Michael Dorn

Early life

Dorn was born in Luling, Texas, the son of Allie Lee (née Nauls) and Fentress Dorn Jr. He grew up in Pasadena, California, where he studied radio and television production at Pasadena City College. Following his graduation, he pursued a career in music as a performer with several different rock-music bands, traveling to San Francisco and then back to Los Angeles.

Career

Early work

Dorn first appeared on-screen in Rocky, in an uncredited role as Apollo Creed's bodyguard. Two years later, he appeared as a guest star on a 1978 episode of the television show W.E.B.. Impressed by his work, the show's producer introduced Dorn to an agent, through whom he met acting teacher Charles E. Conrad. Dorn studied with Conrad for six months, until he landed a regular role on the crime drama series CHiPs.

''Star Trek''

Dorn's most notable role to date is that of the Klingon Starfleet officer Lieutenant (later Lt. Commander) Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Dorn was the last of the main actors to be cast in The Next Generation, and prepared for his audition by isolating himself from the other actors and remaining taciturn through his interview, mimicking the personality of the character. His character proved so popular amongst fans that Dorn was added to the cast of spin-off series Deep Space Nine in an effort to boost ratings.

Dorn (as Worf) has the record for the most on-screen appearances of any Star Trek character. As Worf, he appeared in 175 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation (missing only the episodes "Code of Honor", "Haven", and "Shades of Gray"), 102 episodes of Deep Space Nine, four Star Trek movies, and seven episodes of Star Trek: Picard, bringing his total to 288 appearances as the character. He also appeared as Worf's ancestor, Colonel Worf, in the 1991 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and directed the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes "In the Cards", "Inquisition", and "When It Rains...", and the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Two Days and Two Nights".

He was one of six actors to reprise his role, in voiceover, for the Star Trek: Captain's Chair virtual reality game. In 2014, he participated in the fan-produced Star Trek episode "Fairest of Them All", giving his voice to the computer of the Mirror Universe Enterprise.

In 2012, Dorn announced a desire to return to his Klingon role in a television series tentatively titled Star Trek: Captain Worf. He said: I had come up with the idea because I love [Worf] and I think he's a character that hasn't been fully developed and hasn't been fully realized. Once I started thinking about it, it became obvious to me that I wanted to at least put it out there, which I have, and the response has been pretty amazing. We've been contacted by different individuals–I can't say who and all that–about wanting to come on board and be part of this.

In April 2022, it was announced that he would reprise his role as Worf in the third season of Star Trek: Picard, which aired in 2023.

Other work

Dorn has appeared in a number of TV shows, films and video games. He has been the spokesman for Neutrogena T-Gel Shampoo, and has appeared in a Dodge Dart car commercial. He voiced Marcus and Frank Horrigan in Fallout 2 and would later reprise the role of Marcus in Fallout: New Vegas. He appeared in a 2012 tongue-in-cheek television commercial for Chrysler as "Future Guy", a time traveler sent from the future to assist development of the 2013 Dodge Dart. He also plays the role of General Thain in the Castlevania: Hymn of Blood web series.

Following his Star Trek career, he had supporting roles in a number of independent feature films, including Shadow Hours (2000), Lessons for an Assassin (2001) and The Santa Clause trilogy, in which he appeared in a minor role as the Sandman. Dorn reprised his role as Worf for cameo appearances on Webster and Family Guy, the latter with several of his fellow Next Generation castmates. He had a recurring role on the television series Castle, playing the therapist of NYPD police detective Kate Beckett.

In March 2023, Dorn was announced as the writer for a comic starring Steel (John Henry Irons), whom he voiced in Superman: The Animated Series. Steelworks #1 was published on June 6, 2023, with art by Sami Basri.

Dorn provides the voice of the character Battle Beast in the animated series Invincible.

Personal life

A member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Dorn is an accomplished pilot. He has flown with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. a North American F-86 Sabre, and currently owns a North American Sabreliner. Dorn also serves on several aviation organizations, one of which is the Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation, where he is on the advisory board. Dorn was interviewed for the "Private Jets" episode of Modern Marvels on The History Channel.

Dorn stated in a 2010 interview that he had been diagnosed with an "early early" stage of prostate cancer, which led him to become a vegan.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Web series

Awards and honors

• 2024 – Saturn Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award – The Cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation

Notes

References

References

1. "Michael Dorn Family Tree". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com.
2. "Star Trek Database – Dorn, Michael". CBS Entertainment.
3. (2002). "[[Star Trek: The Next Generation#DVD". Paramount.
4. Greenwald, Jeff. (1998). "Future Perfect: How Star Trek Conquered Planet Earth". Viking.
5. (2003). "[[Star Trek: The Next Generation#DVD". Paramount.
6. (June 16, 2014). "Star Trek Continues: Fairest Of Them All – A Slice of SciFi Review".
7. Schaefer, Sandy. (September 4, 2012). "Michael Dorn Confirms He's Working on a 'Star Trek: Captain Worf' TV Series". IndieClick Film Network.
8. Petski, Denise. (April 5, 2022). "'Star Trek: Picard': LeVar Burton & Michael Dorn Among 6 'Next Generation' Alums Joining Third & Final Season".
9. Vellequette, Larry. (September 5, 2012). "Chrysler's latest treat wears a silver suit". [[Crain Communications]], Inc..
10. (October 26, 2012). "Warp Factor 2 announces "Castlevania: Hymn of Blood" Web Series". PRWeb.
11. (August 4, 2011). "Castle Exclusive: Star Trek's Michael Dorn Is Beckett's Shrink". TV Guide.
12. Schreur, Brandon. (March 10, 2023). "Star Trek Icon Michael Dorn Joins DC to Script a New Steel Series". CBR.
13. (November 30, 2006). "AOPA Online: Instructor Reports". Aopa.org.
14. (June 2008). "Michael Dorn: A Trek worth Remembering". Airport Journals.
15. ":::Air Force Aviation Heritage Foundation :::". Afahf.org.
16. (November 2025). "Worf from 'Star Trek' goes vegan".
17. "Michael Dorn (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors.
18. Schedeen, Jesse. (2017-06-01). "Arrow: Season 5 Review".
19. Guggenheim, Marc. (April 5, 2017). "marcguggenheim". tumblr.
20. Swann, Erik. (October 17, 2023). "Tim Allen Clashes With Modern Family's Eric Stonestreet In The Santa Clauses Season 2 Trailer, And I'm Down To See These Sitcom Legends Face Off".
21. Forté, Malik. (February 18, 2016). "Master of Orion Voice Cast Includes Mark Hamill, Michael Dorn, and More". [[Nerdist Industries.
22. (August 21, 2018). "LEGO DC Super-Villains Story Trailer Brings Back Classic Animated Series Voice Actors".
23. (August 6, 2019). "Indivisible Cast List Revealed".
24. "Michael Dorn AVO for Mata Nui Saga".
25. Pascale, Anthony. (February 4, 2024). "'Star Trek: Picard' Wins 4 Saturn Awards, 'Strange New Worlds' Wins 1".