(written from a Production point of view)
Kenneth Tobey (23 March 1917 – 22 December 2002; age 85) was a veteran character actor from Oakland, California who appeared as Rurigan in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine second season episode "Shadowplay".
Tobey was no stranger to science fiction, having starred in such classics as The Thing From Another World and It Came from Beneath the Sea. He also appeared in the film Strange Invaders which also featured Deep Space Nine guest stars Louise Fletcher and Wallace Shawn.
In his long career, Tobey appeared in over a hundred films and TV series, many times in brief supporting roles. This was the case in the films The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, both of which also featured DeForest Kelley. He made a small appearance in the 1970 made-for-TV movie The Andersonville Trial, starring William Shatner. He was also in Right Cross with Original Series guest actor Ricardo Montalban and also had an uncredited role in the film Task Force, which co-starred Original Series guest actress Jane Wyatt. He also had a major role in The Great Locomotive Chase, which starred Jeffrey Hunter and also featured Original Series guest actor Morgan Woodward.
Tobey played the part of Jim Bowie in 1954's Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier. His feature film credits also include Twelve O'Clock High, Angel Face, The Candidate, the original Walking Tall, and Airplane!
Late in his career, Tobey, like actor Robert Picardo, had made frequent appearances in films directed by Joe Dante. Tobey and Picardo appeared in three Dante films together, The Howling, Innerspace, and Gremlins 2: The New Batch. However, Tobey's roles in these films were only cameos and he and Picardo did not share any scenes together. (Dick Miller also appeared in these films.) Tobey also appeared in the 1992 thriller Single White Female starring fellow Deep Space Nine guest actor Steven Weber.
Tobey passed away in Rancho Mirage, California in 2002 at the age of 85. He left behind a legacy spanning nearly six decades.
Other Trek connections[]
- The Lone Wolf (1954, with Serena Sande)
- Whirlybirds (1957 to 1960, a Desilu series; he had a starring role as Chuck)
- Coffee, Tea or Me? (1973, with James B. Sikking and Marcy Lafferty)