has had a prolific career spanning stage, television, and film.
His most indelible role remains Data, the inquisitive android crew member of the USS Enterprise-D, a character he played from 1987 to 1994. He reprised the role in four "Star Trek" films and later in the series "Star Trek: Picard" (2020–2023) and the animated "Star Trek: Lower Decks" (2024). Spiner's portrayal of Data drew parallels to Leonard Nimoy's Spock in the original "Star Trek" series, providing a character with keen intelligence and a unique perspective.
Beyond his "Star Trek" legacy, Spiner has a diverse acting background. His career began in the 1970s on the New York stage, and in 1984, he was part of the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim's musical "Sunday in the Park with George." He later transitioned to Los Angeles to pursue screen acting.
Spiner's film credits include a memorable role as the eccentric Dr. Brackish Okun in the 1996 science fiction blockbuster "Independence Day." He has also appeared in "Dude, Where's My Car?," "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," and Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator." On television, he has made guest appearances on shows such as "Friends," "Mad About You," "The Blacklist," and "The Big Bang Theory."
Earlier this year, Spiner announced the launch of a celebrity interview podcast titled "Dropping Names with Brent and Jonny," alongside his "Star Trek: The Next Generation" co-star Jonathan Frakes. While they initially stated it would not be a "Star Trek" podcast, they acknowledged that their famous roles would likely be a topic of discussion.