Star Trek Actors You Forgot Passed Away

Not everyone knew Rene Auberjonois' name, but he was a beloved actor nonetheless. From his role as Father Mulcahy in the original film version of "M*A*S*H," to TV roles in "Benson" and "Boston Legal," to an unforgettable (albeit, short) performance as the villainous chef in Disney's "The Little Mermaid," Auberjonois carved his way into many pop culture phenomenons, as explained by The New York Times. 

Perhaps none of his roles, though, were as beloved as Odo, the malleable chief security officer of "Deep Space Nine," whom he portrayed for seven wonderful seasons. While Odo's gruff demeanor and shape-changing power immediately positioned him as one of the space station's most offbeat and interesting figures, the more that "Deep Space Nine" peeled back Odo's layers, the more endearing he became. Lonely, loyal to his friends, in love with Major Kira Nerys, and yet hopelessly connected to the sinister Dominion, Odo was the perfect centerpiece for Auberjonois' talents. Looking back, when one remembers what made "DS9" such a unique Trek series, Odo comes to mind immediately. 

Post-Trek, this actor never stopped acting, recently starring in the 2019 comedy film "Raising Buchanan," where he portrayed the 15th U.S. president. Unfortunately, as with so many Star Trek stars, his life was finally claimed by cancer — in his case, of the lungs. To the sadness of fans all over the world, Auberjonois was pronounced dead in 2019, at the age of 79.