Brent Spiner






































Brent Spiner

Brent Spiner by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Spiner at the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con International promoting the returning Star Trek series on CBS

Born
Brent Jay Spiner
(1949-02-02) February 2, 1949 (age 69)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Other names Brent Jay Mintz (1955–1975)
Alma mater University of Houston
Occupation Actor, comedian, musician, singer
Years active 1970–present
Notable credit(s) Lt. Com. Data in Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films
Website www.therealbrentspiner.com

Brent Jay Spiner (/ˈspnər/; born February 2, 1949) is an American actor, comedian, and singer best known for his portrayal of the android Lieutenant Commander Data in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and four subsequent films. In 1997, he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Data in Star Trek: First Contact, and was nominated in the same category for portraying Dr. Brackish Okun in Independence Day, a role he reprised in Independence Day: Resurgence. He has also enjoyed a career in the theatre and as a musician.




Contents






  • 1 Early life


  • 2 Career


    • 2.1 Early work


    • 2.2 Star Trek


      • 2.2.1 Music and stage




    • 2.3 After Star Trek




  • 3 Filmography


    • 3.1 Film


    • 3.2 Television


    • 3.3 Theatre




  • 4 References


  • 5 External links





Early life


Brent Jay Spiner was born on February 2, 1949, in Houston, Texas, to Sylvia and Jack Spiner, a Jewish family[1][2] who owned a furniture store.[3][4] After his father's death, Spiner was adopted by Sylvia's second husband, Sol Mintz, whose surname he used between 1955 and 1975.[5][6]


He attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas[citation needed] Spiner became active on the Bellaire speech team, winning the national championship in dramatic interpretation.[citation needed] He attended the University of Houston, where he performed in local theatre.[7]



Career



Early work


Spiner moved to New York City in the early '70s,[8] 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. He had a brief nonspeaking role in the film Stardust Memories, credited as "Fan in Lobby", the one with a Polaroid.


Spiner appeared as a media technician in "The Advocates", a second-season episode of the Showtime cable series The Paper Chase.[9] In 1984, he moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared in several pilots and made-for-TV movies. He played a recurring character on Night Court, Bob Wheeler, patriarch of a rural family. In 1986, he played a condemned soul in "Dead Run", an episode of the short-lived revival of Rod Serling's series The Twilight Zone on CBS. He made two appearances in season three (1986) of the situation comedy Mama's Family, playing two different characters. Spiner's first and only starring film role was in Rent Control (1984). In the Cheers episode "Never Love a Goalie, Part II", he played acquitted murder suspect Bill Grand. Spiner also appeared in the Tales from the Darkside episode, "A Case of the Stubborns", as a preacher. He portrayed Jim Stevens in the made-for-TV movie Manhunt for Claude Dallas.



Star Trek


In 1987, Spiner started his 15-year run portraying Lieutenant Commander Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation, which spanned seven seasons and four feature films. As a main character, he appeared in all but one of the series' 178 episodes; he was not in the episode "Family". 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 a possible avenue for the return of Data. However, Spiner opined that he was too old to continue playing the part, as Data does not age, whereas Spiner had already aged considerably during the years in which he played the role.[10][11] In addition to the series 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.[12] After appearing in several episodes as Arik Soong, the ancestor of Data's creator, Dr. Noonien Soong, Spiner also recorded dialogue as Data that was heard in the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, "These Are the Voyages...", which aired in 2005, bringing the Star Trek TV franchise Spiner had helped establish 18 years earlier to a close.



Music and stage


In 1991, Spiner recorded an album of 1940s pop standards entitled Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back, the title of which was a play on the yellow contact lenses Spiner wore as Data, and the title of a Frank Sinatra record, Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back. In 1997, he returned to Broadway, playing John Adams in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the musical 1776. The production was nominated for a Tony Award. A cast recording was released of the revival production.[13]



After Star Trek


Spiner has appeared in the television series Deadly Games, The Blacklist, Dream On, Frasier, Friends, Gargoyles, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Mad About You and The Outer Limits. In the series The Big Bang Theory and Joey, he appeared as himself. He has acted in the movies The Aviator, Dude, Where's My Car?, I Am Sam, Independence Day, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Master of Disguise,[14]Out to Sea, Phenomenon, The Ponder Heart and South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.[15] His television-movie appearances during this period include the 2000 musical Geppetto and the role of Dorothy Dandridge's manager and confidant, Earl Mills, in the HBO production Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.


In 2004, Spiner returned to Star Trek when he appeared as Dr. Arik Soong, an ancestor of Data's creator Dr. Noonien Soong, whom he also played, in a three-episode story arc of Star Trek: Enterprise: "Borderland", "Cold Station 12", and "The Augments". He also briefly reprised the role of Data for the series, providing a voice-only cameo in the Enterprise finale "These Are the Voyages...". Spiner guest-starred in Friends as a man who interviews Rachel for Gucci, and later cameoed as himself in the Friends spin-off Joey.


In 2005, Spiner appeared in a short-lived science-fiction television series Threshold, which was canceled in November of that year after 13 episodes. In 2006, he appeared in a feature film comedy, Material Girls, with Hilary and Haylie Duff.


During the 10th season of the situation comedy Frasier, in the episode "Lilith Needs a Favor", Spiner made two brief cameos as a fellow airline passenger with Frasier Crane's ex-wife, Lilith Sternin.


In March 2008, Spiner performed alongside Maude Maggart in a radio show/musical, Dreamland, which was released as a CD album.[16]


In 2008, Spiner played Dr. Strom in the feature film parody Superhero Movie. In February 2009, he played William Quint in "The Juror #6 Job", an episode of the drama series Leverage directed by his Next Generation co-star Jonathan Frakes. That same year, he voiced himself in the Family Guy episode "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven".




Spiner with William Shatner and LeVar Burton in July 2010


In 2010, Spiner and fellow Star Trek: The Next Generation star LeVar Burton appeared on TWiT.tv's coverage of the Consumer Electronics Show.[17]


In April 2011, Spiner began starring in Fresh Hell, a comic webseries in which he plays a version of himself, attempting to put his career back together after falling out of the limelight.[18][19]


He appeared as Dr. Kern in the September 12, 2011, episode of the Syfy channel program Alphas entitled "Blind Spot". In October 2011, he appeared as himself in the episode "The Russian Rocket Reaction" of The Big Bang Theory. The day after his guest appearance, it was announced that Spiner would guest-star in the Young Justice episode "Revelation", providing the voice of the Joker.[20] Spiner has also guest-starred on the Syfy program Warehouse 13 as Brother Adrian in the third and fourth seasons. In episode seven of season four, the character Pete Lattimer jokingly describes another obsessively tidy character in this episode as "Commander Data".


Spiner's web site is at therealbrentspiner.com. He selected that domain name because someone else bought the domain name brentspiner.com before he could do so, and he was not amenable to paying the price the owners demanded for it, which Spiner called "inflated".[21]



Filmography



Film





























































































































































































Year Title Role Notes
1970

My Sweet Charlie
Local
Uncredited
1980

Stardust Memories
Fan in lobby

1982

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains
Corinne Burns's Boss
Uncredited
1984

Rent Control
Leonard Junger

1985

Crime of Innocence
Hinnerman

1986

Sunday in the Park with George
Franz/Dennis

1986

Sylvan in Paradise
Clinton C. Waddle

1986

Manhunt for Claude Dall
Jim Stevens

1987

Family Sins
Ken McMahon

1989

Miss Firecracker
Preacher Mann

1994

Corrina, Corrina
Brent Witherspoon

1994

Star Trek Generations

Lt. Commander Data

1995

Kingfish: A Story of Huey Long
N/A
Uncredited
1996

Pie in the Sky
Upscale Guy

1996

Independence Day
Dr. Brackish Okun
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1996

Phenomenon
Dr. Rob Niedorf

1996

Star Trek First Contact
Lt. Commander Data

Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1997

Out to Sea
Gil Godwyn

1998

Star Trek Insurrection
Lt. Commander Data

1999

South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Conan O'Brien
Voice
2000

Dude, Where's My Car?
Pierre
Uncredited
2001

I Am Sam
Shoe Salesman

2002

The Master of Disguise
Devlin Bowman

2002

Star Trek Nemesis
Lt. Commander Data/B-4

2004

The Aviator
Robert Gross

2006

Material Girls
Tommy Katzenbach

2008

Superhero Movie
Dr. Strom

2010

Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey
Coach Mackey
Voice
2015

The Midnight Man
Ezekiel

2016

Independence Day: Resurgence
Dr. Brackish Okun



Television































































































































































































































































































































































Year Title Role Notes
1978

The Dain Curse
Tom Fink
Unknown episodes
1979

Family
Fred
Episode: "Prelude"
1981

Ryan's Hope
The Doctor Examining Kim
Episode: "#1.1442"
1984

The Paper Chase
Student in Reeve's Class
Episode: "The Advocates"
1984

Tales from the Darkside
Reverend Peabody
Episode: "A Case of the Stubborns"
1984

One Life to Live
Ralph Harley
Episode: "17 December 1984"
1985

Robert Kennedy and His Times
Allard Lowenstein
Unknown episodes
1985

Hill Street Blues
Larry Stein
Episode: "The Life and Time of Domonic Florio Jr"
1985–1987

Night Court
Bob Wheeler
6 episodes
1986

The New Twilight Zone
The Draft Dodger
Episode: "The Leprechaun-Artist/Dead Run"
1986

American Playhouse
Dennis/Franz
Episode: "Sunday in the Park with George"
1986

Hunter
Willie Vaughn
Episode: "The Contract"
1986–1987

Mama's Family
Billy Bob Conroy
2 episodes
1987

Cheers
Bill Grand
Episode: "Never Love a Goalie (Part 2)"
1987

Sledge Hammer!
Soldier
Episode: "The Spa Who Loved Me"
1987–1994

Star Trek: The Next Generation
Lt. Commander Data/Lore/Dr. Noonien Soong
175 episodes
Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series
1988

Reading Rainbow
Himself
Episode: "The Bionic Bunny Show"
1991

Crazy from the Heart
N/A
Television movie; uncredited
1995

Mad About You
Bob, The Dog Agent
Episode: "Just My Dog"
1995

Deadly Games
Danny Schlecht
Episode: "The Practical Joker"
1995–1996

Gargoyles
Puck
4 episodes
1996

Dream On
Dr. Strongwater
Episode: "The Spirit of 76th & Park"
1996

The Outer Limits
Professor Trent Davis
Episode: "The Deprogrammers"
1999

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Earl Parks
Television movie
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
2000

Geppetto

Stromboli
Television movie
2001

A Girl Thing
Bob
Television movie
2001

The Ponder Heart
Dorris Grabney
Television movie
2003

Frasier
Albert
Episode: "Lilith Needs a Favor"
2003

An Unexpected Love
Brad
Television movie
2004

Jack
Vernon
Television movie
2004

Friends
James Campbell
Episode: "The One with Princess Consuela"
2004

Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Graham Barnes
Episode: "Shrink-Wrapped"
2004–2005

Star Trek: Enterprise
Dr. Arik Soong/Lt. Commander Data
4 episodes
2005

Joey
Himself
Episode: "Joey and the Premier"
2005–2006

Threshold
Dr. Nigel Fenway
13 episodes
2009

Leverage
William Quint
Episode: "The Juror #6 Job"
2009

Family Guy
Himself (voice)
Episode: "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven"
2010–2013

Generator Rex
Dr. Gabriel Rylander (voice)
4 episodes
2011

The Guild
Himself
Episode: "Ends and Begins"
2011

Alphas
Dr. Kern
Episode: "Blind Spot"
2011

The Big Bang Theory
Himself
Episode: "The Russian Rocket Reaction"
2011

Young Justice

The Joker (voice)
Episode: "Revelation"
2011

Fresh Hell
Brent Spiner
15 episodes
2012

The Simpsons
Robots (voice)
Episode: "Them, Robot"
2012

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Purple Man (voice)
Episode: "Emperor Stark"
2012

Warehouse 13
Brother Adrian
6 episodes
2013

Robot Chicken
Dr. Noonien Soong, Gondola Jack, Medic (voice)
Episode: "Caffeine-Induced Aneurysm"
2013

Wendell & Vinnie
Himself
Episode: "Swindle & Vinnie"
2014

Ray Donovan
Therapist
3 episodes
2014

Star Wars Rebels
Gall Trayvis (voice)
2 episodes
2014

Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.

Silver Surfer (voice)
Episode: "Fear Itself"
2015

Comedy Bang! Bang!

The Sandman
Episode: "Zach Galifianakis Wears Grey Corduroys and Brown Leather Shoes"
2015–2016

Blunt Talk
Phil
4 episodes
2016–present

Outcast
Sidney
17 episodes
2016

The Blacklist
The Architect
Episode: "The Architect"
2017

Justice League Action

Edward Nygma / The Riddler (voice)
Episode: "E. Nigma, Consulting Detective"
Unknown

Hubble's telescope[22]
Narrator



Theatre













































Year Title Role Notes
1978

A History of the American Film
Hank

1984–1985

Sunday in the Park with George
Franz/Denis

1984

The Three Musketeers
Aramis

1985–1987

Big River
The Duke

1997–1998

1776

John Adams
Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical
2003

Life × 3
Hubert



References





  1. ^ Wills, Adam (May 7, 2009). "Top 5 Jewish moments in 'Trek'". Jewish Journal.


  2. ^ "Tweens : Celebrities : Brent Spiner". JUF. Retrieved 2016-06-28..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  3. ^ "Brent Spiner Biography (1949–)". Film Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2010.


  4. ^ "Brent Spiner". Yahoo! TV. February 2, 1949. Retrieved December 9, 2010.}


  5. ^ Lipton, Michael A. (June 8, 1992). "Can Data Find a Mate-A?" People, vol. 37, No. 22.


  6. ^ Spelling, Ian (July 23, 2012). "Brent Spiner set to return to Warehouse 13". Reading Eagle.


  7. ^ "Before Brent Spiner was Famous". National Forensic League. Retrieved June 17, 2011


  8. ^ P., Ken (December 9, 2002). "An Interview with Brent Spiner". IGN. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  9. ^ "The Advocates". The Paper Chase. Season 2. Episode 17. August 7, 1984.


  10. ^ "". TrekMovie.com. June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  11. ^ Polowy, Kevin (June 23, 2016). "Brent Spiner on Reprising 'Star Trek' Data Role: 'I'd Look Ridiculous in That Makeup Now'". Yahoo! Entertainment. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  12. ^ Lee, Luaine (January 9, 2003). "A Data with Star Trek again". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved December 9, 2010.


  13. ^ 1776: The New Broadway Cast Recording (1997). Amazon.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.


  14. ^ By Ken P. (2002-12-09). "An Interview with Brent Spiner". IGN. Retrieved 2016-06-28.


  15. ^ "Brent Spiner". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2016-06-28.


  16. ^ Tenuto, John (April 27, 2008). "Review: Brent Spiner's Dreamland + Interview + Signed CD Giveaway." TrekMovie.com


  17. ^ Laporte, Leo. "TWiT Live Specials". TWiT. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  18. ^ "Celebrate Brent Spiner’s Birthday With Every Episode of 'Fresh Hell'". TrekNews.net. February 2, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  19. ^ Pascale, Anthony (March 22, 2012). "Exclusive Interview: Brent Spiner Talks Fresh Hell and Star Trek: TNG @25". TrekMovie.com. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  20. ^ Sands, Rich (October 14, 2011). "Young Justice Recruits Brent Spiner and Alyssa Milano for the Injustice League". TV Guide. Retrieved September 3, 2018.


  21. ^ Mattei, Mike (May 6, 2012). "Brent Spiner Interview". Cinemassacre.


  22. ^ Jacobs, Bob (April 26, 2010). "NASA TV Celebrates 20 Years Of Hubble Space Telescope Operations". NASA. Retrieved September 1, 2018.




External links







  • Official website


  • Brent Spiner on IMDb


  • Brent Spiner at the Internet Broadway Database Edit this at Wikidata


  • Brent Spiner at the TCM Movie Database Edit this at Wikidata


  • Brent Spiner at AllMovie

  • Interview with Brent about his CD 'Dreamland'

  • Interview from ComicCon 2011.


  • Brent Spiner on YouTube sings "Oye Como Va" in Out to Sea film


  • Brent Spiner on Twitter.










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