George Murdock (25 June 1930–30 April 2012; age 81) was an actor who played "God" in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and J.P. Hanson in the Star Trek: The Next Generation third and fourth season episodes "The Best of Both Worlds" and "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II".
In the pre-production of The Final Frontier, director William Shatner had originally planned to cast Murdock for the role of Korrd, but when Charles Cooper read for the role, Murdock was recast for the role of God. Shatner described the scenario as "a rather strange way of finding the right roles, but it worked out perfectly." (Captain's Log: William Shatner's Personal Account of the Making of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier [page number? • edit])
Murdock is probably best known by fans for two recurring roles, as Lt. Ben Scanlon, the acerbic Internal Affairs officer on Barney Miller and the overstressed and bitter Dr. Salik on Battlestar Galactica. He was also in an episode of Seinfeld (1994, starring Jason Alexander, with Carol Kane, Richard Fancy and Rosalind Ingledew).
He also appeared in Trapper John, M.D. along with Madge Sinclair and Willie Dynamite (1974, with Thalmus Rasulala, Ted Gehring, Robert DoQui, Davis Roberts, and Albert Hall). And also starred in Timescape (1992, with Lori Lively, Nicholas Guest, Emilia Crow, Time Winters, and Mimi Craven).
Murdock died of cancer at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank on 30 April 2012. He was 81. [1]