(written from a Production point of view)
Jon Steuer (27 March 1984 – 1 January 2018; age 33) was the first actor to portray Alexander Rozhenko in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fourth season episode "Reunion". For the remainder of the Next Generation episodes featuring Rozhenko, he would instead be played by Family Ties star Brian Bonsall. Jonathan Frakes mentioned that Steuer "was too shy, not a warrior. Probably the reason why he was recast". ("Departmental Briefing Year Four – Production", TNG Season 4 DVD special feature)
Born as Jon Paul Steuer in Escondido, California, his acting career lasted for less than a decade. In 1989 he worked on an episode of Day by Day. He appeared in the 1991 film Late For Dinner with Tim Kelleher and Jeremy Roberts. That same year, he guest-starred in an episode of the drama series Homefront, playing the younger version of Ken Jenkins' character; Sterling Macer, Jr. was also a regular on this series.
In 1993, Steuer had a supporting role in the CBS television movie When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn, opposite Gregg Henry. He then played Johnny Vennaro in the 1994 family sports comedy Little Giants, which co-starred Rickey D'Shon Collins, Mark Holton, Courtney Peldon and Susanna Thompson.
Steuer acquired his most recognition as an actor for playing Quentin Kelly on the situation comedy series Grace Under Fire. During his time on this series, Steuer worked with such Star Trek alumni as Rickey D'Shon Collins, Paul Dooley, Monte Markham, Penny Johnson, Cristine Rose, Heidi Swedberg, and Ken Thorley. According to the E! True Hollywood Story about the show, Steuer was afraid of his TV mother, played by Brett Butler. Steuer left Grace Under Fire in 1996 and never acted again. For his work on Grace Under Fire, he received a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor Under Ten in a TV Series in 1995.
Steuer moved to Denver in 2003, where he formed the band called the Soda Pop Kids. In 2013, the group relocated to Portland, where he became known locally as Jonny P. Jewels. When the Soda Pop Kids disbanded in 2009, he went on to play with other projects, and was with the punk band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. prior to his death. In 2015, Steuer opened a vegan restaurant in Northeast Portland called Harvest at the Bindery. He also performed as a DJ around Portland.
Steuer died on 1 January 2018. Six months later, his cause of death was determined to be suicide. [1] [2] [3]