Brent Spiner ( Photo/Wiki)
Brent Jay Spiner is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television and film series Star Trek: The Next Generation with Commander Jean-Luc Picard and William T. Riker.
Star Trek originally created by Gene Roddenberry, with wife Majel Barrett acting in most of the Star Trek episodes.
Spiner attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas, where he was influenced by drama teacher Cecil Pickett – the same drama teacher who coached such people as Cindy Pickett, Randy Quaid, Dennis Quaid, Trey Wilson, Robert Wuhl, and Thomas Schlamme.
Brent Spiner was active on a speech team, eventually winning the national championship in dramatic interpretation. After attending the University of Houston and performing in local theatre there, Spiner moved to New York City, where he became a stage actor, performing in several Broadway and off-Broadway plays, including The Three Musketeers and Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George.
In 1984, Spiner moved to Las Vegas, appearing in several pilots and made-for-TV movies. He played a recurring character on Night Court named Bob Wheeler, patriarch of a family of West Virginia hicks.
In 1986, Spiner also made two appearances as characters in the television show Mama's Family: Mr. Conroy and Billy Bob. Spiner's first and only starring film role was in Rent Control (1984). Also on televison, in the Cheers episode "Never Love a Goalie, Part II", Spiner played the acquitted murder suspect Bill Grand.
In 1987, Spiner started his 'Star Trek' 15 year run (on television for 7 seasons and in 4 feature films) portraying Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation. As one of the main characters, he appeared in all but one episode of the series' 178 episode run.
He reprised his role in the spin-off films, Star Trek Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek Nemesis (2002). Although billed as the final Trek movie for the TNG cast, the ambiguous ending of Star Trek Nemesis suggested that there was a possible avenue for the return of Data.
However, Spiner felt that he was too old to continue playing the part, and that Data was best presented with a youthful appearance. In addition to the shows and films he voiced his character in several Star Trek video games, such as Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: The Next Generation - A Final Unity, Star Trek: Hidden Evil, and Star Trek: Bridge Commander.
Brent Spiner on Data, life, show business and mankind.
And I think it's likely that there will be Data's out there one day. I hope so, if there are, that they all look exactly like me!
I think the potential for man is so enormous, if we can stay alive long enough, we're going to be seeing a lot of what Star Trek is projecting.
If you look around at the people in show business today they are basically the people who didn't give up."
- Brent Spiner
Spiner as Dr. Okun in Independence Day
In 2009, Brent Spiner provided the voice of himself for the Family Guy's Not All Dogs Go to Heaven.
Comments
I forgot he was Indep. Day!!!!
Multi-personalities in his talent of acting.
After Picard, Data was my favorite TNG character. "In his quest to be more like us. . ."
in 1984 brent spiner did NOT move to las vegas.not as far as i know.brent spiner mintz was listed at 41 west 89th st.n.y.n.y. 10024/25 as brent mintz duing 1984.brent had lived there since at least 1977.joseph ditta of the ny historical society looked this up for me in old phone books.before that brent spiner mintz lived at 205 west 80th st. n.y.,n.y. 10024 by 1972.brent listed under the name brent mintz.also,i'm not certain but night court was more likely filmed in n.y.c. than las vegas.brent spiner mintz briefly returned to houston texas in 1974 to appear in casa mananas' 1974 production of cabaret.brent played the m.c. in cabaret.also,brent spiner mintz spent most of the summer of 1986 in colorado filming the movie "manhunt for claude dallas." IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ANYMORE FACTS ABOUT BRENT SPINER MINTZ ECT JUST EMAIL:STRENGTHJUSTICE9@YAHOO.COM
Christine, This is good to know. I rechecked and one source did say that, about his move, but that does not mean it is correct. I've used multiple sources in the past and got multiple answers, it is frustrating. THANK YOU for offering contact info for readers to refer to. sincerely, deborah
message to lavette rowland,i'm honored you're following me on twitter,lavette.brent only follows people brent,admittedly,couldn't care less about.(witness"ignore wil wheaton...ignore wil wheaton).then why do you follow wil wheaton,brent spiner?see what warped values brent spiner has. anyway,lavette,i want to tell you that brent never married loree and loree likely sued brent for palimoney.some one sued brent,that's for sue.i found the filing of a civil judgement lawsuit against brent spiner at peoplefinders.com.i still dont know the contents of that lawsuit,but i HIGHLY suspect loree sued for palimoney.now brent is just dealing with her for the sake of the child.THEY NEVER HAD ANOTHER CHILD. loree is from paoli pa. where her next of kin still live at 238 vincent rd. paoli pa.her fathers' name is glenn l mcbride,her mothers' name is carolyn mcbride and her brothers' name is steven andrew mcbride.lavette,notice how brent spiner NEVER talks about loree.brent acts like she's NOT THERE.
i advize brent spiner NOT to eat so much bacon.there's a nitrate in ALL cured meats that can cause cancer.my mother has been,occasionally eating cured meats for years,but she eats LEAN cured meats and also eats a lot of fiber which gets this carcinogen out of her system faster.that's the only safe way to eat cured meats:LEAN AND WITH LOTS OF FIBER TO GET THEM OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM FASTER. brent spiner,your tast in "treats" is pretty crappy.bacon dipped in chocolate syrup is crud. try instead some low fat vanilla ICE CREAM WITH A LITTLE CHOCOLATE SYRUP.OR TRY SOME LOW FAT FROZEN YOGURT,COFFEE FLAVORED HAGAN DAZ IS BEST.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!