Jonathan Frakes (Commander William T. Riker)(01 of16)
Open Image ModalIn addition to serving nobly as "Number One" for seven seasons and four films, Frakes also went behind the camera, helming "First Contact" and "Insurrection" as well as several episodes of "TNG" and "DS9." He also directed "Clockstoppers," "Thunderbirds," and the "Librarian" TV movies starring Noah Wyle. He continues to direct for TV: recent credits include "Burn Notice," "Castle," and "Leverage." (credit:Getty Images)
William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk)(02 of16)
Open Image ModalShatner reprised his role as James Tiberius Kirk in seven "Star Trek" feature films and was (sob) killed off in 1994's "Star Trek: Generations." Now 82, Shatner has continued acting, racking up two Emmys for his role as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal." Most recently, he starred on the CBS series "$h*! My Dad Says" and those "The Negotiator" Priceline ads. In 2011, he directed "The Captains," in which he interviewed the other actors who've played captains in the Trek franchise. (credit:Getty Images)
Leonard Nimoy (Spock)(03 of16)
Open Image ModalWhen Spock heroically sacrificed himself in 1982's "Wrath of Khan," fans reeled. Nimoy, now 82, has had a love/hate relationship with his iconic role as the highly logical half Vulcan, writing a biography in 1975 entitled "I Am Not Spock," followed 20 years later by "I Am Spock." However, he's come to terms with his sci-fi legend status, appearing as "Spock Prime" in Abrams's 2009 reboot. He also played the mysterious William Bell on "Fringe" and voiced "Action Figure Spock" on a 2012 episode of "The Big Bang Theory." (credit:Getty Images)
Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Nyota Uhura)(04 of16)
Open Image ModalNichols, now 80, considered leaving the series until Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged her to stay on. Her groundbreaking role as the always capable communications officer inspired generations of black actors, including future "TNG" star Whoopi Goldberg. After "Star Trek," Nichols helped recruit minorities for NASA, wrote an autobiography and appeared on "Heroes" and the comedies "Are We There Yet?" and "Snow Dogs." (credit:Getty Images)
George Takei (Lt. Hikaru Sulu)(05 of16)
Open Image ModalTakei played the intrepid helmsman in six "Trek" feature films and one episode of "Star Trek" Voyager." Since coming out in 2005, Takei has been a proud proponent of LGBT rights. When he married his longtime boyfriend in 2008, Nichelle Nichols was his matron of honor and Walter Koenig his best man. The actor's post-"Trek" career includes roles on "Heroes," "The Simpsons," and Nickelodeon's "Supah Ninjas." He's been called "the funniest guy on Facebook," where he has more than 4 million followers. (credit:Getty Images)
Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov)(06 of16)
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Walter Koenig (Pavel Chekov)(07 of16)
Open Image ModalBoyish Koenig was added to the series in its second season because of his resemblance to Monkee Davy Jones (and not because the Russians complained about a lack of cosmonauts). The Russian navigator became a regular and a fan favorite. Besides numerous Trek-related projects, he had a recurring role as villainous Bestor on the '90s sci-fi series "Babylon 5." He also taught acting at UCLA. He's currently working on a post-apocalyptic graphic novel about vampires. (credit:Getty Images)
Majel Barrett (Nurse Christine Chapel)(08 of16)
Open Image ModalBarrett wasn't just Nurse Chapel, she was also the voice of the computer and, as any fan knows, Mrs. Roddenberry. In the 1979 feature film, she was promoted to "Dr. Chapel" and reprised that role in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." She later appeared in "The Next Generation" as Deanna Troi's mother who had a thing for Picard. Barrett died in 2008 of leukemia, but her voice appeared in the 2009 Abrams film as Queen Robot. (credit:allposters.com)
Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean-Luc Picard)(09 of16)
Open Image ModalThe Shakespearean actor, now 72, has "made it so" since 1987, when "The Next Generation" debuted. He's captained the Enterprise in "Star Trek: Generations," "First Contact," "Insurrection," and "Nemesis," as well appeared in the "Deep Space Nine" pilot. He's also Professor X in the "X-Men" films, a role he'll reprise in the upcoming "X-Men: Days of Future Past" in which he'll (presumably) meet his younger self, played by James McAvoy. (credit:Getty Images)
LeVar Burton (Lt. Comdr. Geordi La Forge)(10 of16)
Open Image ModalBurton is one of the few actors in the franchise who will always be best known for a non "Trek" role, that of Kunta Kinte in "Roots." To generations of kids, he's also the beloved host of "Reading Rainbow." He directed episodes of "Voyager," "DS9," and "Enterprise," and hosted and produced the documentary "The Science of Peace." Since "Trek," he's continued to act, appearing as Martin Luther King, Jr. in "Ali" and as himself on "Community" and "The Big Bang Theory." (credit:Getty Images)
Michael Dorn (Worf)(11 of16)
Open Image ModalDorn played the gruff Klingon in 175 episodes of "TNG" and "DS9" and four films, which means he's racked up more screen time in character than anyone else in the franchise. Other roles include the Sandman in the two "Santa Clause" sequels, the President of the United States in a 2009 episode of "Heroes," and a recurring role on "Castle" as Dr. Burke, Kate Beckett's police psychiatrist. Fittingly, he also plays "Future Guy" in Dodge Dart commercials. (credit:Getty Images)
Gates McFadden (Dr. Beverly Crusher)(12 of16)
Open Image ModalMcFadden's character was fired and replaced in the second season by Diana Muldaur, but rehired after the chemistry between Picard and the new character didn't pan out. She reprised her role in all four "TNG" movies and also voiced several games. Her non-Trek roles include the '90s series "Marker" with Richard Grieco, Paul Reiser's boss in "Mad About You," and a judge on "Franklin & Bash." (credit:Getty Images)
Marina Sirtis (Counselor Deanna Troi)(13 of16)
Open Image ModalBrent Spiner (Data)(14 of16)
Open Image ModalSince playing the most personable android since C3PO, Spiner has never stopped acting: He played an Area 51 scientist in "Independence Day" and had roles in "The Aviator," "I Am Sam," and "Phenomenon." Other TV credits include "Warehouse 13," "Threshold" and the "Them, Robot" episode of "The Simpsons." In 2011, Spiner launched "Fresh Hell," a comic webseries in which he played a version of himself as a washed-up actor. (credit:Getty Images)
Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher)(15 of16)
Open Image ModalJohn de Lancie (Q)(16 of16)
Open Image ModalFirst appearing as the quixotic Q on "TNG," de Lancie reprised the role on "DS9" and "Voyager." He went on to appear on "Stargate SG-1," "Andromeda," and "The Secret Circle" and the films "Crank: High Voltage" and "Gamer." He had an unforgettable arc on "Breaking Bad" as the air traffic controller father of Aaron Paul's girlfriend: After she dies of a drug overdose, his despair leads to a major airline crash, all results of Walter White's depraved indifference. (credit:Getty Images)